New Member and a "well, Dang" moment

I have consulted these forums many times when considering what make/model of Toughbook to buy for field radio operations.

I finally selected Tough Rugged Laptops to supply a 1.4GHz Mk3 Non-touch w/ 256mb RAM, 40GB HDD, Wireless only, and no floppy/optical drive. I ordered separately a DVD-Rom/CDRW drive and caddy and a Crucial SODIMM 1GB DDR as specified elsewhere here on these forums. All items arrived, the last being the computer today and I immediately set about installing the drive and RAM.

Only the RAM doesn't fit. I checked the various install videos. Nope, doing it right but the chip set is not lining up right. Fast forward and I decide to button the computer back up and power it up, figuring I would check on here to see why the RAM wasn't fitting. I stopped it at boot so I could grab the model number and change boot order. And there is where I found I did not receive entirely what I had ordered.

Model No CF-29NAQGABM
Intel Pentium M 778 1.6GHzLv (Centrino),13.3" Touch XGA,512MB,80GB,Intel 802.11a+b+g, WIN XP SP2, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, Sprint EVDO,TPM1.2, no drive

Currently fitted and confirmed?
Processor is the 1.6
Screen does not appear to be touch
RAM is 512
40GB HDD installed
Wireless is a&b and working but don't know if it is g as well
XP SP3
Keyboard is a regular type, not rubber.
My installed DVDROM/CDRW drive working

So it appears I got a Mk5 instead of a Mk3?
DDR2 memory of appropriate type for a Mk5 should fit where the DDR did not, correct?
For the battery recalibration, for you Linux users, what have you done to maintain this? Does the F9 utility still come up after you wiped the drive?
How to confirm presence or absence of Sprint EVDO card?

Who supplies the best replacement batteries?

On one hand, free 1.6 upgrade! On the other hand, I'm eating part of that upgrade returning the memory (shipping).

What else would you recommend?

 

Welcome to the Panasonic Toughbook forum

Yours is a touch screen...below is what your 29 had when it left the factory

Model Number : CF-29NAQGABM
Status : DISCONTINUED
MSRP : $5,333


Description: Intel Pentium M 778 1.6GHzLv (Centrino),13.3" Touch XGA,512MB,80GB,Intel 802.11a+b+g, WIN XP SP2, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, Sprint EVDO,TPM1.2, no drive

 

From Crucial
1GB DDR2 PC2-5300 Unbuffered NON-ECC 1.8V 128Meg x 64
part #:CT6060972
DDR2 PC2-5300 • CL=5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR2-667 • 1.8V • 128Meg x 64 •
upgrade for Panasonic CF-29NAQGXBM system.

 

Welcome droppointalpha! :hi2:

A few answers/observations:

RAM - CF-29 switched from DDR in Mk1-3 to DDR2 in Mk4-5. Since DDR is more expensive than DDR2 there should be folks here willing to swap RAM if that works for you. If you want to provide your location we can see who may be nearby.

Keyboard - The "emissive" backlit keyboard has plastic chicklet style keys, not rubber. If you have a white stripe on the spacebar but the keys feel normal not stiff rubber then you have the emissive keyboard. Press Fn+F12 in a darkened room and see the 4 levels of backlighting. Emissive is generally preferred over rubber backlit, except for those who work in dirty/dusty/wet environments. If you need a rubber keyboard it is not hard to install.

Hard drive - Was 80 GB from factory but now has 40 GB, so it's probably a very old drive. May want to upgrade to a newer 160 GB Western Digital (IDE/PATA) or consider modding in an SSD. There are a few native IDE SSDs but they are expensive. Better options are Andre's SATA conversion kit (about $40), or read the CF-51 SSD thread where I'm experimenting with a Micron mSata SSD in an IDE adapter, which seems to be working great.

Battery - We get best results from genuine Panasonic batteries because Panasonic makes their own high quality cells. Aftermarket batteries use cheap cells that often don't last long. The PC Information Viewer tool can show the number of charge cycles and estimated capacity. F9 battery calibration is built into the BIOS and is good to run so the OS can better estimate battery life. Sometimes see good deals on CF-29 batteries on the auction sites for around $30, but hard to tell how much life thy have until you try them so pick a seller with satisfaction guaranteed on used batteries.

Touchscreen - Yours has the touchscreen from the factory so it's probably still there but these often break on CF-29's, on of Panasonic's few mistakes. Member Sadlmkr (Jeff) has alot of experience fixing them. Replacing the touchscreen panel is also an option.

