X30 with X31 BMDC card?

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gbdrbob · #1 Post by **gbdrbob** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 3:18 am

Hello,

I have an x30 (2672-4HU) with bluetooth and the Wireless/modem combo mini-pci card. Everything runs fine, except I cannot use access connections as it doesn't properly work with the minipci card. There is very little info about this card on the ibm website - the drivers are available but it doesn't appear in the x30 parts matrix.

I'm thinking of upgrading to a 802.11b/g card, but don't want to loose my modem - will the X30 work with the X31 BMDC (bluetooth/modem communications daughter card)?

Looking at the parts matix it seems that the x30 and x31 use the same modem-only CDC when bluetooth isn't installed, this gives me hope that the x31 BMDC may work.

Has anyone tried this? Aren't the communications daughter cards just internal USB devices?

Thanks in advance for any help.

hkhalil · #2 Post by **hkhalil** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:17 am

I have a X31 and according to the parts list, the BMDC card wasn't meant for my flavour of X31 (2672-C2G) but it works fine. i can't say for sure if it's the same for a X30.

More info here if you're interested.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=6077

hkhalil

snife · #3 Post by **snife** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 2:05 am

I've not particularly tested this on an X30 model but I think that the b/g card would cause an 1802 error (unauthorised mini pci card) and the BMDC would cause an 1803 error (unauthorised daughter cards) - most ThinkPads have it built into the BIOS that they will only accept cards designed for that range.

bhtooefr · #4 Post by **bhtooefr** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 4:54 am

That's when you pull out a hex editor, and modify the BIOS image to allow the PCI IDs of the cards you want to use

cooldavy · #5 Post by **cooldavy** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 9:42 pm

Well, you can use a BMDC card for your thinkpad, but you have to install an additional BT antenna or use one of the two Wireless antenna.

gbdrbob · #6 Post by **gbdrbob** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 2:53 am

cooldavy wrote:Well, you can use a BMDC card for your thinkpad, but you have to install an additional BT antenna or use one of the two Wireless antenna.

No, as I said my x30 already has built in bluetooth. The problem is that in the X30, unlike the rest of the X series ibm chose to use a combined modem/wifi mini-pci card when bluetooth is installed as an optionm rather than the current approach which is a combined modem/bluetooth daughter card. This means I loose my modem if I upgrade to an 802.11g card as they don't offer a combo card upgrade. I'm trying to find out if I can use the x31 modem/bluetooth card in my x30 (the x31 and x30 use the same modem-only daughter card when no bluetooth is installed)

snife wrote:I've not particularly tested this on an X30 model but I think that the b/g card would cause an 1802 error (unauthorised mini pci card)

Actually I think not, the Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG 11 b/g mPCI Adapter is listed as a compatible upgrade for the x30.

snife wrote:the BMDC would cause an 1803 error (unauthorised daughter cards)

I didn't realise that the bios restricted CDC cards as well as minipci cards. This may be where it all falls apart, I wouldn't be happy hex editing my bios. I know there are tutorials out there on how to do it but they are mostly aimed at putting an unathorized minipci card in a thinkpad. I wouldn't want to mess with trying to allow a different daughter card unless I really knew what I was doing.

Oddly this parts site seems to say that the BMDC card is officially compatible with the X30 but I think this may be an error as I can't find any mention of official compatibilty on the IBM/lenovo site.

#7 Post by **underclocker** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:26 pm

Any follow up on this? Does the BMDC work in an X30? Is there a BIOS lockout on the CDC options?

gbdrbob · #8 Post by **gbdrbob** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:21 pm

I decided it wasn't worth the risk and chose to live with the 11Mbps wireless-b card. I'll get 802.11g in my next notebook. Sorry I can't be more help.

#9 Post by **underclocker** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:46 am

Thanks for the update. I probably won't risk the time and expense for this one unless I hear from someone that it should be promising. I worked out my X24 configuration for now like this;

mini-pci slot -> b/g wifi adapter
CDC slot -> BDC Bluetooth adapter
PC Card slot -> 3Com 3CXFEM656C Combo XJack 10/100 & modem (which use the same XJack connector for either!)
CD slot -> SD to CF adapter card for access to SD cards

All good, so far. When I need USB 2.0, I swap the 3Ccom ard for a USB 2.0 PC Card.

finch · #10 Post by **finch** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:07 pm

Yep, you can do it. I mean if you will go to www.wireless4laptop.com , they have a card which works 100% with x30. I pimped my x30 with wi-fi and bluetooth + modem, everything works fine. They even supplied bluetooth plates for me. But there is some glitch. Original x30 with bluetooth contains bt button which my model lacks. And I couldn't find a place where I buy it. But anyway - yeah, it is possible to install this cdc card. And regarding what others are saying: the 1802 error does NOT apply to cdc cards!!! Anyone got idea where can I get bluetooth button for x30?

X30 with X31 BMDC card?

X30 with X31 BMDC card?

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