CF-28 GPS without using PCI slot/PCMCIA/BT

Hey All,

OK, my 28 has GPS in it, but the "hidden" PC card slot is empty, and one of the PCI slots is empty (the other is the modem card). Not BlueTooth, not USB (externally, at least). The factory location is empty too. How is this possible?

 

Did you take the notebook apart and look at every miniPCIe slot?

 

I did. Left slot is open, right is modem. I think it is an internal USB hack - some folders say "WinFast USB" on them. Still exploring...

 

You know for a fact it has GPS? What port is it on? where did you get it?

 

The standard GPS is located under the Battery
Look there it's beside the ram, you might have to lift the black plastic cover under the battery

Alex

 

Make that just mini pci...CF-28 does not have a mini pci-e slot.

 

Hi! do you have a daughterboard onboard under the battery? If there is the dip switches is set to gps. 1,2,3 are off and 4 is on. Even without the gps module itself it will display on the bios if the dip switches is set on to that position

But before we go further, where did you see that your unit is gps capable. Is it on the bios or just an application program that is loaded on the system?


ohlip

 

This is my unit:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150399212581#ht_5415wt_1167


No factory board installed. I know it works as WinFast sees it and Streets&Trips shows my location. Shows up as COM1.

Nothing listed in the Device Manager, nothing in the BIOS.

I emailed the guy I bought it from, but he is away until the 7th.

 

Its custom so the gps module could be anywhere ,though the logical location is where the stock gps is located
By the specs it's running a sirfIII chipset gps , and could even be using usb configured to com1
Its not the way I would mod it but if its serial ,it looks like you have lost the ability to use your 9pin serial port as thats com 1
Looks like a nice unit and the specs are great for the gps...wonder where the antenna is mounted


Alex

 

I asked him where the antenna is, he said in the screen.

 

I don't know how it would mount there, there is so much metal that the screen is a bad choice even for wi-fi antenna's

How many satellites are in view?

And go into control panel/system/device manager and report the listings under com ports

I am curious if its a usb gps
If its a usb gps it will list as " prolific" in the com listings

Alex

 

CF-28's do not have PCIe slots.

 

It is serial. I disabled the port in the BIOS and it no longer works. Hmm. Cool hack.

Antenna must be under one of the rubber corner pieces - it works very well - I can get a great signal in the house with it.

 

I am afraid to tell you that you loosed your only external serial port as Alex said. Yup! it is a serial but if you are no way or any use of an external serial it will be fine to you but not for everybody. Ckeck all the side plastic part on the palm rest area maybe the guy uses the very small active patch antena that can be hide at the top of the modem/ nic connector as i tried that before with taoglas antena. It has good place on that location. You cant see it outside unless you pull it out those plastic siding of the unit. I know that seller by mail and he is one of the lurker here, Lol. but he is good a person to talk to.

ohlip

 

The antenna is in the screen, he said. I've had most of the machine apart, and have not found the unit or antenna.

I was a bit concerned about losing the serial port, but then again, I have not had one in years, and if I need one I have a 9-Pin to USB adapter for it. I'd rather the GPS - this frees up the PCI slots for other things (WiFI and ethernet/modem).

Seller has been very responsive, but I'll bet he's protecting his hack.

 

Can you take a photo of the gps module and publish here. From that point of view I can tell you what kind of gps in your unit.


ohlip

 

I have not found it yet, and I'll bet it is soldered right to the port - I hope to never have the machine that far apart. If I do, I'll post it up.

 

I would like to know if it gets lots of sats in view

The gps engine module by the specs in the listing uses a sirfstarIII chipset (the best) but even with the best parts the location and aiming of the antenna, and what it is radiating through is a very important factor in the end

There is other com ports available, he need not of tied up your only external port, but for him it was probably the easy way

Interesting anyways, we love this stuff

Alex

 

It could be on the touchscreen serial port .

 

Probably not, if its com 1
Com 1 is reserved for the 9 pin serial port

Alex

 

Well, with it sitting next to a window, I have 8 of the 10 visible SATs with signals. It works remarkably well, and is fast to lock on.

 

This could be the guy that mounts the antennas on the lid below the "Toughbook" center logo. Remember him? He drills a small hole under the logo, mounts the antenna, then puts the logo back on...

 

Is the logo plastic?
If it is its ok then
Not the best aiming of the antenna,or is it?
I guess it would depend on the pattern of the antenna

Alex

 

The logo IS plastic, I cannot speak to the performance of it; have never used that setup. I just remember reading his idea and seeing posted pics of it. It might not even be this guy, but since he said it was in the lid, and there's no antenna sticking out, I figured it was either that or one mounted in one of the plastic/rubber corner covers.

 

BINGO! I just pulled the logo off - and there it is!