Bluetooth antenna for an X31, questions

[mazzinia]

I've finally managed to get my hands on a new bmdc200 rev b at a very low price (ebay), so my bluetooth project only lacks a clearplate and an antenna.


Some questions:

I've always read about various solutions about adding a Bluetooth antenna to an X31.

1) the real IBM part that is placed near the hinge
2) using the AUX wifi antenna
3) using a short antenna and hide it somewhere under the keyboard.

The questions are:

point 2) ... would damage the wifi connectivity? If so, how much?
point 3) ... has someone tried it? How's working? Kind of antenna used? is range compromised? comments, etc?

What should be good prices for point 1) and 3) ?

[mazzinia]

Ehm, uppp.

Possible nobody has comments?

[Harryc]

Personally I'd go the with option #1, since it is designed for the machine.

You'll need a hinge cap/antenna;
http://www.impactcomputers.com/46p2960.html

You'll also need the bmdc200 card, which you already have, and a clearplate.

Using the wifi aux antenna is another idea, but I doubt it would work as well as a bluetooth antenna designed for that purpose, in fact I've read that the range is worse. What you'd give up; the internal wifi selects the better signal from either of the (2) internal antenna leads, you'd lose that selection process, possibly suffering with a weaker signal in the process.

[mazzinia]

Thanks for a confirmation against using the aux antenna

[iamdmc]

You can use a plain jane wifi antenna with the bluetooth card - I haven't experienced deficits in range by doing this. I would recommend that this antenna is separate from the 2 wifi antennas (as in you get another antenna that is positioned at somewhat of a distance from the wifi antennas). Also, tucking it under the keyboard or in the palmrest works well.


GL

[mazzinia]

Mmm, good to know also this detail.
I guess that now the point is just finding something priced in a correct range (both for the clearplate and the antenna)