Keep reading here and you can find answers to almost every question on CF-29 and many cool mods. Let the obsession begin! :thumbsup:

BTW you can send private messages (PM) to others after you make 5 posts.

 

"Keep reading here and you can find answers to almost every question on CF-29 and many cool mods. Let the obsession begin!"

from "dante's inferno" : "Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate"
or : "Omnes spem relinquunt , introeuntibus vobis"
(Abandon all hope, ye who enter here)

:laugh:

 

Where did you get the Mk3 Info? Is that on the sticker on the bottom and the other info you got from the bios?

 

post some photos....it will help us

 

The Mk3 info was the details of my actual order. I had ordered a CF-29 with 1.4GHz processor et al, which should have corresponded to a Mk3 (thereby giving me sufficient USB ports for my needs according to information here and elsewhere). Sticker on bottom no longer showed anything. BIOS model number is what I supplied above and check the Panasonic site to find I had a Mk5 that explained the presence of the 1.6GHz processor.

As far as the RAM chip, I already made out an RMA with newegg but if someone wants the chip, instead of me spending money to send it back, I'm game. I'm about an hour south of Abilene, TX and 2.25hrs north of Austin. I'm sad I didn't see these replies earlier today as I just got back from Austin on my once-a-six-week shopping/business run down there. I will be passing through Gatesville, Temple, and Houston early next week (probably Monday evening or Tuesday morning). Otherwise, I can drag the chip set with me and I will be back through those areas as well as Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette when I return from sea on or about the 17th of Dec. Chip Set is a CT12864X335 1GB Crucial 200-Pin SODIMM 128Mx64 DDR. It was sold new in box from newegg and has been out of the box once when I tried installing.

I am writing from the CF-29 now, running antiX 13.1 (which seemed to perform the best of the 9 linux OS'es tested last night). I went ahead and used GParted to squeeze the Win XP Pro parition down to about 23GB and devoted 8.9 for the linux os and 1gb for swap. I left the recover partition alone for now.

The proper DDR2 RAM chip went in smoothly like I was expecting the previous one to go. System has a noticeable bump but not as much improved as might be expected observed yet, since antiX does not push the system as hard as XP does. We'll see when I am running FLDigi how well the expansion does or when pushing on XP. The bump does bode well.

Emissive keyboard not functioning properly in linux or FN-F12 keystrokes not effective. Will test in XP later.

For Andre's conversion unit, does someone here offer to do the work? I'd arrange a new caddy, heater coil, foam padding, etc and a SSD as well as reasonable money for the assembly with the SATA conversion? Ideally, I'd like to leave the current HDD assembly as build without modification. That way, if I ever really screw the pooch, I can always pop the old drive in and recover my fumble.

The Sprint card bay is empty but the complete cable assembly and plug set looks like it is still present as viewed from the batt comparment. The antenna is still in place left hand side atop the screen. Not sure I want to do anything with it now but interesting.

As far as pics, let me see what I can do here once I reboot the system in XP. I'm still nailing down config and such on antiX.

Thinking of using the PCMCIA slot for GPS card. Anyone use this option rather than the internal installation?

 

Test post of overall pic.

EDIT ok worked

Specs page as it stands now using Speccy.

 

That is a standard keyboard..It does not have any backlight...

 

"I am writing from the CF-29 now, running antiX 13.1 (which seemed to perform the best of the 9 linux OS'es tested last night)"
heh ... sounds like me ... 9 OSes !
i have had good luck using linux mint 13 with the MATE desktop .
sadly , there are a few good amateur radio programs that have not been ported to linux .

"Thinking of using the PCMCIA slot for GPS card. Anyone use this option rather than the internal installation? "
when i think of the PITB and hassle factor of using a pcmcia card for a gps instead of using a built-in unit , i cringe a little bit .
using a built-in unit will free up that port for use by/with other cards ... and that internal port that the built-in gps plugs into is not too easy to get at .

 

Compromise and get a oem CF29 gps setup. It's on a WWAN sled. Slides in and you are done..

 

I use FLDigi for the most part. I'll try the Mint with the MATE desktop. Been having a lot of trouble getting either the serial port or USB-Serial conversion to function correctly. Switched to Lubuntu (had success in the past) late last night but it runs so much slower than antiX did. Feels bloated on this 32bit machine.

