CF-31 WWAN hardware...

Hey folks, long time since my last post (but always around here learning!)

I've bought and am waiting for my CF-31ATAAX2M to arrive, must be in my hands soon.
It's a i5 2.4GHz, simple and cheaper model. Already bought 8GB RAM for it and have my x64 Seven Portuguese edition awaiting to be installed.

I would have a question, maybe Rob, old busted, gothed and others with first hand experience on this model know the answer: would this NO WWAN unit have a SIM slot mounted below the HDMI port, as well as WWAN antennas inside? I'd love to stick a Gobi 2000 card (I am aware of the BIOS update needed, thanks Rob!).
I saw the exploded diagram for the ATAAXxx models, and they seem to have at least the SIM slot...

Thanks in advance!

 

Yes, it's ready to go. You need to unlock the GOBI capabiltity though. YES, the SIM slot is there from the factory along with the wiring too.

See this thread as well: http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/562689-cf-52-wwan-retrofit-3.html#post7289044

Thanks

 

Thanks Rob! That's great news.

Did you have success with the (cheaper) eBay pieces or you bought yours from Heartland, Panasonic-specific? I now that my IBM T60 has whitelist for miniPCI-e cards, don't know if the same applies to Toughbooks...

Also, I don't know if there are Gobi cards that are "locked" to a specific company, or are all of them unlocked?

Sorry for that many questions, I am a complete noob with WWAN tech...

Thanks again,

lemarq.

 

GOBI cards are capable of Sprint, ATT, and Verizon.

Just do a Google search on GOBI 2000 man...

 

Or; Gobi 4000

 

Thanks Rob, I did that already, just couldn't find any info if it would work with brazilian carriers (no Sprint, ATT or Verizon here). But I will try it for sure

Thanks for the link TC. Main question is: would the CF-31 accept such a card? Threads like this suggests that's a no no, but I don't think it's conclusive...

 

I'm not sure on that... Probably not?

 

you know somebody is going to try...

 

Model Number: CF-31ATAAX2M
Status: DISCONTINUED
MSRP: $4,279
Description: Windows XP Professional (Win7 COA), Intel® Core i5-520M 2.40GHz, vPro, 13.1" XGA Touch Screen, 160GB HDD, 2GB RAM, Intel® Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth, Single Pass-thru Connector (WWAN), No Optical Drive, TPM Security Chip, Toughbook Preferred, replaced with CF-31JEGAX1M

Hope Win7x64 has all the drivers needed by the CF-31, otherwise you've got your work cut out for you:

Windows 7 64-bit drivers

Installation Instructions - View correct order of installing all drivers for CF-31A (mk1 Perf./Std.)

This may also come in handy:

Category: BIOS and EC
Title: BIOS V1.00L16 and EC V1.00L16 (Aug‚ 2010)
Model: CF-31A(mk1 Perf./Std.) CF-31[A/B]xxxxxx
Operating System:
Language:
Release Date: Aug 30, 2010 Index No: 050524
File Name (Size):
[Download Time] bios_31_1_r100198.exe (4.1 mb)

File Description: This utility updates the BIOS of Toughbook CF-31 series to V1.00L16.

Also for Performance models and Standard models‚ Embedded Controller(EC).firmware will be updated to V1.00L16.

Reason for Update: To fix the issue that the GPS/Serial communication may fail‚ and for Performance models‚ modification for CF-WEB311K is included.

This program is self-expandable and can only be used on applicable model.

CF-31BIOSUpdateProcedure.pdf (104.1 kb)
[Download Time 512k: 1.8 sec]

 

The 53 seems to be offered with one's choice of GOBIs, 2000 or 4000. Promising?

 

TopCop, thank you for your always nice info! You made my future work easier

@old busted: yes indeed... I really could try one of those. But it will be a Panasonic part from Heartland when avaliable.

Still waiting for the 31...

 

My 31 finally arrived. Great machine. I am upgrading from a couple 29's and have never touched a 30...unfortunately. That was a huge step for me!

First steps were done:
- swap 160GB Hitachi spinner for a nice X-25M G2 160GB. Blazing fast. (Intel RST drivers before Windoze install)
- Installed Seven Pro x64.
- Ordered 8GB Crucial DDR-3 RAM from e*ay.
- Ordered a Gobi 2000 card from Heartland today (I know you think Heartland's shipping cost is high, but don't let me start on international shipping...)

Some observations I judge relevant from reading other threads:
- Suspend mode seems to work just fine in x64. Closing the lid and opening it a few hours after is just like on my 29's running XP. I didn't test hibernation, and I don't have any problem with screen brightness after waking.
- I have the same problem as Rob: if I select "touchscreen"in BIOS I couldn't even install the drivers, I need to set "auto" and then drivers are installed in tablet mode. I will need to do some tests installing the touchscreen drivers in "old style"...
- I followed religiously the Panasonic .pdf document for the driver installation order. Only driver I didn't install was the Intel Turbo Boost driver, I need to study a little more the CPU temperatures and don't want any kind of "overclock" yet.

