CF-29 Stock GPS Install - IMMEDIATE HELP NEEDED!

Hello everyone. As many of you know... I have been putting in some killer hours. I have a day off today to get 2 CF-29, 1.3Ghz laptops built to specs... They both must have working Verizon Modems WITH Stock Panasonic GPS installed and working well... Without the BSOD!

I started another thread about the Verizon modems... They work well. But my problem is that when I added the stock GPS... The BIOS sees it but the programs don't... No data stream... It's as if it were dead. For a while I was getting the BSOD when I first started this... I reinstalled XP Pro and am presently not having that problem.

The whole thing is... I have done this literally dozens of times with perfect results! NOW I start having problems! I suppose it could be a bad GPS module but I doubt it. The connections are al correct according to what I have done before... Can any of the Panasonic owners out there with GPS AND a modem installed pull out your sled and see where the dip switches are thrown? Maybe post a pic? I have one week to get these working, loaded with all software or I lose the account forever. (And ALL the money I have tied up in this little venture!)

So.... HELP!!!!!!!

It only takes the grounding of one pin in CN18 to make the GPS show up in the BIOS.... (And it IS enabled)... I have tried uninstalling all the COM ports, network cards and other modems... And still nada!

What am I missing? I'm headed back to the shop to take out the modem and try it with only the GPS to see if there is a conflict there. I'll post back later. (And look for replies...)

Thanks in advance....

Rick

 

By the way... The COM ports that are showing are Ports 1, 3, 7 & 8.... 7 & 8 are for the Verizon Modem, I know that for fact. For me... The stock GPS usually shows up on COM3.... So either something is taking it away or is causing conflict... Or the GPS is broken?????

 

Stock GPS by itself doesn't register either. And that is with everything turned off in the BIOS except the GPS!

 

Hi! do you have an original 12c flat cable ribbon for gps interface between the daughterboard and the gps engine? let me know


teo

 

Are both GPS units doing it? and have you tried swapping them from one cf-29 to the other to see if it makes any difference?

 

Maybe to a ohms check on the CN18 cable to make sure it does not have a bad connector or something.

Also are these the units that came from itronix or General D

 

Rick,
Unfortunately I just received my first CF-29 in the mail last night and haven't even had time to do more than confirm that it is wireless ready and doesn't have a sled. What are you using to check for data on COM3? Do you have a copy of the USGlobalsat "GPS Info".
CAP

 

I ask is just because the the 12c flat cable ribbon for gps interface has an opposite opening face at its end not at the same face. Most cable ribbon has has the same face opening. Ask me how I know that? It gives BSOD or even sometimes damage your board coz it is not on the right spot. Like for example on 12c flat cable, pin 1 of gps engine goes to pin 12 of daughterboard and pin 12 goes to pin 1. Not pin 1 of gps engine goes to pin 1 of the board connector.


teo

 

Teo,

I just used the original cable that came with the setup... As I recall... Someone suggested (Maybe you?) that you should try to swap out the cable to see if that is it. I haven't tried swapping out the GPS or cable yet... But I will later and post back... I have a bunch of them from prior builds where I took them out. I must have 15 or so. They all can't be bad! So... I'll try swapping the cable first and then the GPS second... I'll post back... Hopefully tonight.... I have a few things have come up tonight.

I'm trying to avoid that dreaded, "It's a Wonderful Life" thing....

 

Could be a few things. I haven't tampered with the 29's at all yet, so I'm not exactly sure where I would be looking for this on the schematic, but the GPS data out (out of the module, in to the computer) is what you are looking for.

See if it has any voltage with the computer on. Be careful, and don't make my mistake (drinking too much, dropping metal on hot circuits, etc), but it should have a fluctuating voltage if I recall correctly. If that doesn't have anything, I would look at the module itself, call it names, and replace it.

If you do get some voltage out of that circuit, trace it back as far as you can.

This is all after you try another GPS sled completely, and it works. If that fails... Motherboard issues...

