CF-M34 oem GPS

New to this forum but not to Toughbooks. Over the years I have owned 4, all CF-M34's and am currently on my second Mk7. I would like to add GPS capability to my unit and although I have read several posts regarding adding aftermarket GPS to the CF-M34, I can't seem to find any mention of the Panasonic oem unit. How is it installed ? where is the antenna placed? I do not need the latest and greatest GPS performance, just a basic unit for positional fix outdoors, so for my needs the oem unit should suffice. Besides the aftermarket add-on units I have seen all appear kind of 'kludgy ' to me especially the antenna attachment. If anyone has a CF-M34 with the oem gps unit could you please share your advice /opinions etc. Thanks !

 

I am not too familiar with the 34 series, but the 29/30 and probably the 18/19 series use a sled that carries the WWAN modem and GPS unit on it. Where the sled meets the side of the laptop, there is usually a bump-out cover supplied to facilitate the antenna. I am guessing that is what you would be looking for. Have you tried robsnetworks.com and posting there for a manual yet?

 

The OEM GPS kit for the CF-M34 is a daughter board that has the same GPS module as the CF-28, it mounts on a bracket where the RIM wireless board usually mounts. The antenna is actually bolted over the serial port on the unit so you would lose the COM1 port. The antenna is a standard active patch antenna. I think you would get better results and for a far lower price to do an aftermarket mod.

 

Thank you all for your prompt response and helpful info. especially to tough-2-go. I need the serial port for data logging so it looks like the oem option is out at least as far as antenna placement is concerned. Is there an after market gps implementation without resorting to having stuff sticking out of the case ie, maybe a patch antenna under the plastic palmrest ?
Has anyone tried the oem gps with such an antenna ? The way I use my CF-M34, ruggedness is all important, I have even managed to dislodge the bumper strip on the lid for the wifi antenna !

 

To say that OEM GPS in a CF-M34 is rare would be a huge understatement. To be frank, I have two complete and parts for two or three more, and in the years I have been playing with them, I have never seen one. It is hard enough just to find the rubber backlit keyboard (I have two, using one, one in spares). They are still a great machine, just a bit slow by modern standards and overcome by the 18/19 series. However, if you have a 700Mhz, or better yet the 800 or 1Ghz, they are fine for most applications, even GPS. You will be limited on RAM, but hey, it's a Toughbook so use what you have and just mod the crap out of it!

 

Based on your responses I guess I will have to rethink my initial plan to install the oem gps on my CF-M34. I have resisted getting a CF-18/19 and am trying to squeeze out the last bit of usability from the 34 because for my needs its compact size and form factor is unique and irreplaceable. It was a sad day when Panasonic discontinued it.
If anyone is interested I have done the following to my mk7 CF-M34.
1. Maxed the RAM to 1.2G
2. Replaced the intel 2100 wifi with the 2200.
3. Installed Vista in place of XP
I happen to like Vista and contrary to popular opinion I find it just as 'fast' if not faster than XP if you apply the necessary tweeks. Besides all my other computers run Vista and I like having a common GUI.
On the CF-M34 mk7 everything works with Vista except the 'hot keys". I find that I can adjust most functions ie, sound volume, hibernate etc. from within Vista. However the only way to adjust screen brightness is from the bios screen when the function keys still work. I do not need to adjust screen brightness very often so this is not really a big inconvenience.

 

M34 is a great unit, installing an aftermarket gps is the best that you can do as the oem is hard to find and the price range from 500 to 600buck that I've last seen on ebay. Mounting the antena is not as hard as you can imagine, you can install it on the top of LCD, under the palmrest or you may fabricate a bump one for patch antena at the top of LCD too. There are a lot option to place an antena on M34.



ohlip

 

Hi Ohlip, I had time over the weekend to read previous posts and I noticed you had mentioned that you had installed the EM408 gps in the M34. Would you be interested in helping me do the same to my M34 ? I am very comfortable with working on electronics (my hobby - DIY audio- tubes & solid state) and I have worked on the M34 - swapped keyboards, fixed the power switch etc. I have noticed that if I use a dremel and grind of some of the ribs in the casing under the palmrest area there just might be room for a patch antenna. Also would you be interested in selling me any of the required parts you might have ?
Thanks !

 

Would your palms on the palmrest interfere with the patch antenna signal? By dremelling the ribs, are you overdegrading the strength to the point of resting your palms will cause sag? These are some questions I would consider when doing this mod... Just my 2cents. But, if anyone can help you and get it done, it IS TEO. He is a freakin genious!! (Not just my opinion, his too, just ask him) LOL

 

Teo's gps modifications on the m34 had the sarantel antenna on the lid


Alex

 

The em408 can be order at "spakfun" a usa base co. and the sarantel antena, if you prepare to use it, is from Jim d gray also a usa base supplier. There is a link on that at the above forum "Aftermarket gps on cf-29" try to find it.

