Custom Toughbooks GPS install CF-29

Last night I finally got around to installing my gps kit I got from Custom Toughbooks. I haven't got to test it out yet, but the install went well.

THE KIT I GOT
High performance aftermarket GPS for the CF-29. 66 channel MT3329.

No soldering involved. Plug & Play.


Kit includes:
-Interface board
-Groundplane
-66 channel Mediatek MT3329 GPS module
-Active patch GPS antenna
-FFC
-GPS header cable
-Copper tape with conductive adhesive



















I did properly tape the rest of the wires down, just didn't get any pictures of it. I booted the CF-29 and GPS showed up in bios, I enabled it. I know the gps was working the mouse was jumping all over the place. I shut down rebooted and disabled the gps. Ran the Panasonic Mouse registry files. Rebooted and Enabled the GPS again, this time no jumping mouse. It was late by then so I went off to bed. Going to be playing with the com ports later today and test it out.

 

And how much did you pay for this crazy contraption of yours if i may ask?

I'm considering a gps in me CF-29 when i get it. That bluetooth brick type gps i have is a step away from rubbish.

 

GPS kit for Panasonic Toughbook CF-29 (aftermarket DIY)

Item location: Arendal, Norway

Seller info: Member ID custom-toughbooks

 

^ Ta, mate.

...Maybe later. That's a bit steep for a poor student at the moment. Just spent 400 bucks on the machine itself.

 

Yep, the link Topcop posted is the one. They look expensive, BUT if you try and retrofit one into a CF-29 or others that didn't have GPS to begin with you can spend just as much or more on a older GPS that isn't as good. He does have a few kits on his web site that are a little cheaper.

 

Thing is, i already have a GPS. One of them bluetooth brick things. But those are rubbish. And it seriously damaged the awesomeness of my CF-28. Double sided tape on the top cover. I rather wanted something internal, but for the time being, I'll stick with this. Once I get the insurance money for my other laptop i might invest in one. Turns out hospitals have pretty good insurance...

 

These are great kits. I use them alot on the Toughbooks I sell.
Nice job on the install btw.

 

Sounds like some modding is in order then. There is plenty of room under the battery in a CF-28. My plans for the tomtom wireless gps mk2 I have is to put it under the battery, run a external antenna to the removable plastic part on the side. The connection is bluetooth so no wires is needed to hook it up. The model I have is 5v 1a so splicing into a onboard power source is in order unless you want to pull it out and charge it.

 

That was the original plan, along with internal usb 2.0 and a 4 port usb hub under the battery. But I bought a CF-29 so the CF-28 is a secondary objective for the moment. And I cant plan any mods without the machine or a service manual. Should arrive in a week or so.

The CF-28 will get its promised mods, but considering the laptop i usually use in school was brutally murdered by a nurse wielding a bag of saline, the 29 must be the priority.

 

It turns out I was trying to use a 4800 baud rate on a 9600 baud module. The GPS is working now. Sitting in my bedroom it has locked 8 satellites and picks up two more. I see me taking it outside some tonight when I get the battery charged back up to see how it does. As of right now it's the best one I have.

 

Careful buddy, you'll offend Karma16 (aka Sparky).


@ADOR,

It's difficult to tell from the pictures, can you still slide a wwan sled in there?

o.g.

 

No, it takes up the slot where the wwan goes. The antenna slides into the plastic block off plate where the sled is normally at.
Directions from the site.
CF-29 GPS KIT - Installation instructions : Custom Toughbooks, -Aftermarket solutions for Panasonic Toughbooks

I have two factory GPS sleds for a CF-29 but didn't have the right internal parts to use them. So instead of just trying to scrap up the parts I just got a newer GPS. I have taken one sled apart and fitting it into a CF-18 I have to see if I can get it to work right, with it lying in pieces on my bed GPS showed up in bios so it looks good for that. I plan on having a good write up with pictures soon.

 

If you can review on TBt. This kit was already been discuss there. I think 2 years ago. If you'got the Ublox module you can change its baudrate to any baudrate you prefer as long as its own limit. The detail instruction on how to do it is listed right there. For your info.

ohlip

 

What? Why?

 

That constitutes a polite answer to a dumb question.

