How to Find out of BT Antenna Installed

[Orbitz]

How / where can I look online to determine if a paticular model X40 has a bluetooth antenna allready installed? The model number is 2371 6GU in case anyone happens to know. Thanks!

[brainpicker]

Hi Orbitz!

I just had an issue where a guy wanted to sell me his ThinkPad and he swore it had Bluetooth though I could find no adapter installed and none showed at IBM for that model number. He said since he had the Bluetooth software installed by the IBM Installer that it must then at least have the antenna built-it for upgrade. Nope! Per the guy that took my call at tech support, if the model doesn't have Bluetooth installed at purchase there is no such thing as "Bluetooth Upgradeable" like some of the wireless upgradeable models we know. So, no adapter at purchase, no antenna either (unless of course the owner did surgery on their own!). Aparently the new software installer puts those icons on everyone's system for some reason. I hope that helps. By the way, has everyone else been getting that constant fast-busy signal when calling for support? It took me days to get through. That's not good. And after all that I hope I got the right answer!

Yak

[Orbitz]

Good information. That is new I think as the prevailing theory (I thought) was that the antenna was installed in models that didn't ship with bluetooth onboard. I was sure I had read posts from people who did have the antenna installed allready and just had to change the modem card.

[JHEM]

This: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... GR-53645#3 says the BT antenna is in all models of the X40!

Anyone on the Forums with an X40 can answer this question for us. If you have an X40 without BT, flip it over, open it up and take out the modem card. The BT antenna connecter is supposed to be under it.

Regards,

James

[brainpicker]

You mean I waited to get through for 3 days and I STILL got the wrong answer? This I don't like. Thanks James. YOU I believe. I should have just asked here like Orbitz, but I figured calling would be faster. It was slower..... and WRONG! I was clearly told this was the case with ALL models. [censored].

'Sorry folks.

Yak

[Orbitz]

Don't feel bad...I called tech support earlier about several model X40's and was told they did not have the intenna installed. Maybe it is "busy" enough under the keyboard that people missed the wire coiled up somewhere? I talked to one of the other forum members who just upgraded his X40 and he looked pretty carefully for an existing antenna...he said if it was there he had no idea where they could hide it.

[brainpicker]

James is right only in that the link he provided states "all models", but that's not what this lcd parts link is referring to!!! It means if installed it will work in all models, not that it is installed in all models. So we're back to the question of how to find out if it has the antenna, and I think my 1st statement was correct. If it comes with Bluetooth it has the antenna, if not, it don't. I learned the hard way in that I bought an X40 last week after seeing the link James provided. It came today. The only thing that was keeping me from buying this model previously was that it didn't have Bluetooth. I thought after James' answer I could just buy a module and I'd be home free. Nope, no antenna!!! IBM/Lenovo service did give me the right answer, but I listened to James's answer thinking (after looking there) that he was right. He does have a pretty good track record (and lots of pretty feathers!). Now I have a really nice X40, but without a Bluetooth antenna because it don't have Bluetooth. Yes, I looked EVERYWHERE for it... it doesn't exist. Then I called service again and I was (again) told "...if it don't come with Bluetooth it doesn't have a Bluetooth antenna". They also clarified the parts link provided by James as providing suitability/compatability only. So I'm stuck with either doing surgery (nope!), buying an ugly & underpowered USB adapter (ugh!), or selling my now "used" X40 to get one that has the Bluetooth/Modem combo installed, and thus the antenna installed (can you say divorce?). I guess I'll just have to do without or choose the underpowered/ugly option. Lesson learned. I'm not mad at anyone but myself for not trusting my own research.

Yak

[JHaislet]

I personally would purchase #13N5329 ($21.50) and install the antennae myself. Maybe not necessarily in the LCD, but I'd find a place to stick it (somewhere under the keyboard or around the touchpad).

[roblim]

[quote="JHaislet"]I personally would purchase #13N5329 ($21.50) and install the antennae myself. Maybe not necessarily in the LCD, but I'd find a place to stick it (somewhere under the keyboard or around the touchpad).[/quote]

I installed bluetooth into an x40. it wasnt that tough. do not bother to run the antenna through the back of the lcd, you will get very good reception if you just find a spot under the keyboard as recommended. it will not work at all without an antenna attached (i tried that too). i can confirm that the x series do not have the bluetooth antenna installed unless you buy it with bluetooth factory installed. if it is factory installed the stickers on the top cover and inside the lcd will have a bluetooth logo that lights up when bluetooth is enabled. if you are adding bluetooth you should also get those replacement stickers from ibm as well. you need the bluetooth module, antenna, and stickers.

[carlnunes]

Check out my post on Bluetooth upgrade on X40