 

Follow up on Modly’s suggestion
To test rs232 output you can use a led
Switch + and – polarity on the led if it won’t flash
Also a voltmeter fluctuates from about 1.5v to 3.5v
Com port assignment on my mk-1
Com 1 is the 9 pin serial on the back of laptop
Com 2 is the Serial port B in the bios
Com 3 is MP Serial port
My 29mk-1 is stock
No wwan
No Gps


Alex

 

It was me that suggested replacing the cn18 cable; I have had that problem before. Also, my sled does not have dip switches at all so I cannot check that for you. But I can tell you this, I have the sled with the Verizon card, AND the stock GPS installed. I too could not get streaming data on com3 (that is the right port btw) and found (with ohlips help) that there is a tiny white fuse (1a 75volt I believe) on the modem PCB that controls the GPS. Since the GPS was installed correctly, and the cables were all good, it would show up in the BIOS. But, because the fuse was blown, it would not turn on. I soldered an after-market fuse (1a 65v was all I could find) piggy-back on the old one, and all works great now! I would ohm out the fuse on your PCB to verify if it is good or not...

Paul

 

Paul... Thanks. It was your stuff I was looking at and did indeed find the fuse blown... And replaced it with a fresh one from another sled. I guess I need to check that fuse again to see if there is another issue somewhere.

I appreciate everyone's quick help on this... You all have given excellent suggestions. It looks like I will start having more time for this as I may be leaving my company today. We were bought out and they are still trying to negotiate my pay. If they come back low today... I have to walk as I can't make it (especially with those hours) with what they originally offered. So... Two weeks before X-Mas and I'll be unemployed. Looks like I'll be going back to the Ultimate Toughbooks for a while to tide things over until I find another job. I haven't had the time to even build a Toughbook for ebay in months!

I'll keep you posted as to what I find either later today or tomorrow or Sunday... Depending on what happens at work today.

Thanks again guys..

Rick

 

Welcome to the club of an unemploy person. Me too just happened last week and now lookin for another, temporarily selling anything to ebay but man! even on ebay is to soft.


teo

 

Okay... I checked the fuse on the sled and it was bad.... This was last week. I have a few blank sleds around so I swaped in a good one... Now THAT ONE is also bad... Must have blown for some reason. I replaced the ribbon cable that runs from the sled plug to CN18... But now I am worried about the voltage to the fuse and why it is high enough to blow it! I'm wondering if THAT what was giving me my BSODs... Until the fuse blew and now I don't have it anymore? Make sense?

Edit - Hhhhmmmmm... I just took apart the 2nd sled that has just the Verizon modem on it... The fuse is just fine on that one....

 

Okay... I put a fresh, known working pc board (For the GPS only... NOT the type that has the other SMD components for the Modem on it.) into the sled for just the GPS ONLY and it blew the fuse too. WHY??????????? I must be SO dense that I am missing something! A dip switch? I don't know and I am getting to the end of my rope! What am I missing?

 

Teo... You might have something here.... Heartland sent me the ribbon cables for the GPS... But NOT the type that allows for the modems to be used also! (For some reason... Even though they knew I needed these for the same unit.... IE, Both modems and GPS were to be on the same board.) So... The cable that they shipped doesn't have the connector on it to hook up the switch for the Verizon Modem. If I use THAT cable... Then the modems can't be turned on/off... Plus whatever other problems that would cause.

The thing that ticks me off... Is that I have added GPS to many, many sleds like this... And they worked perfectly! What am I missing? Or did they send me the wrong part?

 

Anyone?????

 

are those the units you got from general D? maybe they modified it. you said that the model number said that it had no WWAN but it did intact have WWAN Maybe they messed something up.

 

Nope... these aren't from there... I got these from a PD out west.... They have always been a great source of 29s for me and I have modded their stuff before... This is what scares me. I think I will swapp laptops and try out the other one.... But I'm feeling similar/same results.... I don't know why.... I have 4 days left to get these working! Or it's my butt!

