New toy!!

So the GD92 worked OK? If that is the case, there is a seller on Ebay with several of them for about $5 each shipped. I think I will get a couple just to have in case....

 

I used a GD87 connector, works fine

 

GD52 GD67 GD68 GD87 GD88 GD92 and GD93 all use the same connector as the cf-p2. you have to re-wire them though, the pinouts are different.
They're easy to solder, proper solder buckets rather than crimps and the connector screws together so is easy to open.

 

Here's some more info i found- if the 5th character after cf- in the model number is F then you have the wireless card. if it is H you dont.
ie cf-P2T1 FDF7E has it.

 

Well mine arrived today!
Not as big or as heavy as I thought.
It works fine on a Telstra pre-paid sim, and the GPRS works too!
It was advertised as having Wi-Fi, but alas it doesnt!
Still, for about $130 including postage, with a brand new car setup, I'm pretty happy.
It will go well with the CF-18 and the Land Rover Defender I drive!!
I'll have to open it up and see if it can take an internal CF card type WLan.

Cheers,
Fraser

 

I opened mine and theres no room or connector for a cf card.
there is a connector and also a footprint on the circuit board where i guess it goes but it looks like it would be model specific.
I know they're not ultra rugged but my mates wife accidentally dropped his on the kitchen floor and it bounced. so not bad really. my dell would have shattered.

 

Thanks for that Bob, I have an old Casio pocketpc of the same era with wi-fi, if I open it up and and take some pics of it's wi-fi, could you tell me if it looks similar? then I'll buy a little tool to open the CF-P2.
Fraser

 

Yeah, no worries, if you post pics here i'll check if it looks like it'll fit.

 

If anyone is interested, here is the address for the correct installation and use of the car mount. It took me about 4 goes before it finally downloaded - kept telling me the file was corrupted. So if anyone can't get it, drop me a PM and I'll email it to you.

http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/itn/manual/options/WEBP21_PPC_E_OI_A.pdf

and a question - have any of you guys tried using a SD WLan card yet? If so, was it successful?

 

When I received mine, it did not have a complete re-installation of Windows Mobile. All I have are limited phone functions and a few other settings, not the full up program I should have with this phone. Does anyone have a restore disc or can you point me to where I could get a copy of Windows Mobile 2003 to install? I now have my cable and will be making the USB change to it so I can sync. Help anyone?

 

I do not think Microsoft ever offered a Recovery Disk for any of their Mobile Operating Systems (or at least, i have yet to discover one).

See if this helps out though:

Panasonic Operating Instructions - Handheld Computer Model No. CF-P2 Series
http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/itn/manual/cfp2/P2MK1_PPC_E_OI_A.pdf

Performing a Full Reset
This selection erases all stored records except for Flash storage and entries and then restarts the computer. Therefore, never perform a full reset unless a reset does not solve your problem.
(1) Using the provided stylus ( page 17), push the center of the reset switch straight in for 1 second while holding down on the power switch ( page 12).
(2) Tap the screen to set up your Pocket PC. The Windows alignment screen is displayed.
(3) Align the touchscreen ( page 18 step 2).
(4) At [complete], tap the screen to begin using CF-P2. If the [Panasonic Backup] screen is displayed, follow the on-screen instructions.
(5) Set the time and date. Tap - [Settings] - [System] tab - [Clock & Alarms] to set the time and date, and tap [ok].

 

I had already downloaded the manual, and I did a full reset (more than once). However, when they cleaned out and uploaded before they sold it, they failed to upload the complete Windows Mobile. When you go to the desktop, and try your drop down, you will have many more items than I do n mine, at least if it is programed like some of the pics that have been posted in this thread. About the only thing I can do with my phone is dial, I do not have all the options I normally would with a regular cell phone.

 

When I click on the Widows icon at the top left, I do not get the drop down menu at all. Mine just goes to another screen with a few of the programs shown in the attached photo on the left. I do not have a "programs" tab at all, and definitely do not have the programs.

 

Silvertrooper, I'll do a full backup of mine after a reset and send you the file if you like.

Fraser

 

That would be great! Thanks!

