Question[s] about adding a Bluetooth Mini PCI-E

Hi, i would like to add a Bluetooth Mini PCI-E module to my notebook, buying it on ebay for 25 bucks shipped. The laptop has 1 slot free. Questions:

1) Does the manufacturer lock the slot to specific devices?
2) Will the on/off switch work? I suppose the switch work is only to cut off the power of the free slot, right?
3) Does the module require an antenna (like Wifi ones)? There is a small connector on it...
4) Should I search for particular chip in bluetooth module (like those you can find on more expensive models of my netobook)?

Thanks for helping!

 

1. No the slot is not locked... It's just that device may be blocked in BIOS.. like wireless cards , which are usually whitelisted by Hp lenovo but i don't think packard bell does that...

2. Yup it will only be for wireless.. u'll need to turn it on and off using software.

3. No u don't need anything extra...

4. you shoudl search for the ones which work only in ur notebook for it to work for sure..

but the most hassle free way , is to get a bluetooth USB stick.. Plug and play.. simplz

 

It may or may not work. mPCIe slots in notebooks can have either pci-e lines, usb lines or both lines connected. It depends on what the manufacturer has done AND what your bluetooth module is expecting. I believe it would be using usb lines.

 

Why the switch would not work? The key combination FN+F6 is here, to turn on/off bluetooth in my laptop, even if it actually does not have it. And yes, I have a mini usb bluetooth dongle, but want to free up one more usb port.

Didn't know nothing about this.

General consideration: expensive models of the same "line" of my laptop (same mainboard, different cpu/gpu) have the bluetooth module. I would think this is why I have the not-working key combination for enable/disable it and the free slot. Do bluetooth modules exist only on mini pci-e connection or I'm missing something?

Thanks again for your time and help, and sorry for my crap english.

 

oh that switch.. should work.. but get the correct module lol..

 

Sorry to bother you again, i would like to buy a DELL Wireless 370 Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR Module Mini PCI-E, what is the connector here:



Should be used with an antenna to get bluetooth working?

 

Yep that's for the antenna. You need for better connectivity.

 

Damn...where should i buy it? Could i put it under the keyboard?

2nd question how the mainboard (and fn keys) could be "aware" that the bluetooth module is installed in a "certain" mini pci-e slot in order to (say) cut off the power? That is: imagine i swap the wifi module and bluetooth. The key for disabling the wifi will then disable the bluetooth, and vice-versa? I know maybe it's an hard question but...

Sorry again for my English. Thinking a complex sentence and try to simplify it in a foreign language like a 10 years old baby is one of the worst thing in the world

 

eBay is the best place for it and you can stick em wherever you want.

No idea regarding swapping with wifi in order to use its switch .. Sorry.

 

or, try one of the new very short USB bt adapters. Cost all of $10-. The no-name unit I use is very low profile and has nicely rounded corners so that it doesn't catch on laptop bags, clothes, etc, etc.

Installed in about 10 seconds, I didn't have to take my machine apart or worry about installing antennae either.

 

i would be careful in using dell one... try finding a acer one...

 

how about one of these

PICO USB BLUETOOTH DONGLE ADAPTER TINY ULTRA MINI MICRO on eBay (end time 14-May-10 17:03:27 BST)

 

Mhm...why?

Already have a micro adapter, but I want to free an USB port.

 

Dell is less likely to work compared to packard bell laptop... just in case your BIOS blacklist... just get the one which u get in the other models.

 

Ok i will try to find a most compatible model. Btw, can you try to answer my question (posted some days ago) about "how" the mainboard (and fn keys) could be aware that the bluetooth module is installed in a "certain" mini pci-e slot in order to (say) cut off the power? That is, for example imagine that I swap the wifi module and bluetooth. The key for disabling the wifi will then disable the bluetooth, and vice-versa?