Adding bluetooth?

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thinkpad_2004 · #1 Post by **thinkpad_2004** » Sun May 23, 2004 10:47 pm

Is there a way to add bluetooth to the x40 without occupying a usb port or a cf card slot? My minipci is taken up with the intel wireless adapter. Thanks for any help!

(I want to use the logitech presentation bluetooth mouse).

csv96 · #2 Post by **csv96** » Mon May 24, 2004 1:15 am

Luckily, the IBM Bluetooth option for X40's (and all other current Thinkpads) resides on the Communications Daughter Card (CDC) rather than the mini PCI card. It's possible to upgrade your modem CDC to a bluetooth/modem CDC, but it takes a lot of work. You need to download the Hardware Maintenance Manual (http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-53683) and buy some parts (http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... logId=-840):

LCD icon plates: 13N5330
Bluetooth Antenna Cable Set: 13N5329
CDC Bluetooth III/Modem Card (BMDC2): 91P7319

Total price for all the parts should be about $100. Installing the card is easy. Just open the bottom cover and swap the modem CDC for the new bluetooth/modem CDC. Installing the antenna is a different matter and involves disassembling pretty much the whole laptop (including the LCD screen). Instructions are all in the HMM in the "Removing and replacing a FRU" section. Good luck.

ldbobby · #3 Post by **ldbobby** » Mon May 24, 2004 2:05 pm

For anyone out there who as added the BT CDC card into any thinkpad without the antenna, I'm wondering if you can get any signal at all from another bluetooth device, if so how far? I'm quite afraid of trying to add the antenna so I haven't purchased any parts yet.

csv96 · #4 Post by **csv96** » Mon May 24, 2004 2:12 pm

You need the antenna for signal. But you DON'T have to attach it to the screen. I upgraded an X40 with Bluetooth and only ran the antenna under the keyboard. Reception was fine, though I didn't test the actual range. The antenna head is pretty thick so there aren't a whole lot of places it will fit. I ended up sticking it up against the PCMCIA bay. Of course, if I had more time and a little more experience I would have preferred to mount it in the screen.

brosen · #5 Post by **brosen** » Mon May 24, 2004 5:47 pm

How did you handle the Bluetooth icon ?

csv96 · #6 Post by **csv96** » Mon May 24, 2004 6:40 pm

LCD icon plates: 13N5330

Very easy to replace.

brosen · #7 Post by **brosen** » Mon May 24, 2004 6:46 pm

Do you now the P/N for the X31 ?

brosen · #8 Post by **brosen** » Mon May 24, 2004 6:54 pm

How you will handle to turn on the Bluetooth Icon ?

csv96 · #9 Post by **csv96** » Mon May 24, 2004 7:16 pm

If you're running the latest IBM Access Connections, you can just press Fn+F5 and then turn on/off the Bluetooth and/or WiFi radios.

The part numbers for X31's are in the X30/X31 Hardware Maintenance Manual:

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-44018

Bluetooth/Modem CDC (BMDC): 91P7315
Clear Plate for X31: 67P1448
Bluetooth wireless antenna and hinge cover assembly: 46P2960

brosen · #10 Post by **brosen** » Mon May 24, 2004 8:01 pm

Really thank you for your answers, nonetheless I have another questions :

1.- How do you get the Icon in the X31 LCD plate to Turn On and Off
2.- You mentioned Clear Plate for X31: 67P1448, there is a plate with the Bluetooth symbol ?

Thank you, regards

Bdo

csv96 · #11 Post by **csv96** » Mon May 24, 2004 8:07 pm

brosen wrote:1.- How do you get the Icon in the X31 LCD plate to Turn On and Off
2.- You mentioned Clear Plate for X31: 67P1448, there is a plate with the Bluetooth symbol ?

When you turn the Bluetooth radio on/off (using Fn+F5), the Bluetooth icon indicator on the icon clear plate (the one with wireless, bluetooth, number pad, caps lock, hard drive access, battery, power, and suspend indicators) will also turn on/off. The Clear Plate for X31 is actually a set of plates with and without the bluetooth icon. You remove your current plate (which doesn't have the bluetooth icon) and replace it with a new plate (which does have the bluetooth icon).

snappy · #12 Post by **snappy** » Tue May 25, 2004 11:20 am

How about BT for X30?

I noticed that there is a big open area just below the keyboard. It seem to have some empty conduit for cables. Presumably, its for an option that my model does not include. Anyone know what option there are for X30? Mine is a 26721BU.

1394, Wifi, PCCard slot etc ...

btw, sidetracking ... if we upgrade the ram to 2 X 512MB (1GB) and we get rid of the original 128MB (NANYA) that came with the notebook, will it void the warranty? ie, when we do send in for service, will IBM void the warranty because the original ram is being replaced?