With regards to patch antena, it is too tigh fit considering the patch antena has no filter(LNA) if there is, its imposible. Posible but you have to cut the magnesium alloy case and its an obstruction on the battery.

I sugest to use a bump out plastic that originally used(OEM) and place it at the side near the serial port you only need to drill three hole for two srews and for wire. Use half tap with the right size for two srews.

Just gather all the parts that you need (you decide) and pm me. I will give you the pin out assignment to its corresponding connector. I have one extra ribbon cable with round cable to the other side, ready to mount but I need this one to my other m34 project. You need an interface cable ( ribbon cable to round cable type)


ohlip

 

Hi Ohlip,
When you mentioned the oem antenna I assume you mean the one used in the oem M34 GPS. I contacted Heartlands, and they will not sell just the antenna assembly only the complete GPS kit for $350. At that price I might just have to go with a CF-18 or 19 with GPS. Anyway thanks for your help.

 

Hey Waterproof,
I just bought a CF card GPS unit to use in my CF-P1 and it works great! I paid about $65 off Ebay and it has several options on how to use (as a CF or with a USB port). You can also use it with a PCMCIA adapter. The nice thing is that if I want to pull it from one unit and use it on another..no problem! There is no reason why you cannot find a unit to work with the CF-M34, I am going to be doing that with this CF card. Better to spend less than $100 and use the unit you have than what you will pay for a 18 or 19!

 

Thanks for the tip Silver Trooper. A GPS CF with PCMCIA adapter might be a viable and cost effective solution for me. Besides the integrated GPS, the reason I am leaning to the CF 18/19 despite the extra bulk when compared to the M34, is the video-out port. I find myself having to do more Powerpoint presentations lately and not having to transfer my presentation data to another computer is a definite plus.
For the record and to save the good folks at Heartlands duplicate effort, for anyone interested, the Panasonic part number for the oem GPS for the M34 is CF-WGP341 -cost $350. Add on another $130 plus $55 shipping if you send your M34 to them for installation.

 

Waterproof,
Would you please tell me what memory you used to get your CF-M34 MK7 up 1.2 gig. I have one of those very rare models with the OEM GPS however I don't know how to use it. I have to replace the memory first. I am unable to get a operating system on due to bad memory. I did manage to upgrade the HDD to a 80gig wich is all I need right now. Any help from anyone would be great.

 

Hi SM, I used Kingston PC2700 1G DDR part no. KVR333SO/1GR from Newegg.
I am curious could you post pics. of your CF-M34 with the OEM GPS ?
Since you are into upgrading the M34, you might want to upgrade the wifi card to an Intel 2200. You will be very happy with the much improved performance.

 

Here are the pics your looking for. I was wondering though how to use the GPS. I activated it in the BIOS when the operating system was in it. But i never seen anything to indicate in windows that it could be used.

 

Windows doesn't use GPS.... Other programs do. GPS programs.

You can test it by downloading any number of GPS applications... WinFast and Visual GPS seem to be the most popular. You can also buy an older version of Microsoft Streets and Trips to use... S&T is cheap on ebay if you get a year old version.

 

Thanks SM. At last a picture of the fabled unicorn - M34 with OEM GPS ! Now I know what tough-2-go meant in an earlier post about not being able to use the RS232 port. Toughbook is right, Windows has no native application support for GPS. The only GPS program I am familiar with is MS Streets & Trips and I can echo Toughbook's suggestion to use it as it seems to be very good at ferreting out any GPS hardware you have installed and connecting to it.

 

Thanks for your help guys. Well I have more questions. The system see my INTELL PRO/WIRELESS LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter but it's giving me a Code 10 error and won't start. what am i doing wrong here...lol I also have a unknown device that I can't pinpoint. I have installed all the drivers I could find to no avail. Thanks

 

Do you know that it is a 100% working wifi card?

Under what listing is it in Device Manager?

Did you load all your Toughbook drivers?

 

I have loaded all drivers that were in the appropriate set that I found on this Forum. I'm wondering if I missed a step. The device is listed under network adapters. As I understand it was a 100% working card...but hey can any of us be completely sure on anything. It was suggested I should use a 2200 series card. I'm trying to find on now. Well back to the GPS. I MS Streets ans Trips 2009. Now it found the GPS on Com 4 wich I don't understan how because the DMI viers say it's a microphone on that port. I have had the thing serching for satellites for about 20 min with no avail. I popped the cover and insured the connections where go and the cable to the "puck" was not crushed. A mystery wrapped in a enigma.

 

You should open up WinFast or the like... You need to check and see if you see data streaming. If you don't... You need to check connection to the GPS engine... If you do... You need to check connection to the GPS antenna.

It's been said that the CF-M34 uses the same GPS as the CF-28.. If it does... It is a -poor GPS and you'll be lucky to get 3 satellites in the middle of an open field... The best I ever got with one in a CF-28 was 5-6 satellites... and that was after adding a ground plane, which I doubt you can do with the 34 design.

Check for data stream...