Adding Aftermarket Internal GPS to the CF-29

Well... What I did was to use the pinouts from Teo's original post... I've been doing that for a long time and it has always worked... I knew that the WWAN cable was not a straight though shot... They criss-cross and some of CN-18 ends at the switch connector. So I just went from the pinouts I knew on CN18 and followed them down to where they ended at the bottom of the ribbon cable. It SHOULD work.... There must be a cross-over on one of the pins.... I'll spend more time on it after I clean my shop a little... It's a MESS!

 

By WWAN cable, are you referring to the cn18 cable that goes from the mother-board to the sled? If so, that is what I gave you for the pinout solution. The CN18 solution uses that cable to go from the motherboard, straight to the EM408. The wording (sled) is used just to give you reference to which side of the cable is being talked about. It is the 12c cable that must use the sled itself.

Hope this helps.

EDIT: Yah... disregard, disregard, disregard. The CN18 pinouts were for a 40c cable, I believe, whatever fits in the cn18 of the motherboard. The "actual" WWAN cable was never able to be used. Teo DID say something about there being crossovers or such that he was unable to figure out. Sorry about that.

 

I checked each one with an ohm meter... You are right... They are not straight through... But I checked on CN18 where Pins 29, 35, 38, 39 and 31 were... The pins I normally use... And then I grounded pin 40 on CN18 to make it show in the BIOS... I get either a flashing red light when I try to boot... Or a flashing green light... So something is not wired correctly.

The good news??? I have been cleaning my shop for the past few hours and sorting and organizing.... I found another 12" ribbon cable so I will go ahead and use that one this time... It will get me on ebay tomorrow... So I can play around with it another time... Like next week.

 

The cable is straight trough except that some of the pins are ganged together for example the grounds may all be connected together as well as the different power supply voltages.

 

I may have mucked things up.... I'll have to check my wiring again.... I did finish it up though.... With the straight ribbon cable... You just gotta love the EM-408 coupled with the Sarantel antenna.... Almost every satellite pegged!

 

Hi all,
Hey TB the problem that I had with the wwan cable was that all except the 3.3v cable came through. The 3.3v ended at the place where the switch is normally soldered. I had to solder a cable on here to em-408. But now I only use the 5 volt lead the 3.3v wire is for me a redundant extravagance.
cheers
Strawman

p.s
Happy new year

 

Strawman.... I noticed the same thing. I think it came out to the 3rd pin on the switch... But then I checked all of the pins below and found that the 3V went to the end of the ribbon cable also.

 

SO, I've gotten all exited reading about turning a '29 in to a brick and I go to JG's website as instructed and I see the Sarantel active antenna listing has a "click here for free sample". Now is this a great deal or what?

Tim

 

You can use a tone generator set to exactly identify the conductor. This tools are usually available to those who work on cable networking or the OSP technician.


ohlip

 

Teo... I have just about EVERY tool under the sun... But even I don't have a tone generator! How about a DVM???

Moxie... Please call and try to get one... Keep us posted!

 

Well! give me a couple of days when I am not busy and I will give you the pin out no. on the op..te area of the oem flat cable ribbon for em408.



teo

 

Look up the shipping charge for that Free Sample



Alex

 

Is it larger than a breadbox?

 

As I told its only 14buck right now but he charged me 85buck for shipping of 4 unit.

teo

 

Well! its fast, If you guys are using the the hirose connector at the opposite side of CN(18) the pin asignment for em408 is also the same as the one I published recently. But remember one side of the connector legs are even no. and the otherside are odd no.
This will be your reference if you are going to solder on the hirose connector leg for em408 gps cable interface and its working to mine. I am almost finish to my new project. This cf-29 has WWAN and an embedded em408 installed not on the SLED. It is mounted at the top of the flat cable ribbon where the switch connector located, between the sled and and harddrive area.



teo

 

pics please Teo....

 

Sheesh... You aren't asking for much are you?

I need to set up a website this week sometime.... We need storage space. Then I can give a few of you passwords to store stuff there.

Rick

 

Hey!, doobi, I used a thin magnetic wire bigger than a layer of hair to solder in on the hirose legs and then apply immediately by a glue gun(only a glue not the glue gun, sorry about that. ) so that not to move and open the soldered one. It is connected temporarily at the other end with longer wire just to test the system. Right now, I am looking for header to match up the connector of EM408 gps interface cable. Thats all I can say for the moment. Tell then, still on progress.

teo

 

Hmmmmm... I solder the EM-408 connector straight to the end of the ribbon cable... Then secure and insulate it with hot glue... Sounds like we are doing the same thing...

