t42 bluetooth??

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metricss · #1 Post by **metricss** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:01 pm

is there a way to internally add bluetooth to a ibm t42 2374? also
where is the 3 digit model number located? like 2374-w4u or something like that? I see a wide variety of model codes on ibms website to search for drivers and such, but i cant find anything but t42 and 2374 on my unit.

#2 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:03 pm

Just so long as you have an antenna to go along with it. Most SXGA+ model ThinkPad T4x laptops already have the antenna wire.

All T4x systems have the same CDC port used by the bluetooth card some systems come with.

metricss · #3 Post by **metricss** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:15 pm

are you referring to the type of display i have? If so how could i tell?

ajkula66 · #4 Post by **ajkula66** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:41 pm

Go into BIOS (press F1 while booting) and locate the "system unit serial number". The first 7 characters (237xxxx) are your model number, the rest is your serial.

Post the model number here when you find it (NOT the serial though) and we'll take it from there....

metricss · #5 Post by **metricss** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:52 pm

bios says 2374wbu

metricss · #6 Post by **metricss** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:18 pm

sorry i wrote that wrong it say in bios 2374wbk

ajkula66 · #7 Post by **ajkula66** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:43 pm

Your T42 has a XGA screen, so no BT antennae were pre-installed.

Product: ThinkPad T42 2374-WBK [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: Based on 2374-CTO: P M 735, 512MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, 24x24x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD(slim), Cisco 802.11b wireless(MPCI), Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), UltraNav, Secure Chip, 9 cell Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro

metricss · #8 Post by **metricss** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:23 pm

so what about the bluetooth cards for 25 dollars on ebay, they also sell the antennas for 5 dollars. is it worth doing that?

#9 Post by **schen** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:12 pm

metricss wrote:so what about the bluetooth cards for 25 dollars on ebay, they also sell the antennas for 5 dollars. is it worth doing that?

A number of people on this forum have added BT cards to the CDC connector and snaked the antenna around inside the case and have had it work fine. You should be able to find some posts on that using the search. Some folks have also had some issues with drivers.

I went a different route. I found an original IBM BT CDC card for my machine, switched the display for a T42p SXGA+ screen that already had the antenna built-in so everything just hooked up. So I even have the little indicator light on the clearplate that shows when BT is active.

Brad · #10 Post by **Brad** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:06 am

Schen makes a great point.

You can have the card and the antenna but to make the install like the factory the clear plate should be updated so the Bluetooth icon will illuminate when active. The Bluetooth LED is there but behind an opaque clear plate label.

Of course if you don't mind not having the icon then that is not a problem.

Brad

metricss · #11 Post by **metricss** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:20 pm

i am going to search ebay for the better screens. is there a big difference in the pic quality with the updated screen? also I lifted up the keyboard and in the upper left corner there is a card already installed there. is that the wifi card, and is the blue tooth card integrated into the wifi cards on a bluetooth equipped t42? thanks for the info.

Brad · #12 Post by **Brad** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:51 pm

The top left is the modem or modem/bluetooth card (CDC). The wireless card is under the palmrest.

Brad

tim S · #13 Post by **tim S** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:47 pm

Yes the modem, the small card in the upper left under the keyboard, has to be replaced if you want bluetooth.
As you said, you saw some on eBay for about $25.00 and as long as you get the correct one for your T42, you are good to go. I did the same for my T42 and there's no problem with feeding an antenna wire (eBay) around the inside and taping it to keep it in place. Or just use the AUX, or second WiFi wire, from the card under the palmrest
I also got the bluetooth clear plates from China on eBay.
Windows XP SP2 and 3 come with bluetooth pre-installed so there is no need to load the IBM drivers. Once the card is installed and it's drivers are in, push Fn + F5 and you're good to go.
Tim S

metricss · #14 Post by **metricss** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:48 am

sweet, i think that is what i will do. so the ebay bt card should be a modem and bt card right?

Brad · #15 Post by **Brad** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:24 am

Yes it should be both a modem and bluetooth radio. Check the FRU number to be 100% certain. If it is for a T4x series though it should work.

Brad

t42 bluetooth??

t42 bluetooth??

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