Adding Aftermarket Internal GPS to the CF-28

I am exhausted trying to follow all of the threads about GPS devices and antennas and combo cards and ... WOW!

I am waiting on an answer as to the availability of one of the combo cards and if I can figure out how to get at it will try to fix my USB connector.

Meanwhile, three GPS questions, please?

1. Is this "Magellan 980666 RoadMate" Replacement Antenna a good choice
either mounted at the point of the existing RIM antenna or fed via a cable
and suction-cupped to the windshield?

EDIT: OUCH! Looks like they have become "rare". From $17. each now only available via ebay at $32. plus shipping. Yuck.

OK ... alternatives?

2. What GPS cards did y'all settle on that fit into the empty RIM carrier?
(I have to identify the one that is Linux-friendly.)

3. Is the connector needed (5-wires I think) something that may be harvested from an old computer? If not does anyone have a source, please?

Thanks!

EDIT -You may also look at this thread as Cadillac was nice enough to start it up. It used to be "stickied" but we are starting to get too many stickies.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=206533

 

Doc,

See my post in the other thread.... The Magellin antenna did not work for me but I only played with it for a few minutes after I soldered it together. The Sarantel antenna is a great choice for the GPS engine. You can buy them at Jim Gray. http://www.jdgastore.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=15

The EM-408 is what we have been using though I may play around with others in the near future.... http://www.usglobalsat.com/p-47-em-408-sirf-iii.aspx

The 5 wire connector comes with the GPS... The ribbon cable that attaches to the mobo comes with (usually) the RIM card.

Check out the other thread for my offer....

 

What is he getting for them, please?

I also don't see a sma coax connector in the picture.

The EM-408 looks promising. I believe that sirf-iii is Linux-friendly as well.
There's a Linux USB driver here for one of their units:
http://www.usglobalsat.com/p-62-bu-353-w.aspx

OK, that makes it easy. I thought I read that one guy bought the connector for $10. on ebay.

I am sorry, it is late, which "other thread" please ... "So many threads, so little time ..."

 

This thread you posted in....

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=207702

 

Has anyone seen this concept in practice on a Toughbook?

Sounds like a good technological redundancy. If GPS is down and WiFi is up one still gets locations and the opposite, or when both are up it chooses the best of the two.

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4862152313.html

""SiRF Multimode Location Platform." Offered to device makers as part of the SiRF starIII chipset and to wireless carriers using the SiRFLoc Server, this technology is said to switch transparently between GPS and WiFi signals, according to whichever can provide the most precise positioning data at any given moment."

 

USGlobalSat has a USB GPS BU-353 that is Linux compatible:
http://www.usglobalsat.com/p-62-bu-353-w.aspx

Their support people wrote "...the Linux USB driver only supports PL-2303 IC (Chip H/HX/X) Linux RedHat 7.3/8.0/9.0" but I imagine it is easily modified for other Linux distros.

What are the chances that the BU-353 may be disassembled and stuffed into a CF-28?

Are the guts of these things generally similar?

Perhaps either the integrated antenna may be removed and glued to the shell which could itself be attached to the exterior of the CF-28 OR a SMA connector added and a cable run out to the rear connector on the CF-28?

What am I missing, please? Power level to allow an external antenna? Other?

Thanks! doc

 

The BU-353 is a great piece, but for what we need it won't do. All it has is the built in antenna with no provisions for any others (I took mine apart before I gave it to my brother).

If only these things didn't have magnesium, it'd work

 

Grrrrrr. With 24+ million people using Linux and predictions floating that Linux user may eclipse Apple in a few years why are hardware manufacturers so OS-challenged?

Anyone aware of a GPS module using the PL-2303 IC (Chip H/HX/X) and is NMEA 0183 compliant and Sirf iii?

 

All of the GPS's you've mentioned simply send a serial port data stream in NMEA183 to a com port which you can configure, I don't know anything about Linux, but I can't imagine there isn't a way to get it to work. I assume Linux can see serial data and configure com ports.There have got to be some Linux mapping apps.out there.

 

The EM408 is Linux compatible. I have one running (sending data as I don't have an antenna yet) with PCLinuxOS (a Mandrake/Mandriva derivative) and can easily identify gps data in a terminal while 'cat' ing the com port. Any of the programs for Linux that know what to do with gps data should be able to work with it. If I recall there's a user on the board (about two months ago) who was using the EM408 along with a few Linux programs for mapping wi-fi networks and navigation.
Be advised that the programs for navigation in Linux are not as advanced as say, Streets and Trips, or i-Guidance, but depending on your needs and ability there should be no problem.