What particular hassles normally crop up? I only consider the PCMCIA slot option because I had not other use for the slots. I can see nabbing a USB card to add ports on those few occasions I find need for more than two slots but that does not occur often.

I also wanted to shy away from the internal mount because I wanted a sure, unequivocal way of disabling GPS position fixing and software "Off" doesn't cut it. For security reasons, some of my company's work with the gov't requires us to not have cameras, GPS units, cell phones, etc etc with us and they are strict, searching all our personal effects. Since you can't buy a laptop anymore that doesn't have a web camera on it, this was going to have to fill in for personal entertainment device if I get pulled for one of those jobs. Hence, a internal hardmount I have to pull in and out every few weeks does not sound like fun. I also don't want to fill in on that division of my company either. Success so far.

If the PCMCIA option is unavoidably difficult, then I'll accept the fact and look into the internal sled mount. Does the fact I still seem to have the cell service kit installed (minus card) become a problem? ie will I have to remove this equipment?

 

I'm also having an issue with "restart" not functioning correctly with Linux OSes and the computer hanging in a screen-off, nothing happening mode. Various key-stroke combos that usually might work do nothing. I'm searching now through the forums but if you know of a solution to this or what might be going on, I'm all keyboard. EDIT: Shutdown does function correctly. EDIT 2: Found the thread where another guy had the same issue. His solution did not work and I'll review logs when I settle on a distro that resolves the other issues first.

Also, I did see the reply regarding my keyboard. That is what I had thought, as I compared the pictures from various sources showing the keyboard types. No big deal for me. Might swap sometime in the near future.

 

The WWAN(cell) and gps are on the same sled and can co exist.

 

Ok. I don't have the WWAN card nor intend to install one so I suppose the GPS card would sit in there all by its lonesome?

Also, update for Lubuntu. Speed isn't as bad as I had originally thought. Apparently, most of the dragging can be attributed to this website and the fact I haven't installed Flash. Other components are running briskly though I will still try Mint w/Mate.

EDIT: Accidentally posted before I'd reviewed what I wrote... previous comment about WWAN and GPS card didn't come out the way I had intended...

 

..............................

 

If this is in response to my poorly formed reply regarding the WWAN and GPS card installation arrangement, I fixed that. It didn't review it before I hit enter and when I went back and reviewed, did not come out like I was intending.

 

No it's nothing you said or did...well not your fault anyway.....
I simply misunderstood your post...I reread it and realized my post was incorrect so I deleted it....

I read your statement that you missed the keyboard question response.. In my first read, I thought you were saying that no one answered your question.
I had reposted that you don't have a backlit keyboard. On reading it again, I realized I had misunderstood..

 

Here is a thread that shows the OEM CF29 GPS.
I suggest it because it is entirely on the sled and with 2 screws you can uninstall it it about 30 seconds.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/483786-oem-cf-29-gps-antenna.html

 

That seems a lot easier that what I was watching on youtube for install... I wonder what the heck I was watching......

 

Probably an aftermarket GPS..The aftermarket performs better, but is not easily removable.

 

No, it did not look like fun at all.

In other news, I'm liking Mint 17 with MATE. Running pretty good. And flashblocking addon has helped KIA all the advert flash slowing me down on here. Thanx for the recommendation.

I got FLDigi keying my radio as well. If you see a maritime mobile hailing from the Gulf of Mexico on 20m band, it just might be me.

 

""Off" doesn't cut it. For security reasons, some of my company's work with the gov't requires us to not have cameras, GPS units, cell phones, etc etc with us and they are strict ..."

this certainly clarifies and modifies the requirements and stance .
*been there , done that*

absolutely , use a slam in card and/or usb devices .
in this manner , these devices can be handed over , inventoried and secured , thus allowing you to meet the security standards imposed .


hmmm ... 20 meters ...
the band should be opening up nicely in a short time and be good for the next few months .
with that in mind i can listen for you if i knew when you would be operating (a loose sked perhaps) .
sometimes the distances on 20M/14MHz (and in the general freq area) can be astounding ... interference between units operating according to CEOI , that were better than 500-1400 miles apart happened during the winter .

i certainly hope you have time to partake of the food down that way .
i miss being able to go to some shack down at the end of an oyster shell road and have a shrimp/crab boil and crawfish etouffee .

 

Generally, I am on sometime after 1800 until about 1930/2000. I don't operate every day and I probably won't be on the first few days on board, since I have to spool my crew up and get a handle on the vessel's status.

