Adding Aftermarket Internal GPS to the CF-28

Thanks Mod...I'll keep looking

 

Been doing some testing with GPS in the hump location.

Not as great as up top. Without the plastic bit, I was able to get 4-5 satellites upstairs in the house. With the plastic on, I get 1-2 in the house.

Still gets a solid fix outside though. 5-9 satellites depending on where I was standing. I'll test it out next week on my flight to Los Angeles, and while I'm there driving around with my brother.

 

Hi! everybody, I managed to parted out one of my EM-408 to give way for another connector that needed for the docking station like the kodiak mount and the good news is that this thing has a cmos battery backup. here is the photo for reference:

 

Good stuff! I figured it did when it would have reference to satellites that it couldn't fix on when I gave it a cold start in the basement.

I think I'll still add a spot for a battery for other GPS units on the aftermarket board if I get the time (or in a future revision).

 

You know... I was really wanting a back-up battery for the GPS. BUT... In the months we've been playing with the setup... I haven't had to wait more than 5 seconds for a fix on my position. So why do I need one again?

 

You'll get slightly quicker location times, especially if it has been brought into a low signal area for a period of time.

When I tried to get a signal on my unit that was in my basement for 2 months, it took over 2 minutes to get enough satellites to locate me.

 

I've been planning on doing some dissection to my EM-408 but I had hoped to find a defective one first, to practice on!

 

What do you need to practice on?

 

a junk EM-408, preferably! I'm just a little apprehensive about tearing apart something I only have one of, and I just paid $50 for!

 

I parted out that engine and taken out the patch antena and then installed a female mmcx connector on the same spot. Therefore now; i have two connector on one engine to connect an antena on lump side and an extended cable to other that goes to pass thru connector at the back of the unit as an option. here is the pic for your comment:

 

Nice! I'll have to start getting crafty like that.

 

i guess i should grow some ba**s and take mine apart like ohlip did

 

I hereby officially throw in the towel at trying to use the hump...Every patch I try acts like the hump is made of kryptonite...

But what looks really promising to me is the 15mm patch up in place of the RIM antenna mount...

I took the case off the patch...de-soldered the custom lead I had Gray's engineer install...desoldered the RIM lead from the stock RIM antenna, soldered it to the patch board.

The performance is awesome...now I just need an enclosure for the patch.

All the RIM wiring is factory...complete with Pass-Through on the rear panel.

I'll shoot a couple pic's tomorrow.

 

Hmmm.... Did you try the new GPS with the old patch antenna? I just got in a CF-28 with stock GPS... I was going to fool around with the GPS to see if I could get the one in the hump to work.Stock antenna and new GPS...

 

Not quite...the factory lead is h.fl...so I did a hack and slash on the thing, splicing in a RIM cable end, and it dident seem to work hardly at all.

I'm starting to think maybe the factory engine and antenna were perfectly tuned (lead length). Because none of my leads where preciely the factory length.

When I first got the 28, the factory GPS seemed to work pretty good to me, but I got that upgrade hair....and pretty much destroyed the factory engine.

 

No loss there I wouldn't think. I plan on taking out the stock GPS on the one I just got... But I want to play around with the hump and the stock antenna. I have several MMCX connectors so I can just cut off the (I think) h.fl connection and solder on a MMCX. So.... Now splice, just a new connection. That may help.

 

Thats what I did....a RIM cable end. If I were to do it again, I'd measure the factory lead, and try to duplicate that.

 

*Plays a dirge on tissuepaper & comb for Glen's Factory GPS*

Dumb suggestion (actually, more like needling you guys a little for all the work you put into this one feature):wink: - how about just bond a small steel pad to the cover of the LCD & stick one of those uber-tiny Bluetooth GPS Modules to it

mnem
Windoze XP Pro Setup will complete in 4 years, 242 days, 7 hours & 12 minutes...

 

Because it would point the wrong way :Þ~~~

Ah, BT....I knew I was forgetting something...:O

 

Well... Someone said it wouldnt work... But seeing is believing. I put the stock Panny GPS antenna on the new GPS and it's a big NO GO. I didn't bring it outside as it's cold, late and I already set the alarm and the wife is in bed. I have the antenna right beside the sliding glass door... All sats are in the red. The data is streaming but nobody's at home.

