Easy USB bluetooth MOD

MOD TIME!



I've had this little USB bluetooth radio for a few months. When I got the Toughbook I started using it with that machine.
It worked fine except it's too long for the back bay door to close and too wide for the side door to close. So Time to get creative.




The plastic housing was coming apart when I first got it, so it was no sweat pulling it apart.



I broke it down and cut the plastic down to this (the remaining plastic is needed for function).


Here's how it looks reassembled:



Still too long.


Now to mod the antenna:



I scraped off some of the green plastic on the PCB in the area of the red circle in order to create a solder point.



Then I broke off the antenna piece approximately along the yellow line with a pair of needle-nose pliers.


Now a small piece of wire, a soldering iron and violla:



Remote antenna!


Now to put it together in a usable form. I used self-bonding silicon tape (something everyone should have on hand, its great stuff).



I folded the antenna over to the underside (plastic on that side), and wrapped it with the tape.



Nice and tidy little package.


Now to test its fit,



Fits fine, goes all the way into the port.



And the cover closes!


The unit was again recognized by Windows, and still worked with my headphones.

Range was unchanged, not stellar before or after the mod, I believe the magnesium between me and the radio had something to do with that.

I believe this would work great for a bluetooth mouse or something else close by, and the side USB port is still free to use.

It does gets better range in the side port but the goal of this mod was to have it stay in the back. Also it's so small needle-nose pliers are needed to remove it from the side. The more common rounded edge USB radios would probably allow the side port door to close without modding.




Not as slick as internal bluetooth, but much easier.
Also cheaper than PCMCIA options. These units can be obtained for little over a dollar including shipping! A better unit like the small iogear one may get better range.

 

Good job.... We have done similar things in the past.... But not this exact appproach. Does it turn off with the laptop or stay on?

 

NTTD, I have a similar BT module and despite trimming off most part of the plastic cap, the rear bay door doesn't stay completely closed.

I didn't know better how else to reduce the total length but now I do. Then again, my eyes aren't as good as yours nor are my hands as steady so...

Still, it's good to know where to cut/separate the module. Maybe, just maybe, I'll have someone else do it and maybe extend the antenna elsewhere for better reception (it's ok where it is now but I know this module can do better)

Thanks for the thread. Update if you decide to go further.

Ron in SG

 

It pulls its power from the USB port. Unless the USB stays powered it will shut off.

Ha! You should have seen the soldering iron dance, shaky hands run in the family (no brain surgeons here). It was a a pain but I got it done.

Yes I thought that may be a good idea as well move the antenna. I'm not sure how a long run would affect the signal. Perhaps someone who understands RF better would have input on that.

 

You could take a tied loop of monofiliment medium weight fishing line and run it through the side holes to use to pull it out of the port when needed. It will of course lay flat so as not to interfere with the closing the protective door.

Just an idea...

 

Bill, I don't understand what you're getting at. Please elaborate.

NTTD, I was thinking... how about running it to the back of the top case, behind the Toughbook logo. From what I read, that logo is plastic and I believe that some modders placed their wifi paddle antenna there.

Anyone else care to chip in?

Ron in SG

 

Well just that you could use a small tied loop of fishing line through any of the holes in the metal housing to pull the USB plug from the port should the need arise. Not really much of an idea, but better then having to carry a pair of pliers around for that purpose.

Well just that the problem here is that the unshielded feedline is also the antenna and we are already getting into it being de-tuned with the increase in length. I suspect that this agreed normally more advantageous location would not be as helpful as we might hope, but you can try.

 

EDIT
As far as extending the antenna I may try that if I get the breakout board w/ the usb port when I install GPS. Perhaps the center connector on small coax could be used to extend the antenna to somewhere at the top of the screen without diluting the signal or messing with the antenna.

 

When you get into these frequency ranges, ANY changes to the antenna make a difference; that 15mm or so of wire you added to the antenna probably shifted it's resonant frequency to half what it should be. At 5-10m range, you probably won't notice the difference, but the radio sure does.

Adding coax between the two is a BETTER solution, but it STILL does change the resonance of the antenna, so it will STILL make a difference.

The question then becomes whether it degrades performance enough to outweigh the improvement gained by better location.

Your BEST best would still probably be to locate the ENTIRE BT MODULE behind the Toughbook logo, then use very fine wire to extend it to a USB port.

Another option... I believe the TouchScreen on the CF-29 is driven by an internal USB port; you could hack a USB microhub behind the LCD panel and then you'd have USB for a webcam in the lid too. Just remember to hack a secondary +5V feed for the hub somewhere that's switched with main power.

I've done a similar hack on my NetBook; I put a USB microHub in place with the WebCam USB port to get extra USB ports for Touchscreen hack and lid-mounted USB port for WWAN module.

mnem
hubby.

 

Best Buy had a usb bluetooth that would fit and the lid will still close with out mod.

I have a HP usb mouse that has a tiny usb that lets the lid close. They have the same thing in just a usb bluetooth. It not a HP brand.

They are like 25.00 to 30.00 bucks much more than the cheap ones.