 

Did you ever get the dip switch positions? I think i might have a picture of the settings or maybe wrote them down. I will be home in 15 mins i will check for you.

 

Im leaning to the CN18 cable. Just a gut feeling, but you should swap it out with a known, working, CN18 with the PCB for the switch. Without that PCB, yes, it would run the WWAN continuously, but how much power is being regulated by that switch? For all we know, it may step it down when you are running a GPS unit in there? Speaking of that, it could also be a short in the 12pin GPS cable. I would check them both, and swap them both out with know good ones. Again, this is just a gut check, so no guarantees.

~Paul

 

Zippy... No... I don't have the dip-switch settings... Yes... Please get them to me. I had pics at one time but I can't find them now... I think I cleaned out all the supposed old pics... They were in there!

Edit - I am also wondering if maybe I am not forcing the fuse to blow by using the ribbon cable made for the Verizon modem but not having it hooked up (Just the GPS) routes the voltage somewhere else? Make sense?

 

Your second idea there might be a start on something. Sorry i did not get those settings last night something came up. I will get them for you today as soon as i can.

Are these the only two GPS units you have? there is not much to go on since you only have these units. You might have a bad cable or just a wrong one. But i don't think that a wrong cable would cause it unless it was shorted out along the cable somewhere.


Did you check into what another member said about the cable having to be switched? if the cable was not in there right then it would be putting power on all the wrong pins.

-James

 

Hi! That cable is the right one for gps setup only. Ok! pls. check both connector header of mbo. and daughterboard, all connector related to gps setup there might be something shorting out. if necessary clean it up by a brush( used toothbrush not the one you are using ) coz overtime it collected dust and moisture or maybe the pins are corroded. Make sure your 12c flat cable for gps interface is like on this photo;


teo

 

James & Teo..... Thanks for the input. Unfortunately I have not been able to spend 100% time on this like I would have liked to.... That ends tomorrow!!! So... In the morning I will be spending the REST OF THE WEEK figuring this out.

So.... Teo... Yes... I have inspected the connections... That was one of the first things I checked... Those dang Klingons can getcha... Just ask Capt. Kirk or Jean Luc! (Actually... BY Jean Luc's time they were allies I suppose) <Where is Mnementh when you need him?>

I actually did think about the GPS 12 pin cable... I wondered if I had it facing the correct way... But it is as your picture shows.... But I wonder if I have them facing the right way. (Or I did at least) They look like they are making the right connections....


So... My choices are;

1. Forget the GPS ONLY cable... You MUST Have the connector midway on the ribbon cable for BOTH the GPS and the Verizon Modem to work.

2. Check the connections one more time. I actually checked only CN18... I didn't check the connection (closely anyway) on the other end.

3. Replace fuse and try other GPS unit to see if THAT is the issue.

4. Run into a GT90 turbine engine while at full throttle. (Powers the Boeing 777)

<splat!>


I will check and report back... Please try to check this thread tomorrow night so you can comment on the results... I will have them posted by then.

I'd like to say that you guys are TOPS on my list.... I really appreciate the encouragement and suggestions... Anything beats jumping off a bridge! I feel bad as I am usually the one giving advice... Now I am the student. I try to learn at least ONE thing daily.... Gasification concepts were yesterday... Hydrogen having an octane rating of 60-66 was last week.... (I digress) So I definitely need more CF-29 learning....

As I have said to SO many people.... Here and offline... THIS FORUM is the best!... All the learned people, no egos, no flaming (At least that I have seen)... I love you guys and gals... One and all!

meri kurisumasu, Mele Kalikimaka, felix dies Nativitatis, สุขสันต์วันคริสตร์มาส, miilaad majiid, C Pождеством Xристовом, feliz Navidad, ia manuia le Kerisimasi, ia orana e te noera, Nollaig chridheil, seun-tan chu-ka-hae-yo, Merry Christmas..... Thanks!

