CF-52 WWAN retrofit

Hi everyone,

I am trying to field upgrade my CF-52 with a WWAN card. as I have a model cf-52gcmbvag (which should be a Mk2) I went ahead and got myself a GOBI1000 card (not the original 52GOBIFU though).
Installation was not a problem, but the card will not show up in Bios. I tried all possible settings of the 2 dip-switches (and of course the wireless switch was on and I had a SIM inserted as well).
I also found that trick of covering pin20 (underside 2nd pin after gap) before installing the card - which did not help me as well.

any idea what could be wrong?
thanks in advance

 

I would also like to know an answer to this question, which I asked over a YEAR ago and STILL don't know...

I tried ALL of the EXACT same things that you tried!

 

When units are sold with no WWAN, Panasonic usually locks the BIOS so that even if a WWAN card is inserted, it doesn't show up in BIOS or in Windows. You'd probably need the software tools from Panasonic to enable it, unless they are already floating round the internet.

 

Panasonic may be whitelisting WWAN/wifi cards where it checks your WWAN's usb vid id against supported cards and only then enables the USB port. If so, then need a hacked bios as a workaround OR isolate the WWAN card's USB pin36+38 using cellphane tape then run a shielded patch lead a a normal USB port.

 

Let see if it help you, on your journey. A while ago, I mean a couple of months ago I installed a gobi 1,000 to cf-19MK1 on which they say doesn't support gobi for mk1 unit. The same what is happening to you guys no show up on the bios in any setting. I made some research that this modem will only be seen on the system if you have panasonic misc driver. Fortunately my MK1 OS Xp installed by a recovery disk. So, you probably said that I've got no problem but not, I've check the utility folder if there is a misc. driver but it is absent/missing. I've checked on device manager under system and it was not there either. Instead I look for a misc driver from other model and force it to install into MK1 unit(i've forgot which model) under panasonic hotkey plus. It installed with no problem. rebbot the unit and wha..lah! it recognized the goobi. then installed the CSA packaged and work like a champ. But there is a problem my hotkey button infront doesn't function. I then go back to device manager under system then to misc. driver then update it again to its original driver which is the hotkey plus. Still the front button doesn't work. I then go back again to device manager and reinstall the hotkey driver. Reboot the system and all are works, front button and goobi 1000.

ohlip

 

many thanks for the replies

Pinecone: I always thought that Panasonic introduced the Bios-Lock with the Mk3 version of the CF-52 (which uses the GOBI2000). But not sure there now. At least my model is "wwan ready" (i.e. has the SIM card reader installed - or do they all have that?)

nando4: if I would be running the patch to another usb port - would I "block" that usb port then with the wwan card? (I am really not sure if I am able/willing to do that anyway)

ohlip: was the card then showing up in your Bios as well or just in windows? I will check on my restore disks as well if I can find anything

Tarkin

[Edit]
P.S. any idea what the DIP switches should be set to if I want to use GSM/UMTS mode in europe ?

 

On my system there are four dip switches. I set it up to 1=on, 2=off, 3=on and 4=off while on the original guideline from pana is on,on,off, off for HSPDA.


ohlip

 

I can't remember exactly which models the BIOS lock is on - like you I know it's on the Gobi 2000 models, and I thought it was on the Gobi 1000 models as well...but I might be wrong. I don't do an awful lot of swapping hardware between devices The physical SIM card slot is on pretty much all models now, whether it is wwan or not - saves on manufacturing costs I'd imagine.

 

I asked my guy internally about this. he does all our GOBI installs here including retrofiting the GOBI2000 on the newer ones. This was his reply...Hope that it helps. If not, you can maybe call him.

"There are two small DIP switches next to the card when installing the unit. Switch 1 needs to be off, Switch 2 needs to be on.

The card may not be enabled in the BIOS (If the switches are configured wrong it won’t show up at all)

The antenna wires are crossed"

 

mcompton1973: that helps alot - at least I know the correct DIP settings now.
unfortunately the card still doesn't show in bios.
Basically I could have 3 problems:
1) my card is defunct
2) the bios will only accept certain wwan modules (and taping pin20 does not help)
3) the bios is "locked" not to accept any wwan cards and needs updating (getting correct bios/flash tools will probably be very tough)

so I am hoping for 2) and a solution for it (maybe flashing something in the wwan module)

 

can you tell me the full model of the GOBI?

