Adding Aftermarket Internal GPS to the CF-18

Coming soon, the EM408 on CF-18 MK1
I just need some suggestion where to put the antena. Coz the existing one installed 90 deg. angle which is not good as you know.



Ohlip

 

If you can get a small enough antenna you could fit it where the Bluetooth antenna is under the left side wifi cover.
It has to be smaller than ½ inch diameter for it to fit.
Angled out its an easy mod.
Another location is under the top plastic cover
With some grinding near where is says toughbook, a short antenna might fit there.
Really short

I wonder if the new smaller sarantel antennas are out yet?

Alex

 

For your information.
This is the 19 GPS. ant.

 

Thanks tango

I have not seen it before on a cf-19 , but it looks identical to the stock cf-18 gps.
I would like to try to hide the antenna as much as possible if i'm going to do a custom installation .
The sensitivity of the new sirf star lll chipset is truly amazing.
The antenna placement should be much more forgiving.

Alex

 

Hello Alex, are you the same Alex on bat... ?

 

Tango tough, Hows the reception, I mean the signal srength. Is it reliable?


teo

 

When I first saw that antenna configuration on the CF-18 I thought how stupid of panasonic to place the antenna vertical like that. Because we all know that a patch antenna needs to be pointing up. But then it occured to me that perhaps Panasonic intended for the GPS to be used in tablet mode with the display in portrait mode. This now makes sense because it places the antenna on top facing the sky.

 

I have not seen inside the pocket, but I would of thought the antenna has lots of room to point up.

Alex

 

Hi! if that is a patch antena then it installed 90 deg. not facing up the sky only the horizon.


teo

 

Yes it is a patch antenna and when the toughbook is in laptop mode then the antenna points to the right not good for reception. That is why I think Panasonic intended it to be used in tablet mode as this would place the antenna on top facing up the way it should be. But they did the same antenna setup on the CF-m34 so I really don't know what Panasonic was thinking there.

 

If that so, maybe I will install two antena and a switch. An antena when it is on tablet mode and one when it is on laptop mode. Right?


ohlip

 

Teo,

There is so much room in that plastic cover on the side, that you could have a gimballed and weighted antenna which would point in the right direction regardless.

Alex

 

BTW, its out of topic, Recently I purchased a cf-18 digitizer unit with broken screen. I thought that was a good deal. I sent payment after I received the invoice but unfortunately seller changed his mind and refunded my payment. Here is the link and the seller ID.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320293143336&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=011
His alibi is that my payment is not an instant while I always have fund on my accnt. and it is more than enough for the amount of the item. I even verify to paypal and they said its instant and confirmed.


What do you think, guys, Do I have to fight for this? Or do we stay out of this kind of seller?

Ohlip

 

From the auction:

ABSOLUTELY NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING, NO NIGERIA SHIPPING, IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, PLEASE DO NOT BID ON THIS ITEM, YOUR BID WILL BE CANCELLED

Did you ask him if he would ship to you?

 

I call a guy by phone coz he sent me his phone no. and talk about the problem of the unit except on the detail description on the auction.

ohlip

 

Shame on him
Newbie seller with 6 feedbacks should look at seller’s obligations before he joins eBay and lists anything.
This is a serious issue as far as trust in sellers go’s
Play hardball
Don't give up
Its too good of a deal to just walk away from


Alex

 

Teo lives in B.C. Canada

 

Thanks, Alex, I will try to convince him.


ohlip

 

Teo , by saying not instant pmt, what does that mean?
Did you pay with echeck or what ?
Maybe He needs to change his paypal acct to a buiness or premier acct, if he wants to run a ebay buisness.

Alex

 

Yea I know thats why I asked him if the seller agreed to ship before he used the BIN.

Not much you can do as far as forcing him to ship the item to you as long as he refunded. But you can report as non-performing seller to Ebay but he will probably respond with that you are an unwelcome buyer based on his clearly written terms and deny that he spoke with you by phone.

It was a good deal but hey there will always be another that comes along.

 

I always pay instant coz I always have fund on paypal.

Hey, man! I am not from Nigeria, I live in B.C., Canada.


teo

 

"Absolutely no International Shipping" the seller is in Texas and your in Canada ? I believe you would be considered International . Now I don't agree with the seller but if push comes to shove he will refer you to that first statement in his terms even though they are contradictory with the rest of the statement.

