Panasonic Toughbook CF-29 Bluetooth Board DL3UP12376AA

Seen this Panasonic Toughbook CF-29 Bluetooth Board DL3UP12376AA
on ebay ,was wondering how and what do you need to fit this???

 

You need the flex cable to plug it in to the motherboard. Actually I think it plugs into the keyboard controller. I am havng a brain fart and can't remember. The software was the bigger pain. I used the Toshiba Blue tooth stack. It is a trial version that will need to be reinstalled every 30 days unless you find a "work around". You will also need a blue tooth antenna. It is actually simple to install the module. The plate that goes under the keyboard is different for a CF 29 with the factory Blue tooth. If you get it, let me know and I can find or take some photos for you.

 

deere245 if you could post some info on this board and photos it would be greatly appreciated.

 

I can see the flex cable , it's blue but you will need the blue tooth antenna and line . I seen this the other day but too much. To order the antenna and line is about $8.00 but shipping is what cost you.....$25.00 + the cost of the bluetooth board $49.99 best offer. Too much

I only paid $15.99 shipped (board/cable/antenna)

 

It connects to cn52 on the motherboard. That's a 12 pin FPC connector you gain access to via the plate under the keyboard. The difference in the plates is obvious if you see them. I don't have my cf 29 apart at the moment. So I will go by memory.
The bluetooth plate does not have the ridges or the brass pin sticking out. The board itself mounts under the upper left of the access hole.
My mk1 module came up as UGX device in device manager.
I am going to disassemble my CF 29 in the next week or 2 to perform mb/lid with antenna/internal TV upgrades. When I do this, I will take photos and post them. If I find any other photos, I will edit this post and add them sooner.
The mk1 and mk5 are the only ones that came with the module as far as I know.
The software is available on the web. The bluetooth boards are few and far between. I bought a whole bottom half of a cf 29 just to get the bluetooth setup.
The antenna mounts under the strip above the keyboard on the left side. It is a simple pcb about 1/4 inch by 1 1/4 inch. Any bluetooth antenna from any laptop should work as long as it fits. It attaches with 1 screw. It connects to the board with a standard u.fl connection


cf-29-bluetooth-driver.html

cf-29-bluetooth-program-needed.html

CF-18-29-73-Bluetooth.pdf

The first photo shows the backside. I think the pictured one is from a mk5, but other than the part number difference they look alike.

The second photo is the best I have until I disassemble my machine. The upper left of the base unit shows the green bluetooth antenna with its blue wire. If you look close you can see the cover is flat with no ridges or dimple for the brass pin. (no brass pin if you could see the bottom)
Follow the flex cable from cn52 and you can barely see the module once it is installed.

 

Any advantage to the old OEM board over a new Class 1 Bluetooth USB adapter that fits inside the USB opening of a 29?

 

The oem one leaves your external usb open for other things. The oem one is probably tougher, being built and tested to Panasonic's specs. Having an external antenna, the oem one probably performs better. I never compared so I don't know that for a fact.
Bragging rights for having a rare item!?

 

Most Mk3 thru Mk5 CF-29 users seldom use the USB port under the rear cover ( Mk1 and Mk2 have a PS/2 port there), so using the Targus Micro Wireless Bluetooth Adapter leaves the right side USB port open for other uses.

And, "Yes": it does fit with the cover closed.

 

It's my understanding that these dongles come in either Class 1 or 2, based on transmitter power - with Class 1 being quite a bit stronger. Not sure about the Targus, but it should be worthwhile finding a Class 1 that would ft.

 

My issue is that my flash memory jump stick thingy won't work without an extension adapter in the side usb. I have the extension, but it's one more thing I need to take along. I am swapping in a mk3 mb soon to solve this issue. The mk3 bumps me up to 1.4ghz, gives me the extra usb in the rear and gives me 512mb on the motherboard instead of 256mb. It should make it a little bit more user friendly for me.
I do have a pcmcia usb card along with a sd reader pcmcia card. I am getting a conflict when I boot both. If I remove the usb pcmcia card it will solve that also. I think some of that is my own fault though. I got the usb card with the nec chip and the cf 29 on board uses the via chip. Or it's the other way around.
If I was getting the mini Bluetooth stick, I personally would make it fit in the side port and use the rear port for daily needs. But that's me.YMMV

 

Thanks for posting the pics and info on the bluetooth board.
They were very helpful for me,and I look forward to the other pics when you
get time to do them.
David

 

Here are the high resolution pictures I promised. I was incorrect about the bluetooth board being hidden.

 

Here is the final photo.

 

Thank you very much these will be very helpful when I get ready to install the bluetooth board.