 

Also I asked this to him:
"Is there such thing as a locked BIOS?"
his reply was:
"Locked in the sense of a password, yes
Locked in the sense of not changing to accept the new piece of hardware, no."

Now...He is NOT some incredibly seasoned computer engineer or anything. This our internal guy though that installs our RAM, GOBI units, GPS chips, etc. He is "certified" for whatever that is worth, and I saw him install a GOBI2000 in a CF-52 recently...it was a pretty simple process.

I am guessing that you need the 52GOBIFU to work...but I will keep trying to see what else I can learn for you.

 

The BIOS can be configured to either "wwan-ready" or "no-wwan" (with all due respect to your engineer guy, he's mistaken). If configured to no WWAN, then the module does not appear in BIOS or in Windows - my assumption would be that it controls power to the module slot, although I'm not certain on that.

 

Like I said, hes not really an engineer...he's just the guy that went to the training to install these...so I dont doubt you pinecone...just was passing along what he told me. I am just the dumb sales guy...hahaha.

 

No worries Was just correcting the information - sharing information is the name of the game!

I know the BIOS information is correct on the CF-52mk3 devices. I think it is the same on the CF-52mk2 devices, but I'm not completely sure....but then the situation so far would indicate it is.

 

So let me ask this...what would my guy be doing to put GOBI2000's into a cf52mk3? I just had him do that for 20 units going to a drilling company in TX...so I know it can be done.

is he updating the BIOS or something I wonder? He is gone now...but if he can do it...

 

Maybe all the units sold in the US are WWAN-ready? Not sure about the US branch of Panasonic and the intracacies over there.

 

One of the tricks on a CF-52 is that you have to disconnect power and pull the main battery before installing the GOBI. If you do not pull the battery the GOBI will not show in the bios. The bios resets with the battery pull. If you installed the GOBI without pulling the battery, pull the battery - pull the GOBI - reseat the GOBI - set the dip switches - install the battery - power up into the bios. The GOBI should show now.

 

I think most folks here will not work on lappies' innards with either mains or batteries still installed. SOP, if not common sense, dictates that.

 

Just curious, Do you need to pull the CMOS battery also?

 

If your CF-52 mk3 can’t recognize the Gobi-2000 module, you can download the SPGOBI2 tool to write the WWAN ID in the BIOS.

https://ftps.panasonic.com/
Username: drivers
Password: Toughbook32
Under Gobi2000 -> WWAN TOOL -> SPGOBI2.zip

I don't have the CF-52, so do on your own risk !

 

deere245: as far as I know you can not pull the CMOS on the C52. and you shouldn't need to anyway. no use in designing an easy to get to installation place for the wwan option, if you need to open up everything to get to the cmos battery on the mainboard.

of course I had the battery pulled and ac adaptor disconnected when I installed the wwan device.

Regarding BIOS: yes the mk3 are locked in the Bios - the mk1/2 I don't know. as I do not have an original Pana 52GOBIFU it could be that they are locked or that they simply dont accept non Pana wwan boards.
as mentioned before, I tried the "tape off a pin" trick that used to work with wlan cards which were vendor-locked - but it didn't help with the wwan card. of course my wwan card could be defective - which I can not test...

if it is indeed a bios lock in the form of "no-wwan" then I am probably screwed as I don't think that the required software to "flip the switch" is available for non-pana-service people.

Tarkin

 

tango_tough: many thanks - unfortunately that doesn't help with the mk1/2 versions. I tried running the tool on my mk2 (call me crazy) and it just aborts telling me that it can only run on the mk3 platform.

Tarkin

 

No, just the main battery and the power supply. I've run across quite a few GOBI installs where the battery was not pulled and the bios did not reset. The battery pull solved the problem.

 

Interesting that the bios resets without pulling the cmos batt. I would not have thought that.