 

The easy way

Start with a known good working unit

Change parts one by one

= success


Alex

 

Its a suggestion too! like alex said. Take out the gps module on the daughterboard. insert the daugh..d with known good fuse and power up the pc for a minute and then shut it down, take out the sled and check the fuse again if it is blown or not(remember the standart drill "battery out first and Ac plug before .. you know). that way you will pin point which of which is the culprit.

teo

 

The dip switch is as follows 1 down 2 up 3 up 4 down. the numbers are really small but they are there.


This was from a sled that had a Verizon modem and GPS


Does the CN18 cable have the connector in the middle for the front switches? I think you said it does not But I was unsure

 

James... Same DIP switch settings... <sigh>

Okay... Partial update. I took apart the cable ends tonight... Blew them out and magnified them under a neutron microscope. (Okay... My 20X headset with lights for ultra small soldering... But still)
I niticed that the ribbon cable dimples were a little off. Shifted over to the right or left depending... I released both... Blew out all with High compressed air... Cleaned off the ends (Nothing there... But I cleaned them) and then realigned the cable ends depending on where I saw the dimples in the ribbon cable. It didn't really look like they were so far of that they would hit on the wrong one... But you never know (Right?) After cleaning and re-aligning I reinstalled and will start fresh tomorow... I don't want to make a mistake now... I've been up snce 5am this morning and have been working hard on a host of much needed "honey-do's", favors owed - but put off, business calls, working on my resume, calls to possible employers.... etc.... I know...... WAAAAAAAAAA

 

I forgot to mention that this is model number CF-29EWKGXKM... I am about to try Teo's suggestion... I cleaned everything up really well and about to try this with nothing on the sled... But before I do...

As I mentioned in the first thread.... I had everything working fine with just the Verizon modems.... I pulled them out of another CF-29 and slid them into the ones here... The modems worked great and I could even dial in on whomever's dime who owned the laptops before. The laptops now were purchased from a police dept.... But the donor sleds I think came from General Dynamics Toughbooks... At least one of them did... But then it shouldn't matter.

I'll report back when I finish a few things...

 

Well... The results look promising... I now get a data stream from the GPS!!!!!! I cleaned everthing up and broke the ground connection from between the side of the GPS PC board and the metal casing on the modem.... Now I get a data stream... NOW I need to reinstall the antenna and see if can avoid that jump off a bridge!!!!

EDIT -By the way... I don't know if it made any real difference but I turned the switch in the BIOS from auto on/off to off only... So you need to turn ON the modem with the switch and it will automatically turn off with the laptop.

 

Way to be patient and stick it through!!! I am very glad you are making progress! So, we ALL learned to add to our troubleshooting to check that the unit is not grounding to the side of the modem? Do I have that correct? Or, I guess, the thing is to check that all components in the sled are clear from grounding...

 

Well... The data is streaming but no sats locked yet... But I am doing this inside and the stock Panasonic GPS is not that good inside... Only outside. We'll see...

Whoooo hooo.... 4 sats locked INSIDE... Now I need to get the modem back on line and hopefully there will be no shorts or grounds... I have the modem turned off right now until I could get the GPS working....

Paul... Yes... Sort of... I took everyone's suggestions so I'm not sure what did it. I cleaned the connectiosn with a toothbrush... Blew everything off/out with compressed air... Taped the side of the GPS so it would not make contact with anything...

So now it has 6-8 sats locked inside.... Now THIS is more like it... What I am used to. I guess on the other ones I isolated the GPS a little better?!

I still need to load the SB555 Watcher and install the modem to get it working...

Thanks for everyone's help so far.... And the encouragement!

Rick

 

Everything works on the first one! WHooooohoooo... You have NO idea how relieved I am!Thanks again for all the suggestions and encouragement... I love this forum!

 

Great I am glad it is all working you must have just had a bad connection somewhere.

-James

 

Thats great Rick

You had us worried

I was watching your posts half expecting ypu to report that you were jumping ship , and buying a Macbook




Alex

 

Oh... Quick question... I need to solder on another fuse onto the board... So.. .The one that is on there is a 1Amp 63V fuse... Can't I add a 73V 1Amp... It looks to be the same size and shape... I would think the voltage is not the issue it would be the amperage....