What I should of said was:

Looking at a picture with bottom cover removed & no battery or optical drive, there appears to be masses of space. Without removing the bottom cover off mine, I was trying to draw a mental picture of an ohlip type antenna in the loft, wwan sled in & shoe horn the GPS boards to suit.

This is your usual, orange_george, wants his cake & eat it, with two large mugs of tea to wash it down.

o.g.

 

It takes all different sorts to make a World, some people are attached to their USB GPS.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/425737-mod-not-mod.html

o.g.

 

You misunderstand me. I said me gps was rubbish, not that every brick gps was.
The model i bought has known problems. Everything from antenna problems, overheating to faulty batteries. The entire series was rubbish. I'm sure there are ones that work splendidly but the model i have is awful.

 

I didn't misunderstand you!

I've got a twisted sense of humour, some of the comments in that thread were side splitting.....oh my ribs ache with laughter moments.

MY comments toward Sparky & usb gps's were intended to be.. ha..ha..ha..tounge-in-check comments. Makes no difference to me who likes what, your money spend it as you see fit....but try to have a laugh while you do.

o.g. << nothing like an individual sense of humour, it means only you laugh>>

 

And what is wrong with that? lol. I am sure there is a way to route it where it would work with the WWAN. The only thing is you would have to be inventive on your antenna placement.


Ohlip: ok, I will drop a copy over on TBT, but I am going to take a few more pictures and add the 150 mile round trip to get my kids today on how it works also.

 

tounge? Had to look it up of course. Ahhh!

Not you personally George but a good line nonetheless.

Have a day,

Jeff humour I'll show him humor.

 

Yikes, I could only stomach about half that thread before I had to move on.

If people really needed to be protected from themselves THAT badly, you could never buy a ladder!

This looks to be a pretty slick mod. As a newb, I'm surprised how much space is available inside there!

Can't wait to get my hands on these..

 

I was just reading the forum and I came across this topic...

Can't you people just use a small usb gps connecting it by a DIY mini pci-e to usb card? sounds more easy and a lot cheaper...

 

GOOD GOD MAN, WHAT WOULD BE THE FUN IN THAT!

 

I loved that thread , the contributors Rick,Teo for example started modding gps units in the cf-28 a few years back

That modding through trial and error evolved into several different ways of providing the best reception built-in gps units available for the popular cf-29

Teo's designs are only available as a complete cf-29 package that he sells as a part time business on ebay

Anyways, that thread is a good read

 

you thoughbook people are weird...

 

Stick around for a while...you will be as bad as us :wub:

 

Greater words of wisdom have yet to be spoken.

 

I read every word of every sentence, a real corker, so I guess it depends on your HUMOUR.

The "Cap Fits" so I'll wear it.

it's spelt the same in both English and Americano.

o.g. << my Humour, not your Humor>>

 

I'll be around alright. I'm saving to buy a CF-30. Thanks for all the info on the forum. It really helped me. I already checked that the mini pci-e gps thing can work. I'll try it when get my book.

 

Back to being serious. You don't have a mini-pci-e card in a CF-29, you do in the newer ones. The best way is to keep everything inside the case, that includes keeping the port covers closed. That way you keep out all the elements like it is suppose to and it is self contained and ready when needed.

 

mini pci version then.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/178364-mini-pci-4-port-usb-2-0-module.html
I use this stuff all the time for adding things like a RF transmitter, bluetooth 3.0, temp sensor, sd cards, etc

 

I was looking at one of these yesterday, I recall it being the same, from Norway, etc, was about half that price too (just saw the same kit for $149 too when looking just now).

I have an external GPS which works well, I just double sided taped a 2" square of flat steel to the lid of my CF-29 to hold it via magnet, cord can be a pain so I totally know the beauty of internal GPS, but now I have two CF-29s and I can either use my current USB GPS receiver or buy two of those things.

My big issue is software, what is useful and not expensive GPS software for off road things like topo maps, geocaching (not that I'm going to do that, I'm looking more at fishing/camping off road)........ On my first 29 I have MS Streets & Trips, is decent for getting around, but I want something more offroad. Any suggestions?

BTW, nice install you did, this coming from a guy that installs and wires up instrumentation equipment on research aircraft.