 

As far as I am aware, if you put the file I'll send you onto an SD card, after you do a full reset it will appear in a window before "windows" starts, and you click on it and it will load.
I'm heading off to work now, I'll do it in the next couple of hours......
Can you PM me an email address I can send the file to?
I think it will be a bit over 1 meg.

Fraser

 

I am kind of curious about this phone... I know that Toughbooks have many lives but I am wondering about this phone's viability in the face of the newer models that have armored protection available. I love my New Droid and have the shock mounted system on it. I have dropped it may times from 5' and above thinking that I will end up making a warranty only to find that it still works well. I love Motorola products too.....

The Toughbooks can live on with updated OS's, hacks, tips, tricks, etc.... I'm wondering, though, how much you can update this phone? Can anyone speak to that? I mean... Know it is tough.... But can you tether at 3G speed?

 

I've been trying to teather at all with this phone using a USB cable and had zero luck.
It might work via Bluetooth, but I don't have bluetooth on my toughbook.
You won't get 3G speeds as it is only GSM/GPRS

Cheers,
Fraser

 

Correctamundo... Which is why I am wondering why anyone would try... Except maybe as a last resort... Or, as for so many things we do here, because you CAN.

(Or might be able to!)

 

Did you receive the file?
Did it help?

Fraser

 

Because i live in an area not covered by 3g.

 

Have you managed to get it to tether with your notebook?

Fraser

 

This forum is really awful!... After reading this threat I had to have one too! It arrived yesterday and I love it. It is even bigger than my first Nokia fridge like mobile, but it feels much much nicer.

Going to make the usb cable tonight (thanks for the research already done!). Anybody interested in a unemployed HTC P3300?....

 

And the disease has claimed another victim!!!

 

The Toughbook "Slippery Slope" has claimed yet another victim.

 

Okay, at home now and my sync cable has arrived. Is it normal that there is a USB to Serial bridge between the connectors? Windows recognizes the cable as a Prolific bridge..

There is a small sticker on the cable that says it made for the GD88. I got it from Ebay for about $5....

 

Yes, it is normal.
The only thing you need is the connector and another usb cable (from a printer... etc.)
No need for the serial bridge.

 

Okay, thats good news! There were a lot of extra wires because of the serial connection. Got a little bit confused...

Gonna use the serial bridge for my old Garmin....

Bedankt!... Or is it merci?

 

I used the GD92 cable as a starting point and wired it according to the pin out diagram/listing as stated earlier in this thread. I have tried with both Active Sync and Windows Mobile Device and nothing happens. Once you unscrew and open the connector, you should be looking down at the black (ground) wire on pin #1 which would be to the far left. I then did green to #4, white to #5 and red to #6. What am I doing wrong here?

 

Interesting find:

Panasonic GD35, GD52, GD92, GD93, GD75, GD95, GD96, GD67, GD87 data-cable, flash cable pinout

 

Don't know, but I just found out that it won't work if I check "Power over USB" in the P2 while using the carkit to sync with my CF-18. The P2 isn't recognized at all (although the orange led lights up). When I uncheck, it works perfectly...

 

I believe that schematic is for the CF-P1.

 

Geen dank, graag gedaan

 

Should I get a spare one in case this one breaks down?..lol.. Yes, I think I need a spare one.....

 

Mibro,

If you need spare battery's, i have 4 of them
I can send one to you for free (except send cost 3 euro)

 

To late.... I already ordered three of them from the US some days ago. Now the planes are flying again they should be here soon (not that I need extra batteries as the one I got with the phone is still very good).

But I could use a spare stylus... Anybody found a good place yet?

 

Hey milbru ..
I looked for a stylus for my P2 but no luck..
So i filed down a spare nintendo DS stylus and fits in the slot nice an snug..
werks well enuf..

 

Are you guys wearing your tin-foil hats?

 

Silver Trooper- as you describe how you wired it, you should have the notch in the plastic bit that holds the pins uppermost. sounds correct otherwise.
As Mibru says, disable charging from usb unless you are using a powered usb hub. most pc usb ports can't supply enough current for charging and it crashes the port.

I havn't tried tethering yet, will let you know when i do.

Nice hat there... hope it's earthed. (or it might attract unwanted rf). lol.

