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    XPS 15 L501x - Bluetooth or WWAN - Dell sayys pick either, cant have both (??)

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by ans04, Feb 22, 2011.

  1. ans04

    ans04 Notebook Consultant

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    So my brother bought an XPS 15 configured with WWAN but they forgot to install it in the system. When he realised this and did a thorough check, he found that there was no Bluetooth aswell.

    When he called them up, they said choose either, can't have both cuz there is only one port (unlike my SXPS 16).

    I've looked though the XPS 15 repaste thread (cuz the pics show the mobo quite nicely) but can't seem to find it.

    Can anyone help me out here?
     
  2. lagonium

    lagonium Newbie

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    Well, that's a strange thing for them to say. My XPS 15 has the Intel Centrino Advanced 6250 + WiMax card, which does normal wireless networking and WWAN (WiMax). I also have a Bluetooth card installed. So I have both. I don't know what they are talking about. It's probably just Dell trying to save some money by not sending him the parts he paid for.

    There are actually two ports on the bottom of the XPS 15 - one for a WiFi card and another for either a separate WWAN card (it says WWAN on the slot) or it could be for the optional TV tuner.

    The Bluetooth card doesn't go in the bottom of the XPS 15. It actually sits near the front edge of the laptop. I know this because my replacement laptop didn't have Bluetooth (my original one did have bluetooth) and when I told them this they said that I could install the card myself if they sent it to me. Taking apart a laptop worth $1700 (got it for $850 in the outlet store with a 20% off coupon - score!) was a little nerve-wracking, but I've done riskier things before.

    The Bluetooth actually is a little board with a short cable that plugs into a bluetooth-only port on the motherboard. You have to fold the cable in a frightening way to make it fit, but it still works for me!

    I hope this helps somehow.
     
  3. timoric

    timoric Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello,

    I found your info on the bluetooth for the XPS15, I am assuming version 1 non-sandy bridge.

    I bought one without bluetooth and want to do the same thing you did, do know what part it was, dell chat doesn't have it in stock and theirs was a combo wireless/combo bluetooth 3.0.

    It probably is a real pain to go back and answer this question, but hey maybe I will get lucky and you will reply.

    Tim