 

Kinda like a mini-storage

How much space can I have



Alex

 

I'll have to let you know.... I need to get it set up first!

 

Update to the Active Patch Antenna:

I installed the Jim Gray active patch antenna in the left side of the laptop with more than acceptable results. It ain't a Sarantel, but it will do with the ease of installation. You must make a backplane to help reflect the sat signal(I used copper tape.) You can see the results with the first picture. The third pic is my Sarantel in the same computer in the same location. This would work great for someone who only wants to add GPS, and not mess with trying to integrate it with WWAN, as it still takes up some room. If used in conjunction with my interface board, you could be up and running within an hour with no soldering... virtually plug and play!


Here is the link to the antenna:

http://www.jdgastore.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=330

 

Whats the orientation of the antenna
Is it aimed up through the palmrest or out the side?


Alex

 

Facing up through the palmrest, secured with double sided tape (pretty much in the position you see it, just tucked into the plastic.) I have the copper tape underneath it and extending into the laptop above the battery.

 

Holy Signal Batman.... Excellent!... Excellent.... How much at Jim Gray... What lead do you get with what end... Or do you need to fab up your own?.... Details... Details....

Good Job fstick!


EDIT: fstick.... You mean you has a Sarantel antenna tucked in that plastic in the upright position? Major surgery? Magic spell? How did you do THAT???

 

27.00 for the antenna, extra 15.00 for a 6 inch lead and mmcx right angle connector. One could save money by making their own lead, but then you would need the crimp tool, soldering iron, etc, so it might be worth it to pay the extra 15.00. Yes, the antenna is more expensive than the Sarantel, but it is an acceptable trade-off for those that do not want to completely disassemble the laptop. This could all be done for about $200.00 or less. Not sure if anyone would be interested in my interface board, so I haven't put a price on an assembled unit. (the 40 pin FPC connector is a b!tch to solder by hand...)
fstik

 

I can also make any size MMCX right angle lead... I bought a bunch of MMCX connectors and the RG-174.... Anyone can PM me for details if needed....

 

Man... I bet.... I wouldn't even try that one!

 

I'd like to know the difference on that as well... Also... The Sarantel picks up sats even in my house... And in my shop.... How well does the patch pick up inside and on the road?

 

If you hardwire direct to the backside of the USB, can both the gps and the port be utilized silmultaneously?

 

No! you cannot use a usb with multiple component unless you use a USB multiplier like a usb hub.

ohlip

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by pryan
If you hardwire direct to the backside of the USB, can both the gps and the port be utilized silmultaneously?

With the setup I am using, you can. The EM-408 is a serial GPS. My interface board uses the Panasonic serial gps pins, along with the USB pins on CN18. Because I misrouted my traces on my board for the USB, you have to hard wire a USB device anyway.


I am going to do some testing in the car with the new antenna. I will update with results soon!

fstik

 

It means you are using two different usb line, while his Q? if I am right, is if he can use a single usb with two device on it. One outside the unit usb and one connected at the same usb inside the unit.


teo

 

Teo... I read the same way.... fstick is taking his USB off of CN18 which allows him to do that.

BTW.... I'm modding n another EM-408 into a MK3 and will use a different type of Active patch antenna. My results weren't stellar before... But then I didn't use the little copper plane either... I am also using the regular ribbon cable that comes with the WWAN setup as I have a few from other project when I was using ribbon cable... It was easier as it was a straight shot!

I'll keep everyone posted... The antenna I am using is out of a little mag-mount base... I used them before on other projects with the CF-28 and they did okay... But like I said... I never used the ground plane on it.

 

Hey! Rick, did you try using the oem antena of CF-29 gps with a bigger ground plane area? It maybe need only a bigger ground plane to work much better!


teo

 

I sure didn't... But I will the next time I install a stock unit.

Hey... I just tried the GPS (EM-408) using the WWAN cable and it works fine... Data is streaming... So now I need to mod in the antenna and check it out... I'll be back shortly!

 

Just to make sure, is the pin asigment you are using is the same the one I published? Its the same on the opposite side of oem cable ribbon coz mine is doin fine too. I am just waiting for other mat'ls to complete the antena setup opposite to the WWAN. I am out of shrinkable tube and RG178 cable.


teo

 

I re-did the pin configuration from scratch with a multi-meter to make sure I have EVERYTHING correctly wired..... Works fine so far.