I'll stick it outside before taking it all apart. <Tomorrow... er, later today.... er.. .in a few hours.>

 

Not if you put magtape on a side of the GPS Module too... put it flat to travel, flip it on its side to use...

mnem
Some say I have animal magnetism; some just say I'm an animal...

 

Dejavu...

There's something about the original mix that makes it work fair, but not great. I never did figure it out, I just abandoned it.

 

It must be the metallic wrapped mad tape or something like that... Though I've had them working before without all that.

Oh well...

 

Something about the plastic material seems to be killing signal too. I'm testing out the jim gray antenna in the stock hump, and my signal is low... which was to be expected, but when I take off the plastic, my signal is far higher. It's a huge difference!

Either way, I'm able to get a fix at my current location on my brother's couch with 8 satellites, with it in the hump and the plastic over it.

 

You're verifying my findings....that housing just squelches the signal. It appears the platic materials definitly attenuate the signal...I'm still going to experiment with that Magellan antenna once I get a mate for the SMB (I have some on order). I like the mental picture I see of that thing mounted to the flat blank on that side..flip up/down.

 

Here are some shots of that 15mm antenna (Still looking for some kind of housing for it)

 

Glen... That's a great start! What do you think about dipping that corner in liquid plastic to seal it off? The signal would easily go through it. AND... It would weatherproof that corner! You could tape the areas that you don't want covered and then cut it with an x-acto blade to trim it to size and then peel away the tape.

Thoughts?

 

I'm going slow and waiting...see if something else hits me. The liquid thing is 1 possibility.
The big PLUS about this approach is it uses the existing RIM plumbing.

I like the low profile, blunt contour. I'll give it a week or 2 before I settle on some attempt at covering it.

I've ordered some SMB bulkhead connectors to experiment with that Magellan flip antenna on the flat blankoff. (This is the possibility I'm most hoping for)

 

I just got an email from Heartland... They no longer make the GPS "hump" cover. So it is up to our ingenious little minds to come up with an alternative.

 

Did you try the other source? bumblebee stoves or whatever? what part number did you come up with?

 

Didn't get the part number... I don't know if they ever had one.

The stove place is a dead end... I can't believe that anyone would order from there... It cracks me up...

Me - "Hello... I need part # 123456 for a Panasonic Toughbook."
Them - "Uh... Is that one of our higher line microwaves?"
Me - "Um... No... It's a laptop. What do you show for part number 123456?
Them - "It is a radial magnatometer that fits inside the Gold Series Microwave."
Me - "Oh... Well... Do you think a Sarantel Geo-helix GPS antenna would fit inside it?"
Them - "A what?"

 

Hmmm....for $20 I'd just order it...worst that can happen is to thow it out..or file it under M.

The thing to remember about being wrong (which is what they are most of the time) is its a 50/50 shot at which wrong they are (wrong or right)

 

Sorry Guys for coming in late and asking questions if they have been asked before.
Are we looking at replacing the Sarantel Geohelix-S Active GPS Antenna because it too fragile – too hard to mount – too expensive – or are we just exploring deferent options?
I read that the stock GPS hump is made out of some sort of anti GPS signal receiving substance. Do we think that it is the type of plastic or location or both?
As I’ve mention before I have resources to manufacture parts for prototyping and have a couple of ideas for making a secure mount for the Sarantel antenna and would be interested to hear your comments before I proceed any further.

Thank you

Jim

 

Jim,

We are looking at different antennas for several reasons. Some don't want to mount it to the LCD. Some don't want to because it is a somewhat fragile mount. (Something I hope to fix today!) Others don't want to have to take everything apart to mount the antenna on the LCD and are looking for an easier mount.

I don't think Panasonic would use the hump if it wouldn't work. I think it is a matter of the antenna having to be "tuned" to what ever is over/above/under it. Our antennas were not made for the hump, so it won't work there.

