CF 18 "P" Federal models..

Hello once again..


Burning it up here, but this should do it.

Although Ive asked regarding the wifi card, this is unrelated and perhaps will help another searching in the future.

Purchased a "P" model CF-18..(CF18PHH...)

The "Federal" version with TPM1.2, and the final digit in model number is "M" which I would imagine may represent "M"ilitary(?)

Having searched and searched toughbooks for some time, Cf18 and 19 off and on, never came across this designation before.

At any rate, as per the CF-18 FAQ here, no WLAN .. hence need for wifi card (as posted within earlier post above).

The board does still allow for the wifi card however, correct? Any other strangeness to note?

Thank you very much once again in advance.

 

M = North America
My PJQZEBM is running a 2915 card o.k. Previous owner added broadcomm which Linux doesn't like.(blacklist)

~Toughbook Talk~ Toughbook Discussion • View topic - Old configurator availability

Rob made the "old" configurator available.

He says use Firefox though I get by fine with Chrome or Chromium (Linux)

You have to enter your letters in the column there.....[all discontinued]...[CF-18]....scroll down and enter letters.

Jeff

 

I have swapped a few federal model CF-18's, it should be plug and play.

 

Wires taped down under the bottom case right Paul?

Jeff

 

Yep, it should have black plastic or clear protectors on the antenna ends to keep them from shorting something out on the board.

 

Yep, found that too searching cf 19s ..M=North America

thank you very much for that link.
I really appreciate it...Im tinkering too much and confusing my little brain.

Best
D

Thank goodness...great to hear..

Has very few hours on it .. typical government (wink).

thanks again.

PS: Perhaps I didnt see it, but that link would be great at the top where the list begins giving CF 18 model data on the FAQ page..

FWIW..

 

demian...PM sent

 

There should be several links to the new configerator. I know there is one at the top of the ultimate resource thread and it is the first link on the CF-18 guide. I have been trying to make it a link in every one of my guides.

 

Excuse me, i wished to ask...

I notice on my Mk1 on the left side there are the wifi lights on the front left of the machine base, on the Mk5 "P" Federal model there are none....it is blacked out.

I have read that some Federal models cannot use an internal wifi card. Whether this is correct or not I dont know.

Is it still possible to install an internal wifi card on this Mk5 without the lights on the front panel?

Will the antenna wires still be tucked away within the machine?

I am awaiting a new cmos battery and intend to do it all at once, and havent opened the machine yet and dont want to until the cmos battery arrives.

If I cant, I may simply get an external usb key for wifi and leave it be...


I genuinely appreciate the help.

 

I have seen where some of the newer machines 74,52,19,30 were suppose to be locked out. ( I have two 74's like this, but I am waiting on cards to come in to try out)(Have seen others fixed by bios reset or bios flash) Out of the 3 CF-18's I had that were federal models they were all wireless ready on the wifi.

The "lights" you see in that pannel are for WWAN (cell phone internet) That card will be on the daughter card. The federal models shouldn't have the daughter card unless it was GPS equipped. You don't need that pannel to control the wifi card. The antenna wires should be. I have only ran into the antennas not being in one machine. A CF-50, and it looked like some one else had been in there before me.

The usb wifi is handy, but it becomes a pain and you can damage the USB port if it's hit right or dropped. It's not hard at all to take the back off, nothing will fall out. Just take off the 4 screws to the speaker cover, pull the speaker cover and unplug the cable from the speaker. This will give you access to the ram slot. (1.25 or 1.5 GB max ram depending on the Mk) Then you have several screws on the base. There is a rubber seal so grab the corner where the speaker cover is and start to pull, it will take a little bit because the rubber will have a bite on it. The back will come off, everything inside is screwed down. Then you will have easy access to the wifi card slot and to the bios battery.

 

Thank you very much..

I understand and genuinely appreciate the info..so many unusual features with these, difficult to know what's what sometimes.
Seems I was mistaken about those lights. I thought i knew....manual downloaded now for the first time after all this time and I will be certain to review it!

I suppose I was just asking so not to waste my time opening the thing and find I can't install a wifi card.

But I intend to install a new CMOS battery anyway for good measure.
the old Mk1 i have was acting strange, not remembering settings and things.. Although the HDD went kaput, I also believe the cmos battery played a role.

Yes, I have found online various sources describing and showing the process of removing the bottom case...not difficult.

Have gone with a recent Atheros wifi card by Alpha Industries ... drivers downloaded.

It is a PCI card and correct, but a little bit longer than the intel...but should fit...I HOPE.

There are 3 connectors however on the card for antenna, not only 2 ... I am sure ill figure it out though.

thank you again.

 

Yes it should fit, there is room above the card.

Panasonic Toughbook CF 18 MK3 DL3UP1425AAA 1 1GHz Motherboard w 256MB RAM | eBay

Check out that ebay link. It shows the wifi card installed on the motherboard and how much room you have. If you still aren't sure Just don't install the back on it to test it out. It won't hurt anything on the 18. I have only used so far intel 2100,2200, 2915 and broadcom cards so far. You will have to add a third antenna if you want to use one.

 

Totally...

gotcha.


Thank you very much. will do.

...3rd antenna not there? needed? ...sigh..always something. So much for being a wiseguy and going with something different and seemingly more updated.

Kind regards

 

I think the three antenna cards have different bands. You wouldn't be picking up on one of the bands.

 

ah...of course.

thank you.


PS: oh, hey, just thought, I ll just take one off the old Mk1 I have and put it on the Mk5 I'm replacing replacing it with....that is if there are 2 unused wires tucked away within the case of the Mk5 as stated...

If not I suppose Ill get one online.
Fingers crossed.

 

Correct 2.4ghz and 5ghz.
The third antenna can increase performance even when using just one band. It almost doubled the speed on my cf52. Well worth the $2.00 and 15 minutes to install.

 

Listen to Shawn I know he has modded them alot. I just haven't modded any of mine for the newer cards yet.