CF-18 EDGE to GOBI problems

Hello everyone,

I'm wondering if anyone can help me with this, I've got a CF-18 Mk4 unit which works well, except the 160GB drive is a bit worn out, but we'll gloss over that, however, I purchased a HSDPA modem from Australia and had it shipped to the UK which I did since my operator (H3G UK) doesn't like the EDGE modem, go figure. Everything works with the EDGE modem as expected, but with the HSDPA, I loose bluetooth completely and the modem doesn't work which also includes the switches don't work, although the BIOS does detect it. Is there anything I've missed?

BIOS is V4.000L15
EC is V4.80L12 (IIRC)
Model is CF-18KHH64BE

The previous unit is a Siemens MC75 modem and the current one is a EU870D (which I am thinking of raiding my EEEPC for a lovely Sierra Wireless MC8775 and upgrading it to a V.) Also, what wires do I need to change on the pass through connectors should I want to fiddle with them later? I have 2 pass through connectors and ideally, I would like one for GOBI and one for GPS (when I can afford and add a card later.)

I'd be grateful for any help given and if anyone has the drivers, that would be great too and yes, the GOBI card came from a Mk4 unit apparently.

 

I thought I'll update this thread, as I have tried and play with GOBI again and this time, the modem is recongised in the BIOS, the bluetooth card does work, which at least is some hope but the card doesn't still! I can't turn it on from the switch, which suggest to me that there is a BIOS lock somewhere. I'm new to these locks as when I upgraded my EEE from none to 3G, it worked out the box, after shorting a pin however. Looking at other threads, do I have to change the IEMI from the EDGE unit to the GOBI one?

 

I don't understand. Why do you think you have GOBI modem?

 

If your "Gobi" card is an EU870D then it is not a Gobi card. It is a 3G HSDPA card for the EU and other places, not the USA.

 

Thank you very much for the correction! My fault, whoops, I'm in the UK so its going to most likely be 3G (as I'm not aware that anywhere outside the USA uses CDMA.... I maybe wrong on that). I better change the title for being misleading. Either way, does anyone know how to get the card working? The only really interesting bit is I got a driver listed as "COM4" with an exclamation mark through it, moaning "the device cannot start." I'm also wondering if the card is broken which might explain why the wireless switch on the front of the unit doesn't work.

 

This is NOT true. EU870D (And EU860D) cards work absolutely FINE here in the US on AT&T. EU860D has 3.6M and is upgradable via a firmware update for 7.2M and the 870 comes is stock for 7.2M

 

I think you need the connection manager from Novatel - the interface goes on your desktop, just add APN for your network IIRC.
At work just now but I'll have a look for it later.
It's called Mobilink. More later.
This for the EU870d, not the Siemens MC75.

 

Thank you for the response, but I am not getting that far. I tried a different card in the slot (a known working wifi card) and nothing happened, its detected in the BIOS as a modem, but device manager won't find it. I thought it doesn't matter which card it is. I've also tried taping pin 20 and yep, nothing, I did find out what Com 4 was, it was bluetooth, so it looks like I'm banging a head against a brick wall. I wonder if I should try reflashing with the latest EC, except, where can I find the EC files?

 

Are you trying to install MiniPCI-e modem to MiniPCI W-Fi- slot of CF-18?
CF-18 doesn't have MiniPCI-e port.
I think you have to upgrade to CF-19 to use EU870D

 

I haven't owned a CF-18 and didn't know about the lack of mini pci-e. Doh.
2 options come to mind - use a usb dongle - or use a mi-fi device with the added advantage of being able to connect 5 laptops at once via wi-fi.
That's if you can get your wi-fi working...

 

You are right, they don't have a Mini-PCIe slot on the motherboard. Its clear that I have to explain a bit more about the problem, the Mini-PCI wifi card is fine, but I brought a daughterboard with HSDPA marked on it, these photos should help explain things a bit.


(old top, new bottom)






It IS a CF-18, there are enough clues (I hope) to tell you. The board came from this auction, but I am starting to think its not a CF-18 board. Can anyone confirm? Interestingly, bluetooth works and I do have a mifi device, I just don't want to use it everywhere, because A) The battery goes flat, B) its just another device to carry. Anyway, things I've tried to get the daughterboard to be accepted by the computer.
- reset the BIOS
- reflashed the BIOS
- tried another card in the PCIe slot (wifi card - don't yet have an accessible 3G card)
- installed the drivers (They wont!)
- etc

But the BIOS thinks there is a modem there, it just won't power it on!

