ThinkPad A30 bluetooth -- is it possible? *PIC*

[kfzhu1229]

I have a broken T41p with a BMDC200 bluetooth CDC card and I threw it on a A30 in the Modem/Bluetooth slot and it realizes Modem, no errors, but Bluetooth is not found in device manager in Windows 7. Is it possible to get Bluetooth to work (If not this card, another card from a T30)?

[rkawakami]

I didn't realize that A30 systems were available with bluetooth; the TABOOK from that age says "yes" it was an option. Bluetooth generally showed up in the A30p and A31p systems. Besides the MiniPCI daughter card, you should also need to have the antenna mounted in the lid (which is routed to where the MiniPCI card is installed) and the bluetooth on/off switch at the bottom of the LCD bezel (aka, the clear plate). A missing antenna will not cause the hardware to not show up in Device Manager, but probably a missing or inactivated switch will. I'm currently using an A31p with the bluetooth option and WinXP. The bluetooth module does not show up in the Device Manager Network adapters unless the on/off button is on.

[kfzhu1229]

Where is the on/off button? On the bottom of the inverter?

[rkawakami]

It's been some time since I pulled an inverter out of an A3x system. Yes, I think the bluetooth on/off switch is on the inverter. The HMM seems to imply that since there's no other 'piece' that goes into the lid in that position. Each part number for the inverters makes no distinction between non-bluetooth and bluetooth. You should also be able to remove the front clear plate and see if there's a hole about an inch (20mm or so) to the left of the battery LED icon. The possible problem with doing this is that the glue that holds the plate on will not adhere to the lid again. There's a separate clear plate (with button) that has the bluetooth icon.

[ajkula66]

It's been some time since I pulled an inverter out of an A3x system. Yes, I think the bluetooth on/off switch is on the inverter.

Correct.

However, one has to pull the entire (non-BT) system apart in order to add BT, since the antenna is connected to a small metal plate mounted in machine's base.

[kfzhu1229]

It's been some time since I pulled an inverter out of an A3x system. Yes, I think the bluetooth on/off switch is on the inverter.

Correct.

However, one has to pull the entire (non-BT) system apart in order to add BT, since the antenna is connected to a small metal plate mounted in machine's base.

DW I have a spare WLAN antenna cable and I can make it go through the bottom... Or even attach the antenna onto the CDC + miniPCI door
Also for the frame I will change it by some time anyway because I wanted a 15" SXGA+ rather than the 14.1" XGA...

[kfzhu1229]

And yes pushing the button works! Thank You! It works but why do I have to press the button every time after startup to get it working?

[rkawakami]

I would suspect that the power to the bluetooth card is automatically kept turned off when the system is booted. Part of the BIOS or the Embedded Controller firmware I would guess. Since there is a physical power button I don't think you can activate the card using something like Fn+F5 as on later systems.

[kfzhu1229]

Also do you know by any chance how to get the laptop working as Bluetooth speakers in Windows 7 by any chance?
FnF5 definitely won't work because the hotkey isn't even marked on 3x series

[rkawakami]

Sorry, absolutely no idea.

[olex126]

Also do you know by any chance how to get the laptop working as Bluetooth speakers in Windows 7 by any chance?
FnF5 definitely won't work because the hotkey isn't even marked on 3x series

Definitely do-able! I have various "X6x" "T4x" and "T6x" (and a previous A31p) Win 7 Thinkpads paired with both my Blackberry Passport and Samsung Galaxy S3. Both phones can utilize any machine as Bluetooth speakers... When you press the Bluetooth button on the screen bezel, you will get a Bluetooth icon in the system tray...Right-click on the Bluetooth icon in the system tray and choose "Add a device...". Win 7 should automatically add the speaker feature when it pairs with whatever device you want to set up.

P.S. Make sure your pairing device has Bluetooth turned on and is discoverable!

Regards.

Dave

[kfzhu1229]

Okay I'll try enabling Windows update and see if that will do. Because now it does not install any Bluetooth drivers properly when I try to pair up

[kfzhu1229]

Okay so I actually managed to get wireless and bluetooth working without any antenna on the lid. I actually have a spare pair of Wi-Fi antenna for a T43 broken screen assembly. I separated the 2 wires and hooked one of them on as 2200bg's main antenna and other as bluetooth II's antenna and use the main door for the 2 daughter cards and mini-PCI card as a part of antenna for bluetooth and Wi-Fi and I get a reasonably strong signal from both. Now the back door bulges just slightly and I am happy with the results (But I still have to pry off the bottom part of the screen bezel to access the button which needs to be pressed every single time after boot for Bluetooth to work)

[olex126]

(But I still have to pry off the bottom part of the screen bezel to access the button which needs to be pressed every single time after boot for Bluetooth to work)

I believe Bluetooth on the A3x series is OFF by default and has to be restarted on every reboot...at least that's the way it was on my A31p...possibly part of an earlier specification of B/T, or as Ray mentioned in an earlier post, a limitation of the "A3x" series BIOS or ECC firmware. Anyway, congratulations on getting it enabled!

Regards. Dave

[kfzhu1229]

Thank You! Now a Frankenpad is being completed...
256mb SDRAM upgraded to 1GB
1ghz PIII-M upgraded to 1.2ghz (1266 and 1333 are impossible to find)
1 CDRW burner, 1 DVD-ROM
Integrated Bluetooth + Wi-Fi
Brand new replaced main battery (holds 2+ hours of charge)
Windows 7 SP1
Screen upgrade is not considered because Radeon 7000 does not do a good job on a UXGA (even X300 is laggy under UXGA)
Now does someone know how to resolve the not enough resources problem when using a PCI card thru the ThinkPad Dock I on A30? I have a Radeon 3450 which I really wanted it to work on this A30 to give me Windows Aero...

[jronald]

I found Bluetooth support via Lenovo or W7 to be severely lacking. I stumbled on this
http://widcomm-bluetooth-software.en.lo4d.com/
Moons ago, and have never needed to look further. Its pretty straight forward connects instantly AND works everytime.

My version is for HP, WIDCOMM/Broadcom is the maker.

Ron