Adding Bluetooth: Difference between revisions

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The [[XO-4]] includes a [[Bluetooth]] adapter function in the wireless card. The remainder of this article is for the [[XO-1]]. --[[User:Quozl|Quozl]] 02:03, 13 August 2013 (UTC).
== Installing a Bluetooth adapter into your XO ==

{{outdated}}
== Installing a Bluetooth adapter into your XO-1 ==


'''Warning! This modification to your laptop involves both electrical and mechanical changes. Judge for yourself whether you think you have the ability to pull this off successfully.'''
'''Warning! This modification to your laptop involves both electrical and mechanical changes. Judge for yourself whether you think you have the ability to pull this off successfully.'''


While USB bluetooth devices work fine on the XO (with appropriate
While USB bluetooth devices work fine on the XO-1 (with appropriate
software changes, which are beyond the scope of this page), it's
software changes, which are beyond the scope of this page), it's
inconvenient to have a small device always protruding from the
inconvenient to have a small device always protruding from the
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covered or plugged as a reminder.
covered or plugged as a reminder.


''(As an alternative -if you also consider adding a Touchscreen see: [[Touchscreen]], thus ADDS at least TWO USB-ports!! (user: biopilz))''
== Open up the patient ==

== Open up the XO-1 ==


To get access to the back of the screen assembly, you should
To get access to the back of the screen assembly, you should
visit and follow the OLPC wiki instructions for [[Disassembly]].
visit and follow the instructions for [[Disassembly]].
You'll need to remove the screen
You'll need to remove the screen
bezel (i.e. the plastic surrounding on the screen), the screws
bezel (i.e. the plastic surrounding on the screen), the screws
that hold the screen (but don't disconnect the screen) in order
that hold the screen (but don't disconnect the screen) in order
to get at the screws behind it that hold on the back -- i.e., the
to get at the screws behind it that hold on the back -- i.e., the
piece plastic with the XO guy. (The trick with the screen is to
piece plastic with the logo. (The trick with the screen is to
remove its screws, remove the screws underneath it which old
remove its screws, remove the screws underneath it which old
the back, then reattach the screen with a couple of screws until
the back, then reattach the screen with a couple of screws until
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Once you have the back off, you'll see the USB connectors, as in
Once you have the back off, you'll see the USB connectors, as in
the first picture. I used the top one, which you can see is
the first picture. I used the top one, which you can see is
labeled CN6. You should buzz this out with an ohmmeter yourself
labeled CN6. You should test this out with an ohmmeter yourself
to verify which pins go where when you plug in your bluetooth
to verify which pins go where when you plug in your bluetooth
adapter. The plane below (to the left in the picture) of CN6 (on
adapter. The plane below (to the left in the picture) of CN6 (on
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Unfortunately there's a gap in the pictorial record at this point
Unfortunately there's a gap in the pictorial record at this point
-- the USB connector has to be removed from the DBT-120 circuit
-- the USB connector has to be removed from the DBT-120 circuit
board, so that it will fit in the XO. It wasn't particularly
board, so that it will fit in the XO-1. It wasn't particularly
difficult, but you don't want to make things too hot. I used
difficult, but you don't want to make things too hot. I used
solder wick to remove most of the solder, then a small pick to
solder wick to remove most of the solder, then a small pick to
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Some double-sided foam tape holds the bluetooth module to the
Some double-sided foam tape holds the bluetooth module to the
XO's motherboard. To attach to the ground plane, I used an
XO-1's motherboard. To attach to the ground plane, I used an
existing contact point near the top edge of the board. To attach
existing contact point near the top edge of the board. To attach
to the +5 plane, it was necessary to take an sharp knife and
to the +5 plane, it was necessary to take an sharp knife and
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because the bluetooth module ends up inside of the painted EMI
because the bluetooth module ends up inside of the painted EMI
shielding of the laptop, the range is cut significantly. Before
shielding of the laptop, the range is cut significantly. Before
installation, my bluetooth GPS unit could pair with the XO from
installation, my bluetooth GPS unit could pair with the XO-1 from
up to 25 feet away. Now the limit is about half that.
up to 25 feet away. Now the limit is about half that.


