CF-28 Newbie ques

I have recently gotten a CF-28 toughbook and really like it. I got windows XP installed on my 30GB hard drive and finally got it going thanks to some help on here(had to replace cable). I am going to install wireless card but I have read so much on here and from other places that I am in info overload. If I understand correctly the factory installed wireless card is of no use to me, as it uses an outdated system, correct? I also understand that I can install a wireless card in the lan or modem slot, correct? Now for a couple of questions. Is it possible to install a wireless card into the factory wireless card location? and if I understand correctly with a modification I can use the factory antenna that is on the upper left of screen. I really want to use the factory antenna or at least the factory location, and would like to keep the lan and phone modem too. I know that this has probably been covered a couple thousand times and is in the stickies but I have read them to the point that I am thoroughly confused . I'm also having trouble finding exact info on the model number I have, CF-28PTJGADM. Any help and info on what parts I need will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

Im in the process of upgrading my 28 also, are you sure you have the internal antenna. Thought i did but poped the rubber cover off & nothing there... If you have one that pulls out like the old cell antennas Then your good to go & shouls be able to use it. You will need a new Wifi card - pck up a 802.11 G (think thats the exact # but the G is important).

 

CF-28P: Intel Pentium III 800MHz your model...

 

Here's how I did it with a 2915 card. http://forum.notebookreview.com/7570843-post13.html
There are real ways to do this but I was just using what I had. That's a CF-29 antenna.

 

Your system is OEM'd with a CDPD Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) modem (see below ▼; and, "Yes;" CDPD is no more (at least here in the U.S.).

Yes; and you may want to consider a 3Com 56K Modem/Wired 10/100 Ethernet "combo" card in order to free up one slot while retaining both phone modem and 10/100 "wired" Ethernet capability.

Model Number: CF-28PTJGADM
Status: DISCONTINUED
MSRP: $5,111
Description: Intel® Pentium III 800MHz, 256 RAM, 30GB HDD, 13.3" XGA Touch Screen w/Film, Floppy Disk Drive, 56K Modem, 10/100 Ethernet LAN, CDPD WWAN Modem, 3-Prong Power Adapter, Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional

 

From the Panasonic ToughBook Configurator (Linked from the CF-28 FAQ)

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/210510-cf-28-f-q-read-me-before-posting.html#post2896497

The ToughBook Configurator REQUIRES Internet Explorer to function properly; if you use another browser it will stall without rendering any information.

Model Number: CF-28PTJGADM Status: DISCONTINUED MSRP: $5,111

Description: PIII 800MHz, 256MB RAM, 30GB HDD, 13.3"XGA/TOUCHScreen, FDD, 56K/LAN, CDPD Cellular MODEM, 3Pin Power Adapter, LCD PROTECTIVE FILM, Windows 2000 Installed.

The WiFi install is easy; there are 2 Mini-PCI slots under the HDD. The original configuration is MODEM in one slot, NIC in the other slot. We remove both, then install a cheap (like $3-5 on eBay) 3COM Combo card in the left slot that does both. This frees up the right slot for the very popular Engenius Atheros-based cards; they range in power from 400mw to 1000mw depending on model and price paid. The details are linked directly from the first page of the CF-28 FAQ.

The antenna mod is also linked from the CF-28 FAQ; you do need to do some soldering, but your model does have the CDPD antenna so it will work. Here's a direct link to the meaty parts of the hack:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/215522-built-wireless-advanced-mods-2.html#post2986270

Good luck,

mnem
*Genuine Antique Computer-Hacker*

 

The question is: "What do you do about antennas when you want both WWAN and WLAN in the CF-28?"

 

There was some discussion about that in the Built-in Wireless Advanced Mods thread; the consensus was that due to the difference in intended frequency (800MHz vs 1900MHz) the CDPD antenna was a poor choice for any modern WWAN adapter. I think it was Ohlip who modded the CF-18 lid and then the CF-29 lid with a flag-type WWAN antenna glommed from another laptop; he installed it under the rubber covers and also experimented with placing it under the ToughBook logo in the middle of the screen with mixed results.

I wanted to hack my CF-28 lid with an antenna on the right-hand side for either 2nd WiFi adapter or WWAN; after much dremeling and hacksawing on several old LCD Lids sent by ToughBook, I was unable to fabricate anything which was even marginally passable in appearance.

mnem
Yes, I AM nuts. It's what keeps me from going insane.

 

I greatly appreciate the help and info. My head was about to explode with all the info I had read.

 

OK I believe that I understand now. You replace the lan board with one that combines the lan and phone modem and then put the wireless board in the other slot. So after I do that I modify the factory antenna for wireless use and connect the cable to the new wireless board. After all that can I remove the factory wireless card? If so there will be a large open area below battery do you all put anything in there? The factory wireless switch will then be useless correct? Do you all use the switch for anything else? Sorry for all the questions, like I said newbie.

 

Yes; as the CDPD modem is a relic now, anyway.

 

Yes, but save the daughterboard that it attaches to; we used those to hack in an aftermarket internal GPS that STILL kicks tucus, even compared to the newest CF-31s.

The CDPD MODEM itself is useless; there aren't any of the right radio waves out there to feed it. HOWEVER - the antenna jack is easily unsoldered, and in my hack pages you can see how I used one to make the adapter which connects the CDPD antenna to the MiniPCI WiFi card.

The moral of this story?
NO TOUGHBOOK PART IS GARBAGE.

mnem
There, there little RIM card. He wasn't going to hurt you, I promise.

 

Thanks again, now I just have to gather some parts and get to work again.

 

Why making an hole in the right-hand side of the lid would be so difficult? I was thinking about finding a daughterboard and adding an em 408 gps and wiring it to an antenna (not the patch type) drilled in the right hand.. in the left hand there's the factory whip antenna.

Can you link me the threads where you talked about this problem?

 

I Didn't TALK about it. I WORKED on the hack. The problem is NOT with making something that WORKS; that's easy. The problem is making something that doesn't look completely ghetto-fab and still maintains at least a rain-proof seal.

You can't just take the left side and graft it onto the right; you need to fabricate a mirror-image of the left side, including the rubber corner piece, to make it look right.

As for the GPS hack, just look in the CF-28 FAQ. There's a whole huge thread on doing just that, INCLUDING mounting a Geohelix Multifilar GP{S antenna on the right side. It HAS been done; it's NOT easy and it does NOT match the left side.

mnem
That there is a fine bit of Polish-Engineering.