Perhaps Sat or Sun, if weather is permitting and we are not working with the rig, I can set up my gear on the bridge wing. I haven't had a chance yet to dial in the audio levels and such so my first day operating may take me a bit to dial the settings in. I'll PM you if you like when I know I'm getting on.

I get enough of the bayou food to satisfy any craving I could have for it.

 

Okay... I'll hold off on shipping the DDR memory back if there is someone who wants it. I may even be in Houston for several days weekend of the 19th of Dec. If someone can use this, I'd rather it go to them than pay to get money back.

Also, update on my CF-29, unless there is a more significant issue than drivers, the screen is has been replaced with a non-touch model during the refurb.

 

Update: Returned from sea. Replaced the thermal pad on the processor and seen a massive drop in processor temperature.

I stil have the DDR memory for anyone who may need/want.

 

I can use it ,how much.

 

$20? I can mail it Monday or Tuesday.

 

good deal on the increased thermal transfer .

20M ... my kenwood is going out of pll lock ...
i guess i'll have to tear it down and replace a few caps and scrape away some more of that nasty glue they used that turns conductive .

 

Ewww....

Let me know when you get it resolved.

 

yep ...
this will make the third time around in 10 years .
elsewise , it is a good machine .
i have made a bunch of mods to it ... including opening up the BW and changing the agc on the BCB range .

 

I haven't messed with either of my ICOM 706mkII or the Yaesu FT-817ND... the 817 is a field radio and the 706 stays in place as a base station. I am working on a project to sink the 817, a rigblaster, and an LDG Z817 autotuner in an old PRC-77 case.

I have the wiring mostly work out. Still looking at the battery pack and searching for a shop to do the CNC and sheet brake work.

 

hmmm ... that is an ambitious project .
a LIPo pack would offer about the best weight versus energy density ratio .
i have seen schematics available for tight controlled chargers for the LiPo chemistry cells .

heh ...
you could make two rigs and wire them up to be used just like the '77 in the poor man repeater/retran mode .
/ now where did i put that spool of WD-1A
:laugh:

 

Given any retrans/repeat I might do would be from a local 2m or 70cm tactical radio net to a 40m regional (likely on a NVIS antenna), I still could do it using whatever portable handheld with a custom cable to input the headphone and mic and direct link the two, though it might be good to have a small breadboard between for adjusting outputs, as I can say off hand what the mic input is for either an ICOM or Baofeng handheld or for the FT-817. Electronics isn't a strong point of mine.

I have considered both Li-Ion and Li-Polymer but the sensitivity of the the polymer batteries made me a bit worried. Wasn't sure they were ready for field use. I do have the W4RT battery and charger for the FT-817 and the LDG runs on a single AA and is not an active tuner. The trick is whether I want to run the PRC case battery as "line power" into the back of the radio or run a connector and pipe it in as the "battery". I think I like the power in option, as building a 14.5v battery pack and keeping an eye on voltage is not difficult and I do not have to bother with those miniature connectors that are so weak.

Next up is shock mounting. I think I can find a machine shop to do the CNC and brake work needed but I'm not satisfied with the options I've found so far for mounting the radio package to the chassis tray.

Speaking of WD-1A, what is a good SP phone system that operates battery-less and allows either several circuits hooked to each phone or allows multiple phones on the same circuit?

 

tough call on whether to make the batteries internal or external .
there are plenty of arguments each way .
external might be best from the aspect of being able to use sundry sources .
a clamp-on rechargeable pack can be used for isolated work .
(make use of that dual lithium battery well ...man , i was glad to see those Mg batteries go away)

the LiPo chemistry has matured to the point of being stable enough for field use .
i know of several fellows that use LiPo packs in different capacities .
a consideration in the choice of chemistries is the sensitivity to ambient temperature conditions ...
my nephew recently bought a battery powered chainsaw (yeah , i snickered too ... i am old school) .
he outlined the work and running/charging times ... it was impressive ... so the power density for portable radio work is there .
he does arboreal work and the removal of "tight" trees that can damage property .
(having drug a small gas powered saw to the top of some 80-190 foot trees , i can appreciate the weight savings)
he had used the saw and two packs for a couple of months without a hitch .
late in the fall he was working on a job and ran one pack down ... he popped it in the charger and plugged in the second pack and kept working .
about two hours later he stopped to eat lunch and checked on the charger ... it was flashing a red led .
recycling the battery/charger had no effect .
---RTDM time ---
come to find out , if the ambient/battery temperature is below or above a certain point , the charger will "lock out" .

this is about the only bugaboo other than the requirement of "fussy charging" that LiPo chemistry has .
there is another supposed advantage ... if the cell/battery is punctured it is less prone to going yee-haw .
of course , how many people go around shooting or sticking a screwdriver through a battery ?
still , i would lean toward a chemistry that is more compatible with the operational temperature range .