Oh, please forgive the background, I'm a bit of a train nut as well, if you really must know, the type is a London Underground A60/A62 Stock at Rayners Lane, London, UK

 

You've really has the right daughter board for CF-18 but you know what? Your lack of physical a control switch(hardware) in front of the unit for WWAN. Opposite to the control button thats is why your setup is not doing properly. But maybe it can be control by a software but again I have a little bit doubt on it though. For cf-19 it doesn't have those physical switch no more for WWAN.

ohlip

 

Few things here...

Re-reading the thread I just noticed the "64" in your model number which indicates yours was originally built for a company, corporation, gov't department etc. The "E" at the end means either UK or EU (can't remember which and can't be @rsed looking today. Head hurts.)

Companies often have Panasonic add or remove functionality from these toughbooks. I have a couple like that and spent a long time getting my CF-19 Mk.1 to recognise an HSDPA board. Same thing with a CF-52 Mk.1 and WLAN. Everything you've tried I tried - cut track to pin 20, reflowed solder on connectors and more.
I always remove power lead and battery, hold power switch on for a little while and wait a few minutes before working inside these - that seems also to be necessary in some cases for the board to be recognised the first time you power up.

My 52 will forget/lose the WLAN if it sleeps/hibernates so I shut down every time. No big deal.

Nothing worked on the 19 until Mobilink was installed. Still not shown in BIOS but does work. EU8XX, can't remember exact model.

Just for emphasis - Nothing worked until Mobilink was installed. And APN for Three UK entered of course. Try it before giving up, really.

 

Sorry, I couldn't make heads or tails of that statement, are you saying that I may have the wrong switch type in place and the computer won't supply the power because the switch is wrong? I would of thought that EDGE and HSDPA uses the same switch anyway.

I tried installing mobilink, it installed then uninstalled itself, do you have the exact version you used available? Bearing in mind that I am running windows 7.


EDIT: Talking of switches, I found this: http://www.ruggedhardware.de/service/mobmodem.pdf So the switch does look identical, I'm still questioning about the EC, so I wonder if I can downgrade it to a standard one, in case its a non-standard EC.

 

Version that's on my 19/1 with Win7 (after trying a couple that wouldn't install) is 2.02.37.25 build 006 driver version 3.0.3.0
There are later versions.

Googling 2.02.37.25 gets some download sites. Took me 4 or 5 tries (over weeks) finally to sort it. Frustration of not knowing whether you're getting closer to or further away from a solution... turning to surprise/delight/relief when it finally connects.

This Panasonic page has Sierra Wireless watchers and some other versions of Mobilink to try. Would the seller of the daughter board not help out with this?

Panasonic Mobile Computer Wireless Carrier Software

 

Tried the panny one, still doesn't work, tried the one to my u740, doesn't work either. This is doing my head in more than my local train operator telling me that my train has been cancelled due to "leaves on the line!" Its not suppose to be difficult at all! I'm going to try downgrade the EC, is there a switch to force install a lower version of the EC?

 

Sorry! I've missed one of the picture. You do have the switch that I am talking about, Lol...

ohlip

 

I reread your comment and I just thought, do you mean that the controller boards below the trackpad I.e. here (circled in red):


Are they different and so is the switches for the modem? If so, I've just asked the seller if he has the same one that came out of the unit and I'll see how I get on.

 

This is the one you need:

https://panasonic.ca/PCS/Software/MobiLink3_v3.00.21.005.zip

Run as administrator to install, just in case.

 

Sadly, it didn't install the modem, it comes up with no device detected.

EDIT: Much later, which means, all this trouble is because no power is going to the PCI-E card, why is no power going to the PCI-E card when everything is there? Does anyone know where the embedded controller is on these things? I've also contact Panny to see if there's anything they can help me with, which will probably be a great big sharp no. The highest EC firmware I can find is V4.30L12 I think and I have V4.80L12 which I cannot even downgrade to, so I can't rule that out. Any other ideas?

EDIT2: Oh yes, the seller, I kept skipping that one, we are both baffled, need I say more?

 

I think its time to draw this thread to a close, I couldn't solve the issue as of yet, so I've decided to go right back to the EDGE card, until I have more knowledge, money and the like to fix the issue. I tried a different card and the same problem appeared, the EDGE card is fine though. :-S