[olli2]

Do you think I could integrate a Bluetooth adapter in my iBook? I thought, that if it connects to the USB port, maybe we can buy a smaller USB Bluetooth adapter, and
1. take it out from its plastic casing,
2. open laptop
3. solder the ends of the plug USB plug of the BLuetooth adapter on a USB port,
4. fix it near somewhere there is place, possibly the corners

Like that, I could have BlueTooth integrated on my iBook. What do you think about power consumption?
Do you think this can work at all?

[TomHMeredith]

Sounds a very interesting idea. I have the D-Link adaptor, which I just preid the casing off of. It measures 3cm long + the USB plug on the end, which I am asuming you could loose.

If the iBook has enough space around the USB plug, you could simply solder some wires on and place the adaptor wherever it fits.

I'm not sure about whether you could use the USB port after it had been installed though, I don't know enough about hubs to say that if you plugged two devices into the same plug (which would effectively be what you would be doing) that it would work. Of course, If you couldn't, the USB plug on the logic board could be removed, and you would have some extra space for the adaptor.

I should, fingers crossed, be getting my iBook in the next few days, and this will be a mod I would do.

If you want to bounce ideas of of each other, email me at tommeredith at mac dot com.

[TomHMeredith]

Oh, forgot about power.

Don't know any specific figures, but my adaptor works from an unpowered hub, so with a compact flash card reader as well. I can't imagine that power consumption is a problem, since there are adaptors in the new powerbooks. At the worst you would probably loose 10minutes from a full batery.

[olli2]

I also tought to the D-Link adapter, or such. Loosing one usb port is still a good deal for having the Bluetooth adapter inside. There is still one left.


It is so uncofortable to have a 3 cm stick pointing away from the casing. As soon as I move a little bit the computer... it is so fragile. Now I have a Targus Wireless Optical Mini Mouse with my Compaq Armada M300, and it makes a lot of trouble using the stick design (it uses some other radio freq, not Bluetooth). It should be at least half the size and rugged.
http://www.targus.com/product_details.asp?sku=PAUM005U


I see no obstacle why this soldering should not work. The IBM X range, and T range thinkpads have a dedicated USB adaptor on the top edge of the screen, for Bluetooth, infrared, and mic. If we could solve the hub issue, we could even fit other thins, like an infrared adapter, or a mic, and save the usb port for other things.

I only matter - beside placement and loosing warranty - about the range if it's inside the casing. The Alu casing of the new Powerbooks must shield a lot, so it might have a seperate antenna somewhere well placed. Maybe we could also remove the antenna from the USB adapter, and place it at a better place, like near the edges?

Do you have an idea, where we could place the adapter inside the casing of the iBook?

[olli2]

There would be so many things we coudl use the Bluetooth adapter for. First, using the Bluetooth mouse, then there is my phone, my future PDA (I plan to get a Sony Clié NZ90 which has BT integrated), maybe a Logitech remote control for presentations, ...

If the range decreases a lot when placing it inside, there are more powerful adapters. I have seen BT adapters with 100 m range. Maybe they emitt/receive better in the 10 m area, too.


Here are some links for BT devices:

Expansys.com Bluetooth department
http://www.expansys.com/d_bluetooth.asp

http://www.blueunplugged.com/


Logitech Bluetooth Presenter
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?pa...p;languageid=1


MS Bluetooth Desktop
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/ke...wodbt_info.asp

[TomHMeredith]

Og course, the problem with having a Bluetooth adaptor with a bigger range is
1) its likely to draw more power
2) it is also likely to be physically larger

My D-link adaptor works with it in my flat, and my phone in the kitchen (living in Uni halls atm), that is a range of ~7m through 2 brick walls, so I doubt having it inside the iBook casing will make much of a difference.

Now I just need my PowerBook to sell on eBay so I can get my iBook!

Tom.

[olli2]

Originally posted by TomHMeredith:
Og course, the problem with having a Bluetooth adaptor with a bigger range is
1) its likely to draw more power
2) it is also likely to be physically larger

My D-link adaptor works with it in my flat, and my phone in the kitchen (living in Uni halls atm), that is a range of ~7m through 2 brick walls, so I doubt having it inside the iBook casing will make much of a difference.

Now I just need my PowerBook to sell on eBay so I can get my iBook!

Tom.

Nice, than reange is really not an issue. I thought it won't get through walls at all. I'll try to get some info about the Hub issue.

[TomHMeredith]

I wonder if there is room to put a hub inside the iBook?

You can get some pretty small hubs, and if you found a 2 port hub,(you can daisy chain them outside the iBook if needed) then it might provide the solution.

anyone got any intimate knowledge of hubs?

Really really want my iBook now, will definately be doing this mod as soon as i can.

Tom.

[Macrat]

It's been done on a PowerBook a couple times:

http://www.macitynet.it/macprof/tuto...e/indexe.shtml

[TomHMeredith]

Thanks for that link. Good to know it has been done before.

Does anyone know if an iBook will function normally without the modem module installed? I have no need for it, so if I did remove it, it would provide (a little) space for the bluetooth adaptor and hub.

Also, does anyone have any specifications on Airport Extreme, like what kind of a port the Card uses? Any ideas about putting one inside my iBook?

Thanks.

Tom.

[olli2]

I don't see a reason why it shouldn't work without the modem. Just I don't know, how it is integrated. On PC laptops, there is usually a Mini-PCI card, with a LAN-Modem combo. If you remove this card, both of them disappears from the system.

[olli2]

And thanks for the link. I just wonder how we will figure where is Pin 1 on the board, on the adapter and on the cable. :-)

[TomHMeredith]

Most voltmeter's have a function where they will beep if there is a completed circuit, you would simply need to experiment with the different pins.

That is, assuming they aren't labelled!

Tom.

[olli2]

Where can I get a cheap but good USB adapter? What do you think about this Mac labelled D-Link adapter?

[TomHMeredith]

I haven't really got loads of experience with Blueetooth adaptors, but I got my D-link one a few weeks ago and it's worked flawlessly since then. I imagine that the architecture of the adaptor is pretty much the same in all of them, the differences being the label, casing, and of course, quality of build.

[mcapehart]

By the way, the Microsoft Bluetooth Desktop will not work on the Mac.
It doesn't use real Bluetooth, it uses Microsoft's "implementation" of Bluetooth, which uses ActiveSync.

They won't even say if other Bluetooth devices will work with the adapter provided.

Sad. I was looking at this too, until I found this out.

[olli2]

Originally posted by mcapehart:
By the way, the Microsoft Bluetooth Desktop will not work on the Mac.
It doesn't use real Bluetooth, it uses Microsoft's "implementation" of Bluetooth, which uses ActiveSync.

They won't even say if other Bluetooth devices will work with the adapter provided.

Sad. I was looking at this too, until I found this out.

Typical MS strategy.

I hope Targus or Kingston will release shortly a good quality Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.

[jamez bond]

there is another post about this, so I just wanted to know if there are anyone watching this thread that has fitted a bluetooth adapter in a pro keyboard?

[TomHMeredith]

I havent made BlueTooth integrated into my Pro Keyboard yet, but I'm working on it!!

Give me a couple more weeks.....