"Speaking of WD-1A, what is a good SP phone system that operates battery-less and allows either several circuits hooked to each phone or allows multiple phones on the same circuit? "
if i understand this correctly , you are looking for a self-excited field phone that can be paralleled .
if not , please elaborate further .
as i recall , the good ol' od green "bag phone" was/is capable of "battery-less" operation ... the range and volume were limited and the more that were paralleled and "picked up" the worse it became .
a way around this was to use "distinctive ringing" (ie : one short / two long , etc .)
most of the field phones used two "D" cells ... this increased the volume and range .
some phones were capable of local and "CO" battery power , selected by a switch on the phone .
as i recall , when used with a CO battery it required a second set of leads or was "polarity dependent" .

there were switchboards available ... different sizes and they could be "strung together" .
heh ... one memorable lash-up manned/maintained by myself and three others had a little over 100 phones ... it included two phones each in the female and male officers showers/latrine areas .
there were two phones that took precedence above the others ... the supply sergeant and the mess sergeant . :laugh:

 

How sensitive is the LiPo performance these days to temperature? Charging may not be a problem but operational is a definite issue. Environmental temps may range from -20 to 110 and while I know the battery life will be affected, it still must be able to perform. As far as holes in the battery, it has been known to happen...

The phone system, I wanted to try be unpowered. On ships, we have a multi-line SP phone system where the talk/listen line is common to all stations but a dial allows the user to select what station they wish to ring (commonly, I see options from 8 to 13 stations). I was hoping to find a surplus system of the field variety, since ship's SP phone suppliers want far too much money for new production.

But if powered is the only way I may get it, then I'd love to have the old shipboard annoucing/call system like what you see used in Down Periscope or any other late WWII and mid 20th century.

 

ahhh ... shipboard use .
yep , if it says "marine" or "aircraft" it is going to cost you big bucks .
as the environment is noisy , self-powered (as in no batteries or amplification) will not really cut it .
i would hate to be hollering "say again" in a critical situation .

you could check around to find surplus systems ... i would hazard that they will need some repair work .
selective call is a good way to go ... it will be cheaper than a "PBX" type system .
i do not know if a marine/hazardous version of "automatic" phone systems (single twisted pair to each station ... digital) capable of each station calling/connecting to another station is offered by firms such as "vodavi" .
(i do know that their land-locked stuff is good quality) .
these systems can be picked up as surplus on fleabay .

sometimes it is hard to beat the old style equipment ... especially in an environment that is not cruise-ship[ category (think drilling platform) .

as for the LiPo technology ....
-40F. - 110F. may be a stretch .
you can do some recon here :
Basic to Advanced Battery Information from Battery University

one would think that if the LiPo flavor of rechargeable cells were as hazardous as is let on to be , there would be a lot more stuff hitting the news .
as i see it , there is a lot of "sensationalism" going on ... separating the flyspecks from the pepper is essential .
any cell chemistry/technology is hazardous ... much depends on situation .
i would not drive a nail into a LA cell ... the same goes for any type .
any cell chemistry/type is prone to damage from accident or misuse .
and that last word is notable ... a LA battery in the wrong hands can grenade and blind a person .
but yet , there are millions in use world wide .

another type is Lithium ion ... not as spiffy as LiPo but still better than LA .
something to consider ... what technology is used in the toughbook rechargables ?

 

Yes... a "marine" grade LCD screen that would cost $350 at Fry's was $6000 "with mount kit". IMHO, most of the "marine grade" is a load of crap; only safety equipment or 'type-approval' equipment for regulatory.

The problem is I cannot ever find an actual make/model for the comm gear. So no idea who or what to search for. I'm looking through surplus systems and I'll find some compromise. Drilling rigs I work alongside at sea seem to be using the same sort of digital IP phone system
we do for general phone service.

I've cruised that website. Probably will re-read.Toughbooks use Lithium-Ion.

This is the rough battery pack size I'll be working with.
PRC-25 & PRC-77 Batteries