CF-29 WWAN/GPS help.

Hi all,

I'm looking for some help and advice if I may. I've recently brought a CF-29ETKGHZZ (and can't find that under the configurator). Still, that being said, its been obviously changed in its day as it has the DVD player and 512mb RAM. It has the Wifi which works lovely, but my question would be to the little door above the battery.

Its definetly for a sim card (as I popped one in and it clicks into place and then is pushed to click out). Heck, I pulled the machine apart and couldnt see any details/brands on it other than DFUP1301ZB(1).

I've got a THREE-3 (UK) sim with one of their USB modems (which obviously is a pain as it occupies the only USB2 port), my question is, how do I get the little sim thing to work - I've mastered the pressing the button on the front to make the little round light show and the ariel one flash, but thats about as far as I get. No idea what drivers it uses and can't seem to find anything about it in the device manager. Clueless when it comes to the panasonic website/drivers and really could do with somebody to spell this out in laymans terms for me.

Help would be most greatfully appreciated.
With thanks, Mike.

 

Mike... First of all... Welcome to the forum!

Second... Are you 100% sure about the model #??? Did you check it in the BIOS or by the sticker on the bottom. Stickers can be wrong but the BIOS is usually spot on... Until WE get to modding them that is. It should not end in HZZ...

Third... As far as I know... The SIM card slot is for something that we never use... I've never heard of anyone using it anyway... What you can do is to remove the battery first! (ALWAYS!) Then... Remove the two screws on either side of the slot above the battery and carefully pull it out. It should be a little sled or tray that houses some hardware. Tell us what the hardware is or looks like... Or what it says. Do you have an antenna on the top left of the LCD when the LCD is in the UP position? (And you are looking at it)

You might also want to read the CF-29FAQ and maybe a few more threads.... Just to review....

Let us know and we'll let YOU know!

 

Mike, I do beleived you have an EDGE wireless modem that uses a sim card. If you can pull out the sled as what "Rick" told you about and get back to us. It is more easy to help you out. If you have a modem that mark MC75 it means that is an edge wireless or whatever you found out pls. get back to us.


ohlip


Mike; You can download the driver here in panasonic.ca site; http://panasonic.ca/english/customercare/sandd/softwareResults.asp

 

Teo
Time to look at your post count and Rep power again
777 and 7



Alex

 

Alex you have too much time on your hands ... who am I kidding, I sit in front of 2 computer screens at work waiting for things to go wrong

 

Ahhh yes... Edge.... Cingular/AT&T still use the SIM in everything... I forgot about them.

 

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the welcome and the comments on the sim thing.
Just looking at the bios now and it reads CF-29ETKGHKE if that is of more help.

I took it apart the other day in a hope to find out what it was in there and it looked very similar to the one photographed on the thread below but I couldnt get the little bit of the sled, and from what I could see peeping in, there was no sticker with any brand name...
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=268431&page=5

It does have the little 10cm type ariel that pulls out of the top part of the screen (left) and the four flashing lights thing down by the handle.

...Bless the machine, its been apart more times than I can count in the last two days (and i've only had it that long!).

Thanks all! Mike.

 

Mike,

There is no way you can "Peep in" and see anything.... You'll have to pull it out... You are looking at the bottom of the sled when you look in. You'll have to remove the two screws and pull the sled out. **REMOVE THE BATTERY FIRST** That is enough of a warning!

Okay... With the battery removed you can then slide your fingers into the laptop and help guide the sled out. **YOU MUST REMOVE THE TWO SCREWS HOLDING IT IN FIRST**

EDIT: I doubt you have the Edge modem on your 29 as I rarely see them on anything but CF-30s. MOre than likely it is a Verizon modem... And in any event... You will need the correct software to make it work. I think I have all of them so let me know when you figure it out.

 

Panasonic had a habit in the CF-29 days of changing model number in the bios when a machine was converted from new to refurbished. The warranty would change from 3 years to 90 days. The model number change was the way Panasonic tracked warranty. ALso, model numbers were change when a CF-29 was sent to Panasonic for an upgrade such as GPS or WWAN. It is likely you have Sprint. Turn in on in the bios and install the drivers and the VZAccess Manager. It should go out and connect to Sprint and ask you if you want to activate an account. Verizon will do the same thing, but I really suspect you have Sprint.

 

*Agrees* AFAIK, Verizon does not use the sim cards. I have Verizon for my EVDO, and it does not use one, but then again, I believe mine is the newer ones so I could be wrong.

 

SIM cards are used in GSM/GPRS modems and phones. Here in the US the two that come to mind are T-mobile and ATT. Having a SIM means you can swap it from your phone into the the modem and your modem will assume your phones identity. You will need to confirm that the modem in your CF-29 is unlocked or if it will be supported by your cellular provider. Then you will need a DATA plan with your service provider to be able to use the Toughbook modem to get internet access. Just take your toughbook to your cellular provider and see if they can help you to identify the modem.

 

Hi everyone... Thank you for the continued thoughts.
Righty, after removing the battery *thank you* I have removed the sled and taken out the little thing and it reads "Siemens". The only other bits on it are very small numbers to include 151103, 15.3, 19657v03 and AT&S if that is of any help to anyone.
Its probably worth noting that I didnt realise previous (such an ametuer) that you can take it out the side and disassembled the whole computer.

That being said, I brought the computer with a faulty touchpad and I discovered on taking it apart that when somebody had removed the hard drive caddy it had pulled the two flat ribbon cables too.
...Don't know if anyone can offer help on this too as the white one which attaches to the touchpad had been half split. Granted, I've stuck it back together with tape and it works which is a miracle, but are they easy to get?
The second ribbon - the one that heads off to this modem neck of the woods and is brown had been pulled and broken the little plastic clip on the actual mother board. I'm guessing that this one can't be fixed without fitting a new clip on the board so i've put a big lump of glue on it (crude I know) but it seems to work and the lights and buttons on that little wireless panel seem to work.

As far as SIM cards and what-not go, I am a customer of 3 (UK which is a part of orange I think) and i have one of their mobile broadband packages which i use with the supplied USB modem, but i hope to use this little internal sled thingy to free me up that all important USB port!

As always, your advice and council is most greatfully apprecaited.
With kind regards,
Mike

 

OK... Following on from my last, having searched the web a bit, I've downloaded the Checknet 2.11L10D which is apparently the Europe version, but when Winmux Driver Setup scans it says "no siemens modem detected"... I say that there is, cos I just pulled it out and put it back!!!!! The little Wireless lights are all working, the power one on and the antena one flashing... Thats right, right?!

 

Did you read my posts in this thread? Did you read other's responses to my posts in this thread? I think you need to spend some time reading this thread again as well as the CF-29FAQ and just in general... Spend a few days reading a few of the other posts to get a feel for what is what and what is where and how things are put together.

Where did you download the software you speak of? The only software that will work for the internal modem is from Panasonic as far as I know. But it sounds like all your ribbon cables are messed up. I think without pictures... and a little more reading on your part... It will be impossible to help you.

 

Hello Guys,

I have a CF-29 with a wwan installed and want to install a gps is it possible.

Thanks,

Kenny