 

Actually we are not against the USB gps or bluetooth gps. This is a practical way for you to have a toughbook Gps capable If you can't mod your unit. The only problem there is that Bluetooth gps need to a regular charging and It is not the way you can use at any worse condition like on rain. We are against the price thay are mark it up after the upgrade of some seller on ebay. You know how much is the usb or bluetooth Gps? Its only 25-30 buck and yet! some stu.p.d buyer on ebay buy a toughbook with those thing for 1K on which If you sum up with those kind of setup it cost you only 500buck with a complete set.

The internal setup is the way to go if you want to spend a bit higher price. You know what I am talking about If you really a toughbook user specially when you are on the GO or work outside or maybe on a worse environment. It is a question of portability


ohlip

 

Absolutely, what is the point of a super rugged case, if you don't fit what you can in it? All that stuff hanging on your machine may, or may not, work just as well. But it will never be as portable and well protected as internal mounted items.

 

I was going to stay out of this, but..........
I'm looking for one person who can tell me how often they use their 12" x 21", 8.4 pound "portable GPS" (I'm excluding the CF-18-19here) in a situation where there would be any significant issue with using a USB GPS.
With internal GPS you sacrifice, cost, accuracy, ability to use it on more than one machine (how many of us have only one Toughbook?), cold start speed, and the ability to use the computer inside, say inside the wheel house of a tugboat, in an airplane, whatever. I know that the aftermarket installations Teo and Rick do are really good, but they just can't compete with a completely clear view of the sky, especially in marginal weather conditions. We just got back from the annual tour and the USB GPS only lost its signal twice in 5800 miles, both times in the Alameda-Oakland Tunnel. The factory installed Sirius went down under gas station roofs, in heavy tree cover, and in thunder storms. The real point is, a CF-29 is hardly something you are going to use as a GPS unless you are with a vehicle of some sort which pretty much eliminates most of the arguments for internal GPS. "Grab and Go", you will most likely be bringing a power supply, no?
CAP

 

I know you are excluding the CF-18 here, but have used it twice so far ( only had one with GPS for three months) for speed testing some of my old three wheelers. I use to race them with my dad back when they were new and still have them. Always wanted to see what they would do speed wise as I never had a official speed on them. One is equipped with a speedometer but I was never sure how accurate it is. I am working on another rough looking CF-18 Mk5 I have and putting CF-29 GPS module in it just for speed tests and mapping out my old trails. I just set to log most of the time and the toughbook is in a backpack. Just didn't want usb plugged in while bouncing around out on the trails.

On my CF-29 I wanted it internal because I didn't want any chance of the USB getting damaged, I don't currently have a dock. I plan mostly to use it in the car because it has a larger screen size than the CF-18. Now comparing this newer unit to the one in my CF-18 and my Compact Flash gps (with and with out the external antenna on it) I can't tell a big difference outside. It usually locks one more satellite than the compact flash and CF-18 GPS. I have a hard time unless I am right next to the window to get the compact flash and the CF-18 GPS to get a signal. I can pick up in the house on the compact flash GPS with the external antenna unless I go to my bedroom. On the newer unit in the CF-29 I can pickup a signal in my bedroom, it locks as good inside as it does outside. The local gas station has a gun shop in it too. When I was up there talking we were comparing and talking about GPS's. I brought in my CF-18, CF-29 and my Gobook 3. The CF-18 and Gobook would see satellites but would not lock on them inside the building. The CF-29 locked them all with out a Problem. The GPS's in the CF-18, compact flash and Gobook are all around the same age.

Summary, no I probably could of done with a usb gps for the CF-29 the way I plan to use it. I have a factory GPS module for a CF-29 but didn't have the internal parts to use it. I would of used it if I would of had it. The price for the parts or for another unit with the parts would of been at least over half the price of this unit and still older technology. The USB GPS would of been cheaper and could of been used with any computer. But I happy with my purchase and it so far seems to be a good solid GPS unit that will be ready to take what I throw with it.

