Introduction: Adding Internal(ish) Bluetooth to a Laptop
Stuffing bluetooth into a laptop that wasn't really meant to have it without any of that pesky soldering.
Step 1: The Idea
I recently refurbished my laptop and after adding internal wi-fi i decided I wanted bluetooth in there too. After a bit of Internet research I found it couldn't be done without soldering. I'm not very good at soldering and I didn't want to risk bricking my laptop so I decided to go a different way. I already had a bluetooth dongle and after looking at it closely found it would fit fairly comfortably between the screen and its casing, with the lead poking out above my usb ports. I then set about stripping down the components and taking my baby apart.
I wasn't quite sure where to put this but its my first Instructable and I'm neither writer nor photographer so be kind
Step 2: Making Everything Fit
I now removed all excess material form the dongle and cable. The metal part of the plug was removed and the plastic was sanded down leaving a step just large enough to accommodate the usb of the dongle (the dongle had a half thickness usb) it was then taped together with self amalgamating tape. Also at this stage I removed excess at the other end (the part that goes into the computer, I apologise for my shady terminology) and put and angle in it to suit my computer then glued and taped it up.
Step 3: Fitting It In
After removing the LCD I test fitted the gubbins. If your going to try this I would do it repeatedly I ended up cutting some extra holes in my laptop, I don't mind too much I just covered them in stickers but be careful!! I then drilled a small hole in the lid to allow the LED to be seen and another hole by the hinge to allow the cable to pass from the inside to the outside of the lid. I then glued the dongle in place over the hole I had drilled and threaded the cable through the lid to the exit hole.
Step 4: Finishing Up
Then it was time to re-assemble the laptop plug it in amd make sure every thing was still working and lined up right. Fortunately it was and did YAY
12 Comments
15 years ago on Introduction
well this is awesome cuz i use alot of projects w/ bluetooth but one stupid question is ur computer an old toshiba satalite from like the 90's
15 years ago on Introduction
It's not that I want to belittle your instructable (it's very nice, BTW), but I've seen USB Bluetooth dongles that barely protrude from the USB slot. Surely they would make such intensive surgery redundant?
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00417&dept_id=015&cat_id=036
Like this? i own one of these, works very nicely! tho i hav it in the back of a powermac, its only about £13/$27
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
that thing is tiny hows the range?
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
10 meters? It's not like you need a huge antenna for standard bluetooth; I've seen even smaller adapters.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
i want to be able to get it out of my usb port tho! lol
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
range is good (10 metres), i use it to run my bluetooth keyboard off, works across a room no probs, and even works thru walls. i have seen 100 metrre versions, but not from brando.
15 years ago on Introduction
thanks for the comments, glad you like. I suppose it is a tad redundant but it was done with stuff I already had laying around and provided an afternoons entertainment. I am kinda tempted by the tiny ones i found one yesterday for £7 but I would probably lose it.
15 years ago on Introduction
Please tell me you have linux on that MacBook LinuxH4x0r...
15 years ago on Introduction
hole or whole?
15 years ago on Introduction
I would do this, if my MacBook didn't already have BT Great job
15 years ago on Introduction
Neat Instructable! Nice laptop too, looks cool with all the stickers.