Bluetooth for TH55

[pamblard]

Hello all,

I have a Clie PEG TH55 which I bought in US. I have unfortunately no bluetooth connection.
Does anybody know a way to get bluetooth connection ?
Is there a way to buy the bluetooth receiver as spare part and modify by hand the Clie ?

Thanks in advance.

Pat

[DanT]

There was a news about vaporware Hagiwara BT adapter (http://www.1src.com/scripts/show/927-Hagiwara_Sys_Com_Bluetooth_adapter_for_CLIE.html)
http://www.1src.com/uploads/927_thumb.gif

What I did was swapping TH55/U or TH55/J motherboard with TH55/E1. See the Japanese Red TH55/J became TH55/E1, in Figure 1, below. The only red TH55/E1 I know, so far. ;)

The Bluetooth chip on the TH55/E1 motherboard is shown in Figure 2, next to the missing Bluetooth chip of TH55/U, below.

I suggest you find a TH55 junkyard in France and buy a TH55/E1 with broken LCD, take the motherboard out and put it in your TH55/U. ;)

Figure 1
http://www.1src.com/gallery/data/500/2949Red_E1.JPG

Figure 2
http://www.1src.com/gallery/data/500/2949BT_chip.JPG

[DanT]

Another option is to buy PEGA-MSB1 Memorystick Bluetooth. Brando (http://shop.brando.com.hk/ms_bluetooth.php) soldout of it, but it still have a link to NX70V driver (not sure if it works with TH55, though). It was sold for $210 then :eek:

There was an ad in 1src classified section for PEGA-MSB1, back in May 2005, here (http://www.1src.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=480&sort=2&cat=3&page=1)

Since you are in France, you read up PEGA-MSB1 review in PDA France (http://www.pdafrance.com/articles/article.php?cat=dossierdivers&id=188)

http://shop.brando.com.hk/image/ms_bluetooth.jpg
http://www.1src.com/classifieds/data/3/0fd_1_b.JPG

[salesrep]

Don't you just love it when all that extra CLIE stuff laying around can be put to good use? I have two of the MSB1 BT Memory Sticks and just got a TH55/U in an eBay auction with Mapopolis and GPS mouse. I'll see if the combo works and let you know. . .

BTW, they go for about $50 on ebay. . .

[pamblard]

Salesrep, DanT,

Thanks for your useful answer.

Salesrep,

You mentionned that you have this MSB1 memory sticks. What is the capacity of this one ? How much will you sell it ?
You are apparently using a PEGA CC5. Are you running the US version or UK version ?

DanT,

Is it hard to swap the motherboard of the Clie ?

Thanx

[El Maquinas]

Hi all,

The PEGA-MSB1 is only an bluetooth interface adapter card, sorry but no memory is available on this device.

Regards.

[DanT]

...DanT,

Is it hard to swap the motherboard of the Clie ?

Thanx

Not to me, as I have lots of practice. :p

Seriously though, it is a little bit tricky. You need to have steady hand, the right tool for the job, understand how the ribbon cable locking mechanism work, be gentle with delicate (old and brittle) tiny plastic pieces in there, and throroughly undestand the steps that I have written in my post #14 of this thread (http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?p=908078#post908078). I have to put a disclaimer here that I am not responsible for any damage cause by what you do with your TH55. You take your own risk.

As standard procedure working with electronic, make sure you ground yourself. Don't want to zap the motherboard with the static electricity built up at your finger tips, especially with the dry cold air that we have during the winter time. Back up your RAM and then disconnect the battery first before you get to the internal.

You also need to swap the light indicator strip near the hinges, as the TH55/U has no Bluetooth LED.

Good luck!

[dmitrygr]

it is not hard to open a th55, reassembling is a bit tricker, but not too hard. unless you really try to break it - you will not, so fear not.

[salesrep]

I can report that the MSB1 does NOT work with my TH55/U. . .I used the MSB1 drivers for NX70V and all I got was an error requiring reset every time. It didn't matter whether the BT was enabled, disabled, or out of the MS slot. The reset came upon insertion of the MSB1. Sorry to report. :(

Also, the MSB1's are not for sale. I gave them to my daughters for Christmas for their SJ33's. They enjoy playing games together with the BT.

[DanT]

Thanks for the update, salesrep. That narrows down to (economically) just sell the TH55/U and buy TH55/E1 or E2. It would be much easier in Europe, I think.

[Pdaman]

Oh.. A brand new bluetooth th55, that would be quite dream machine! If I just could have the money for that =/ However I don't have gps receiver or even money for some kind of monthly data plan so I'm out of this game...

[pamblard]

Very interesting piece of information we have in here, isn't it ?

DanT, you mentionned that you have several TH55/E1 (with bluetooth) with broken LCDs.
How much would you charge to send one in France ?

[DanT]

Sorry to say no. I don't think I was referring to TH55/E1. Currently I am down to just 2 TH55/E1s with good LCDs. Both are being used. One is in my pocket and the other one (Red) at home as a back up. I do have lots of TH55/Us (20, LOL) with broken LCDs. I would definitely repair any TH55/E1 with broken LCD myself and not sell it in that condition.

It is a lot harder for us in USA to find TH55/E1. I've been getting them from UK and Germany. I tried once to get a TH55/E2 from Italy, but the thing never showed up at my home so we cancelled the deal. My suggestion is it would be a lot easier for you to find a TH55/E1 with broken LCD in Europe.

I've been selling an excellent condition TH55/E1 here for $375.00. I think you can get it cheaper in France.

[shortpath]

Thanks Dan and salesrep for all of the info. I was hoping the BT MS fix could help out my old U model!

No complaints however, now on year three with the unit and no problems other than replacing batteries. Easier now thanks to Dan! BTW, I like the screwdriver.

I too am a TH nutcase and have a BT version I bought on Ebay for a song. It is just so nice I am afraid to use it! So it sits in it's case waiting for the U model to die.