Just Ordered ANOTHER CF-28

Well... I just ordered ANOTHER CF-28... That's 3 for me now. Sheesh... I ordered from the guy that most seem to like. He's selling the 800Mhz with CD/DVD, backlit keyboard and GPS. From what I hear they are pretty clean machines. I plan on adding major mods to this one and then I'll sell my first one.

I'm thinking about the WiFi card here...

http://cgi.ebay.com/UBIQUITI-XTREME...ryZ44997QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

It's probably overkill but but the thing I'm most worried about is the heat it would/might produce. Having that sitting right under the hard drive is probably a recipe for disaster. (Agreed?) The cool thing is that it isd grounded and can withstand static discharge AND EMP! It's as hardened as the Toughbook itself!

I'll definitely do the external antenna hack but I'll look into mounting it on the lid somewhere. Not sure where yet... I'll have to play around with it. I also have to put BT in this one for sure. I'll upgrade the RAM too.

DJACID and I have been talking about a custom paint job. That's in the hopper too.

Anyone have any other bright ideas on how to make it the Ultimate Laptop. (It already is but...) What grandiose ideas do we have floating out there???

 

Sounds like we both want to make it into the ultimate badass machine.

Did you see the GPS antenna I posted in the other thread? I think it might help with our lock trouble with the built in units.

 

Yes... I saw that post. It's hard to visualize without having it in my hands though... Did you see a peice? I didn't see one.

Yeah... I'm sure we could swap antennas. I think the antenna has a MMCX connector on its circuit board. I've seen other laptops (Some of the other type toughbooks) that have the helical type antennas added to the top lid... Like here... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130141933547&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=003
I think this came from the factory like this but there has to be another type antenna... A GPS/WIFI combo antenna would be cool. The site with the link you posted had them... Not sure about the size though.

 

That's a nice antenna. Would be a cool mod to add in I think (And probably get better reception, I notice things block the current antenna very easily).

I was also thinking of mounting my Wifi antenna into a similar location, but I can't find any pigtails long enough. They are all just too short by a couple of inches, and they would have to come from Hong Kong (Don't like that idea).

But I did see the GPS antenna that is in my toughbook, and looks very similar to the one in that link. However, I cannot find that antenna for sale anywhere that Wi-Sys makes. I found one similar in size made by Trimble, but it's 1mm too wide and slightly deeper (Can't remember the width spec). The only plus side to that antenna is I found them for sale for $19.

I'll keep looking though.

 

Email this guy... http://cgi.ebay.com/6-15cm-U-FL-Min...ryZ44996QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

It's who I have been ordering my pigtails and stuff from. He may be able to make you a custom size. X2 on the Hong Kong shippers. I ordered an antenna from there and enver saw it. And no speakee English too well.

I'll play around with the one I get... We'll see. Like I said... The fact that it has a MMCX connector opens up a lot of possiblities.

 

Toughbook...........another few days to go till you get ur 3rd edition........
and am still on my first one no fair,
am really going to go out my way and get another one, i be stressing my uncle to get me one cheap from bt but nothing,
also found a design i like so if i can get my one to look good i be happy...........

 

So nobody has any ideas for cool hacks? No challenges? No gauntlets to be thrown down?

DJ... email me the design to check out if you can.

 

toughbook.........are you going to be using the pcmcia slot for bluetooth, i seen the cards that fit the cf-28 on ebay and there normaly sell for 15/30quid down here and are rare you see them come up if ur luck once a month............
but now am thinking maybe some other one will fit also........

 

If you see a BT card that you know will fit... Please post a link. I think I can get the Billionton BT card that I have already to work... I'll see. I guess my worry is if I order a high power wifi card and run Bluetooth at the same time... I'll run my batteries into the ground. I guess I can always turn off the BT and throttle back on the wifi card....

So... No challenges or ideas yet? Something that would be useful to add to a laptop... Anyone? I guess the Toughbook is pretty complete already...

 

am not 100% about other BT compatible pcmcia cards for the toughbook, but i know what the original one is,
but as i said there hardly come up if ur lucky you will see them once amonth on ebay..........
if one comes up again i'll give you the link..........

 

I think I'll try to put the BT in the internal slot. I may wait until I see if I win the auction for a 1Ghz motherboard. If I do that I know I'm gonna have to take it apart anyway. I really don't want to have to take it totally apart twice!

I'm really thinking about painting it. I'm starting to think about fire engine red with carbon fiber inlays... What do you think? The thing is... I really don't want to have to paint the entire notebook... I really just want to paint the lid. I think the red, carbon and silver would look okay...???

 

well depends on the one you will be painting, condition it is in and hows it looking my one needs afull makeover i wont get away with just doing the lid,
painting it carbon and sliver is a PERFECT choice i was looking into that first but getting the carbon affect just seemed to hard for a work for me to do....

 

How about adding a fingerprint reader? That might be a challenge

 

I was thinking of using a capacitive sensor for the power on, and hide it somewhere, but it would have to be out of the way or I'd rest my palm on it and keep turning my computer off. It'd be cool as hell though, because nobody could figure out how to turn it on.

(incase you don't know what a capacitive sensor is, if you've ever seen a Mac Cube, it's the power button on that.. it reads through plastics)

 

I thought about that but can't find one that would fit. Also... about the only place to hook it up would be a USB post. Since I'm sure to never use the main port on the back I'll bet I could use that to find an extra USB there.

I also thought about adding more USBs somewhere. I'm still pondering that one....

 

yes more usb's are needed for sure
I seen some pcm to usb2.0 cards on the market but what fun is that

 

but i know the motherboard can take 2 usb conection from the rear port,
but where will you put the extra usb ports,
if it is wired of the board there'll only be usb 1, if you try going for usb2 theres a chance you burn out the whole port....

 

I'd gladly do away with the speaker and mic ports... I have no need for them...