 

Something to add to this thread has struck me as I have been soldering a bunch of RIM boards with the 5-wire GPS leads...

Are you guys making sure that you have some sort of insulation between your RIM card and the magnesium base of the laptop? I'm thinking... If a laptop took a whack while on (and of course the GPS will be powered on as well) that there might be some sort of short between the solder points on the bottom of the card (or another of the small electrical components) and the magnesium case... Thereby shorting out something. As a precaution you should either use a fine layer of electrical tape on the bottom of the card for insulation or, if you are lucky enough, leave the black vinyl layer in there from the RIM setup.

Just a thought that hit me when I was soldering... Just wanted to post it.

 

I sure would like to discuss this in greater detail. Should we take it private, continue here, or start a new Linux-specific thread?

 

Go ahead and start it up here... It would be nice to keep it all together.

 

It would be really really valuable to let them know that - they do not. It is my sense that they'd like to be able to promote that but are not willing to invest the work to research it themselves. If they see a market they may make more of an effort.

Anyone know who this is, please?

I had experimented with a Linux-based GPS mapping program in the past but it was indeed very primitive - just where is GPS mapping now?

Can one enter a beginning point and a destination and get some sort of directions - if not auditory at least on the laptop display?

Or is it only able to tell you where you are and perhaps some major points of reference.

The answer dictates whether I bother with an internal GPS or acquire a TomTom or something.

Thanks! doc

 

Here's a link to the thread relating to the gps software. The user was picoshark, but he wasn't using an em408 (my bad). However as the em408 spits out standard NMEA data, and the programs are merely decoding the info sent through the serial (com) port it's no secret that it will work.
Even in Windows the operating system has no idea that the the engine delivering the data is an em408, a usb powered deal, a bluetooth set-up or what, they all link to either operating system through (in the long run) a serial connection. The data received is delivered to the program through the serial bus, and it acts on the data, not the hardware.
I'm not sure exactly what is out there for new and advanced software for the gps under Linux, but google "Linux GPS" and try out a few of the results. I'm sure that there are different flavors, each with their own strong points.

The PL-2303 IC is a circuit built into a usb > ps2 adapter cable, it acts to make your Operating system recognize the data coming through the USB port as serial data. If you are going to use an external type (black box with usb cable on it) I would instead opt for one with a ps2 cable and use the adapter if you don't have a ps2 port. I say this because I'm not sure that linux will recognize the usb models with an inbuilt PL2303 chip as such, they might work however I cant verify this. If you google that you'll come up with a bunch of adapter cables for sale. They are pretty cheap. Another point to make is that you should know how to look through dmesg (on Linux) to find how it assigns a piece of equipment to the /dev files. Regardless of which linux you are using, visit the forum related to that distro and search it for gps, usb gps, and whatnot. I use PCLinuxOS, but found most of the info that helped get me heading in the right direction from the Ubuntu forums

I don't know how proficient you are in Linux, but something for anyone considering Linux to keep in mind is that although Linux will actually do way more than windows could ever dream of, it may take you quite a while to track down what you need to know to get Linux to do what you want. If you aren't willing to spend long nights googling, and reading forums to find your answers then forget it. There is so much information posted about so many topics that the people who know the answers hardly ever answer them because they've probably forgotten much of that info while concentrating on the next hurdle. Most important part of searching for Linux info is that you don't disregard the older posts, many years older in many cases.

I hope some of this post helps you out, and that you don't feel as though I am flaming you about searching, and researching. Just trying to help you understand that No Linux will pop up a window and tell you that you just plugged in a gps receiver. It simply doesn't know or need to know about such things, it only needs to know which port to look for the data at, and you need to know where that is to tell it.

 

Hi Toughbook. I am new to this forum, and am looking to install a gps receiver in a 1Ghz toughbook. I have read the info you have all been playing with. I do not have a rim board. Have you been able to figure out a solution to the installation without any daughter boards?
Tim

 

Tim -

Welcome to the Forum!
And yes, we do have a solution - you can post a Want to Buy in our Buy/Sell/Trade Forum. I'm sure someone here can work something out with you.

mnem
*Awww, mom... I don't WANT to come in from the internet...*

 

The short answer is YES... You can do it without the RIM board... The long answer is NO... You don't want to. As mnem suggested... You want/need the RIM board. The RIM board provides protection against all sorts of stuff. The last thing you want to do its to hook everything up and then have a power spike or something like that and have your work fried. You should be able to pick up a RIM board for around $35 on ebay or here.... They the EM-408 GPS engine for $47 plus shipping and then the Sarantel antenna for $32. One of us can solder the MMCX lead for you. (PM me for details) and then you are pretty much set! So... For under $150 you should be able to add GPS all by yourself!

