Gsm on a panasonic cf-27 toughbook

Does anyone have any idea know how to set the gsm up on the panasonic cf-27 toughbook?I'm not sure if you need any special softwhare
or an number for it to dial. Or should it work a soon as you switch the modem on? I have a sim card out of a vodaphone USB dongle acording to my reasearch the sim must be set up for data calls so I suppose this should do fine.

 

I would think that you WOULD need special software. How else would you connect?

 

Any ideas what to use and where to get it from.

 

Well...

Since the CF-27 didn't come with any WWAN hardware new enough to use GSM, I'm going to assume you have some sort of PCMCIA or USB WWAN adapter. That said, the obvious answer is that you need the WWAN client software for both your carrier and your model of WWAN adapter.

mnem
Client-side.

 

I think it's a rim modem. It's built into the machine next to the battery.

 

That's not exactly true, some CF27's had a built in GSM modem with a SIM socket under the battery compartment. Most of these were SBC units. So the trick is going to be to figure out what modem it is and try to find the original drivers for it. Then you will need the connection manager software from your carrier.

 

Search the forum. Some one, I think from "blighty", got one of those working a year or two back. I believe they will only work or used to work with some European systems. They are god awful slow if you can get it to work.
CAP

 

I think that poster was using it as a circuit switched (CS) modem on a dial up connection which would be very slow. If you can get GSM it should be fast enough for E-mail and light browsing. The SBC units will work on ATT with a data enabled SIM.

 

I'll take your word for it dewed... I've NEVER seen one on a 27; only ever saw one on a 28 and I though that one was hacked from a different brand altogether.

mnem
Meh. I'll be wrong again... probably before I wake up.

 

Do you mean AT&T. I had a look on there website they're american not sure how I can get one o there sims. I can't even view the prices I need an American zip code . Also forgot to mention it's an ex bt laptop so it was used in England!

 

For a Cingular/at&t SIM check out ebaY™. You'll find plenty of them there!

 

The ones I have are former SBC so they will also work with AT&T. if yours are BT then you will need to find out who the carriers are in your area. I am in the U.S. so can't help you there.

 

Like I said, look for the thread from blighty (also known as England) where someone did get one working.
CAP

 

just an update, it appears the drivers are already installed but i cant seem to find that therad you were talking about. ive found out theres also a dialup modem.

 

Probably a little late now. But if its a cf27 6ej----- uk spec then instead of a touchscreen theres a gsm modem with an easily accessible sim card holder next to the battery. In my case the make was AZTECH, there's a driver on the panasonic Canada site under cf27 mk3(2?).That should fix your unknown device.Now go and print off a set of Hayes AT commands for use with Hyperterminal which is a feature of all windows before xp.Fit your sim card boot up and turn on the wireless part of the modem with the button on the front face between the handles, the little symbols should light up.Start Hyperterminal,choose a session name and an icon that you fancy, on the next page to choose connection don't type in a number but next to the Aztech 3930 or whatever use the drop down menu to choose com port4(God knows why but the gsm part of the modem installs itself to this port which cant be changed).If you choose the modem itself it will dial out via the rs connector on the back not by wireless.Next pop out page on properties choose 9600 baud rate(nothing larger works)leave all other boxes alone.Press enter,you should now have a notepad type page to type on (configure/bugger around with the menu until you find a legible font/page size).
If all is well type at (not case sensitive so long as all the same)and enter, reply ok hopefully.Read and experiment with your list of ATs and you're in business with the worlds clumsiest mobile phone!!
If you want to go for gold straight off then type;

atdt your home No. inc std; (dont miss the ; for speech calls, leave off for data calls) enter
phone should ring out and connect
type ath0 enter to hang up.
Various other commands for sms messaging own number signal strength etc
Best of luck.