Anyone brave?  I’m assuming this would entail soldering a USB BT adapter internally.  I would consider it if anyone had the schematics and I knew where the wires belonged.

On the same note, has anyone found an internal Mini PCI card that has wifi and BT?  Could be a much simpler solution.

There may be an internal USB module that can plug in to the Internal USB bus. Search on Ebay for Toshiba Bluetooth Module, and you will see what I mean.

Yes I saw that.  I believe thats a mini PCI card.  The TR uses a USB solution, prob a different motherboard.

Hi

Internal modules connect using standard internal USB connections. This should not be a proprietary connection - it appears there are 3 ways to connect on the inside:
UART
USB
Mini-PCI

This is a USB connection. If memory serves me well, the bluetooth adapter runs as an internal USB device - same way the motion-eye does.

So this might work?  Anyone who has taken apart their TR, did they see a slot that this would go into?  I was frustrated enough that I ordered the TDK PC card today, but would still love to have internal BT.

Im surprised no one else is researching this.

There is no standard slot. The Bluetooth unit found in TR models with it installed is not a standard part. It’s also part of a daughterboard. We do know that it connects via the last open USB port (#5 starting from 0).

Trust me, there’s plenty of us researching the idea. Of course, it’s going to take some time to figure it out since the diagrams that Sony provides aren’t so forthcoming and getting the actual part is almost impossible. There are no electrical schematics that we’ve seen.

The other difficulty is that not all BT units are built the same nor do they all provide the same profiles that everyone wants. Some people only want/need dial-up abilities while others want HID support as well. As of right now, I don’t see any one product that stands out enough to support everything…and if they do, their software interface is absolutely atrocious.

So…the search is on…if anyone does have any success you’ll probably hear about it here first. Of course, if you want to be the first brave soul to try a whole bunch of things then please be our guest. 

Does anyone have a pic of the BT module in a TR yet?

Erik

It looks like actually soldering in a small USB dongle is the best bet.  My only problem is, as gr00vy0ne stated, there arent really any usb dongles with a full set of profiles.  I really liked the TDK products though, they have it all, HID, audio gateway, nice software, etc etc.  They have gotten very good reviews.  Too bad their USB dongle looks very large.  But I will report back when I receive their PC card on how well it works and how the software is.

Plus I will get a closer look when I install my a/b/g card this weekend!

or at least it was when I used it with my SRX77 and my t68i.

It supported HID and Audio Gateway, so it was really a good unit. The software was pretty decent too - I tried everyone from Socket to Ambicom to 3Com - I think about 7 different BT adapters in total. I was looking for the best software, and I must admit, the TDK unit took the prize.

So we keep looking…Do we even know where this daughterboard fits - I have the Service Manual for the SRX 77, and in the schematic it shows where the BT module fits, AND gives a part number. If anyone is interested…

Please do.

I just finished putting in my a/b/g card, what a breeze.  Took 20 minutes.  Thanks again gr00vy0ne for pioneering and posting excellent instructions.

I did see a connector which had nothing connected to it, almost like a receptacle for a daughterboard.  It was on the bottom all the way to the left, under the HD.  It was beige in color and looked like it accepted the same connector as the HD/optical, but smaller.  I would have taken pictures, but my camera’s battery was conveniently dead.

Anyone who has been inside of the TR, is this connector related, or for something else?

By the way, looked like plenty of room inside for a USB adapter, one of the smaller ones anyway.  But as gr00vy0ne pointed out, the software is the limiting factor.  Maybe if TDK comes out with a smaller one.

Has anyone made any progress on the bluetooth modification? I am wondering whether I should buy a Sony BT adapter and dissassemble it to check whether I can get it into my TR case. Any pointers?

Hello all, I’m currently inside the TR right now and am taking close up pictures of everything. I actually found the TR’s Bluetooth connection point. I was wrong about where it connects. It doesn’t connect to the “5” port on the motherboard.

It’s directly under the keyboard palmrest. I’ll have pictures and comments in a little bit once I put it back together…

Ok, I decided to try an experiment. I went back into my TR and decided to take it apart more and went looking for Bluetooth upgrade possibilities. I’d like to not solder anything if possible. So, I realized that I made a big mistake when looking at Bluetooth expansion slot initially. I thought the 6th USB port (labeled 5) on the motherboard was the correct upgrade location. It’s a 20 pin connector which is still unknown.

At any rate, I peeked under the keyboard and opened up the little daughterboard and voila…there was the missing Bluetooth module connector. Had I examined the service manuals more carefully i would have known this…but I was a little confused by it.

Anyways, here’s what the daughterboard looks like…

You can see another 20-pin connector. It’s different than the one on the motherboard and the pins seem to match up with the Toshiba Bluetooth module that people have seen on eBay. The module definitely does not match up with the Port “5” on the motherboard.

So, being extremely curious, I bought one of those things off eBay for $20 and work on trying to install it. I was wrong about that part too…I originally though it was female in the picture but it is a male and will plug into the female port of the daughterboard. It also has an antenna coax connector for the Bluetooth module.

Ok, reality.

While it will plug into the module part it will not fit because the PCB is a hair too large and will push against the Memory Stick slot. If you try to force it in, the pins won’t match up and you might risk damaging the plug. Even if you were able to plug it in correctly then you would find that the Toshiba module is too long and you won’t be able to put your TR back together as the module blocks one of the fastening points (where you screw the palmrest to the TR body).

So, don’t go and buy this module…it won’t fit. We’ll all have to figure out how to get the Sony Bluetooth module part. I’m wondering that since the new Sony Z1s have Bluetooth built in that it might be possible to get the Bluetooth part from that model (via a service center) and install it. I would assume it’s a standard part for Sony notebooks (wishful thinking) but we’ll see….the search continues.  :?

so which way width, height or thickness - I am thinking about cutting down the pcb ‘a hair’ very carefully, with my Dremel. Which direction do I need to be concerned about.

Aaah - length, and there is an annoying connector in there. Hmm. I wonder if we could get a ribbon connector to move the toshiba board elsewhere?

It’s too long and too wide. You can’t cut the PCB down enough for it to fit. It blocks one of the screw holes. And there are traces and chips where the hole is so you can’t modify the PCB.

If you can find the connector and a proper ribbon then it might be possible…of course, find the correct drivers and getting it to be recognized is another issue. I’d rather try to get my hands on an official part.