Modding the Asus 701 (Eee) - Bluetooth

Last week I researched how to subvert the Asus 701 (Eee)!

Last year I documented adding internal USB Bluetooth to another sub-notebook…

Now I’ve combined the two - I’ve added internal USB Bluetooth to my Eee without interfering with the built-in wireless, using the empty mini PCIe card slot, or disabling any the available USB ports :)

First, I stripped the casing and USB connector off a small USB Bluetooth module (Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR):

After soldering 30 ga. flexible insulated wire to the USB Bluetooth module, I wrapped it in Kapton tape:

Then I connected the USB Bluetooth module to a 5V trace (off in standby) and a nearby ground trace - I used the USB signals available on the mini PCIe card slot occupied by the Atheros mini PCIe wireless card:

Finally, I decided to install the USB Bluetooth module in the area between the track pad and the status lights under the palm rest. I picked this location because there’s no shielding over the front edge of the palm rest to interfere with the PCB antenna on the USB Bluetooth module:

The end result in Xandros Linux:

The end result in Windows XP:

Here I have a Bluetooth mouse connected as well as my Sony Ericsson K850i which is being used both as an HSDPA modem over Bluetooth and as the camera taking these pictures:

641 Kbps dpwn and 264 Kbps up - pretty good for an HSDPA modem over Bluetooth, especially indoors, right next to a wireless router:

Just remember, kids… Don’t try this at home!