 

Nah... NEVER a MacBook! Yuk.... The closest I'll EVER come to an Apple product is my couple of iPods!

 

I would think that the 73v one would work like you said i think the amps matters not the volts it is worth a try.



MAC........ewwww


-James

 

Am I late? Wake up so late. Having a party last night. BTW, congrats to all forum member. Now! who can help me out to purchase at least 6 pcs of sarantel S active antena from JDG. UPS is killing me with their shipping and duty fee. Anybody?



Update: Nevermind, I altready placed my order anyway.

teo

 

Another quick, stupid question.... I can go ahead and clone the hard drive for the other one can't I? They both used the same Recovery Disks so I would imagine that they would be fine to clone... They are exact equipment-wise anyway.... I was having BSOD errors on both hard drives so I reformatted one of them after I started experimenting. That should work shouldn't it? I used to do it to CF-28s....

Teo,

I am short of cash or I would be more than happy to do it...

 

Yup! you can clone it as long as the same model no. with no problem.

Anyway, I just talked recently with jim and the price now is only 14buck or something and he said the new design will be release next year probably March of 2009 and every costomer of him will get one of a sample. Its great, I quess to play with this new unit.


teo

 

Fourteen dollars????????????? Get out! They were $32 last I bought them from him! I found another guy to get them from out in Utah... He emailed back and forth with me wanting modding info for his Toughbooks.... How we did some of the things we do. At first I was going to blow him off but he turned out to be a real nice guy. I was buying them from him a little cheaper than Jim Gray... But I am almost out of stock. Next time I'll order from Jim Gray and get them quicker. I used to have to wait for a few weeks with the other guy.

Anyway.... BOTH CF-29S ARE UP AND RUNNING!!!!!!!! (Say it with me...) YEAAA!

I think it was either a microscopic dirt particle or the grunding issue between the GPS and the modem. When I took everything back apart I fit it a little looser and NO problemo! And NO problems with the 2nd one... It fired right up and worked like a charm! The first time. MAN I was sweating this... Now I can collect the rest of what is owed (And hopefully return about $800 worth of parts to Heartland.... Though I am over their 30 day period.) This is shaping up to be a great Christmas... Even though I am unemployed! It's a Wonderful Life all over again....

 

Dust, dirt, moisture and corroded pin leg is the worse/nightmare enemy of an electronics pcb. Its like two year ago I bought two unit of a panasonic cd-rom pack module that listed as deffective for only 20buck on which that time cd rom module is like a piece of gold and when I received it, inspected and i found out that has two leg pin corroded and the other one has dust and moisture. Just cleaned it up and all working fine. The amazing thing is that I sold both of them for $250 each.

teo

 

If anyone of the US sellers saw what crap we go through as Canadians with the ups guys
They would understand our frustration

The ebay message boards are full of complains from Canadians about all of the courier company’s

I don’t mind paying the taxes , but the brokerage fee is outrageous

Postal only charges us $5 for brokerage



Alex

 

Teo and Alex,
Do you get wacked if the package comes US mail as a gift? I love sending gifts if it screws the tax man!
CAP

 

Cap.. Merry Christmas in advance. Probably you know how rediculous those co. I always prefer USPS mail and their counter part here, Canadapost rather than those company. One time I bought rubberized kyboard in US for 45buck + 25buck shipping via ups, You know how much they charged me for brokerage fee, Its 40buck.


teo

 

It only happens on UPS Ground shipments. If you use any Air (FedEx included) then the brokerage is paid by the shipping fee AFAIK. I had a warranty repair of three camera batteries that the manufacturer shipped back via UPS Ground. I had to pay $80 brokerage for a warranty repair! They told me it doesn't matter because the items crossing the border required their services. WHAT?!

 

Air or ground has no difference. They are all sucks!


teo