HELP - how to add WiFi & Bluetooth to X30 without antenn

[michaelnicola]

Hi everyone,

I recently purchased a used X30 and would like to add both WiFi and Bluetooth to it (right now I am using a PCMCIA 802.11g wireless card to achieve wireless internet connection). I know both WiFi and Bluetooth can be added, but after removing the keyboard there doesn't appear to be any antennae in my X30 - neither for WiFi nor for Bluetooth.

Before going ahead and trying to install WiFi and Bluetooth, I have some questions that I hope some people here can address:

1. Are there two different antennae needed - one for WiFi and one for Bluetooth?
2. How difficult are these antennae to install (I understand that the Bluetooth antenna is part of the left LCD hinge but I don't know where the WiFi antenna is installed)?
3. Must I use genuine IBM ThinkPad FRU parts or are there aftermarket antennas that work just as well?

Thanks very much in advance.

[billp117]

Wifi can be installed...the antenna is located around the screen. You will need to install. BT can be installed and you can use a seperate short antenna.

But, after you get done with the project... plug in cards work fine. The internal cards are inexpensive and if you are handy...not that hard to install.

I would answer yes to all your questions. There is no easy answer as it is a matter of your comfort level taking you unit appart.

[michaelnicola]

Thanks for the response Bill.

I'm actually quite comfortable taking apart my X30. I am no stranger to ThinkPads; this is my second ThinkPad, and the third ThinkPad for the family. I am the trouble-shooter/service technician for all of them so disassembly/reassembly is nothing new to me !

I've found a few suppliers on eBay that offer Bluetooth CDC cards and Bluetooth antenna combos that will work in my X30 so I don't think there will be an issue setting up BT (fingers crossed).

I have also found mini-PCI WiFi cards for my X30 on eBay, but I still haven't found a WiFi antenna yet. Does anyone here have any idea where to get one of these?

Thanks again.

[billp117]

Check with this eBay vendor:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZdragon ... dgeQQhtZ-1