The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    CF-31 GPS kit anyone have pics?

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by RuggedSolutions, Nov 14, 2011.

  1. RuggedSolutions

    RuggedSolutions Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    84
    Messages:
    226
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I want to add GPS to one of my 31's as both of them don't have GPS.

    Does anyone have a pic of the original kit or pics of where the GPS antenna
    is located. Does the 31 have a bump-out on the screen like the 30?

    Any info would be great.
     
  2. Rob

    Rob Toughbook Aficionado

    Reputations:
    452
    Messages:
    3,946
    Likes Received:
    65
    Trophy Points:
    116
    The 31 does NOT have the bumpout... It's all integrated. I'd call heartland to see what they say about this "kit", because I'm pretty sure if it's even available then it will cost BUKU $$$. I have GPS in mine, but it was there from the factory, so I'm not quite sure how to add it after market.

    The GOBI 2000 card HAS GPS built in... I'd say that's MUCH easier to just use that. You can enable the GOBI in the BIOS by following the hack/thread post #21 HERE: http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/562689-cf-52-wwan-retrofit-3.html#post7289044
     
  3. RuggedSolutions

    RuggedSolutions Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    84
    Messages:
    226
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks Rob for the info. With the Gobi 2000 card will the gps work standalone
    without a working sim card or does it need service to function? I always though you needed a GPS antenna to have true GPS.

    I was planning on modding the GPS but figured if the 31 used the bump I wuld just order that and rig my own ublox 6 module into the 31. I've got gps modules on mini-pci express boards so the install is a piece of cake.

    Like this:
    [​IMG]
     
  4. Rob

    Rob Toughbook Aficionado

    Reputations:
    452
    Messages:
    3,946
    Likes Received:
    65
    Trophy Points:
    116
    No, you do NOT need service activated on the GOBI card for the GPS to work... The signal is coming in via an antenna... Of course...

    Thanks
     
  5. RuggedSolutions

    RuggedSolutions Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    84
    Messages:
    226
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    OK thats clear. Now do I need to connect a GPS antenna to the Gobi modem then or does it use the normal antennas. Thats the part that doesn't make sense to me.
     
  6. Rob

    Rob Toughbook Aficionado

    Reputations:
    452
    Messages:
    3,946
    Likes Received:
    65
    Trophy Points:
    116
    It has antennas already there... Just use those ones.

    Thanks
     
  7. Kardan

    Kardan Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    140
    Messages:
    304
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Rob,
    Is this also true of a GOBI 2000 card that came factory-original in a CF-19 Mk4?
     
  8. RuggedSolutions

    RuggedSolutions Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    84
    Messages:
    226
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Ok thanks Rob. I am just not certain the standard wlan or wwan antenna will do a good job for the GPS. I will test this out, maybe there is already a GPS
    antenna hiding in the screen housing. Have done quit a lot of GPS installs and know how important a good antenna is. You can have the best gps chip in the world but if you antenna can't get a good look at the sky, it's useless.
     
  9. Rob

    Rob Toughbook Aficionado

    Reputations:
    452
    Messages:
    3,946
    Likes Received:
    65
    Trophy Points:
    116
    ALL GOBI 2000 cards support GPS... regardless of the device it goes in.

    RuggedSolutions: You'd be SURPRISED at how well the GPS on the GOBI card works with the antennas that are stock there for it.

    Enjoy
     
  10. RuggedSolutions

    RuggedSolutions Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    84
    Messages:
    226
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Ok I will give the Gobi a try and let you know. Just can't believe that
    a antenna normally intended for wwan/wifi can work great for GPS
    reception. I will let you know how it turns out.