 

Great, Thanks for the info... I will PM you to get the details and 'git er dun'. Of course I still have to wait for the CF-28 to get here.

 

please delete this e-mail was supposed to go PM

 

kd4e,

Are you working on a vacuum tube GPS mod for the CF-28, or did I miss something?

 

Thanks for the input, I now have my CF-28 and will start to play with components as I get them. May have found a source for some parts real cheap so we will see what happens. I may have several units to experiment on so I will definitely be reading all of the threads on here. Plugged my Garmin GPSMAP 60cs in to the notebook but can not seem to get it to display the screen on the notebook as the GPS monitor. I am sure I used the GPS with one of my other notebooks but for the life of me can't remember how I did it. I may have to find the box for one of my 60CS's. So much for the quick reply.... ha ha ha ha... I tend to get long winded. Have a great day,
Tim

 

you have to use nroute for the garmen
if using that garmen for streets...you need to change the data the nmea in/out

 

This is old as I have not been here for a while, but I am not sure to what you were referring here. I do not see anything in my prior posts to this thread that suggested anything about vacuum tubes ... though I do occasionally enjoy operating an old tube-type AM-SW receiver or piece of Ham gear ...

 

EM318-02 PCB worked great for me. Has a connection to use the battery to save your fix.

 

I see them here for $42.:
http://www.starlite-intl.com/Detail.asp?pid=2264&Key=

Is that a typical price?

Any hints as to a successful install in a CF-28, please?

I do have the old proprietary wireless still in, under the battery, there that I would remove.

 

Hello. I need GPS driver for Toughbook cf-28. Please help me.
My email adress: [email protected]
Thanks

 

Here is a link for this hard to find driver

http://www.modly.org/CF-28/GPS

Alex

 

To test your Built-in Gps

The link to Winfast Navigator


ftp://ftp1.leadtek.com/gps/Tools/WinFastGPS-Install.zip

Alex

 

Is that a proprietary MS version of windows-specific driver, please?

Is there one for Linux, please?

 

Yes it’s a windows specific driver
It’s a fix for a windows problem

When w2000 came out windows had a com port problem with seeing the gps signal as a mouse
The issue is that when windows mistakenly thinks that the gps is a mouse it installs the drivers for a mouse and directs the gps com port signals to the mouse driver which really isn’t there.
Then the mouse cursor go’s crazy

It was not a problem with windows 95 or 98
But has been a problem in 2000,xp and vista

Linux is probably not effected


Alex

 

OK, thanks! I have learned to ask as otherwise I get tangled up in proprietary ms stuff which I never am able to get working in Linux due to monopolistic practices blocking access to driver-writing data.

 

Thanks for driver.
I need help to instal this driver. My GPS detect as MOUSE on WIN XP.Who me explain step by step how as start up gps on my CF-28.

Sorry for my poor english.

 

Is there any developpement in a custom made pcb for after-market gps or you still have to get dautherboard from a radio modem? If any one have one for sale for cheap also looking for a Geohelix-S... can't find a website that sell them with paypal for paiment....

 

This is exactly the problem I have currently when I plug in and enable the factory GPS engine in my CF28. The GPS engine board isn't cheap (even as a used item) so I'm not too impressed that it's caused Win Xp to misbehave.

Trouble is when I run up the device manager (with the GPS board unplugged), there aren't any strange input devices showing up in the device manager's tree display other than a Microsoft PS/2 mouse and there isn't anything connected to the external mouse/kbd port. I'm not sure if that is the device I should be disabling/deleting.. There's no reference to the GPS engine driver (but that might be because the board is not plugged in).

Craig.

 

Try this
http://www.stentec.com/anonftp/pub/wingps/pnpblockersetup.exe


Alex

 

Going on the .inf file, that's a Win NT driver. I'm running XP sp2 on this cf28 so is there an Xp-specific driver for the factory GPS engine?

Craig.