Go for it if you want to build something! Personally I am going to try to find a way to strengthen the LCD mount. The CF-29 gets around this partially by mounting a "bump-out" piece on the lower reciever so when the lid is closed the bumper gets the hit instead fo the antenna. I am also looking into build a shroud around the geo-helix antenna so it would absorb the bruising.

So... We are all working on something different. Sort of...

 

I'm approaching this more pragmatically, all of the above is why I dont like that antenna method.

Ideally, this is what I hope for:
1. ~$20 for the Magellan replacemnt from Amazon, or whereever.
1. ~$10 for a bulkhead SMB - MMCX lead.
2. 1 hole drilled in side flat plastic blank.
3. Insert the connector, attach lead to engine, clip on the Magellan.

Done...quick, easy, cheap, and easily replaceable.

 

Glen... It's a great idea if you can get the antenna to stay on. The conector I bought for the Magellin antena is the wrong one and won't make proper contact... Let alone holding the antenna onto the side.

On a side note. I just got off the phone with Cadillac (Jim). He suggested starting a Antenna Thread with what we have tried and the results we've obtained. So I'll start one in a few.

 

anybody here knows what kind of adhessive they used on the plastic covering in the palmrest area. I have somekind of experimentation with relationship to antena mounting.


I will let you guys know when i'm done but i need the type of adhessive that i have mentioned.

thanks

ohlip

 

It is double sided sheet adhesive. You will destroy the palmrests if you try to remove them. Heartland sells the complete set for $50-$60 for the three piece set.

It is VERY sticky stuff. It is the same type of adhesive they use on the Toughbook logo on the LCD lid.

If you are going to try anyway... I would suggest a heat gun at a low setting to get the area that you are working on VERY warm but not hot. Then try....

Are you planning on cutting a hole through the magnesium and let the GPS antenna get its signal through the plastic of the palmrests?

Good luck.

 

It's too bad the 28s aren't more like the 27s. The whole top panel is plastic on the 27!

 

TB....quote:

Are you planning on cutting a hole through the magnesium and let the GPS antenna get its signal through the plastic of the palmrests?

Good luck.[/QUOTE]

Exactly!,on that way it is, more stealth and no dismantling of LCD...How did you know... that, Rick!




thanks,

 

Exactly!,on that way it is, more stealth and no dismantling of LCD...How did you know... that, Rick?



Heh heh... Because I had the same idea. But the palmrests are stuck down too well. Your best bet would be getting new palmrests or at least for the side you are working on. It would be much easier... And would look better in the end.

 

I will give it a shot but first I need a spare one, incase problem occur or mess up.

BTW.. is the dremmel can be adjusted to certain depth for cutting coz i am planning to buy one for myself since i am still using old hand tools way back i think pre war era..Heh! heh!

 

There are several attachments you can buy for the Dremel. However, with the speed control you should be able to handle it without any attachments.

This is the cutting/trimming bit that I use...

​

Of course there are several others that will work too.

 

Thanks man! highly appreciated.

 

here's a thought. why not cut in through the bottom, only far enough to go through the metal and not through the plastic. then just mill away the megnesium from the spot above the antenna.

if i had to guess though, i would say that the plastic has embedded metal shavings in it, to give it its sparkly metalflake appearance. has anyone tried putting the plastic piece over the patch antenna to see if it allows the signal to pass?

 

Gravitar brings up an excellent point!

 

Ohlip - there is an attachment you can get to set the dremel up as a router, for depth control.

 

There is no metallic shaving on it just a plain plastic with silver metallic paint. "By cutting" thats my plan, Thats why i am asking if it can maintain reasonable dpth just like router tool so that not to damage plastic covering


BTW.. I just bought a new dremmel and bad news are it contains only a rotary tool and its accessories but there are no attachment, or even single cutting bit. I just grabed it and walked away not realizing that this is only a tool. Damm.....t. Will go back again tommorow for a bit



Thanks.. Klboo


s. note: My wife will gonna be happy if she see this, good enough for nail polishing. heh!.. heh!

 

Doesn't happen too often.. good thing this is a sticky

 

I'm a bet confused where to post, to antena thread or here. Ok! i pref...r to antena thread it make more sense, i think.