How hard to replace existing GPS in CF-29?

Hi,

I think my GPS crapped out. I dont get any sats on it and yet it still has data in Hyperterminal? I plan to reinstall OS etc but if that doesnt work I need to replace with Heartland GPS, I have the sled and everything, how hard would it be to repair myself? Also aftermarket possible? I know the Wireless is attached to the same sled. My laptop came with the works. lol

Really sucks because the internal laptop was the main feature for me. I looked in the GPS thread but the pictures are Gone for the OEM version and thats what I need to find out to do a simple easy replacement, cant be too hard since I have the sled and everything already?

 

mainly just order a new gps kit from heartland, then as you remove your sled use a digi cam to take pics on how stuff is ran,hooked up. its not to hard espically if you have one to look at.

 

OK THANKS, But what about the wireless part there is a sprint wireless attached to the same sled? Unless the GPS is sprint?

Also the GPS is working again I have no idea of the problem that caused it not to, Not sure if I should spend $350 to replace it when its working now. lol

 

Mine stops working at times and i find that something is trying to use COM3 and the gps will not work. For me the bluetooth software i had installed would just try to take COM3 for some reason even tho i was not using bluetooth and had it off.

After deleting the bluetooth software it now works great again and i have not had an issue with it yet. I would say hold off on buying a new gps untill is stops working completely and you cannot seem to get it to work.

-James

 

the gps is a different module completely, you just have 2 more pcbs having wirelss wan on there. if its working now leave it, com 3 is the port for gps and theres a big issue with bluetooth and gps. mainly use one or the other.

 

I dont have Bluetooth though. lol I dont use the wireless but like having the feature incase I ever do. I will look into seeing if something was trying to use it. The thing is would Hyperterminal still show DATA if Com 3 was being used by another device? You think it wouldnt? Anyone know for sure how these units go out when they do, any warning signs?

 

Sorry! to say that the stock gps of cf-29 is like the stock gps of cf-28. Only thing is that 29 has 12 channel gps. Its a technology way back 2002. I don't wanna say a bad words for that stock gps but that is the reality.



ohlip

 

The stock GPS in my 29 works great!

 

Pappy... probably your in luck but i have two of those stock gps for cf-29 one came from Doobi(donated ). During the time I am using the unit, yes! you can get a very good signal sometimes up to 50 level but at the time you are moving or you cover up the antena location with hand, it drops significantly and sometimes lost all the signal.

I say you are the lucky one that this gps works great to your unit. But all the comment that i've said was based on my experience and experimentation.



ohlip

 

Is it easy to replace with a better unit since I have a sled? I did notice it picks up less sats and the SIRF3 USB ones. just stronger signals. What about that Module that was posted in the CF-28 thread would that one work in a CF29 it looks similar to the one in the sled unless that square one is the Wireless?

 

I would try (if you haven't already) to take the sled out and check all connections. I can't imagine the GPS just crapping out. All the ones I have ever installed work like a champ! The one in my CF-30 is the same one (I'm pretty sure) and it also works great. The aftermarket works the best... But it would be tough to try to mod in the aftermarket GPS AND have the WWAN working as well.

 

How hard would it be if I wasnt converned on the WWAN? just curious. Because the module looks like the same as the aftermarket one isnt it? amybe I could send out the sled to someone who knows how to add the aftermarket one, BTW whats the costs of the aftermarket one?

 

ohlip you are right on with comment about covering up the the stock GPS antenna with your hand. That's why I would like to see one of your antenna mods to mount an antenna on the lcd case that is compatible with the stock GPS. The stock GPS unit itself is more than adequate for my usage.

 

Pappy.. you can do that, coz as far as I know Doobi..experimented that setup and he has agreat sucess. Try to pm him.

 

Jeewiz I was hoping someone could help me out on my issue. The GPS is acting up again and not working. I tried switching to IRQ10 to see if that helped and it made no difference which seems to me to indicate a NON IRQ issue.

Should I REPLACE the existing unit with a stock one or can I replace with an aftermarket some help would be nice as this is my only unit. I was hoping for some help from some of you experts in these laptops.

BTW the unit is working again, this is very weird its like it has a LONG warmup time or something not a minutes but alot of them. This seems to happen when the Battery is removed and no power for a while and then a reconnect to power. I cant really duplicate it but its wierd. Can anyone who hasa similar OEM gps comment on their warmup and if it changes? Seems like once the GPS starts its fine for a while.

I still would like to consider an after market to work better. what does the right Module cost and can it be added to the existing Sled?

