GOBI in a new CF-52 or CF-31 with i3/i5 CPU

Does anyone know how to activate the slot for the GOBI device?
All new CF-52 and CF-31 as well with the i3/5 CPU do not have a dip switch to activate the slot for the GOBI device.
The CF-30, 19 and CF-52 MK1/2 always have 2 or 4 dip switches to configure the slot.
Does anyone have an idea???

 

Does it show WWAN "enabled" in the BIOS? Did the GOBI come installed OEM or did you install it? Have you installed the CSA application from Panasonic?

Glen

 

The CSA application is only for the US; users of Toughbooks outside the US (or Canada possibly) do *not* need the CSA at all for any reason.

The DIP switches have disappeared as there is now only one 3G modem (that is used on Europe and in the US, the DIP switches used to configure the antenna between EVDO and UMTS modes as well as some other stuff).

And lastly, the BIOS is not configured for HSPA (Gobi) unless you have actually bought the Toughbook with HSPA. This means that if you bought the device without HSPA (and have retrofitted the Gobi device yourself), then you may not be able to enable it in the BIOS unless someone can prise a BIOS patch out of Panasonic or knows of some way around it.

 

The CF-52 MK 3 and the CF-31's use a Gobi 2000 modem. To activate the slot for the Gobi device, you have to enable it in the BIOS. The bad thing is that it's a written program (I don't know the name of) that is "programed" into the BIOS.

Toughbooks that use the Gobi 1000 modem, dipswitch settings enable the slot. You probably already knew that though.

 

Resellers can do it, so obviously it can be done.

 

You're right it can be done. In my previous post I said it could be done.

 

Before the WWAN:Enable/Disable option appears in the BIOS (assuming a WWAN card is present), there is a flag in the BIOS for the WWAN that is invisible.

If the flag is set to disable, then the WWAN:Enable/Disable option will not appear, regardless of whether the WWAN card is there or not.

If the flag is set to enable, then the WWAN:Enable/Disable option will be present if the WWAN card is also present.

In Europe, the flag is set to disable by default for other reasons: if you order a 3G Toughbook unit, then the flag is set to enable. I'd presume the same is similar in the US, but obviously I'm not entirely sure.

 

So the million dollar question is: How do you set the flag to enable?

What are these "other reasons"?

Glen

 

My assumption would be antenna-related, not really sure.

As for flipping the flag, I think you can do it with the BIOS update exe (BU52m3.exe or whatever) but I'm not sure on the syntax and Panasonic are horrific at documenting the switches by /?

 

I wouldn't say they're horrific. I do agree that they do make some mistakes on their documentation and procedures.

 

What is the status here? I would like to get my GOBI 2000 working on my new CF-31!! HELP!

 

I heard that you have to write the Gobi in the BIOS as there are no dipswitches to enable it.
How do you write it on the BIOS? That I don't know.

 

SCREW YOU PANASONIC AND YOUR "YOU HAVE TO BE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED BS" (They wouldn't even talk to me on the phone!)! I WIN!! I used what tango tough told me in post 21 on this thread to make it work on my CF-31 Mark 1! Even in the PDF it says that it will work! IT DID INDEED WORK!!!!!

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/562689-cf-52-wwan-retrofit-3.html#post7289044

Thanks!

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!

 

Hi all.
Does anyone know if this procedure would work on a CF-W8? Specifically, a CF-W8EWEZZAM. It's one of those ex-military ones that are being sold all over the place, so I think this question will be asked quite a lot.

Thanks,
Dale

 

The CF-W8 has switches near the WWAN slot to enable the WWAN.

 

I've tried the switches in all positions, but I'm not getting a Wireless WAN entry in the BIOS. That's why I was considering the flash tool.
I wonder if it just doesn't recognize my wireless PCI-E card (Brand=Huawei. Model=EM770W).

 

That card may not be compatible. I installed a Novatel EU860D, from another Toughbook, and set the switches to WWAN2. The card works fine.

 

Thanks for your help. I'll keep trying, but I don't hold much hope.
I guess that should teach me to do the research before the purchase. lol

 

FWIW: The CF-19 hasta be like this with the 4 WWAN dip switches: Index of ./CF-19 Stuff/Correct CF-19 WWAN Switch Settings/

DIP 1 = ON, dip 2, 3 & 4 = OFF.

Try that in your W8?

 

Hi Rob.

The W8 only has two switches.

1 off + 2 off = WWAN off
1 off + 2 on = WWAN 1
1 on + 2 off = WWAN 2
1 on + 2 on = WWAN 3

None of the settings activate the menu item within the BIOS.

I think I'll have to try a different PCI-E card.

 

Please note the following after every time you change the WWAN dip switch settings!!!:

1) BE SURE to remove battery
2) Hit power button like 4 - 6 times to remove residual power
3) Change dip setting
4) Repeat if that doesn't work

woot!

 

You're a genius! I now have wireless WAN in the BIOS. Thank you very much.