 

By the sounds of it the BIOS is a restricted version which doesnt allow wireless. I have a CF-52 Mk3 with the same issue. db04p71 gave me this link https://panasonic.ca/PCS/Software/CF52P_MK3_bios_V300l14-R-2010-0240-Binary.zip for a CF-52 (P Mk3) BIOS but i am not sure how to flash the BIOS so havent tested it myself yet. If you do try the BIOS above and it rectifies the issue, can you PM me the steps you took to get it to work?
With my limited knowledge, a CF-52 without wireless is better than a CF-52 brick!

 

From my other thread:

"If you must know, I used an MSDOS boot CD and a flash drive to do this. I boot from the CD drive into a dos prompt and I had the files for the GOBI flash on a flash drive formatted as FAT32 so DOS would actually see it... It acted as the C:\ drive and I just typed in WWANEXE.exe and hit the "e" on the keyboard and BOOOM! FIXED!

It now shows as working in the BIOS AND in device manager!"

In your case you would type in BU52M3.exe at the command line.

Good luck!

 

Tried that BIOS but it says it isnt for this model.

Does anyone know where i can get a BIOS for a CF-52PFNBVPE?

 

I need help here. I have a CF-53AAGKY1M and I can't get this WWANexe.exe tool to work on it to enable the GOBI. It works fine on CF-31MK1 and CF-52 MK3. Any insight would be VERY good for me.

I get an error that says: "This program can only be used for Panasonic note PC (Calpella Platform)"

HELP!

 

The tool only works on Calpella models (CF-52 chipsets), not the newer CF-53 models I think.

On the CF-53 devices though, you should be able to go into the BIOS, over to Configuration (or something like that) and see an option for "Wireless Configuration". In that sub menu, you can input the WWANID for the module you are fitting.

There is usually a password on the menu, and to safeguard myself internally I'll leave you bods to find it elsewhere. I was told it would be documented in user manuals, but I can't find it documented in there, hence my care.

 

Damn. Okay thanks

 

Yeah, I tried this tool on a Mark5 CF-19 with no luck but works fine on Mark4.
Is there a tool for the newer platform? i looked under Bios menu and did not see any option to enter wwanid.

 

Has anyone found a tool for writing the WWAN ID in the BIOS for a MK2 unit? (CF-52HF). There must be a way to do this because the MK2's were originally available with Gobi1000. Otherwise, is there a way to update MK2 to MK3? Thanks.

 

Which BIOS type has the MK2? AMI (APTIO), PHOENIX... Have a look at there tools.

Exchange the mainboard

 

Would anyone still happen to have that spgobi2.zip file? It's no longer showing up on the ftp site and I could greatly use it, thanks in advance.

 

https://www.zeta-uploader.com/678647555 until Sunday, August 12, 2012

 

Thank you very much, you're a life saver.

 

Hi!
Do you know where to get that spgobi2.zip file?
Nowhere to be found. Help please. Very necessary.
Thanks!

 

Would anyone put spgobi2.zip on file sharing or email please

 

Would be nice, if u all would tell us more about urself /ur toughbook

And could u all pls share the files from one to the other?

https://www.zeta-uploader.com/195788294

The file is available until Sunday, November 25, 2012.

 

Many thanks. To my bad English does not allow me to talk.

 

Welcome to the Toughbook Forum and your english is fine ... better than some of us :hi2:

 

Somedays I don't need to speak English at all. HAND GESTURES speak better than words.

 

Would anyone mind re sharing that spgobi2.zip file? Seems I am about a month too late for the last sharing site. Thanks

 

you have PM.

 

I'm having the same problem and am in a crunch. Can anyone send me the sbgobi2.zip file as well or re-share it?


Thanks!

 

Welcome to the forum.
The tool is meant for CF-19mk4 and CF-C1mk1
what model do you have ?

 

I have the same problems. Can anyone help me with the spgobi2.zip file ?

Thank you very much !

 

here you go. the link will self-destruct in 10 days.

 

Does anyone have the SPGOBI2.zip file, Trying to install spare GOBI card I have around on CF31