Type 2631 Docking station (02K8660/08N1578)

[pevers1972]

Hi, Anybody help,have a a21m ThinkPad set-up on a Type 2631 Docking Station, I have connected the serial port to my TV but unable to get any sound,how do I do this?? dave

[Harryc]

Moved to RAGZ Conference - Harryc

[schen]

In a general sense, serial ports don't output sound, they're more of a data I/O. Years ago, it was common for them to be used for mice or external modems. As those functions progressively moved to other intefaces such as PS/2 and USB, serial ports have fallen by the wayside and have been largely eliminated on modern MoBos and laptops altogether.

If you want to move sound from your machine to some sort of audio/video arrangement, you'll be looking for a "line out" jack. On the 2631 (looking at it from the back), there are 2 3.5mm jacks in the lower right-hand corner, just inboard of the "Kensington Lock" attachment point. The one you want is the one on the LEFT. If you look closely, that one has a symbol depicting a circle with an arrow pointing OUT, vs. the other one that has the arrow pointing IN (which is the Line In jack). To use it, you'll need to get a Stereo 3.5mm to RCA adapter.

That is if your TV (or Receiver) uses those for the input. On occasion you'll run into a TV that's equipped with 3.5mm inputs as well. If that's the case, you'll just use the appropriate length 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo cable.

Actually, using a machine on a 2631 dock gives you great flexibility if you want to use it as a media center. If you are interested in higher audio quality, you can simply put a better audio card into the PCI slot of the dock and use that instead of the inferior DAC of the laptop.

[pevers1972]

Just read reply to my query, TV has 3 plugs for composite input,do I try these? what sound card do you suggest,didn`t know that I could do this, Thanks, Dave

[schen]

Just read reply to my query, TV has 3 plugs for composite input,do I try these? what sound card do you suggest,didn`t know that I could do this, Thanks, Dave

That's pretty common. The 3 plugs should be Red/White/Yellow which translates to Right/Left/Video. I think I'd try the correct cables/adapters first and then worry about whether or not the sound card is adequate. The vast majority of TVs out there don't have very good sound anyway, so the card in the computer is rarely an issue unless you are going directly to a high quality receiver and nice speakers.

Just get your self a "mini-jack" (3.5mm) to RCA (red & white) adapter from Radio Shack and plug it into the jacks of the same color on the TV and see what it sounds like. Just make sure you have the right length.

[pevers1972]

Hi, thanks for your answer,opened up the bottom of the docking station,found an unused slot in the bottom-very surprised what I found,didn`t know it carried so much,incidentally have 2 type 2632 stations along with a port replicator. Is there any instructions as to how to use these stations,very much a try and see matter? rgds Dave

[schen]

Hi, thanks for your answer,opened up the bottom of the docking station,found an unused slot in the bottom-very surprised what I found,didn`t know it carried so much,incidentally have 2 type 2632 stations along with a port replicator. Is there any instructions as to how to use these stations,very much a try and see matter? rgds Dave

I haven't been able to find anything relating to a type 2632 docks..only 2631. Europe only model? Anyway, if the it's the same as the 2631, then the use is pretty straightforward (not nearly as complex as the old days with docks like the 3547) which had SCSI controllers, IDE controllers etc. The 2631 essentially had 3 things that it could ADD to a machine connected to it: the UltraBay 2000 which gives you some options on having a third drive when using a T series machine or a bewildering array of HDDs when enough adapters were used along with a 3 spinal machine like the A30/31. Along with the was the PCI slot which allows for more robust video adapter than the machine gives or a more sophisticated sound card. The one I have is populated with a USB 2.0/1394 combo card since the A31p that lives on it didn't come with that.

How to use it is pretty transparent. Since all those functions are PnP, the machine just sees anything there as just an attached device and should require very little intervention on your parts before they simply work. The first time may require a reboot or two while drives load, but not much more than that. One area that may require some experimentation is that those docks have a DVI connector as well as the standard HD15 and this does give some extra options on resolution supported....especially when used with an outboard PCI card in that slot. Never-the-less, it really isn't nearly as tricky as having the full sized bays for connection to 3.5" IDE or SCSI drives etc that the old docks possess! And that's not even discussing the combination of "sub-dock/replicators" that attached to them to allow different models of machines to interface.

You might take some time to look through the Hardware Maintenance Manuals of the various ThinkPads that were in issue at the time of that dock. Quite often the manual for a laptop of that generation will have a section of it that's dedicated to the dock as well.

[pevers1972]

Hi, Re ur reply,Does this mean that I can insert small card into the base on the docking station, the no of the dock is a 2631 (P/N FRU 08N1578) i have a PCIA card to allow USB2 as the orginal only has 2 old type usb`s. Where do u suggest I look for these instructions? Dave Just to let u know I took my ThinkPad along t omy local computer shop,he hadn`t seen one before, along with the docking station,2nd battery, various hard drive set-ups and seperate DVD-Rw roms,just to prove what I had said was possible, he was very suprised as what the machine was capable of,only the lack of memory seeems to be the problems as sosme of my programmes need more than the 512 it has,Thanks Dave

[RealBlackStuff]

Just stick that PCMCIA (also called Cardbus) card in the upper or lower PCMCIA slot. Windows will recognize it automatically.
You'll have to live with the limits of 512MB Memory. For that machine, Windows 2000 would be an ideal OS, rather than XP.

On this page you can download all sorts of manuals: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo