How common is factory GPS in CF-28?

After acquiring many CF-28's, with several dozen still hanging around more-or-less intact, I happened to come across one with the built-in factory GPS unit. Heard of these and someone posted a pic a while back, but got to wondering is this un-common? Is it really, as bigdaddy93 is so fond of saying, " rare" ???

Like to hear from some experienced forum dudes. I know the ancient GPS is obsolete by today's standards. But anyone have much first-hand experience with these?

TIA

-Springfield
<dreaming of "rare" .... steaks ..... >

 

I have never had the GPS optioned cf-28 ,so yes to me they are rare
As are any GPS optioned Toughbooks
I passed up lots of standard CF-30's before I found one with that option

Even though the GPS mod is the forums second most popular thread , most of the users here never seem to want or need a GPS

 

Define "with GPS". Do you mean a CF-28 that has GPS kit installed from the OEM, or do you mean a CF-28 that has GPS that actually WORKS?

Back when I first joined the forum here and the CF-28s were still the dominant model in discussion; we saw 5 or 6 different users post who had the GPS-optioned models; their discussion ALWAYS ranged around the same subject:

WHAT THE FRAKK IS WRONG WITH MY GPS?!?!? It SAYS it's working, but I can't get a satellite lock, or if I can, it's only after leaving it out under the clear blue sky for hours and then only a few satellites.

HELP!!!

The common response from most of those with first hand experience was always approximately this:

WOW!! You actually got a satellite lock at ALL? You're one of the lucky ones!!!

In short, the GPS that came in a CF-28 sucked major wheeze. ANYTHING was an improvement, including calling someone on your cellphone who had access to Mapquest and describing your surroundings. Seriously.

mnem
whereamI?!?!? *TACKLE* THUDDD!

 

After being outside under a clear sky for about 5-6 minutes, it was able to see 4-5 satellites and actually locked onto 5 for a few minutes.


Nowhere near as good as a modern GPS but based on this I'd say it works .... kinda ....

 

WOW!! You actually got a satellite lock at ALL? You're one of the lucky ones!!!

*RIMSHOT*

mnem
PSST. I have access to MapQuest in case you wanna use that thing...

 

I actually have three 28's with Gps from the factory and have managed to configure the Gps properly (had to change one to com port 7) and using MS streets and trips I can usually have a lock on 6 to 8 sats riding down the road in my explorer (to be fair I do have a sunroof). Anyway Rare is cool when it comes to Toughbooks and since I can't even seem to get what I have in back on Feebay I'll prolly just keep em all...

 

WOW... The MOST I ever got with a stock CF-28 GPS was 4 satellites! That was after letting it sit on the deck for 10 minutes... In Winter.... with no leaves on the trees. I could never drive around with it. It would lose lock.

Can it work? Yes. Will it work? Maybe. Would I bet my life on it? No... I'd rather have a good compass or cell phone.

The stock CF-29 (GPS ONLY) setup is much better... Though the WWAN + GPS seem to use the CF-28 GPS engine with a different and better GPS antenna and will yield better results.

 

Didn't know that CF-29 info

So your saying that the combo card use a different engine module that is not as good as the GPS module only ?