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that's sturdy enough for
that's sturdy enough for
the repeated flexing.
the repeated flexing.

''(the [[XO-4]] Bluetooth uses one of the laptop antennas, and therefore has a much greater range.) --[[User:Quozl|Quozl]] 01:56, 13 August 2013 (UTC)''


[[Category:hardware]]
[[Category:hardware]]

Latest revision as of 02:54, 13 August 2013

The XO-4 includes a Bluetooth adapter function in the wireless card. The remainder of this article is for the XO-1. --Quozl 02:03, 13 August 2013 (UTC).

The contents of this page are considered outdated and some of the information may be stale. Please use information here with caution, or update it.

Installing a Bluetooth adapter into your XO-1

Warning! This modification to your laptop involves both electrical and mechanical changes. Judge for yourself whether you think you have the ability to pull this off successfully.

While USB bluetooth devices work fine on the XO-1 (with appropriate software changes, which are beyond the scope of this page), it's inconvenient to have a small device always protruding from the USB jack.

The basic idea is this: take an off-the-shelf USB bluetooth adapter, take it out of its case, and install it inside the XO laptop. After doing so, one of the external USB ports on the XO will no longer be available for "normal" use, and should be covered or plugged as a reminder.

(As an alternative -if you also consider adding a Touchscreen see: Touchscreen, thus ADDS at least TWO USB-ports!! (user: biopilz))

Open up the XO-1

To get access to the back of the screen assembly, you should visit and follow the instructions for Disassembly. You'll need to remove the screen bezel (i.e. the plastic surrounding on the screen), the screws that hold the screen (but don't disconnect the screen) in order to get at the screws behind it that hold on the back -- i.e., the piece plastic with the logo. (The trick with the screen is to remove its screws, remove the screws underneath it which old the back, then reattach the screen with a couple of screws until it's time to reassemble. You don't want to overuse the little connector that attaches the LCD cable to the motherboard -- it's fragile.)

Once you have the back off, you'll see the USB connectors, as in the first picture. I used the top one, which you can see is labeled CN6. You should test this out with an ohmmeter yourself to verify which pins go where when you plug in your bluetooth adapter. The plane below (to the left in the picture) of CN6 (on which the "CN6" label is silkscreened) is +5V, the plane above (to the right in the picture) is ground. The two traces emerging from below the connector and terminating at pads 1 and 4 of L1 are the two USB data lines.

1)


Prepare the transplant

The second picture shows the bluetooth module I used -- a D-Link DBT-120. The case snaps together -- just pry the halves apart gently. Picture #3 shows the result.

2)
3)


Unfortunately there's a gap in the pictorial record at this point -- the USB connector has to be removed from the DBT-120 circuit board, so that it will fit in the XO-1. It wasn't particularly difficult, but you don't want to make things too hot. I used solder wick to remove most of the solder, then a small pick to lift the tabs that hold the connector on, one by one.

Ready for reassembly

Some double-sided foam tape holds the bluetooth module to the XO-1's motherboard. To attach to the ground plane, I used an existing contact point near the top edge of the board. To attach to the +5 plane, it was necessary to take an sharp knife and scrape off a small patch of the green solder resistant layer. (Again, I'm sorry there aren't more pictures.)

4)
5)



Post-op

The results are good -- bluetooth works well. Unfortunately, because the bluetooth module ends up inside of the painted EMI shielding of the laptop, the range is cut significantly. Before installation, my bluetooth GPS unit could pair with the XO-1 from up to 25 feet away. Now the limit is about half that.

It would probably be possible to improve this by mounting the module under the white plastic (on top of the battery). That area of the plastic shell isn't shielded. The difficulty is that the USB connection to the bluetooth module would then need to run through the hinge. This isn't hard to do -- but a cable should be used that's sturdy enough for the repeated flexing.

(the XO-4 Bluetooth uses one of the laptop antennas, and therefore has a much greater range.) --Quozl 01:56, 13 August 2013 (UTC)