 

I excluded the CF-18-19 because it is conceivable that someone might come up with a use for one in tablet mode which would justify the need for internal GPS although I can't think of one. Remember, you have the lid open on the computer or at least the screen unprotected on the tablets. If you are taking adequate care of your LCD your USB port should be ok. I have no argument with anyone who wants an internal GPS, I'm just explaining why I think the USB GPS is best for me, and pointing out to our newer members that they are a long way from obsolete. I still have two CF-28s working every day for critical navigation in a location where NO internal GPS is ever going to work.
CAP

 

While I, too, am interested in adding an internal GPS to my CF-29s, the GPS unit I routinely utilize is one of my Garmin iQue units (3600, M3. M4 or M5): the M5 being used every single day in my POSUV.

 

One thing that has got me on my desktop is the usb ports in the ft don't work anymore. The reason being my kids playing, running by, etc. Would trip, snatch, etc the cord out of the ft of the unit. That was one thing that made me lean more toward the internal GPS.

I asked him if he was ever considering making a newer GPS kit for the CF-28 and his reply was that he had been working on a prototype and would consider putting it into production if there was enough people to buy a complete run. Being a older unit he didn't think there would be a lot of people wanting it for the CF-28.

 

Cap... The GPS units that I install in mine peg most of the satellites when I am in my basement shop with 3 floors of wood on top of me and I am surrounded by 8 inches of concrete on all sides. The GPS is pretty much instant on as well.

I have used mine in boat cabins, trucks, etc without a clear view of the sky and it pegs every time. As a matter of fact... I did a job for a fire dept. up in NY who were having issues with their GPS. I reworked their systems with my GPS setup as they couldn't get a signal on their CF-29s inside their trucks while they were parked inside the station. The stock units just weren't working. I added my system and they had no problem. I changed all of their systems over and they have been very happy with them.

As to the kits on ebay... I tried them out early and they just weren't hardy enough for what I do and how I build... Plus I was getting more satellites on my setup. His PC board is kind of slick though. I still maintain that your best system is one that you design and install yourself. Then you KNOW how it works.

USB GPS certainly is handy for some... Especially if they like to swap between PCs. But I am a "grab and go" person. I like my stuff ready when I hit the button.

 

I thought you were going to stop by for a steak.

 

Nothing unusual here, the Captain stands on the side of Common Sence & makes a valid point.

There is however, a significant difference between peoples NEEDS & their WANTS.

If it were a simple case of NEEDS, a large proportion of the forum members would NOT be here due to the simple fact that they do not NEED an Industrial Notebook. The WANTS, are what drove the original interest & enthusiasm for toughbooks.

If we draw an analogy with something we are more familiar with, the Automobile is often viewed as being an extension of one's Manhood, I understand capt's point, but if you view your toughbook as an extension of your manhood, a $35.00 USB gizzmo just doesn't satify the same sexual desire that a $200.00 internal unit does.

o.g. << just saying how it is>>

 

I think you're grossly over-analyzing this...

Or you're just trying to make up for something.

 

I was going to call you but I asked a simple question at the Eureka visitor's booth which led to two days of frantic research regarding an enterprise my father was involved in in the 50's and 60's. I actually found one of his converted minesweepers still tied up at Field's Landing after 46 years.



We'll have to come back, the San Francisco Maritime Museum is all over me, it's a long story.
CAP

 

Cap... Just curious... What did your dad do on the minesweepers?... My dad used to work (briefly) on them too in the 60s... Super secret (at that time) spy stuff for the US Govt... Installing stuff, testing, keeping them running, etc.

 

They were using them as killer boats in the commercial harvesting of cetaceans. Not a particularly PC occupation nowadays. These were fairly small, around 120 feet built by the Herreshoff Yard in Bristol, RI during the second war. They had 3 of them but this seems to be the only survivor.
CAP

 

It must've been a beautiful boat back then. Its a shame it been neglected like this. Herreshoff made some damn good boats.

Btw, do you have a bigger picture of it? I'd like to use it as a wallpaper.

 

3000x2483 , click on it silly
You will have to shrink it to use as a wallpaper

 

She doesn't look too bad for 70 years of hard living, probably not a lot of maintenance. They were living in Peru when my father bought them in the early 50's. I'm researching their history for the National Park Service as I seem to be the only living person who knows the whaling story. They hunted out of San Francisco or Eureka depending on the season. Very few people are aware that the United States was whaling into the 1960's.
CAP

 

Good find . I just butchered another ranch beef so I'll save ya a steak. You're forgiven THIS time. That's really great on the boat. What a find!

Jeff