 

Try the plug and play blocker that I linked to
It will work with xp
The gps will not show up in the device manager , as a gps
It will show up as a com port



Alex

 

This has nothing to do with the quality of the GPS engine it is a Windows plug and play problem that sees any serial GPS as a mouse. You will have to do the disable of the serial mouse while the GPS is enabled and unfortunately while your cursor is jumping around. It is not easy but it can be done. It is easier to use the Touchscreen instead of the touchpad. The GPS does not need or use any driver. The file that keeps being referred to as a driver is just a registry fix and is just another way to overcome the plug and play issue but it is not needed for the GPS to work.

 

I believe the name of it is the Serial Ballpoint Mouse... Or something like that. Win XP is the only OS that has an issue with it AFAIK... Win 2000 never had an isue. Disable Serial Ballpoint Mouse (or something like that) and the mouse jumping will stop.

 

Ah that's probably where I've been a bit confused... However I noticed that my wireless modem (Huawei e169) appears as a com port (com4) when I run up the Device Manager so this is making more sense now. I didn't expect the GPS engine to be interpreted as a serial device.

I'm used to working with Solaris and other *nix OS's on Sparc and other platforms, so Windows device driver issues are a new playing field. lol

My CF28 doesn't have a touchscreen so I'm limited to using either the touchpad or my Sun USB mouse (don't have a PS/2 style rodent anywhere).

Craig.

 

Craig,
Did you get it working properly now
Look for the link in my earlier post for Winfast Navigator and install
With that program you can see the info from your gps, and find which com port it is



Alex

 

Has anyone looked at using a V-Sun S3310B or similar SiRF chipset GPS module with a CF-28? I've found some for sale and they seem to have quite good specs...

V-S S3310B low power and small form factor board is the newest generation of
V-SUN GPS Receiver. The GPS receiver is powered by SiRF Star III low power
technology and V-SUN proprietary navigation algorithm that providing you more stable
navigation data. The smallest form factor and miniature design is the best choice to be
embedded in a portable device like PDA, personal position and navigation like personal
locator, speed camera detector and vehicle locator. The excellent sensitivity of S3310B
gets the great performance when going though the urban canyon and foliage.
Product Features
20 parallel channels
Extreme fast TTFF at low signal level
Operable from 3.3V/45mA continuous mode.
0.1 second reacquisition time
NMEA-0183 compliant protocol/custom protocol.
Auto recovery while RTC crashes
ARM 7 CPU core accessible.
4/8Mbits Flash Memory.
Product applications
Automotive navigation
Personal positioning and navigation
Marine navigation
Timing application

They're for sale here in Australia so could be worth a go. I wonder if there is a way to directly connect it to a RIM board without too much convoluted wiring...

Craig.

 

After looking at some specs... I'm sure it could be made to work... But it is really made to be embedded into/onto another circuit board. I couldn't find what type of connection it required for an antenna.

It is certainly small enough... Maybe even too small!

 

What about under the keyboard? There is that little sheet that goes over the keyboard ribbon connectors. Could an antenna be stashed there? the signal would have to go through the keyboard back plate and not the magnesium case. If that works, then it would be easy to make a plastic replacement for the factory metal cover. This would mean a little bit less material in the way of the signal.

 

Uhhhh... No... Won't work. The GPS antenna has a hard enough time getting signal through 1/16" of plastic. GPS antennas have to be tuned" if they are going to be embedded. To really do it right... They need to be tuned with what will cover them kept in mind. The Sarantel antennas are made with that in mind as they have a covering on them and are ment to be mounted on the exterior. I assume that the patch antennas that we buy are made knowing that we will mount them inside something... But the keyboard bottom is metal and would block all the signal.

 

In an effort to cut down a little more on the "stickied" threads and make everything a little more cohesive... I unstuck Cadillacs thread about how to wire the EM-408. You can always look in the first post (edited) or here...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=206533

 

Do any of the toughbooks have PCI Express mini slots? if so..
http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/lapto...blox-launches-gps-cards-mobile-computers.html

I've heard real good things about the u-blox GPS receivers performance.

nine

 

We've (I've) looked into the GPS PCI cards and they are cost prohibitive as they normlly run $150... You can buy two EM-408 setups with antenna for that. Plus you would still have to locate the antenna.

The CF-28 has mini-pci slots and not PCI express slots. (Someone please correct me if I am wrong)

 

Definitely mini-PCI.

BTW I have bought (not yet received) one of those compact SiRF-III based GPS modules I mentioned and since I have some spare RIM boards now (might put the Sierra cellular modems on ebay since they're no use to me) I'll try to figure out a way to get it connected.

Is there a documented pinout for where the factory GPS module connects to the RIM board? Will check the EM-408 discussions but maybe it's something that should go in the CF-28 FAQ.

Craig.