 

Ohlip,where abouts in Texas is this lad? Tell him he doesn't want me to come over there where he is.

Texans are good on thier word.

 

Thanks, pappy.. I wanna forget it maybe a better luck next time. He maybe have a problem with his accnt. on paypal as Tom....said coz he sent me an e-mail saying 21 hold. I don't know what he is reffering to. I pay on ebay item for almost five years and got no problem like this. But anyway here is his phone no.XXX-XXX-XXXX .

I only need the cadyy and the keyboard but as I said better luck next time.
Thank you.

ohlip

 

Teo,


Thanks for getting back to us on the facts, as the Ebay seller describes.

Yes, I believe him when he says that Paypal has put a temporary hold of 21 days on his account.

This is to protect paypal, as he is a new seller, with little history, at this time.

When I was a new to Paypal, their computer program triggered temporary holds on my account.

He just has to live with this, as this is PayPal’s policy.

Now in how it relates to you.


If he wants to sell on Ebay he just has to except this .

And to follow through with his word.

And to complete this transaction.


Alex

 

Pappy,
Can we revise this to "almost all Texans"?
Cap

 

Ok! lets start a new topic. The cf-18 harddrive caddy and connector is hard to find now a day, maybe you got lucky enough to find one but it cost around $200 plus. Poking around to my cf-29 harddrive caddy and compare the cable connector to cf-18 mbo IDE terminal and its a match. I 've take out the cable ribbon connector plug a new harddrive and installed temporarily to cf-18 and works 100% but I've got no caddy. By then I just wrapped the harddrive with foam which I think is good enough. Probably maybe a can of sardine will do the rest as a caddy . What do you think guys? Is it a good mod...a cf-18 harddrive caddy made of a can of sardines?


teo

 

Teo,

The sardine can might be the best solution.
I had never considered that as an option as I find sardines a bit oily for my tastes.:tongue:

The trick is to make sure that the cable stays permanently attached inside.
You don’t want it disconnecting!

I have made a few homemade caddies for the semi-rugged cf-72 and the regular business class cf-47, usually by putting weather-stripping foam tape on the hard drive in strips, you don’t want to completely cover it or there would be heat issues.

Alex

 

had u seen this on ebay Item 310080149302 ?

 

Thats a caddy for the cf-29
Good price, but it is 1/2" higher and a wee bit wider than the cf-18s , it is however the right length, and has the correct connecter.

Alex

 

I thought tomcats liked sardines?

 

This Tomcat likes Tunafish

 

Now, introducing the EM408 gps engine on panasonic cf-18. It is temporarily connected outside the unit but it works perfectly. I can even pick up satelite signal on my shop without the external antena. Here is the photo:

 

Alex,
I need at least 35 pin cable ribbon with 0.5mm pitch to do the interface cable ribbon between the cf-18 mbo. connector at CN16 and the gps engine. Hope it helps.


teo

 

Ok,

Could you give me some examples of where a cable like this is used?

Alex

 

On cf-28 rim card that interface the daugtherboard and mbo., on cf-27 (50 pin cable is ok, too). I think digikey has a 50 conductor cable ribbon with the same pitch and also look on sony broken laptop or even on junk printer. Maybe you can ask toughbook(ID) he has a lot of stock I think. just remember a minimum of 35c to 50c max. cable ribbon with 0.5mm pitch.

ohlip

 

And now, here is the final setup inside the unit of cf-18. The EM408 gps engine was mounted with double sided industrial tape at the top of the audio board and have a good space on that area. The next step is where to install the geohelix antena, probably on the LCD side, the place where the wi-fi located. Since then I have to wait 3 more days to arrive the geohelix antena.

for your reference: once again.


ohlip

 

Update, The geohelix antena works like a charm but it must be on the top of the lcd. I tried mounting it into the side plastic cover but signals are poor and not reliable as compare at the top of lcd.

I am now trying to find a way to mount the antena permanently. Till then, see you next time.


ohlip

 

Teo.
Is the GeoHelix M-Type available yet?
Its smaller.
I like the idea of on top, but the depth is a problem with the s type.
I'm thinking about hiding it completely, and the only way to do that is to grind away into the titanium bezel under the plastic cover.
As I said before I don’t trust myself with a grinder

But I have never seen a cf-18 modded
You are the first!
Maybe It will look good sticking out a bit.

