No GPS Found on Panasonic CF-19

Hi,

I've Panasonic CF-19 Mk1. Two weeks ago I intalled GPS kit (sony chip).
On the first boot I activated GPS in BIOS utility and received "crazy mouse" effect in Windows 7. I deactivated ballpoint mouse in device manager and GPS worked correctly after that.
X-port found NMEA data on COM3.

I was travelling about a week with turnoff notebook and after turn on system didn't find GPS.

Now x-port and hyper terminal doesn't show any data on COM3 and other COM ports (COM1 and COM2).
I tried to delete all Com port in device manager, after that x-port give a message "Port Doesn't Exist".

One more, there is no ballpoint device in device manager now.

Please help me to fix problem. Thanks

 

You should have applied the GPS patch instead of deactivating thru the device manager. Try to install the patch now. Remove all power for 10-15 seconds. Start the computer and enter setup (F2). Reset the bios to default. Check that the GPS is set to auto. Reboot and see if you have the "crazy mouse". Shut down and re-enter the setup. Disable the GPS and reboot. Run the GPS patch. Shutdown and re-enable the GPS in setup. Reboot and, hopefully, the GPS should work.

http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/dl/download/file/011951/s/51282c54ad7c23e7/gps_1930_11_d071424.exe

 

I've tried it just now. unfortunately it doesn't work.
x-port message "No GPS Found" and "Unknow data" on all ports including COM3 :-(

 

Is this an aftermarket GPS device?

 

You may need to reseat the cables to the GPS board. When I first installed the OEM GPS in my CF-19 the GPS was not recognized in the bios. I had to reseat the cables and then all was well.

 

I've bought it on ebay, new kit deinstalled from other Thoughbook with antenna, screws and cable.
Looks like this but with Sony chipset
Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 GPS kit Original Panasonic MK3 - MK4 Leadtek | eBay

 

There is GPS option in BIOS, before I install GPS kit there was no such option in BIOS.
I've tried to reinstall GPS plate and cable, no effect.

Maybe it die (

 

If you just got it 2 weeks ago, contact the seller and see if he'll warranty it.

 

Ok, if it isn't other way and it died

 

One more thing: when I disable GPS in BIOS, COM3 dissapears in device manager, so device is active but doesn't generate dataflow on COM3...

 

By chance, do you have a Panasonic restore disc to test it under XP?

 

It means your GPS is working. The problem there is either an IRQ conflict or its resources.

If you can search a bit. The answer is already here somewhere on the old thread. I'm lazy to serch or you may change the comport.


ohlip

 

I have both XP and Win7k, under XP the same problem

Ok, I'll try to search forum... try to change IRQ in BIOS

 

I've tried to use all available GPS IRQ/resourse options in BIOS, still no effect, no data on COM3 (other COM ports disable)...
When I change GPS IRQ/resourses it still use COM3 port... How can I change it?

 

Do you have any windows restore points to before this happened?

 

unfortunately I don't.
Do you think that this is a software problem?

I didn't install any software, just turn off notebook and travel about 700 kilometers, then turn on and problem appeared...

 

I think I remember someone posting a similar problem - that after a long time without power and a long distance from the last fix the person had to switch on with a good view of the sky and wait about half-an-hour to first fix. Strange.

Or accidental baud rate reset maybe?

 

I heard about this solution, unfortunately, the weather is bad about two weeks so I can't check this.

Baud rate is 4800 so I changed port speed on all COM ports (COM1, COM2. COM3)...

 

I don't think it's a software problem as much as a mis-configuration with the settings problem on the com ports.

 

I've guess that you are not doing right. Did you find the thread that I am taliking about. This is the only way you can fix your problem If you don't want to reinstall OS by a recovery disk as mentioned above.

Go to bios and set the bios to a factory default setting and then save before to exit and reboot. Verify the comport whatever comport serial assigned to Gps receiver. Then verify using your own utility program and see.

ohlip

Ok! I found it! noku...Start here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/606614-cf-29-factory-gps-not-working-2.html#post7857525

 

Are you still streaming NMEA? Also Cap has a quick and dirty program he recommends. http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/641401-cf29-gps-stops-all-reception.html#post8271187
I've used it a lot. Check his comment on x-port.

Jeff

 

Thanks! I've tried all steps from that thread: delete all COMs, check that GPS is on COM3 and change com3 to com7 (later com10) but x-port didn't find data on com7(com10)...
I've tried to use GPSinfo, first launch the programm gave me message "COM error", then I've changed COM7 to COM10 and after restart GPSinfo didn't find any data on COM10... baud rate 4800

 

Thanks for advise. I download and try to use GPSinfo but it still no GPS data on GPS com port

 

Don not change the baudrate on port setting. It was specified on the link. If you change it, go back there and restore it to default value.

Please read it carefully and If its all fail come back to me and do it what I've instructed otherwise we are here all day without accomplishing any.

That "error" message means your Gps is working. the only problem is there is a conflict.


ohlip

 

Ok, I've check it once more: GPS is on COM3, restart, change to COM7 without any other changes, restart, launch visualGPS and try to connect to COM7... no dataflow... GPSinfo didn't show any information on COM7

Error message dissapeared after restart...

 

make sure when you change comport no. It is not in use. Now! here I want you to do. Go to device manager go to comport where the gps is assigned and hit properties again, then hit resouces. uncheck the auto setting if it is with check mark, Then hit the arrow down tab on "Setting based on"and then to to configuration 000001 somthing like that, then see the above setting if there is a conflict with new setting. If not hit Ok! and then close. Do not reboot yet.