Overall I am very very happy with it. I work in an brazilian oil refinery and use my Toughbooks almost every day, and this 31 seems to be a wellcome upgrade (altough the various programs I use on a daily basis aren't getting "heavier", sometimes I need to run them simultaneously - CAMEO, ALOHA, Marplot and others for example - and it's nice to have some more memory and processing power...)

Let me know if I could be of some help reproducing any situation you may need. I will keep you updated. Thanks for reading!

 

Uhn... guys, I think I need some more help here.

My Gobi card arrived from Heartland today, went to install it but couldn't figure out what are the wires for antennas. Please see attached pic.

I have a green and a gray wire connected to the PCI-e PCB, should I disconnect them from PCB and connect to the Gobi card? My unit has WWAN pass-thru (as far as I can tell from from the Manual diagrams), and I wouldn't want to screw that up...

Also, there are 3 free uFL connectors on the same PCB, would you know what are these?

Thanks!

 

Leave the JK1 blue wire alone... it is for something else. The card will cover it. No problems there. They recessed that board for a reason.

In my CF-31 I have the green wire on the RIGHT antenna connector on the GOBI2K card and the gray one on the LEFT (as if you were looking at the animal the way it's pictured in your pic here)

Thanks!

P.S, remember that you have to use the BIOS GOBI unlocker tool to get it going once everything is physically installed

 

Thanks Rob, great info!

I think the blue wire is from bluetooth antenna in the upper right corner of keyboard. The bluetooth module seems to be installed below the PCI-e PCB as per Manual...
EDIT: or would it be the Intel wireless card there?

Yes, thanks, I am studying the best approach to this next step right now. I am always afraid to mess with BIOS, can't imagine the pain if I brick this thing!

+rep to you my friend!

 

Yes, I think I figure it out: the small recessed PCB is the bluetooth (or bluetooth module is in there). The blue wire leads to the BT antenna. And the wireless card is below that PCB.

Thanks!

 

Success!!!

Installed the card and ran WWANEXE from a USB flash bootable pendrive, activated Gobi card (didn't even need to remove the battery to "reset" bios).
Installed the Gobi 2000 drivers for 7 x64 that I found on a nice website called ToughbookTalk (do you know it Rob? ) and voila!

I believe I saw somewhere I don't need the Panasonic Carrier Selection app (CSA) once I will not be using american carriers... Next step I need to do some research on how well Win7 natively manages WAN connections...

Once more thanks everyone for your help - specially Rob!, I will keep you updated!

 

Toughbooktalk? No... Never heard of it? Good site?

 

New problem here guys... well, sort of...
I can't update my CF-31 bios.

I have the V1.00L11 (EC 1.00L12), would like to put the recent L16 for bios and controller.

Always get the suggestive message "System Error". Of course battery is full and AC plugged.

Could it be because I am using an OS different from original? I mean, 7 x64 brazilian portuguese instead of 7 x86 English?

Any suggestions please? Would any of you 31 owners have any older CF-31A "Std/Perf" bios version stored on your HDs?

 

So, you are saying you have the new bios, http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/dl/download/file/50524/s2617145/a3a66d2c9889318a/bios_31_1_r100198.exe , and it gives the error message. And you followed the instructions here: http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/dl/dow...0897bb7f40f82496/CF-31BIOSUpdateProcedure.pdf

It's possible, though there is no mention of the operating system required for the update. You may need to make a backup image of your drive and restore the factory image. Have you called Panasonic support?

 

Glen, that's exactly the the bios and guide I followed.

I don't have a supervisor password set on bios, etc., didn't even change the destination of unpacked bios file. I've never had this kind of problem with my 29s... Almost miss the old days when you needed to flash from DOS

Maybe another bios version would work? If I could find L14 or L15 for example...

I couldn't call Panny here, they don't sell Toughbooks officially in Brazil yet.
Lucky me I still have the original 160GB HD untouched, will try your suggestion.

 

As a folow up guys... My WWAN connection is finally working now!

Driver for Gobi 2000 went easy, problem was the firmware for my GSM carrier (brazilian "VIVO")... Tried a dozen connection manager apps from LeNovo, HP, Gateway, etc, none of them worked.
Finally installed the Panasonic CSA app, selected AT&T (for a GSM firmware) and configured manually a new custom profile with my carrier APN and settings.
After the initial firmware install, didn't need to open the AT&T manager anymore, Windows Seven (in this case, x64) will handle the connection.

Thanks all for your great help.

 

Thread ressurrection time!!!

(Just a little update, didn't want to open a new thread just to this...)

Yes, it was my OS that wouldn't let Bios update.
Installed the original CF-31A Hitachi with xp (English language), 32-bit, and all went smooth.
It could be one or more of these three things:
- different OS (Win XP vs. Seven) ---> don't believe
- different language (English vs. Portuguese) ---> don't believe
- different architeture (x86 vs. x64) ---> maybe...

Thanks for reading!