CF30 50 Ohm coaxial Ext. antenna conn.

I see that the CF30 has an ext. antenna connector using a 50 Ohm coaxial port, but no matter how much I search for it I can't find pictures of this elusive connector, nor can I find out if it is for 3G or Wireless or GPS...

does anyone know, and or have a pic of the actual plug?


thanks

 

Is that the pass-thru connector you are talking about?

 

The connecter is marked what it is for on the back of the cf-30
My cf-30 has one connecter that is used for an external gps antenna , and it is marked gps

They are used only with the docking station
If you look up your model number on the panasonic configure utility site it lists how many, and what the connecter is for


Alex

 

This is the other one:

 

thanks guys, so if I get the dual pass through, apparently single pass through is standard, then I will get the same connector as the picture given by tango (thanks by the way).

That doesn't look like a coax cable connector though , meaning ill need a converter, anybody know where I can get something like that. And does anybody know what kind of connector that is in the first place?

thanks

 

That is because it is not. Those are for the WWAN and/or the WIFI antennas. The other peripherals use the docking connector to transfer info, you see it pictured next to the double button antenna pass-thru. However, if your dock does not have a coax ouput, I don't see how you would do it. On the side, I don't recall seeing a coax connection on the CF30, but I don't have one to compare so maybe TB can confirm if that is indeed standard, or is the pass-thru antennas 50 Ohm coax?

 

It IS a COAXIAL connector; but since it's designed for Dock use, the mating connector doesn't snap on or screw on or plug into that port; rather, it is spring-loaded and relies on the proximity provided by the dock to maintain its connection.

mnem
A cubicle is just a padded cell without a door.

 

the the small plugs next to the port replicator are for WWAN and WIFI, but then what is this GPS antenna connector that Alex was speaking of?

and also the spec sheet says that it has one coax cable connector, meaning single pass thru is standard?

To clear things up.

1. There are TWO pass through coaxial connectors that are however not normal coaxial twist on connectors.
2. Those two are for WWAN and WiFi.
3. Where do you hook up an antenna for the GPS?

thanks guys,

 

Those pass-thru connectors can be configured differently for different antennas. They are not designed to plug anything directly into them, they only pass the signal to and from the docking station into the appropriate device which can be GPS, WWAN. WIFI.

 

wow so I will I have the option to configure them (bios) after I buy the unit or will this have to happen pre-assambly?

I understand they are not ment to have anything pluged in directly, but that won't stop me.

thanks - Dominik

 

They are wired at the factory to whatever configuration the customer orders. If you buy a used toughbook and it is wired differently than what you need then you will need to physically rewire it.

 

damn, all the places I looked at to order them never gave such an option..

 

What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

 

I want (easily) hook my WLAN up to a Dish receiver. By easy I mean I want an option that will not modify the body of the thoughbook and connection and disconnect relatively easily.

the gps maybe too.

 

Well normally this is done via the pass-thru to the docking station but if you want to do something different than at the very least you will need to get the dual pass through connector from a docking station and figure out a way to make the connection stay in place. They are spring loded connectors called POGO connectors designed to make the connection with spring pressure while the toughbook is docked. I guess you can make a "mini-dock" using parts from an old docking station.

 

I would like to do exactly that, by taking the connector of of a docking station and screw those to the TB by useing the screws that hold the dual passthrough in place, and then have an adaptor to some other sort of plug... maybe

thanks for the good info, now I just have to find somebody thatll sell me a cf30 for a good price

 

Most of the docks have RF to TNC type connections. At least that's how mine is. I did have a heck of a time finding the connector to go from TNC to SMA which is what most antennas have.

 

the build in pull out antenna is for the WWAN, correct?

 

Yes,the whip antenna is for WWAN.

 

can the whip antenna be configured for WiFi instead (at the factory?)

also the whip antenna will only be there if I get the 3G option? if so can that whip antenna be easily added afterwords or would I have to swap out the entire screen?

thanks

 

I am sure it can be done. These guys here are major mod men! Somebody here has done it I'm sure.

I believe the pull out antenna is standard on all models. If that is what your 2nd question is. It's just a matter if it's active or not.

 

Sure, my mod , my picture !