Now open the utility GPS info and scan if the gps will be found.

ohlip

 

Ok, I just tried using free conflict configuration... no effect in GPSinfo!
GPSinfo shows com7, baud rate 4800 (default), I press Start GPS and have no effect. Do my actions right in GPSinfo utility?

config COM7 02E8-02EF IRQ10
also avaliable 03E8-03EF IRQ11

How can I undestand that COM7 is free port?

 

As I've seen you are not following my instruction. You mentioned also that you are using Xport. This utilty will only use if your gps was already configured and also this utility will use for multiple application of one GPS receiver on the system. Let start again from the beginning.

Hardware check: If your gps receiver is connected properly on the mbo. also make sure your antena is free of any shorted part along the pigtail. This will coz the gps receiver not to function if it detect the line is shorted.

Setting: Set the bios to a default/factory value, then save and exit. Set the gps on the bios into auto not enable, then save and exit again to rebbot. Then verify the gps by a uility(Gps info)(do no changes yet the com port assignment maybe it will work on that setting). If it is on com 3 no problem. It is step by step trouble shooting that need patience.

ohlip

 

Ok, I try it once more from the beginning.
LOG: all COM ports deleted, restart, reset BIOS to default and GPS disable, start win.
When GPS is disabled I've only 2 COM ports in device mng COM1 and COM2

COM1 03F8-03FF IRQ04
COM2 02F8-02FF IRQ03

restart again, entering BIOS and GPS enabled
with enabled GPS (auto mode) there are 3 COM ports

COM1 + COM2
and COM3 03E8-03EF IRQ11

at this state GPSinfo show "ComPort ERROR!!" message at COM3
then I go to advance port settings and change COM3 to COM7 (used ports are COM1 and COM2), restart windows.

Now GPSinfo doesn't show error message, but shows nothing on COM7.
I am activate manual configuration of COM7, there are two configs without conflicts:

03E8-03EF IRQ11 and 02E8-02EF IRQ10

trying to use GPSinfo with new configuration without restart, but there are no data and any messages on COM7

X-port is a history, now trying by GPSinfo only
What did I miss? Thanks

 

Try com 4, 5 etc. You will see on the setup setting the port that is in use, do not use those only the free one. Try one at a time, btw. in com 3 did you set resources too to what I instucted. Do it also one at a time until you hit the jackpot, Lol.

ohlip

 

Ok, I'll try other com ports.
Sorry, English not my native language, I didn't find your instructions about changing resources on COM3 so I changed configuration, when I already changed COM3 to COM7

 

Same here , man! English is not my mother toungue too! but that is not a problem. They are all good people here.

ohlip

 

Thanks
I'll try to check hardware tomorrow and try other COM ports, I've deep night here already...

 

Ohlip, I am suspecting it is his antenna, or antenna cable. It sounds like his GPS engine is working fine, and you have him on what should have been a non-conflicting COM port. We should try Mnem's trick of twisting the antenna connection on the PCB back and forth to ensure a good connection that is not dirty and maybe keep it outside with a good clear view of the sky and the antenna cover off?? COM3 or COM7 sounds like the correct choices with your alternate configs; we just need a signal to get to the unit now (hence the antenna).

What do you think?

 

I'll try to reconnect antenna cable to GPS board... Here is two images of my notebook inside
http://i29.fastpic.ru/big/2012/0130/0b/3316a0cabf4ab34b7fa1b726e28b6e0b.jpg
http://i28.fastpic.ru/big/2012/0130/23/2bd5267074f8b19e2c004a20dcb6dc23.jpg

one more
http://i28.fastpic.ru/big/2012/0130/6a/34f05271c5f5410d7fc81c5c8303b76a.jpg

What should I check inside notebook?

 

I'd try plugging the patch antenna cable directly onto the GPS board just long enough for a testing session outdoors. Of course, reassemble/reconnect the GPS board.

mnem
Remove everything that isnt a GPS...

 

You mean remove BT and 3G board?
I plugged cable directly on GPS board, reconnect connecting cable that connect GPS with sound board...
I removed BT and 3G board and start GPSinfo with only GPS board connected, still no effect... unfortunately the weather is cloudly here and I cannot try notebook outdoor on clear aky

 

Clear sky refers to no solid obstructions, trees, buildings, bridges and the like. really heavy weather like major snow or really heavy rain will degrade the signal a bit but the GPS should still stream data, even before it finds its first satellite.
CAP

 

Ok, thanks. I'll try to test GPS outdoor... hm... my Samsung wave internal GPS doesn't work too... so I need outdoor test of both gadgets

 

Sorry. My postscript was meant as a joke; like what the stonecarver says when someone asks how he did it. "Start with a block of stone, remove everything that isn't a (whatever the heck we're talking about)."

It wasn't meant as actual direction at this point; I'm unsure whether removing those things can disrupt the data path you're trying to identify.

GPS will stream data whether it has a satellite signal or not; it's a simple serial datastream, so even frames with no useful data will contain the header and tail that defines the frame, as well as identifier information specific to the device.

I suggest you try connecting to each Com port using HyperTerm or PuTTY; you'll see a repeating datastream that updates regularly whether or not you're moving the cursor or typing on keys, and it should have an identifier string that includes the GPS model/chipset name.

mnem
GPS-uckage.

 

What he said here and I said here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/641401-cf29-gps-stops-all-reception.html#post8271187
If your GPS has power, is connected to your computer, and is not broken you will see data streaming if you find the right port. No amount of exposure to a clear sky is going to start a data stream which is not already present.
CAP

 

Thanks guys!
I tried to connect to COM ports via HyperTerminal, there was no data stream on com7 (manually assigned to GPS device)... It seems that my GPS is broken (
That is very strange because it worked about a week without any problems and I didn't change hardware during that time...