SIRF-4 GPS kit for CF-19

This is what your model had when it left the factor...

Model Number : CF-19RHRAX2M
Status : DISCONTINUED
MSRP : $3,629
Description: WinXP (Win7 COA), Intel Core i5-540UM 1.20GHz, vPro, 10.4" XGA Touch, 160GB, 2GB, Intel WiFi a/b/g/n, TPM, Bluetooth, Dual Pass (Upper:WWAN/Lower:WLAN), No Drive, Toughbook Preferred.................. Panasonic Mobile Computing Configure Products

 

A little OT here, since my ToughBook is not a CF-19, but I just received and installed my Sirf 4 GPS kit from techtuff for my CF-30. It works great, so one more vote of confidence for techtuff as a source for ToughBook parts. I also bought a DVD drive from him, which works well.

EDIT: And by the way, the cover for the GPS bump-out is made of the same flexible rubbery plastic as the original corner it replaces.

 

Thanks for digging out the options for my CF-19:

When I got it, it had Windows XP installed, and no CDs/DVDs came with it. I am in the process of installing Windows 7 Pro, according to the license sticker at the bottom of the computer. I found a lengthy list of drivers to install:

http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/dl/dow...ation_Instructions_19R_S_Win7_H-2010-0259.pdf​

Which gets me to two more questions:

1. Is it really necessary to install all these drivers? Some of them are quite old and may have been superseded by newer drivers from the device manufacturers.
2. If I should really install all these, is there an easier way than to go through the documented order one by one?

As for the installed hardware, the only (positive) surprise is WWAN, which I didn't expect to have. Does that imply there should also be some sort of GPS installed?

And what does "Toughbook Preferred" mean? Is it some sort of extended warranty? How can I check how much (if any) of the original warranty period is still left?

Sorry for digressing off-topic with some of my questions...

 

Here you go...

 

Yes and if there is a updated driver a lot of times Panasonic will have the updated listed. A lot of the Toughbook drivers are custom made only for Toughbooks

There is a reason why they have this order. It is easier in the long run if you want every thing to run right the first time

 

Thanks -- I am just just unpacking the drivers, and getting ready to install them all. And yes, I understand that the order of installation is important, so I will strictly stick to Panasonic's recommendation.

 

Thanks for the helpful hints concerning GPS and other (barely related) stuff.

I have just reinstalled Windows 64 Pro and all Mandatory and Recommended Drivers from Panasonic in their recommended order. Updating Windows as I write this (100 Updates )...

 

You are lucky because I just did a install on a 19MK1 and the first set of updates were 234, then the second set of updates was 124...I just know if I turn it on tonight there is going to be more

 

I really don't understand why they don't make update packages, where you download 400mb in one go and have all the updates in one go.

 

Well they do have a ISO (XP) that you can download that does a lot of the updates but the other night I could not find it...to many things on the go at once and never put it back where it should be.

 

When you use old recovery DVDs to re-install a system, you get tons and tons of updates of course.

The alternative is to use one of the "plain vanilla" Windows install ISOs that are newer than the recovery DVDs. The downside of that is that you won't get all the Pansonic drivers, and need to install those manually.

Since I don't even have the recovery DVD for my CF-19, I used the German Win 7 Pro with SP1 ISO as a starting point, and copied that to a bootable USB stick. Installation from the USB stick was the fastest Win7 install I have ever done.

Now, after installing the Panasoic stuff, I am in the third round of updates (round 1 was 100 updates, round 2 and 3 just 5 or 6 each). I think that's actually OK from Microsoft's side.

What I would have appreciated is ONE installer for all the Panasonic stuff, instead of a PDF document plus tons of files to extract and install manually.

 

What would cause a SIRF-4 to take progressively longer to fix on satellites to the point it takes upwards of 6.75 hours to make the fix?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

They've got one that's just a file, about 600mb, I just used it the other night after restoring a CF-29, it took about 20 minutes to install. I'll find the name of the file later when I'm on an XP machine, the nitwits at Microsoft won't let me search XP updates from a W7 computer, this after they make you use their piece of crap browser to access their download site.
CAP

 

malfunction would cause that...
Something not right. Can be a lot of things, from antena to software and everything in between.

 

It was weird because it worked for the first 3 days then took 1.5 hours to fix then the next day over 6 hours the next day. Ticked me off since I was on a 9 day 4 wheel trip and was depending on this GPS. So I then left it on 24/7 for the remainder of the trip and it stayed fixed. I do OT understand how it would get progressively worse.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

Odd indeed. did you have internet assisted GPS on and no internet available perhaps?
And power down, remove power cord & battery and reboot didn't help?

 

No internet assisted GPS and yes there were SEVERAL power down and reboots. I am trying to determine the reliability of the GPS

 

Has anybody had problems with the SIRF 4 GPS' or is it just me?

I was told the GPS was replaced but when tested it did the exact same thing as the previous one. I have run a Ublox GPS for the past few years and it is rock solid. I had it and the new SIRF 4 GPS' side by side when I failed this time and the Ublox locked on immediately and the SIRF 4 never did. I waited 45 minutes playing with the stupid thing before I got frustrated and stopped. Does Murphy (Murphy's Law) follow me or what? Extremely frustrating.

I want and need the best, most reliable GPS I can get to assist in the GPS mapping I do for the Forest Service and the SIRF 4 was highly recommended but now has me worried and leaning toward the Ublox since I have had zero problems with it for years.

 

Well I don't think I have to tell you if the Ublox always worked for you before then why change now...stick with one you know works :yes:

 

That is the plan at this point... once I secure a new unit

 

I installed a sirf-4 from techtough a few weeks ago, so far, flawless. I'm sitting at my kitchen table with 9 birds acquired in under 5 minutes. make sure the install is good, the flat multiconductor strip is seated and in well, that sort of thing.. I just used streets and trips to look up some directions, and it's working as designed.

 

Mine did too for the first 3 days but was very slow the 4 and then extremely slow the 5 day (see previous posts). I use the GPS "A LOT" in my service to the National Forest Service of Arizona.

Enough said, I am past this even after the company replaced with another model with another GPS and it failed in the replaced unit as well. Not to say it never works as it does, it just has intermittent behavior and is not reliable for my work.