Is my thinking correct

Hello All
Ok I have got my first Toughbook CF-29 Mark 3. I have been reading the forums and want to see if my thinking is correct on some things.
Upgrades are as such:
1: Hard disk….Should get the 7200 Hitachi Travelstar.
2: The pull up antenna is for wireless like at your house connecting to a wireless modem.
3: The other two antennas are for broadband like Verizon mobile.
4: Two PCMCIA slots, I have one I can use then there is the top one that seems to be reserved for something else. It has a metal bar in front of it and an antenna connection wire looped and stored up there. I don’t know what that is for.
5: Keyboard, if I wanted to go backlit but not the rubber then use this one CF-WKB303VMCFWKB293MN2ABZJ0000071
6: To upgrade my CD ROM I should get CF-VDM292U.
7: To add GPS should I get the kit that is on ebay?
( http://cgi.ebay.com/GPS-bluetooth-k...ltDomain_0?hash=item335997abf2#ht_1490wt_1147)
8: Can you add Bluetooth and then connect to internet through your cellphone?
9: If you get say the Verizon mobile where does it go into the pcmcia slot?
Thanks for any info.

 

You got this portion reversed...

7) yes, that will work
8) Yes, but make sure you have unlimited data. I would recomend howardforums.com to check up and make sure on this
9) No, you need to get a WWAN ready CF-29 to have INTERNAL Verizon. If you want you can get a PCMCIA verizon card but then it wouldn't be water sealed.

 

and for #1, yes that is the preferred, or I should say was... They are Very rare now as they have been discontinued. If you do find one, it will probably be very expensive. You can check the FAQ's to see what we recommend now, it is a single platter, 5400rpm drive that is just as fast.

 

Thanks a lot

So am I right is saying that the antenna connection that you can see curled up in the pcmcia slot is for an internal broadband setup?

Why is the top slot blocked with the metal bar deal?

Sorry for all the questions I have been reading the forum just not understanding a couple of things.

 

That metal bar deal that you are saying is to prevent the modem to come out of the slot specially on vibration. You can take that out if you want just unscrew the two screws below the second slot.


ohlip

 

If you read around for the pinouts... You can build your own GPS that is much better (in my opinion) than what you can buy in kit form. (And it is much less expensive!) The board seems great but the antenna and GPS engine in the kit seem lacking and very fragile. If you are careful they may work for you. I have not had one that works yet. I've tried them twice.

As to the hard drive... If you max out the RAM and get a 5400RPM drive... You should be set too there. We seem to gravitate around the Samsung Spinpoint 160GB IDE hard drive. Heck... Everyone around the whole site like these drives.

Keep asking questions and playing around. If you don't have a set of good Wiha (or equivalent) precision tools... Buy some. They are cheap insurance against stripped screws. DO NOT try taking you Toughbook apart with the regular 'Radio Shack Jewelers Screwdriver Set".... You'll break them and strip screws.

Just my .02

Rick

 

Again thanks.
I have a 36 piece precision screwdriver set from husky and did find them slipping no matter what size I tried to use so I will look into that (whatever the heck you said) set of screwdrivers.

 

Rick

I read that you had bought your GPS from Heartland...pretty expensive. Where do I go to buy the stuff for building after market, any one that you recommend? (I read that you set up a 29 to test different ones)

Sorry just realized I did not finish reading through this thread: "Adding Aftermarket Internal GPS to the CF-29"

 

hi klawtrax

i think i have the same CF29, inside PCMCIA is a sony ericsson GC83 EDGE PC Card for broadband (WWAN) used GSM 850/1800/1900 MHz. its designed for north america, should work for you.

 

Yeah... The GPS from Heartland runs $370+ delivered... So I build my own using the EM408 and antennas from Jim D Gray.... I custom micro-solder my own ribbon cable and custom cut my own copper ground plane for better reception. I have yet to see a GPS setup that can beat it.

 

Will you or do you put a kit together and sell it? I can do all the rebuild just don't know a thing about gps or the parts needed or where to get them.

 

the top pcmcia slot will fit a sierra 850 wireless card - (these are good and cheap, and can be simunlocked for 10euro online) the curled up wire will plug into that and work with the pull out antenna, HSDPA broadband fuly sealed

 

I use an Bluetooth Dongle in the USB Slot on the side. Super small, the cover can closed. For (long road-trips) GPS i used an external SiRF III 20 Ch. Receiver and NavigatoR 2.0, connect through BT. Works fine for me.

 

I really want an internal GPS, just like to have a complete package with out cords or wires running out of it.

 

oh, my GPS is external, but only the receiver. its without any cords or wires, BLUETOOTH. And the Dongle is covered in the side, u can´t see them. But..u want internal, ok.

 

OK now I understand....your using blue tooth gps.... I will check into those, thanks