Hey... The only NEW active patch antenna that I have is a little too big. It would probably get some signal but I do have an older one from an old CF-28.... Was the stock CF-28 patch antenna an active antenna do you know? I'm soldering an MMCX connector to it now...

 

Its the same patch antena for 28, cf-18 and 29 but I don't know if cf-30 has the same antena.


ANyway, I still have one unit cf-29(MK1) ready for ebay but only basic mod..gps only. It has the same hhd when i bought it and no battery too.


teo

 

Cool... It looked the same as the CF-29... But the numbers are not there....

I just soldered on the MMCX so I need to make my copper ground plane and try it out!

 

Well.... It worked like a charm! What I needed all along was that ground plane. I pegged 8 satellites in the high to mid 30s and even now am getting 6 sats in my shop in the 20s... So THAT is good enough for me! I'll test it tomorrow on the road to make sure it keeps a good signal in a moving car... And with the Hummer having an almost vertical windshield... That will be a good test!

Thanks fstick.... Rep to you for sure!

 

Holy crapola.... I can't believe the difference a ground plane makes. I always figured that the ones I have/had already had them or didn't need them as I took them out of other assemblies when I tried them.

I would almost bet that a ground plane in a CF-28 GPS would make the difference also. I just happen to have one that I am putting on ebay this weekend so I will try it out and report back... Here and in the other CF-28FAQ thread. It can't be just that simple though.... But then maybe it is... We improve on the Toughbooks all the time. So I'll let everyone know.

The active patch antenna from the CF-28 coupled with the EM-408 continues to improve. The copper that I was using has a sticky back to it.... So I peeled that off and adhered it to the underside of the palmrest and also adhered the components in place like I always do... It picked up a few more satellites! So overall... I'm VERY pleased.... Much better than stock... But still just a little below the performance of having the Sarantel Geo-Helix... But that was really overkill anyway.... Well... No overkill but certainly a little more than is needed for a good 3D fix!

 

Did some testing with the JDG active patch antenna in the car. Sat in the back seat with the laptop in front of me, almost dead center in the car. tracked anywhere from 7 to 9 of 12 satellites with signal strength from 28-36's. No dropouts whatsoever! I will try again at highway speed with underpasses, but I feel pretty confident that this will be a winner.

fstik

 

Fstik

Your active patch antenna looks very similar to the antenna used in the cf-30
I looked at mine and it looks similar

Is the copper ground plane/backplane electrically connected to either the outer shield of the gps antenna cable ,or ground, or is it isolated ?

My only concerns on the location, have to do will the occasional time that your hand might be close or over the antenna

The only 2 Stock GPS equipped toughbooks in current production , the cf-19 and cf -30 have the antenna’s mounted so there is not much chance of the signal degrading by hand placement as the cf-30 is in the lid , and the cf-19’s is located on the right side at the rear

I am impressed by the results so far
This has the potential to save a lot of time
Placing of the antenna in the lid , and the routing of the wire is quite time consuming

My comparisons between a brand new cf-30 mk-2 with built-in GPS and a modded Cf-29 resulted in 25% more locked on satellites on Teo’s cf-29 combination
I can’t fault the performance of the stock cf-30 gps though as I maintained a lock on enough sats that it maintained a fix at all times



Alex

 

The ground plane is not connected to anything. It is there just to "Catch the signal" is the way I've always heard of it. It also keeps other stray signals away from the antenna. I just slid the GP under the GPS antenna and then carried it out about an inch and a half into the body of the laptop. Right beside that is the EM-408 and that plugs into the ribbon cable (With the GPS cable soldered onto the end of the ribbon cable.

I tested my other cables and I don't know where my head was... But I had connected one of the leads to the incorrect spot... So it didn't work...

 

Here is one of my finished product sarantel antena installation opposite to the WWAN area.

 

Teo... Great job! I did this on a CF-28 and quite a time getting it to look good.

It almost looks like you molded the plastic corner or added something to it. Did you? What's the scoop?

 

The thumbnail shows up, but the big image doesn't load (only like a little bit)... I tried downloading it to my desktop and it's messed up their too... can you re-upload it Teo? (I wanted to put it on my web server).

Thanks

 

JB007....Its done. I adjusted to 800x600 hope its goona be ok. Thanks



teo