Retrofit Bluetooth to X60

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larajohn · #1 Post by **larajohn** » Tue May 02, 2006 9:39 am

Hello all,

I'm looking to retrofit Bluetooth support to my X60 that I ordered without Bluetooth. I just need short range Bluetooth so I could probably do without the rewiring required to the LCD to het the antenna up into the top of the clam.

Anyways, the hardware PDF shows the Bluetooth card as NOT field replaceable... that that eman it can;t be done or they don;t want you to do it?

Does anyone have any experience with this? I sure would like to get the definitive list of part numbers I need for this project.

Many thanks!
John

poky · #2 Post by **poky** » Tue May 02, 2006 1:54 pm

You will need at least..
LCD cable assembly with Bluetooth (SPWG) FRU:91P6971
Bluetooth daughter card (BDC-2) FRU:39T0497
plus the indicator panel.

larajohn · #3 Post by **larajohn** » Tue May 02, 2006 2:00 pm

Thanks for the reply!

I understand the daughter card, but what about the LCD cable and the indicator panel? I'm tring to avoid tearing up the machine too much and I thought I could do without the indicator.

I read in a post for the X40 (I think) that they could forego cabling up to the LCD and just leave the antenna on the card. The range would be shorter, but I'm only looking to add BlueTooth mouse connectivity.

What do you think?

John

Antioch · #4 Post by **Antioch** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:33 am

Anyone?

I'm also looking to install bluetooth into an X60s I'm looking at buying. I need bluetooth, and I know you'd say just buy a model with it - but I don't want a faster processor (looking at the 1.5ghz model) and I *DONT* want a fingerprint reader...

Thanks!

RRHODY · #5 Post by **RRHODY** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 1:45 pm

Am I missing something? Can't you enable Bluetooth with a USB or PCMCIA?
I use a USB on my T30 to connect with my wireless GPS. The USB Bluetooth was $11.00 shipped from an eBay source.

trentblase · #6 Post by **trentblase** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:24 pm

I'm using a usb dongle after realizing how much trouble it would be to do a retrofit. Originally, I was going to install the dongle internally, using the exposed pins of the usb channel. Maybe I'll do it after I'm out of warranty.

Antioch · #7 Post by **Antioch** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:21 pm

Because an internal solution is better.

No, we're not talking about trying to wire a dongle internally, we're talking abot purchasing the modem board that also includes bluetooth from IBM and swapping it in for the old modem board. (Atleast, with my T42 it was the modem board, not sure about the X60s).

#8 Post by **BillMorrow** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:17 pm

let me introduce you to the hardware maintenance manual for the X60..

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... 1w2542.pdf

for all publications, go here and enter your machine type in the appropriate box and follow the writing finger..

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/home.do

it LOOKS like the bluetooth daughter card is in the bottom of the display..
very small..

so it looks like the answer to your question is that it IS doable..

poky · #9 Post by **poky** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:36 pm

Keep in mind...
you will also need a new set of display cable to be able to connect the bluetooth daughter.
That's why I listed it state above.
For $100+ I rather go with the bt-ready model if I really need bt
and save you all the headache on taking parts off the machine,
Trust me, you don't want to try it, especially the display screen,
try to take it apart, and you will know what I say...

Antioch · #10 Post by **Antioch** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:46 pm

Yea, I think you might be right - especially if it costs that much.

However, I want one of the 1.5GHz models which don't come with bluetooth. And even if I went with a 1.66GHz machine - all that have bluetooth also have the fingerprint reader which I *dont* want.

Anyways, I'll take a look at the new Lenovo order/customization system. See if I can't get them to buld me a 1.5GHz model with bluetooth.

thibouille27 · #11 Post by **thibouille27** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 1:06 am

Antioch wrote:all that have bluetooth also have the fingerprint reader which I *dont* want.

Why? (Just wanna understand)

Antioch · #12 Post by **Antioch** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:29 am

Because I'll never use it. It will just sit there and be a bother to me. I think it takes away from the already pleasing asthetics of the case.

Really, I don't know of any useful applications for it. Ok, you can use it when you log into windows or for some settings on Firefox. But I'm the only one who uses my computer so I don't need settings sorted by fingerprint. I also have no problem typing a password either.

smvp6459 · #13 Post by **smvp6459** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:55 am

I didn't think I'd like the fingerprint reader nearly as much as I do (I just got it because I wanted bluetooth built-in).

There are three things I really like about the fingerprint reader:
1. It's so much faster than typing a password (especially a secure password). I thought I was ok typing passwords all the time until I started using it.
2. I can use it to secure the BIOS, HD, and OS. With one swipe it completes the access process for all three.
3. I can use different fingers to login to different accounts. I use different fingers for my Administrator, Super-user, and user accounts. And this works with in conjunction with #2.

I don't plan on having my laptop stolen, but if it is stolen the thief is not going to have much fun with it...I guess stripping it and selling it for parts would be their only option at that point.

christopher_wolf · #14 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:12 pm

Mainly, the FPR is very useful for having a good, secure, password that you don't have to type in all the time. If you have dealt with some of the passwords I have (one time, a 32-character monster that looked like line noise in an ASCII text editor minus the funkier characters), you will find that a godsend. It is also useful for stashing info and entering it on sites securely.

Retrofit Bluetooth to X60

Retrofit Bluetooth to X60

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