Thinkpads Forum

I did a search of the forums, but didn't find anything relating to this...

I bought a T60 from a friend that bought a few for his business and ended up not needing one of them. The specs are fine for what I need, but it just doesn't have bluetooth. Can I buy a bluetooth module or card and pop it in?
I did this with my previous (Dell) laptop, and it was fairly easy (well, as easy as laptop disassembly can be).

A quick ebay search for 't60 bluetooth' turned up just one item in Canada that looked like it would work. Searching for something like 'd500 bluetooth' (d500 is a Dell laptop model in case you're not familiar with them) turns up a LOT of bluetooth modules. That's what has me thinking that maybe this isn't possible with a T60?

Not sure if it matters, but the specs are: 1.66ghz core duo, 1gb ram, 80gb HD, 14.1" SXGA+

Any info is appreciated!! thanks in advance!

btw...i love the T60!! a far cry from my dell!

its possible, parts just arent readily avaliable yet since its such a new laptop.

the bluetooth card sits in the LCD lid, so youll have to disassemble the LCD to add bluetooth.

Bluetooth Card Part # is 39t0497 for T60.
You may place your order here:
http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... &langId=-1

I found that there are two different lcd cable # 91p6982 and 91p6984. I am afraid that Lenovo uses two kinds of lcd cable to prevent customers who have T60 w/o bluetooth from adding bluetooth later. I do not know the exact shape--I just guess.
If Lenovo really does use two different cables, I think that you should buy the LCD cable for bluetooth together with the bluetooth card.

ok, so there's 2 different bluetooth cards and 2 different LCD cables? I was only able to find one bluetooth card for the T60

I've been googling for a looooong time and haven't come up with much. I guess I'll just buy the one Cultural mentioned and see if it works. If it doesn't.......i dunno!
I'll be sure to report back with my findings. and maybe try to post a pic of the disassembled lcd area.

In the meantime, any info on this subject is appreciated!

Have a look at the T60 System Service Parts page and click on the link for the LCD you have. You'll see all the part numbers there.

it's all clear now! There's a cable for T60's with bluetooth, and there's a cable for T60's without bluetooth. I was thinking there were 2 different BT cards and 2 different cables, just to make it harder for people to buy because you wouldn't know which one(s) to get.
I was confused.

Thanks guys (and/or gals) for the help! It looks like I can get the bluetooth card and lcd cable for about $70. Well worth it to not have a USB bluetooth dongle sticking out all the time. I mean, who wants their dongle sticking out?

thanks again.

Is this true also for the Verizon EVDO broadband card? Can it also be ordered as a part and installed later?

visit the link above to the IBM parts page and scroll to the bottom. I think it's the second from the bottom (sierra EVDO WWAN).
However I also noticed that many of the other parts on that page have both 'with WWAN' and 'without WWAN' versions (like the system board and a couple other parts). so that makes me wonder if you can't just buy a WWAN card and pop it in. You might have to buy the whole system board?

I forgot to ask, will this void the warranty on it? If i install a bluetooth card and different LCD cable myself?

My T60 is a great laptop but it lacks Bluetooth. Unfortunately, it also does not have the socket to install the BDC-2 CDC: The brown ribbon cable underneath the LCD bezel just has tin contacts to solder the socket, but the socket itself is missing... fully in line with the theory that there are two two different LCD cable assemblies, 91P6984 with BT, and 91P6982 w/o BT

So, we seem to have 3 options to add Bluetooth to my T60:

1. buy a BDC-2 with BT LCD cable assembly, and replace the old LCD cable

2. just buy a BDC-2 and try to find and solder a CDC socket myself

3. forget the internal upgrade and go get bluetooth on USB

My question is: is it worth or ridiculously difficult to try purchase and solder the missing CDC socket myself? (I guess it's less hassle to try find and replace the ribbon cable)

For instance, would the BDC-2 have perfect XP integration, and all the newest Bluetooth features? (I'm particularly interested in the Headset profile to listen to music on a BT headphone)

Or, would I be better off with just an external Bluetooth USB stick and no further worries?

Thanks!

OK, I just found it also on ebay for $5,50 using the "CDC socket T60" search

@_ub_
Welcome to the Forum.
Option 1 if you don't mind disassembling part of your laptop.
Option 3 if you have two left hands.