TB2010

 

Thanks for chiming in Mnem, we needed someone who understands RF.

Now as I understand it, extending USB does not affect the RF sgnal, at least in WIFI. Ive read that many wardrivers use long extensions between USB WIFI dongles on makeshift dish antennas and their computer. The signal is converted at the antenna then sent over USB vs using long specialty coax cable for an antenna. If needed for longer runs USB repeaters can be used.
I would think this might work for bluetooth as well, and therefore inside the case.

 

This will not really work, because it's not an USB2.0 port -> to slow for a webcam

 

Onirakkiss -

REALLY? NOT USB 2.0?!?!?

I'll be dipped in brimstone & rubbed with phosphorus... of course the USB connections in my NetBook were all USB2.0Enhanced.

Well, I guess you MIGHT be able to use it for a data connection with USB 1.1... but it also might drive the touchscreen crazy. Definitely be an experiment then.

I guess I stand corrected...

Wait... aren't the external USB ports on the CF-29 all USB 2.0? If so, they're all on the same USB Root Hub... so that TouchScreen SHOULD be USB2.0 too. Maybe it just needs to have a USB 2.0 device connected to it to force the drivers to load.

Hmmmm...

mnem
...mmmmH

 

NOTE TO SELF: Quite sugar coating things for NTTD or he will not believe that you know what you are talking about. :laugh:

 

As I was looking for an fast USB-port for my webcam-mod on my CF-29 I only found 3 fast ports: 2 external ports and the usb-port on the portreplicator. All the other ports from ICH4-M are too slow: bluetooth-port, WWAN-port, touchscreen-port.
Also if u look into the datasheet http://pentium.com/design/mobile/datashts/252337.htm on page 36 u will see, I should be right.

And for understanding RF; we should call for "rjenkins". He corrected my fault in my bluetooth-mod http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=242638 .

 

Yes, I see the Host Controller there, but the Root Hub... how many are there? 1 or 2? I find it hard to believe they used 1 high-speed USB buffer and 1 low-speed USB buffer on the same host controller.

Did you actually TRY to break out the serial connection to the touchpad and see? Or did you trace it out and it's wired RS-232?

mnem
Things that make you go HMMMM.....

 

Well, the design spec for USB limits to a 10m data signal path; of course, I see that limit violated on a near-daily basis. :rolleyes2: This has nothing to do with the RF in question, as the radio transceiver is actually on the end of that data signal path.

Az -

I believe you were a victim of Polysyllabic Technobabble Transfluent Trust Transference, or PTTTT. :tongue:

In other words... Since I used other, longer words and more of them, he assumed I knew more about what I was talking about...

mnem
Draconis Sesquipedalianis :GEEK:

 

I yield to your technological loquaciousness! I really was concerned that excessive oratorical sonorities would be too pleonastic to be expeditiously assimilated; instead my brevity was rewarded with an expedient dismissal. :laugh:

 

Yes Sir. I think I was trying the webcam on every USB-port to test the speed, because I was also thinking of using an normal USB-hub-PCB for the webcam-mod. The conn to the touchpad is serial, it's not worth to try (in my opinion).

 

Now that the good folks have demonstrated their prowess, urm... can we get back to using English!! LOL!!

 

Read through that thread, lots of good stuff but much more than I dare to get into. Though his posts made me think about getting rid of the stock antenna altogether and just use about 3cm of wire (¼ wave antenna) instead. This may increase the range of this mod.

Mmmmm, sugar coating!:wub:

 

Note to self: Check out self-bonding silicon tape. Another great option is Liquid Electrical Tape by PlastiDip (not to be confused with sugar coating).

 

Yeah I've found many uses for the tape though it can be hard to find. I've found this one in the plumbing section at the hardware store. There is another brand Ive seen at at Harbor Freight as well.

Ive seen the stuff for dipping tools, haven't seen this though, looks cool.

 

Ahhh... then I was mistaken in my belief it was USB. You CAN feed a WebCam on a serial port at 115K; but you're limited to 120x160 at 15FPS... I've done it. Uggggh.

mnem
Are you serial?!?

 

PTTTT! :tongue:

mnem
That'll do, pig.

 

UPDATE
After further testing with my headphones and the BT module connected to my desktop the range WAS diminished. So I decided to try a new antenna configuration.
I found out in this thread that a good antenna length for bluetooth is 3cm.
So time to put that to the test.

I cut an insulated piece of wire to length and soldered it in place.





Here's the final product


It is a tiny bit longer than the previous mod but still fits inside the back bay of the CF-29 with the door closed. The antenna is supported by the self-fusing silicone tape and can be flexed easily.
The wire I used was from a short pigtail phone cord designed to connect a phone base unit to a wall mount jack. It is braided copper with a center core of synthetic fiber. It flexes readily and should not fatigue and break like a solid wire could.

I plugged it back into my desktop and the range was restored to original!

I now have a module that will fit where I needed it and has the proper range.
Done and done!

 

Well done! In proper "Polish-Engineering" style no less!

