Adding aftermarket GPS to a CF-19 MK2

Been following the similar thread on the CF-30, and found this schematic for the CF-19 from Shawn:



I got the breakout board that Shawn suggested, cutting the trace between pins 5 and 8. I hooked everything up with a UBLOX Neo 6, this one:



I jumped pins 11 & 12, and have triple checked my wiring, and did continuity checks from the end of the ribbon cable to the GPS module, and have no shorts. The GPS is not showing up in the BIOS or device manager, and it is not getting power, measuring between VCC and ground at the GPS. Shawn's diagram shows a connection at pin 8 of the connector in the CF-19 for a different GPS. Does it have to be jumpered for use with the NEO 6? My hookup is as follows:

GPS ---------------------- CN902
Ground ------------------------ Pin 6
RX ------------------------------ Pin 10
TX -------------------------------Pin 9
VCC -----------------------------Pin 4 & 5
( nc)------------------------------Pins 11 & 12 jumpered

I have a GOBI 2000 and a Bluetooth module installed if that helps any. Both work normally.

Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Jon

 

read this, it should help

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/434117-adding-aftermarket-internal-gps-cf-19-a.html

this may help

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/423593-gps-cf-18-cf-19-a.html#post5384085

also

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/703601-cf19-gps-mk1.html

 

My searches didn't turn up any of these posts... I've got to use the Google search engine on this site more.

Anyway, I think I found the problem. I've never seen a flat cable where the conductor side faces up. At least with the thing insulated, I didn't short anything out. I have to redo the connections on my breakout board as everything is reversed.

Thanks for your help. I'll report back.

Jon



Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

Yeah... Some ribbon cables go in face up and some face down. CF-29 went in face down. CF-30 goes in face up.

I have done GPS on a CF-18/19 in two years so I can't remember... But yes... That will screw the pooch!

 

try using the search in my sig...it works better than the forum search.

 

Rick is correct! It depends on the connector orientation eventhough you know already the pin out. it doesn't mean you just follow on it. Shematic diagram is just a reference. So, you must be very careful. I've guess you do it in reverse.

ohlip

 

Putting the cable in the other end of the break out board fixed the hookup problem, since it is a mirror image. Now works as advertised at 9600 baud!! Found 12 satellites very quickly. I'm just using the antenna it came with at the moment on the bench, waiting on my Taoglas antenna from Digikey. Also had the thing detected as a Microsoft serial mouse and had to disable that in the device manager. I seem to remember seeing something on that in the past. This time I will do a Google search on this site! EDIT: Found the registry patch on the Panasonic site.

I downloaded the Ublox configuration software. I'm scared to mess with the reconfiguration portion of the software. However my Navigation software (PC Navigator 12 Free )software accept a higher baud rate. But I understand some programs use as low as 4800. Is there any particular advantage to reconfiguring the Ublox, or should I leave well enough alone? Has anyone successfully reconfigured one of these?

Thanks again for the help.

Jon

 

Good question..I have been wondering that myself as my software works at 9600baud also.

 

Download and install U-Center.

Open U-Center, Select Receiver then port (select port) then check Autobauding. You should see data flow and it spring to life. It may take a few seconds to a few minutes for it to get its first lock so be outside! Once you have a lock do this...

Go to View and then to "Configuration View" and select PRT (Ports) and then select the Baud rate you want from the available drop down box. You should not need to change the protocol. Once changed select SEND at the bottom left. If the lock is closed... Click on SEND again after it opens! Now, exit out of the program and it will ask you if you want to switch to the Save Message. Click on YES. Make sure that Save Current Configuration is checked and then click SEND again. Now... Click on Receiver at the top... And then Action and then Save current configuration. And now you should be able to reboot and load any GPS with your new baud rate.

Thanks to Teo for helping me on this. I had no issues changing the Baud rate but I couldn't get it to stick after reboot. I wasn't saving the current configuration and it would revert every time.

The big thing that I have found is that this all only works if your GPS receiver is actively locked on satellites. (On it's original Baud Rate of 9600 Baud or whatever it came set up with) I'd like to hear from others if this is the case for them. Unless the satellites are locked before I make the changes it doesn't work correctly for me. I need to reboot, get a lock and THEN change settings.

 

OK, I'll walk my way thru this and report back.
Jon

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

Got the registry patch installed to prevent it trying to see the GPS as a mouse. Also changed from 9600 baud to 57k per Toughbook's instructions. I don't think I would have ever figured it out without them.

By the time my CF-19 boots up, this thing is locked on satellites while I'm indoors. Very impressed with this setup. Thanks to all for your help.

BTW, I tried to make up a straight harness by soldering to the ribbon cable. Thought I got it wired correctly, but something is wrong. Someone said in an old post they liked doing it. I just found it frustrating and a PITA. The advantage is more room as fitting the breakout board and the GPS unit is tight when a Gobi card and Bluetooth card are both installed.

Jon



Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

Jon, That was me... I love soldering the ribbon cables... It sounds stupid but it is relaxing. You need a good soldering station with a soldering iron with a pinpoint tip, good silver solder, a 10X headset and still an illuminated magnifying lens.

I normally fab mine up 10 at a time or so just to have them ready.

 

I've got all of that, but still a PITA!

Jon

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

I've done hundreds of them... That's why I like it I guess...

 

Hi,
Is the VC5 supply voltage shown in the diagram in the first post permanently on, or is it switched on/off with either system power, or under software control ? There's a thread elsewhere that says a permanently powered GPS is responsible for battery drain when the system is otherwise shut off, and there's another thread with a diagram of the functions of CN16 (for the CF18 in my case) which shows VC5 is switched with system power and VA5 is always present.
Obviously switched VC5 is preferable for powering GPS, if it really is switched.

I'm tempted to hook into the BTPWRON or RFDC_ON signals on CN16 to switch GPS power with the Bluetooth switch tool, or the WWAN front-panel button...