Can you add a Bluetooth option on a Laptop?

[Rick Modena]

I had the option when I built my Dell and didn't think I needed it, now I wish I had. Any ideas?

[CWO]

http://www.newegg.com/Network-Bluetooth/SubCategory/ID-295?Order=RATING

[Rick Modena]

My search skills need some serious work.

[CWO]

My search skills need some serious work.

x2

[Ratt]

What model Dell is it? Some of the Dell laptops just add a bluetooth card in a slot on the motherboard, and you could probably easily find one. Of course, the USB dongle is probably going to be the cheaper option, unless you don't want to always have that port taken up by the USB adapter.

[VaderTT]

I love the word "dongle"! My raspberry pi has a usb wifi dongle, lol.

[Rick Modena]

What model Dell is it? Some of the Dell laptops just add a bluetooth card in a slot on the motherboard, and you could probably easily find one. Of course, the USB dongle is probably going to be the cheaper option, unless you don't want to always have that port taken up by the USB adapter.

XPS 17
2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7-2760QM processor 2.40 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.50 GHz
6GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
Backlit Keyboard - English
17.3" HD+ (900p) LED Display with Multi-Touch and 2.0MP HD Webcam
NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 550M 1GB graphics with Optimus
500GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
Elemental Silver Aluminum
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64-Bit, English
Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Card
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader
Tray Load Blu-ray Disc BD-Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3
Intel© Centrino© Advanced-N + WiMAX 6150
Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2010
56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

[GeorgeG.]

What model Dell is it? Some of the Dell laptops just add a bluetooth card in a slot on the motherboard, and you could probably easily find one. Of course, the USB dongle is probably going to be the cheaper option, unless you don't want to always have that port taken up by the USB adapter.

This is what I'd look into.... as long as you're willing to take apart your laptop. But the usb adaptor will get you going sooner.

[Ratt]

XPS 17
2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7-2760QM processor 2.40 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.50 GHz
6GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
Backlit Keyboard - English
17.3" HD+ (900p) LED Display with Multi-Touch and 2.0MP HD Webcam
NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 550M 1GB graphics with Optimus
500GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
Elemental Silver Aluminum
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64-Bit, English
Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Card
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader
Tray Load Blu-ray Disc BD-Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3
Intel© Centrino© Advanced-N + WiMAX 6150
Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2010
56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

What's the Service Tag number on it?

[Jose]

I've got a USB Bluetooth "dongle" you can have Henry. I bought one at Fry's on a wim when I couldn't find my old one and right after that, I found it

[Jose]

What's the Service Tag number on it?

Ya need the service tag on it. Should be on the sticker on the bottom of the laptop. I'd be really surprised if it didn't already have Bluetooth built in.

[Ratt]

Ya need the service tag on it. Should be on the sticker on the bottom of the laptop. I'd be really surprised if it didn't already have Bluetooth built in.

It's an option in the XPS line-up. It will require removing the old WiFi card and replacing it with one that has WiFi and Bluetooth on the same card. Something like the Intel Advanced-N 6250 WiFi + Bluetooth card. But, I need the service tag to get the exact model number of the PC to find the proper form factor card for compatibility.

[CexMashean]

Sounds like you'll be using a dongle!

[Rick Modena]

Heres the service TAG# 712L2S1.

[Ratt]

This card will work for you, as it is the one that would have shipped with your laptop:

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Centrino-Advanced-N-Bluetooth-Wireless/dp/B009CKAM8Y/ref=sr_1_2?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1427291245&sr=8-2&keywords=intel+advanced-n+6230[/ame]

The Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 abgn WiFi + Bluetooth 3.0 Wireless N Combo Card. There are cheaper ones on Amazon ($11 or so), but they are not Amazon Prime, so no free 2-day shipping.

Here's a tutorial on how to change the card (it's under the keyboard):



You'll also need to install a different driver (probably) than the one you currently have for your wireless card. Let me know what OS you have and I can get you a link to the driver.

It's not that hard to do, but if you don't want to go through all that, then the USB adapter might be best for you. Let me know if you have any questions.