 

LT.... I don't know about others but I don't add my aftermarket GPS to the sled... I add mine to the inside and remove the sled! Did you install the GPS drivers??? (Some people forget about that!)

I have OEM GPS on CF-29s and also on my CF-30 (Which is the same thing) and I never have a "Warm up" issue... It Just works.... if I haven't used it in a while.... It might take all of 5 seconds before it locks on.

Now.... Did you take the sled out and check all the connnections??????????????

 

Yes all the connections look fine. The drivers are installed using the restore disk as I dont have the drivers by themself and I couldnt find GPS drivers for my model?

Sounds more and more like something is wrong with my GPS not working then working fine. I didnt have this problem before so there must be something buggy. I do find the OEM isnt as good driving as the usb ONE as it stays locked on.

Whats weird is the unit doesnt work, then after a long while you try it again and it works. Everything is factory so I cant see something coming loose under the tape?

 

As far as I know the stock gps has no back up battery thats why everytime you pull out the battery and inserted again and run the gps it start into cold start again. Best bet, let the battery stay there as much as posible.

Also on checking connection, The ribbon cable conductor is easy to be broken, you can't see on the outside but inside specially on the bended portion. Ask me how I knew that?


ohlip

 

did you break one thats how you knew or was it from the factory that way? you said ask. lol

So you think it may be an issue of no battery causing some sort of super long boot on the gps?

 

from a cold start ive had some gps setups on the 29s take over 15minutes.

 

One time I am testing that stock gps for almost an hour I can't even have a fixed. I almost throw it on the garbage when I realize to check the connection and its all good. I pull out the ribbon cable and test its individual conductor with my multimeter and it has two conductor open. Who can suspect that, while you can see it physicaly its very nice.


2.0 The stock gps of cf-29 and cf-18 has no back up battery thats why at the time you pull off the battery it was lost its memory on the chip. As this explain why the internal 5volts dc supply on the option slot is always on even if the laptop is off stage to support the gps or whatever component connected. This is also expain, why a fully charge battery on the unit when you shut it down and then open it, let say after a day, you will see the battery is discharge a bet.

 

I went through two stock GPS units that were doing EXACTLY the same thing as yours (Ohlip ended up with one of them). The thing is, I never did find out what was wrong. When the new one came in, I would replace it all, and it would work fine. If I went back and installed the 'supposed' broken unit, it worked fine. I ended up going through this 3 times of swapping them back and forth before finally getting fed up and installing the aftermarket option. Haven't had a problem since. The weird thing is that I would have to replace ALL the components of the stock setup; the PCB, the GPS unit, and both ribbon cables; I only had one sled and that never was a problem. I started to think that something was shorting out after a time and by de-installing everything, it somehow 'reset' what was wrong? The skinny of it is that there was apparently nothing wrong with either unit. They both worked fine, but for some reason, would just crap out and want to be disassembled. I believe I still have one unit somewhere. If I were you, and you don't need the WWAN sled option, I would recommend the aftermarket GPS mod very much. As has been stated, you get less reception, but with more satellites and a much much much more consistent signal.

 

I'll take a stock GPS over the aftermarket any day... If I need to install it! I can install a stock GPS unit in about 10 minutes! The aftermarket take me a few hours.

 

I am beginning to think the GPS issue is really the Battery issue. I am going to do some tests on removing the battery and trying it because BOTH times I had issues I REMOVED the battery and used just the AC. So this may have something to do with it. Is there a possibiliy of ADDING a Battery like the CF-28 had? Anyone know WHY Panasonic would drop the battery when it made since for their other unit?

Basically it sounds like nothing wrong with the unit, but a COLD start issue when Battery is drained or removed.

BTW If I did do the aftermarket what would be the costs? And could I outsource the expertise instead of fiying my system. lol

 

Well I just switched a gps unit from one sled to another and it took about 15mins to do.

I would say it is very easy to do.

 

I say around $150.00 but you do it by yourself.



ohlip

 

Zippy was that an after market or Stock that you replaced in 15 minutes?

Also where are the parts for the aftermarket located what online sources?

 

I replaced a stock gps unit. It is very simple you just have to have a good set of small screw drivers as the screws are very tiny and easy to strip.

A good place to get aftermarket parts for gps is HERE

Most people here use the EM408 gps engine for there aftermarket install.

I went with the stock gps to keep it simple and still be able to use the internal WWAN.

I would like to get a better patch antenna so get better reception but the stock one does good enough for me. I have GPS in all my cars so i really dont even need the gps on my TB it is just cool. If i go in a friends car for a trip then i will take my TB so we can have gps and internet anywhere we go.

-James