My Brain Hurts

Hello, I'm as new and as green as you'll ever see. I haven't even got one of these fantastic machines yet, but I'm I'm dying to join the ranks of proud owners, despite the miserable state of the economy these days. I've been reading and re-reading the threads and F.A.Q.s in here, but my not-too-technically-inclined brain hurts from not understanding a good deal of what you all talk about and the terms tossed around. Would you mind if I asked your advice on some things I don't think I saw the answers to, please?

My dream is to get a daylight-readable transflective touchscreen CF-29, primarily for in-car use as GPS, internet, Bluetooth phone management, and...um, well, music management. Among my questions:

Does that Sarantel integrated antenna perform as accurately as, say, a roof-mounted BU-353 with a USB plug? My hobby involves roaring around cities, photographing fires and violent crimes, and I'd like an antenna that's going to pull healthy signals in cities (Baltimore, D.C., Richmond). I like what you all have said about the EM-408 board, and that sounds like what I should spec, but I'm curious if the Sarantel will pull in the satellites adequately inside a magnesium case that's inside a car that's in a concrete-and-steel jungle, or if an external antenna would be a noticeable improvement.

WWAN. Help. Rev-A, Rev-B?? I currently have a $60/month unlimited-use USB sprint wireless card ...for my Macbook. Shhh, don't laugh. Can I just call Sprint, switch to a PCMCIA version and swap that card between the Mac and the TB, or would you all recommend a different way to approach internet access? Is this Rev-B technology worth my time (and possibly extra money?) hunting for, or will that just sort of become the standard for access, given enough time?

Music. I don't see a lot of people discussing this, and I've got a feeling that's for a reason. What would be required to pipe MP3s from the TB into the car's stereo speakers? Also, I have seen lots of talk on other discussion boards (mp3car.com) about add-on boards for AM/FM reception, but I'm thinking that's not really an option for a TB. Am I mistaken? IS there some way for the TB to act as the car's radio tuner?

Which segues nicely into "pass-throughs". What, um, is a pass-through and do I need none, one, or both?

Here's another especially embarrassing question: What's the difference between a port replicator and a docking station?? I mean, aside from the price. Can I use one of these port replicators on a Troy or Gambler mounting platform, or do I need to sell a kidney and my first born and buy a docking station?

Well, that should hold me for now. Thanks very much for any help you might be able to provide to this total technical illiterate who is completely OBSESSED with getting one of these fantastic machines.

Eeyore

 

Q: Does that Sarantel integrated antenna perform as accurately as, say, a roof-mounted BU-353 with a USB plug?

A: Yes the EM408 coupled with a antenna on the top of the lcd is a great option and will pull in signals good enough for you to do what you want. It is also nice to have it internal so you do not have to worry about more chargers, batt's etc.

Q: WWAN. Help. Rev-A, Rev-B??

A: Rev.A is the fastest and I am not sure Rev.B is even out yet if it ever will be. So yes you can switch to a PCMCIA card and use that between your TB and Mac. You might want to get a card that will fit in the Toughbook with the PCMCIA door closed. Search around the forums and you will find out what card you need for that.


Q: Music.

A: Well not alot of use use these things for music so you will not see alot of talk about it. As for any toughbook options there is nothing panasonic makes as a "add on board" etc for music. If you can find something that hooks upto the toughbook through USB etc then you might be able to do what you want. You will have to search the internet for somehting like that.


Q:Which segues nicely into "pass-throughs". What, um, is a pass-through and do I need none, one, or both?

Here's another especially embarrassing question: What's the difference between a port replicator and a docking station?? I mean, aside from the price. Can I use one of these port replicators on a Troy or Gambler mounting platform, or do I need to sell a kidney and my first born and buy a docking station?

Well, that should hold me for now. Thanks very much for any help you might be able to provide to this total technical illiterate who is completely OBSESSED with getting one of these fantastic machines.

 

Q: Does that Sarantel integrated antenna perform as accurately as, say, a roof-mounted BU-353 with a USB plug?

A: Yes the EM408 coupled with a antenna on the top of the lcd is a great option and will pull in signals good enough for you to do what you want. It is also nice to have it internal so you do not have to worry about more chargers, batt's etc.

Q: WWAN. Help. Rev-A, Rev-B??

A: Rev.A is the fastest and I am not sure Rev.B is even out yet if it ever will be. So yes you can switch to a PCMCIA card and use that between your TB and Mac. You might want to get a card that will fit in the Toughbook with the PCMCIA door closed. Search around the forums and you will find out what card you need for that.


Q: Music.

A: Well not alot of use use these things for music so you will not see alot of talk about it. As for any toughbook options there is nothing panasonic makes as a "add on board" etc for music. If you can find something that hooks upto the toughbook through USB etc then you might be able to do what you want. You will have to search the internet for somehting like that.


Q:Which segues nicely into "pass-throughs". What, um, is a pass-through and do I need none, one, or both?

A: A pass-through has to do with docking the computer. Mose have the WLAN or wifi as the pass-thru. If you have dock you can connect and external antenna to the TB to get better strength on th signal. They make dual pass-thru for WWAN and WLAN or GPS and WWAN or GPS and WLAN etc

Q: What's the difference between a port replicator and a docking station??

A: Port replicator is for office or desk use. A docking station is for mounted to the floor vehicle use.

Sounds like what you need is what user toughbook has. Check out the Ultimate toughbook on ebay those are made by one of the members here (toughbook) and have everything you want and need.

If you do not want to mod in the em408 into your cf-29 he does a great job of it.

-James

 

Sorry for the Double post I dunno what happen.

 

Music: There's a line out on the back of the CF-29. I would suggest a docking station mounted in your car, as the line-out jack is behind the flip-down door, which can get broken. Just run iTunes and it'll be fine.

PCMCIA: Your Macbook does not have a PC card slot. A Macbook Pro has an ExpressCard/34 slot, Macbooks have none. Only the older Powerbook G4's have PC card slots. You can use a USB. I have a Telus 595U Rev A dongle that I swap between my MBP and CF-29. Not as pretty as built-in, but oh well.

Passthroughs: If you have WWAN built-in, the single pass-through is WWAN. Otherwise the pass-through is WiFi. Passthroughs only work with an external antenna connected to a docking station. Not needed in most cases.

 

Thank you very much Zippy-Man and canuckcam. Yes, I have already been salivating over Toughbook's "Ultimate" offerings. I sort of wondered if he might do mods-on-request, but I was embarrassed to ask.

 

Ask him he is a very knowledgeable guy and probably can do most of what you want.

If you want to tackle it yourself that is an option too but it requires a lot of work and good soldering skills.

-James

 

Dual pass through = 1 for WWAN, and 1 for WLAN... which as far as the wwan is concerned the passthrough would only be applicable to the internal wwan card, which you won't use anyways.