The definition of "Empirical Engineering" is that you keep trying things until you "find something that works"... then you refine that something by trying things until you get it as good as possible... or at least "good enough".

This was what I did in my Advanced Antenna Mods thread... now you see how much difference even a few mm can make.

mnem
Pretty is as pretty does...

 

Nice evolution!

 

Very Cool Mod of the USB Dongle! Excellent Photos!

Has anyone tried using the Atomic Pico Bluetooth Dongle(the smallest one in photo), in the rear USB port? It seems to be the smallest out there, and may require no mod to get the rear compartment door to close.

 

What brand/model is that little bluetooth module? I would like to do the same with my cf28.

Thanks,
-DDaymen

 

Here's a review of the Atomic Pico Bluetooth Dongle.

 

And here it is for sale.

 

Aw... that's no fun, where's the solder, the duck-tape, the bailing wire?

 

Thats also my opinion ;-)

 

I just bought one of those Pico Atomic USB Bluetooth dongles on eBay, $10.35 +free shipping. It's coming from Hong Kong, so who knows how long it will take to get here! Once I get it I will do a mini-review, and post some pictures.

By the way, is the search function not working on this forum site, or is it me?

I cannot seem to be able to search for anything.

I am looking for threads about the CF-29HTM50BM.
Thanks to NTTD for having a great thread about the AirCard that goes into the CF-29HTM50BM, and the related pigtails!

I was wondering if there was a thread about RAM, and what brands/types/sizes people have had experiences with.

My CF-29HTM50BM has 504MB of on-board RAM, which I think is kinda odd...
Where's the missing 8MB?
There is a memory slot in the area of the on-board RAM, which I am assuming is DDR/DDR2, but I do not know what MHz module to use. Is 533MHz too much for the motherboard? Is DDR better than DDR2? I would like to read about other people's experiences with this particular model; but I cannot seem to search....

 

They're everywhere!

In case you haven't yet found the Toughbook Configurator, here's our ( yea; like you & NTTD, I've got one too ) system's specs:

CF-29HTM50BM DESCRIPTION:
***SBC ONLY***
Pentium M 738-1.4G LV (Centrino), 13.3" Transmissive touch XGA, 512MB, 40GB, WLAN 802.11a+b+g, Win XP SP2, Tester I/F, EDGE(GC83), logo, asset tag, replaceable RJ11 jack

Think: Video

The CF-29 Mk3 takes up to a 1GB DDR PC2700 200-pin SODIMM. It is not DDR2-compatible.

 

Searching can be tough, it's not only you.

You may be searching too specifically, in you search have "CF-29" NOT "CF-29HTM50BM". Your model is a CF-29 Mark 3. There are some hardware differences between the different marks. Other differences are due to options within each mark.

RE-Read the FAQ and official thread as well, took me a few read-throughs till I really started getting the basics down.
Info about your machine's RAM is here CF-29 RAM (this direct link is from the FAQ in the RAM section).

Also another search tip, use google! Many searches concerning Toughbooks point back here, sometimes this method works great.

Can't wait to see this. Post this review either in the official thread or start a new one.

Oh and welcome!

 

This one works fine. Crucial 1GB 200-Pin DDR SO-DIMM DDR 333 (PC 2700) Laptop Memory Model CT12864X335. Newegg had them on sale yesterday. You will have to do a little tweaking on the shield to get it to fit inside the cover after installing the new ram.
And Google is the best way to search the forum though you get lucky once in a while with the built in search.

Welcome.

 

I got the 1GB PNY from them, works great as well.

 

How much was it yesterday? Today it's $43.99 w/Free Shipping.

 

Very Cool!
Thanks to Everyone for the input!

I have yet to receive the Dongle from Hong Kong(it sounds so carnal when said out loud! That's what makes English so colorful!)

But I did receive 5 floppy drives!(I'm testing them out soon)

Is there a Floppy Drive section in this forum?

Would it be logical and possible to create a sticky thread for particular models,such as CF-29HTM50BM, or perhaps as general as the different Marks?
It seems to me that while The Official CF-29 Thread is packed with info, it seems to a bit overwhelming to go through.

Seems like the Crucial brand memory is very popular. Any particular reason why?

I have heard good things about Kingston brand memory.
Is Corsair a good brand? I see they have heat exchangers, or shields, do these get in the way?

I have been thinking about how adding bluetooth can make the ToughBook much more versitile. Such as tethering to a SmartPhone, without the need for a USB cable. I could use my Blackberry as a Modem while still in my bag(nice and safe) connected to my ToughBook via Bluetooth, and get internet access! The bluetooth could also be used to link an External GPS to the ToughBook. Bluetooth mic's, and speakers. Bluetooth Keyboards and Mice, oh my!

I found this bluetooth keyboard mouse combo thing on eBay(have yet to bid on it!)

 

Yes it can be overwhelming at first, again it will take a bunch of reading and research to get up to speed.
Overall the differences between CF-29 marks are minor, most of the time what applies to one CF-29 applies to all. There are many many variations of models within the marks making separate threads impractical. Focus on the overall model number CF-29 for info.