Same question for hdd?

I know these parts are CRU but do we have to keep them for warranty?

csv96 · #13 Post by **csv96** » Tue May 25, 2004 11:33 am

It's the same Hardware Maintenance Manual for the X30:

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-44018

I don't think X30's can have both Bluetooth and WiFi Wireless in the same unit. If they can, then the space under the keyboard would be a good place to route the antenna.

As for warranty, just keep the old parts and reinstall them if you ever need warranty service. If you put the original 128mb back before you send it in, IBM will never know that it was replaced.

thinkpad_2004 · #14 Post by **thinkpad_2004** » Tue May 25, 2004 9:51 pm

Go away for a few days and look at all the responses! Thanks so much!

brosen · #15 Post by **brosen** » Wed May 26, 2004 1:44 pm

csv96 wrote:
brosen wrote:1.- How do you get the Icon in the X31 LCD plate to Turn On and Off
2.- You mentioned Clear Plate for X31: 67P1448, there is a plate with the Bluetooth symbol ?
When you turn the Bluetooth radio on/off (using Fn+F5), the Bluetooth icon indicator on the icon clear plate (the one with wireless, bluetooth, number pad, caps lock, hard drive access, battery, power, and suspend indicators) will also turn on/off. The Clear Plate for X31 is actually a set of plates with and without the bluetooth icon. You remove your current plate (which doesn't have the bluetooth icon) and replace it with a new plate (which does have the bluetooth icon).

Sir are you sure the Bluetooth Icon will power on ?, I am afraid I will make some damagae to the Plates when I will be replacing them, it is really easy ?, I have an X31 2672-5KU, thanks a lot for your advice, regards

Bdo

csv96 · #16 Post by **csv96** » Wed May 26, 2004 3:13 pm

The icon plate is nothing more than a giant sticker. Just use a razor to lift up a corner, then you can peel the whole thing off to see (and put it back if you like). There is small light bulb behind the Bluetooth portion of the sticker (same with all the other indicator "lights" on the icon plate). There are two versions of this giant "sticker", one with the Bluetooth icon and one without. Whether you replace the sticker or not, it has nothing to do with the actual function of the Bluetooth card. It's purely cosmetic.

brosen · #17 Post by **brosen** » Wed May 26, 2004 3:21 pm

csv96 wrote:The icon plate is nothing more than a giant sticker. Just use a razor to lift up a corner, then you can peel the whole thing off to see (and put it back if you like). There is small light bulb behind the Bluetooth portion of the sticker (same with all the other indicator "lights" on the icon plate). There are two versions of this giant "sticker", one with the Bluetooth icon and one without. Whether you replace the sticker or not, it has nothing to do with the actual function of the Bluetooth card. It's purely cosmetic.

That means the Bluetooth Light is ALWAYS present ?

csv96 · #18 Post by **csv96** » Wed May 26, 2004 3:46 pm

The bulb is always there, even in non-Bluetooth Thinkpads. But it only lights up when you turn on the Bluetooth radio (by pressing Fn+F5).

thinkpad_2004 · #19 Post by **thinkpad_2004** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:36 pm

Installed bluetooth in my X40. Had to place the antenna next to the PCMCIA slot... Taped it with some magic tape. It works good. About 8m range.

Supplies took over a month to arrive though!

csv96 wrote: Total price for all the parts should be about $100. Installing the card is easy. Just open the bottom cover and swap the modem CDC for the new bluetooth/modem CDC. Installing the antenna is a different matter and involves disassembling pretty much the whole laptop (including the LCD screen). Instructions are all in the HMM in the "Removing and replacing a FRU" section. Good luck.

kadf88 · #20 Post by **kadf88** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:23 pm

do you have to remove the keyboard to install the antenna under the keyboard (beside the PCMCIA)??

carlnunes · #21 Post by **carlnunes** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:06 pm

I bought 1 bluetooth 56K combo card ($26.44 w/free antenna) (IBM FRU PN: 91P7319 or 93P3471) and the TYPEB antenna from WIRELESS4LESS on EBay.
I used the PDF document (39t5972.pdf) from this IBM support page to install my Bluetooth card and antenna.
I took some pictures to illustrate how I chose to install the antenna:

Bluetooth Card with antenna ran under the RAM chip and through the mainboard

Antenna runs through mainboard and is simply ran next to the WIFI wire and then one edge tucked under the plastic part holding the SD Card slot.

I will report back with signal strength and other observations.

I hope this helps someone.

ex24 · #22 Post by **ex24** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 7:30 pm

Is the X24 the same as that, like BT & a Modem CDC - and MiniPCI for WiFi ?

Adding bluetooth?

Adding bluetooth?

How about BT for X30?

Wow!

Adding Bluetooth to X40

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