[X200] antenna dillema

[ov_Darkness]

Hi!

I'm new to this board, as I'm new to Thinkpad community. I've just bought my x200 a couple days ago.

Of course, I couldn't resist a need to tear it open and see what's inside
To my great dissapointment it appears that my dream machine has only 3(!) antennas instead of 6!
Is it possible to buy these antennas and add it to the system?

It's 7458-CTO (very poor config, if you asked me), but it was insanely cheap (about 1200USD). In my country these machines cost at best 2500USD.

my cfg:
p8600
4GB RAM
160GB Hitachi hard drive
some cheap non-Intel Wifi card
win7pro 32-bit (vista upgrade)
no FP
no SSD
no camera
no BT.



I want to add those missing parts ASAP, (but my budget is kinda limited)
I was thinking about (in order):
*F3507g WWAN card. (dedicated, used from ebay. Here in Poland it costs about 200USD new, + 40USD for install ) - of course, I need to know, that I can connect it to existing antennas, or do I need to get full 6 antenna set. It's essential for my work, so it's definietly the first in line.

*BT (it's kinda cheap) + led panel with BTR and WWAN icons

*80/160GB Intel SSD (due to the fact, that it dealing very good with small files)

* camera (video chatting with my GF who's living 300km from me would be nice) and FP (I use this machine for work, so it can't be too secure)

*And last (but not least) AFFS display (I've just read about it yesterday and that's some really kickass news!)

Does x200 need any further upgrades?

P.S. Sorry for any spelling, and grammar mistakes, I don't use my english very often

[LegendaryKA8]

Hopefuly I'll provide some insight on this:

WWAN: I'm pretty sure you'll need three antennas for WWAN connectivity, plus two or three others(dependent on model) for your wireless card. I think you could get away with buying some generic antennas and running them through your LCD lid, but you may be able to find the lid assembly with the antennas already attached. The Marketplace here would be a great place to look, followed by eBay.

There are already plugs for the Bluetooth and webcam add-ons. You can find kits on eBay that include the LED and webcam clear plates. From what I've seen all you have to do is remove the bezel, plg them in, and install the clear plates. All X200 inverters(which have the indicator LEDs) have all the indicator lights on them; all you have to do is replace the clear plate and you get your Bluetooth, WWAN, etc lights.

The AFFS display is a great mod from what I've heard, but I haven't done it yet. Definitely worth the money, though. As far as work involved goes, it may be best to get everything display-related (camera, BT, antennas/lid, AFFS) before doing all the work and just get everything done at once.

[ov_Darkness]

Thanks!

I did a ton of research and everything, except antenna should be easy to get.
I just wonder: how it's possible, that WWN ready laptop (sim slot etc.) does not have necessary antenna?

[doktorek]

I just wonder: how it's possible, that WWN ready laptop (sim slot etc.) does not have necessary antenna?

Maybe it was misadvertised? Was it a store purchase or alledrogo?

[ov_Darkness]

It was not misadvertised, it has sim card slot.
It was a store purchase, but spotted on alledrogo

[doktorek]

Can you PM me the seller's nickname? Just wondering if it's the same company as in my case

[bill bolton]

It was not misadvertised, it has sim card slot.

The "slot" is just an entry through the body moulding and is present in all X200 models. Finding a slot doesn't mean that there is a SIM card reader installed behind it!

The SIM reader and antennas are only installed in CTO configurations ordered with WWAN card installed, or ordered as "WWAN ready".

If you don't have the WWAN antennas, its highly likely you don't have the SIM card reader either.

BTW, there are restrictions on the number of antennas you can fit into the lid/screen if there is a camera also fitted. You should get hold of the Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM) for the X200 and have a read.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[ov_Darkness]

@bill bolton:
I've dissasembled my X200 to the bare magnesium frame.
This is what I've learned:

1. There is a place in the screen frame for six antennas. Altough there are several antenna configurations possible
a) my config: 1x WWAN antenna (leading to the 2nd miniEC slot. The full sized one) 2x2 WiFi antenna. Total 3 antennas.
b) 4 antenna cfg: 3x3 MIMO WiFi, and 1x WWAN
c) 4 antenna cfg: 2x2 WiFi, 2x WWAN and GPS
d) 5 antenna cfg: 2x2 WiFi, 2x WWAN and GPS, 1x UWB
e) 5 antenna cfg: 3x3 MIMO WiFi, 2xWWAN and GPS
f) 6 antenna cfg: 3x3 MIMO WiFi, 2xWWAN and GPS, 1x UWB

2. There are 3 miniEC slots available in all configurations: 2 are full sized, and one is half-sized. In my 7458-CTO the one under palmrest is occupied by WiFi module (half-sized, but theres a place for bigger card, maybe 5300, or 5350), and two antennas from the right side of the screen frame leads to that slot. The empty full size slot just over the first on has 1 antenna from the left side of the screen frame. I suppose that is the WWAN slot, because dedicated Ericsson F3507g WWAN/GPS card is full size. The third one (half size only) could be UWB/TurboMemory slot. It's empty on my cfg.

3. The SIM slot pins are soldered directly to the motherboard. I'm quite sure that there is only one MB for all X200 models, so all of them will be able to host WWAN with proper antenna config.

All the above are based on my assumptions and observations on my X200.
The conclusion is that I should be able to make WWAN card work in my laptop, but without GPS wich needs additional antenna.
The dissasembly of X200 is childs play, even without service manual. Very simple, logical, friendly construction.
I love this machine even more now.