Alex

 

Alex,
I used the s type. I open up the LCD casing and there is no way I can mount the antena. All space are occupied. I am looking now at the lower body of the unit maybe a patch antena will do trick at the same location where the stock one mounted.


teo

 

Hi Ohlip,

How are you getting on with the antenna install in your CF-18, I'm currently waiting for the Fedex guy to show up with mine and this is the first mod I want to get fitted... well, after I max out the RAM.

Have you tried connecting via the rear RF connector to an external antenna. This would be a good option for me as I intend to use mine in a Gamber Johnson vehicle mount for off road driving.

Cheers,
Andy

 

Hi! most cf-18 has a dual connector at the buttom. You can run the antena to one of those as also my plan. You can either use external antena and internal antena. If you have a docking station on a car it will be great.

With regards to antena installation. I just purchased two different type of connector bulk head, male and female with one of those has angular type SMA A and SMA B (pair for each type) but maybe I have to wait another week to arrive coz there are no local retailer here in my place.

I am planning to instal the antena at the same spot where the stock antena mounted. The geohelix antena that can be swivel verticaly when in use and fold it down when not in use. The location give me a good signal as I temporarilty tape in the one installed.

I will post more detail and photo when its done.


ohlip

 

Hi,

What antenna are you planning on using, the Magellan type ?

Andy

 

It would be great, if you have one of those. I bought the sma pcb angle type connector to solder the geohelix antena. When its done its like the magellan but a bet longer I think.


ohlip

 

Hi,

I looked at the Sarantel antenna and I think that it would easily pot into a suitable metal tube with a SMA connector on the bottom. After reading all the various GPS postings.... im confused... are you using a RIM board to interface the gps into or directly onto the cf-18 mobo ?

Thanks,
Andy

 

Directly on the CN(16) option slot of the Mbo. If you could go back and look on the picture that I posted(final setup photo) No need for rim board or anything just slide your cable ribbon interface with the gps cable to its corresponding pin asignment and your set to go.


ohlip

 

Hi Ohlip,

I have been looking at the antenna issue as my docking station (that's just arrived) doesn't have the required mating plugs for the rear RF connections on the TB. So, I think that using a recessed SMB connector ( http://www.coaxicom.com/pdfs/coaxicom/35-42/pg_36-37.pdf pt#6235-1) in the hole that is adjacent to the origional GPS antenna mounting point may be a good solution. I can then use a right angled female clamp type plug (pt#6226-XX-1) to epoxy pot into a plastic/metal tube along with the helix antenna. This would make a very robust assembly and be rain proof as well. It would also give a clean & smooth finish to the TB if the antenna were not required along with a easy connection point for a vehicle mounted external antenna.

I've also been looking at OEM GPS modules and this one looks a good candidate for use http://www.mightygps.com/oem/MG-753RWGT.htm it has battery backup for hot start and a MGC connection point for the antenna. Not having a patch antenna on the board is not really an issue as they don't work inside the TB case anyway.

Have you found a good way to splice onto the CN16 cable assy yet ?

Regards,
Andy

 

Andy..The gps engine that I installed on cf-18 has a patch antena that can be pull out coz this engine has also a provision for an external antena(mmcx type). It is also easy to mount and has a pin out that has already been established on a toughbook world. Maybe a couple more years and we upgrade it again to a new module.

with regards to the antena installation, If it is proven to be like the one we installed to the cf-28, cf-m34 and cf-29 reception, you don't really need an outside antena for you car. The signal for those mentioned are amazing.

For Segment operation between the ribbon cable and the gps engine cable. I have a simple step procedure on how it was done on aftermarket gps inst.. on cf-29 Thread. Kindly review all those posted instruction and you will found how easy it is if you have some skill on soldering.


ohlip

 

Hi Ohlip,

Thanks for the advice, have ordered a EM408 & some other parts. Was wondering about getting a PCB made up to connect the FFC cable to the 408 cable assy. Soldering the ends together is ok but a small PCB with the correct connectors would make the install plug & play... for everyone. Have got the freeware version of Eagle PCB so just need to find time to play with it.

Maybe it would be worth polling the forum to see it making say, 20 boards would be worth while ?

Cheers,
Andy

 

If somebody can do that, it will be great. I am also willing to help.




ohlip