CF-30 mk2 - Qualcomm HS USB NMEA 250D

Hi everyone.

This is my first post but I am no stranger to the wonderful help this forum has been so far.

I recently bought a tough book for use with diagnostics on heavy duty vehicles. Although it is not a necessity, I would very much like to get all the bells and whistles on this old gal running smoothly. I bought her used on eBay but refurbished. The listing indicated that the machine had GPS capabilities, however, I am not able to see the com port in MS Streets & Trips or read the data with GPSinfo (found that one here ). In devmgr, I see Qualcomm HS USB NMEA 250d listed under ports at com8. Also, in GPSinfo, I see the port listed with NMEA data. I have been in this game long enough to know that NMEA means GPS. Streets and Trips cannot see any ports with NMEA data and I don't know where else to look.

The drivers I used to get the WWAN up and running were for the GOBI 1000 but everything I'm reading on here indicates that the GOBI 1000's GPS capabilities are disabled by default from Sierra.

Could I simply have a Gobi 2000 and it be working with the drivers for the 1000? Or is there another standalone driver for the GPS functionality? Also, in the bios, under the serial/parallel menu in advanced, there is nothing about GPS nor is there anything in the devices menu in bios.

I'm sincerely hoping that someone in here can help me. Anything is appreciated.

My model number is: CF-30FQSACAM
CF-30 mk2

 

Sounds like you have a Gobi2000 WWAN card. There are drivers on the Panasonic site for it. The Panasonic configurator does not show a factory discrete GPS:

Model Number: CF-30FQSACAM
Status: DISCONTINUED
MSRP: $4,949
Description: WinXP (Vista COA), Intel Core 2 Duo L7500 1.60GHz (Centrino), 13.3" XGA Touch, 80GB, 1GB, Intel 802.11a/b/g, TPM1.2, Bluetooth, AT&T Cingular HSDPA, Dual Pass (Upper:WWAN/Lower:WLAN), No Drive

 

Welcome to the Panasonic Toughbook Forum

You should be able to find the drivers here http://www.panasonic.com/business/Toughbook/computer-support-search-downloads.asp

 

250D is Gobi 1000
250F is Gobi 2000

 

Okay. My only argument with that description is that the WWAN card is able to run Verizon, ATT, and Sprint. Not just ATT/Cingular. Everything else looks like it makes sense.

In DevMgr it definitely says Qualcomm HS USB NMEA 250D.
Is there another surefire way of telling what chip it has in it aside from pulling it? I know everyone is saying that the 1000 does not have GPS capabilities so why am I showing a NMEA device? If GPS is disabled, is there a way to enable it? Is getting the GPS working going to be more trouble than it is worth seeing as how I dont really need it for anything or is it going to be a simple driver install?

Thanks for the replies everyone!

 

Gobi 1000 definitely has GPS function. Maybe Panasonic has blocked GPS in their modems, I don't know.
Look here for a method for HP, maybe it will help.
http://www.myhpmini.com/forum/showthread.php/4457-Gobi-1000-Modem-and-GPS-Connection
I'm using Gobi 1000 in my CF-19 and have that NMEA port too. But I also have ublox standalone GPS and don't need to play with modem's one even if it works ) Hope you will find an easy way.

 

Yes Panasonic blocked it.

 

Looking at the screen , at the top right do you have a GPS antenna. Just thinking maybe the last person might of added it.

 

No. Only what I assume to be the corner filler. Nothing protruding like the WWAN antenna.

 

there will be nothing protruding from that corner ... the antenna is not a "rod" type as with the WWAN .
as long as the corner looks like it is pregnant , you're good to go .
if not , a new corner can be had for a reasonable price .

the gps function in the *older* gobi cards has something left to be desired .
there is a retrofit kit that combines the antenna and gps "card" into one small unit that is mounted in the pregnant bump on the right hand corner of the lid , with four small leads routed back into the bottom portion .
the ideas here are :
technology has advanced
hardly any loss of signal between the antenna and receiver (at these frequencies , loss with skinny coax is a serious problem)
there is no mean trick to installing the kit ... pretty much straight forward logical thinking .
this unit will run circles around the gobi stuff ... and for a fair/decent price .

da linky :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GPS-Kit...663?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item35d0eec147

 

This is what the OEM GPS looks like

 

ps ... the gps kit i linked to comes with a custom corner piece .

 

I have to say Gobi 2000 has very good GPS.
7 satellites fixed inside my house.

 

Depends,it bites on a CF-74Mk4 but works pretty good On a CF-52Mk2 if you give it a little time.

 

definitely does not have oem gps lol. looking for aftermarket now. thank you for your help everyone!

 

A lot of guys use this.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GPS-Kit...663?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item35d0eec147

I use a custom Ublox setup with a totally hidden antenna...NO pregnant bump.

 

yeah ...
i did a fair amount of recon before i decided to cough up and buy the unit that shawn and myself linked to .
i have not been disappointed (and with me , that aint easy) .
the only thing i would add is to twist the four wires (place finger between two center wires at the connector) , this makes for easier routing/wire dressing .
also , i did not have to remove all of the cover screws as shown in the "instructions" that come on a small disk .