 

First Question
The answer is No, the whip antenna is not the correct frequency for wi-fi ,you will get very poor performance using this antenna
( In testing the two built-in antenna's are needed for best reception)

Second Question
Yes that antenna is used on wwan models only or wwan ready
Buying the parts after are usualy more expensive, and the whole wwan kit is not available to the general public , the cf-30 would have to be sent to Heartland Services for that option


Alex

 

On the Ant PCB to the right of the Sled WWAN cable there are 2 small
RF connectors. What are those connectors used for?

 

hi @ all

i used a cf-29 and replaced the orign GC83 with an sierra aircard. now is the connector from the antenna cable don´t fit to the aircard. where is the best place to find the right adapter? can u help me, please?

greetz

CF

 

My CF29 has the PCMCIA WWAN conversion too, but the data card connetor is broken, so ive ordered one of these from ebay to see if it will work...

260515002430



it should arrive next week or so and ill let you know if it works!

 

i found some different diameter for these plugs SSMB or SMB. the aircard plug should be at last 4,5mm diameter, isn´t it?



the left one is the plug from the orign sony card in the TB, the right one is the original plug-in antenna from sierra, but is to tall to close the case...

 

I don't know the card type that was in those cf-29's , but for sure the sierra is a standard type,I don't recall the standard but your antenna is the same connector as my old Aircard 555
That would need to be the interface to be usefull, forget about the original card, even my 555 card is obsolete as it was a 1X type,not even the newer 3G standard

Alex

 

the sierra aircard 850 works great with EDGE and 3G here, the orign sony card doesn´t work here in austria (produced for north america). i definitly need a short right angle plug, because the original antenna is to tall. the PCMCIA Door cannot closed...

 

My first setup was with a pcmcia card, and with that I drilled a hole in the cover and inserted the ext antenna,worked OK and cheap and easy
Later I bought a cf-29 with integrated wwan

Alex

 

Although the 850 card is at end of life, it should still be used for some time. Most of the late model Sierra cards have the same type of connector (RF I think), so I would Google antennas specifically designed for them and see if one will work. If you do not want the external and want to use the pull out on the CF-29, you might still be able to by switching the connector or finding an adapter that would fit in the space. However, the CF-29 antenna was designed for a different network and I question whether the frequency response would be the same. I know the antenna has been modded to work with the wifi cards (see the threads in this forum), but I don't know if it can be modded to work with the Aircard. Almost anything is possible, just don't know if it would be worth the effort it would take to make it work.

 

yes , i want use the pull out antenna. if i stick the short cable without the sony connector directly in the sierra card jack, i have a good antenna signal. i think it would work. next week i will try it. (hopefully)

greetz

CF

 

the 850 works great as a 3g card in the uk, (1.8mbs down, 300kbs up) and its very easy to unlock from an operator - mine cost me less than $40 including a blade hipower external antenna

the aerial on the laptop is apparently ok to use... my CF29 has had a conversion so that WWAN is provided via PCMCIA and the original antenna instead of the internal sled.

The cable i bought, is the wrong conector too fat!

 

Try EVDOFORUMS.COM

They have forums on all this stuff, plus an online store.

 

yes, thats exactly what i mean. many plugs in store, but which is the right? better i go directly to a shop and try the plug in the card. in austria we have a shop called conrad, maybe i´ll be found it there...

regards

CF

 

where can i find a pic from inside the cf-29 from the inside antenna connector on the rear side? maybe i have a source to buy a cable with connector for the aircard 850 in germany to change the orign cable with an fitting one (pigtail) i can see a pic on page 3 here in this thread, but this is inside the cf-30, right?

 

BUMP!

NTTD here in this Forum is having special Sierra AirCard pigtails made for these retired SBC CF-29 Mk3 CF-29HTM50BM units' WWAN antenna hookups. They will allow the Sierra cards to connect directly to the Mk3's antenna cable (which terminates at the PC Card area), replacing the original CG83 card's pigtail (shown above).

These will work with the Sierra 550, 555, 750, 850, and 860 AirCards: and any others needing the same SSBM 90° female connector on the "short" card.

I don't know how many he has on order now, but I have "dibs" on four of them myself. :yes:

 

Is there a list of part #s for the CF-30 WWAN antenna? From the pics it looks like you don't have to take apart the entire screen (a la CF-29) to install it?

... now I'm curious to see how much a GPS and WWAN kit would cost in parts if I can put it together myself. Might as well do both if the computer's apart already.

 

The plug pictured on the right is know as a SSMB female right angle. The card has a connector that seats inside the barrel of this connector.