 

Mine will happily charge and sync, but I'm having no luck tethering, I've come close with "Pdanet" version 1.8, but I can't rule out my telco as the reason it doesn't work.
#777 isn't our number and I can't change that setting, it keeps reverting to it.

Some of you may have been following my efforts to get a OEM solution to built-in WWAN, I bought a Sierra 860 today from the UK, I'll give it a go with a pigtail....but I still want a MC75 as a solution, If anyone has the little front panel board and ribbin cable for a CF18, I'd love them to let me know...the panasonic agent here won't sell them as a part!

Cheers,
Fraser

 

Retraced all my wiring and found the red wire (+5) to be on the wrong pin. Rewired and now it works! I was linking to my CF-29 with Active Sync, now I will try Windows Mobile Device Center (for use with Vista) on my desktop substitute, my CF-52. Now I will start looking at other possible apps I can install.

 

vista! the start of an error!
(just my opinion of course)

 

Got Windows 7 and using the Windows Mobile Device Manager on my 18 and it works without any problems. When I first connected it found a Pocket PC. After updating via Windows update it found a device called Panasonic USB Sync. This is still in the carkit....

 

When I first started using Vista (and my CF-52 is the only laptop/computer I have with it), I had to agree with most of the bad comments. However, I have been using it now for almost two years and it really has worked well for me. In that two years I have had one, maybe two, serious crashes, but one was definitely my fault. Stability has never been an issue. Now, I went through it like Sherman through Atlanta and deleted much of the bloatware and my start menu at boot has I think, three items. But I will eventually move on to Windows 7 after the bugs are out and the price comes down (or I am able to score a free copy and key somewhere).

 

I have been using Vista on my Toughbooks (CF-M34mk7 & CF-18mk5) for well over two years and like you I have appreciated its stability and how it is especially suited to touch-screen/digitizer Toughbooks. This was mentioned in a post by someone else sometime ago. I had no problems transitioning to Win7 from Vista using Win 7 upgrade option (everything worked on my CF-18 including hot-keys, buttons and screen auto-rotation.) This was not the case when I tried a clean install and I can only sympathize with those XP users experiencing problems transitioning to Win 7. My advice is, if you can, you should first install Vista which will then allow you to upgrade to Win 7.
I am old enough to remember the situation with Windows 98se users resisting the move to Win 2000 at the time and it wasn't until XP that they finally made the move even though XP and Win 2000 had much in common.
I see a similarity with the current XP, Vista and Win 7 situation.
Ultimately it is hardware which compels us to move on and XP for all its strengths is dated (no native SATA, Bluetooth, partition alignment support -just to name a few).
I find it regrettable that most critics of Vista that I know of, have not actually used it for any length of time if at all and I would encourage XP users to give it a try, you might actually come to like it. At the end of the day we are all headed to Win 7 and it is much easier to get there via Vista.

 

I have Win7 on my CF-18 Mk4 and love it!

I would like the automatic screen rotation to work as it's the only issue I have, but such is life!

Fraser

 

Hi Maninblack,
All you need to do is install Vista (sp1) following the directions on the Panasonic site for upgrading to Vista from XP (your CF-18mk4 is supported, just make sure you install the correct drivers - either touchscreen or digitizer). Make sure everything works in Vista. You do not have to activate Vista so you can use any borrowed copy. You then install Win 7 within Vista using the upgrade option and everything should work including auto screen rotation.

p.s. if you have GPS, disable it in bios before you start. You have to re-apply the registry patch after you are done.

 

I might even have a crack at it, I have WHS with nightly backups, so I can restore it to the way it is now anytime, just have to find a Vista SP1 disc.

Thanks, I was under the impression that there was no way the rotation would work under 7.
Good stuff!

 

I must admit to resisting change, but xp has worked well for me so why change until hardware forces me to. Having to wade through it getting rid of the bloatware until you have a system that works doesn't inspire me.
anyway.. getting back on topic. has anyone found any schematics for cf-p2 or car kit. theres some for sale around the net but seem to be US only or silly prices.

 

Is bluetooth on the CF-P2 crippled or something? Only thing that seems to work is my Jabra headset. It does not connect to my bt gps (packet error) nor my pc (no services found on the P2)... Anybody succes?