Double screen for Toughbook CF 18

I have a toughbook cf-18 that I use as a chartplotter onboard my boat.
I have gathered a second screen from another cf-18 that I would like to connect as a screen number 2. Does anyone have the nesessary information/wiring diagram for the "external screen".
I would like to connect external power to the power cables, the wires from the touchscreen to the USB and the VGA wires to the VGS input.

Is this possible ? Have anyone done it before ?
Does the motherboard have the capability to powersupply two screens?

Thanks

 

How do you plan on mounting the external screen? Would it not have been much easier/cheaper to use a standard monitor (like a 15") instead of trying to wire the disconnected CF-18 monitor?

 

I think he probably wants an externally mounted water-resistant touchscreen.

I'm pretty sure that the LCD drive circuitry is actually integrated to the Toughbook motherboard. So it will be non-trivial to connect a second screen.

 

The short version:

NO.

The long version:
Your LCD panel uses a digital interface which is not compatible with the analog output of your VGA connector; it is also not compatible with any standard DVI output.

Now HERE's where it get sticky:
If you were an electronics engineer, and you had access to ALL the technical specifications for both the LCD panel in your Toughbook and an assortment of standard VGA monitors, you could PROBABLY find a REGULAR LCD Monitor whose TTL signals were compatible with those used on the Toughbook LCD, and rob the signal driver (or T-con) board out of it. After that, it's a simple matter of fabricating an appropriate power supply for the LCD inverter, the LCD itself (sometimes provided in the LCD Driver board) and the LCD Driver board.

What's that you say? You want the Touchscreen to work too? That (I believe) is a standard USB 1.1 interface on the CF-18. (Guys correct me if I'm wrong) Easy Peasy. Actually, prolly the easiest part of this whole experiment...

mnem<~~~Shaken, not stirred~~~<<<

 

You might consider a Panasonic wireless display that can remote to any computer using wifi. The older CF-VDW07 only has 800 x 600 resolution with 8 bit color but is waterproof and has a touchscreen. There's a newer '08 model, probably better specs (and more expensive) but I don't know the details. Have seen the older '07 displays on fleaBay for around $250-$500 and up.

 

I've always wondered about these mysterious displays as I think it would be to have one mounted in my car... Can they hook to ANY laptop or only toughbooks wirelessly?? Do they use the standard 802.11G wifi network? If so, would it Ad-Hoc to the toughbook? What about software to run it?

Thanks

 

JB -

Yes, they can be run over a LAN. Yes, they can be run on other PCs - the Generic MeiWDS version I linked to will run on anything.

If you want to run it on your laptop directly, you need a dedicated WiFi adapter for it unless you don't mind giving up your WiFi for other purposes; the 07s use Wireless B exclusively, although the 08s use G as well.

If you go to my write-up on the CF-VDW07:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=428080

and READ EVERYTHING... and DOWNLOAD EVERYTHING... and READ EVERYTHING YOU DOWNLOAD... *pantPantPant* especially the Readme files in the software...

You'll have EVERYTHING you need to know... or your head will burst.

mnem<~~~Remotely Operated~~~<<<

 

[I'm too slow, Dwagon has all the answers as usual )

 

How about one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/DOLCH-DVHB-16-S...ltDomain_0?hash=item518aa6faf9#ht_2527wt_1165

Or how about the remote wired Toughbook screen and keyboard that were used in police vehicles? I never can remember the model numbers but they usually are found together.

 

WOW...

There's a blast from the past. I don't believe these operate in the same scan frequencies we are used to with standard VGA monitors; I wouldn't hazard a guess whether a standard VGA chipset could drive them. Add to that the complete lack of documentation, no power supply and serial Touchscreen interface, and I for sure can think of a better way to spend *GULP* $200.

mnem<~~~Industrial-Duty~~~<<<

 

The ones you are talking about are the CF-VDL02 and the CF-VKBL0x (meaning 1/2/3)

 

The VDL01 and 02 displays are anything BUT spray proof, so I haven't suggested them for use on the deck of a boat. They're fine in a tight wheel house, but any spray or splashing seems sure to light all 7 of the backlight inverters up in an unintended way
CAP

 

UUUUFFF! Yeah, I'll bang my face on this once/IF I actually get one of these magical displays

 

It seems like a HUGE amount of tinkering to avoid spending $125 or less on a second LCD Monitor and then having to fabricate a mount for the FrankenMonitor.

 

But the $120 monitor won't be weather proof and that's the point!
CAP

 

Thanks for very good feedback.
I have concidered to use a standard external screen, but the spec. is expencive:
Waterproof
Touchscreen
12-14 inch.
20mm thick

As I already have an extra screen for my CF18 it is quite tempting to use it.
Another option would be to make a switch between outdoor / indoor screen, similar to manual printer switch. Would this result in a lot of errors on the computer by switching screens while computer is running ?

ThanX

 

You would not want to switch it while running
At least one or two posts a year on the forum on dead screens when someone has left the battery installed when doing a screen swap and has blown the pcb fuse


Alex

 

Here you go, this is the new laptop the Navy SEAL's are supposed to be purchasing:

http://www.gscreencorp.com/

You can read the article here:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/10/navy_seals_dual_screen_laptops/

 

You're talking about the Panasonic Toughbook PDRC

SCREEN P/N: CF-VDL02BMKB
KEYBOARD P/N: CF-VKBL01

This solution works for CF-30 and CF-19 Toughbooks ONLY.

 

Why on earth would you say that? The PDRC will work with every Toughbook I have ever tried them with, and for that matter I can think of no reason they won't work with any other laptop. I have already pointed out that the CF-VDL01-02 are not a good solution to the OP's situation as they are severely not weatherproof and I believe he is looking for an ondeck display for a sailboat which would need to be at least very splash proof.
CAP

 

I'd get a water-proof industrial terminal with a low-power embedded CPU, install a VNC client on it, and remotely access the chart-plotter through the network. VNC runs absolutely fine over wi-fi or 10/100 ethernet.

It would be so much easier. The VNC software is free and it wouldn't require any hardware modifications.

 

I would use a generic external LCD and put a clear trash bag over it!!

 

Or you can get something from these guys:
http://www.vartechsystems.com/
Stainless touch screen monitors-up to 52" 1080p touch screens, bring your check book!
CAP