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    My CF-28 GPS Mod from Custom Toughbooks.

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by meeesterjoe, Jun 20, 2012.

  1. meeesterjoe

    meeesterjoe Notebook Enthusiast

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    I decided to upgrade the Rather lacklustre stock GPS on my CF-28 with the more up to date unit from Custom toughbooks.
    I could lock on 6-8 sats when outside but felt I needed more!

    After consulting Vincent and receiving some excellent advice I ordered the Ublox 6 module and pigtail from him.
    The Module arrived just 3 days after ordering it,not bad considering it travelled from Norway!
    2.JPG
    Here is a picture of what was available from inside my house with the stock setup.
    1.jpg
    The first thing to do was remove the old Engine from the RIM board,an easy task with the help of some Desoldering wick.
    I kept hold of the stock Engine in case of any disasters!
    Next Thing was to solder the pigtail to the now clean pads as per Vincents instructions and attach the Module to the RIM board with some Double sided Adhesive tape.
    3.JPG
    4.JPG
    I also replaced the stock antenna with one from Custom Toughbooks as the Stock connector was too big for the one on the module,
    it fitted the GPS hump perfectly.

    As you can see from the before and after pictures I could pick up 8 sats but couldn`t lock on any of them from inside my house
    with the stock setup.
    With the ublox 6 module I can lock on 6 sats from the ground floor of a 2 storey house.!
    1.jpg
    5.JPG

    Overall I am very impressed with how smoothly the Mod went and would recommend the Ublox module.
    Vincent from Custom toughbooks was also very helpful and Knowledgeable,I can thoroughly recommend them.. :)
     
    meeesterjoe, Jun 20, 2012
    #1
  2. ADOR

    ADOR Evil Mad Scientist

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    Sweet, glad the mod worked out for you.
     
    ADOR, Jun 20, 2012
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  3. Twocents

    Twocents Notebook Consultant

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    Nice job with the documentation and pictures 8)
     
    Twocents, Jun 20, 2012
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  4. wizardgmb

    wizardgmb Newbie

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    That is a pretty good looking modification! I'd like to do something similar and am trying to figure out if the connection points you used on the CF-28 board are USB or UART. Does your GPS appear as a USB or comport attached device?
     
    wizardgmb, Jul 27, 2012
    #4
  5. orange_george

    orange_george Notebook Evangelist

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    Looking good....can you get an "outside picture" that gives an Indication of the signal strength on the "sat locks". :cool:

    Thanks.
     
    orange_george, Jul 27, 2012
    #5
  6. meeesterjoe

    meeesterjoe Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have now sold my CF-28 and have removed this module and lead/antenna which is now for sale.
    It`ll also fit the CF-30 (with a couple of bits from Custom Toughbooks)
    PM me if interested.
    Would post in the FS section but not enough posts..!
     
    meeesterjoe, Sep 2, 2012
    #6
  7. SFC Heil

    SFC Heil Newbie

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    meesterjoe,

    I am interested in the module and lead/antenna. What would you want for it?
     
    SFC Heil, Sep 3, 2012
    #7
  8. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    Sorry but all selling must be done in the BST Forum. If I don't close it someone else will.
     
    toughasnails, Sep 3, 2012
    #8