Smart Card & Gps

I have to ask... is it possible to add OEM GPS to the CF-29 W/Smart card reader? Or does the smart card share the GPS sled area? Can the GPS sled be located in a differant slot? By all the pictures I've seen I've only seen it located in the slot above the battery.

 

Its interesting. I've never seen that before on CF-29. Its probably another option


ohlip

 

Yes...Lets just say this is an "odd" machine . LOL I am going to be having many questions about this puppy as I build.

 

I've never seen the internal smartcard reader before! I have a PC card smartcard reader, but that's it!

 

There is a PCMCIA GPS system out there.... But not internal... It will stick out the side.

However... with customization.... ALL things are possible!

 

Ya I hear that! My problem is that this toughbook HAS to be as water/moisture proof as possible as it is going to be my primary navigation system on my boat, so I need to be able to close the access doors. LOL but again, like you sai....all things are possible!! LOL

 

LWOS,
Just get a BU353 from usGlobalsat and call it a day. Less than $50 and as good as any under $5000 gps available. Plenty good enough for any but professional survey applications. If you absolutely can't have a usb cable plugged in then you can try bluetooth, but they are more trouble and not as bulletproof reliable. I say this having used them for years professionally and having often compared their accuracy to very expensive professional gps's, they are the best!
CAP
EDIT: Do not BUY any charts or marine navigation software until you PM me. There are plenty of FREE apps and chart sources as good as the big dollar ones.

 

So why not install an EM-408 with the Sarantel GPS antenna? Or do you have to have the WWAN too?

 

Rick,
I you absolutely must have an internal gps that is probably the best solution. If you can live with a usb gps it's cheaper, easier, and more accurate for those times when you don't want your computer on the hood of the car or out in the weather on your boat instead of safe and snug in the wheel house. Nothing beats a clear view of the sky if you really need to know where you are.
CAP

 

Hmm....This is going to bear some thought. I do not have a "wheel house", just a 25' weekender but I understand what your saying about the clear sky view. Do these external units have any afffect on battery life over the internal units?

 

LWOS,
Not that I've noticed. I understand the idea behind the internal gps, but I just don't see the need for it. I guess they work quite well, but it just seems like a lot of work and money and I have never had any problem with the usb gps. It even works in commercial airliners. I can also move it from toughbook to toughbook and often do.
CAP

 

I guess I see your point. The USB GPS would be your cheapest, easiest way to go. If you are worried about salt water splashing on it though... You're going to need your port covers closed. But with that smart card reader, unless you want to ALWAYS go without a DVD and locate your GPS there, you are going to have to get the USB type GPS.

Personally... I'd lose the card reader and either get a stock GPS system or, if you are feeling adventurous, mod one in!

 

Interestingly enough, has anyone else noticed that some CF-29s have a salt resistant option? I was looking at one on eBay and it showed up "salt resistant" in the configurator. I believe LWOS is operating in fresh water on Lake Ontario. I have nothing against internal gps, I just don't need it and would rather spend my money on other toys. I think I have come to the same conclusion about wwan. My new CF-29 is wireless ready but, after a lot of looking, I'm upgrading to a rev. A pcmcia card. It's only going to cost about $30 and it will work on all my Toughbooks. I also don't have to worry about it becoming obsolete in the next year. My 2/100's of a dollar to steal a phrase from our fearless leader.
CAP

 

I would like to know what is "salt resistant" as that is a matter of materials. The interesting thing is that the magnisium of our cases is not salt resistant. Just a little FYI there....and yes I am operating through the great lakes when I am home.

 

I have no idea what the salt resistant feature is... And I also know that Magnesium oxidizes in minutes (It seems like)... But Panasonic primes the magnesium VERY well to seal it.

 

Has anyone ever exposed a toughbook to salt water on a regular basis? I dont think I've ever seen one that fell victim to corosion. But then again I don't live around salt water. Just wondering if anyone has ever see that as a problem. Interesting thoughts.....

 

Connor,
I've got a CF-27 that has been exposed to salt spray frequently, and heavily salt laden air for more than 5 years with no apparent problems. Maybe a little corrosion on the lcd cover screws. My CF-30 has had some salt spray and salt water drips from foul weather gear as have several of my CF-28s. I just wipe them off with a damp rag and they are no worse for the wear. Maybe there are magnesium alloys which are immune to salt water like the 5000 series aluminum alloys which are used to make boats, outboard motors, and the like. Maybe the salt resistant Toughbooks use stainless screws to avoid electrolysis.
CAP

 

Cool! Good info to know, thanks!

 

I work in aviation in the military and I know there are some spray on coatings that we call "C.P.C." and depending on how they are applied they make an awsome corrosion controler for all types of alloys. But now you got me wondering about these tough books. We abuse the heck outta these things and i have never seen one die so I'm guessing they are built the same but you can order them taylored to your needs as far as environmently protecting them.

 

Everyone should remember that their Toughbook is far more likely to burst into flame and burn VERY hot than it is to melt from a little salt water. Almost all automatic transmissions are made of magnesium and they don't often melt from salt spray.
CAP

 

Well... I grind on the magnesium all the time to make way for the GPS antennas that I add... I often wonder about having one burst into flames... As far as the oxidation... You'd have to have it exposed to salt spray for years... Unprotected even, for it to have any serious problems.

I wouldn't worry.... I would assume that the saltwater protection has something to do with thicker seals on the port covers or something of that nature...

 

Rick,
I'm kind of joking about one bursting into flames, but I would be sort of careful with the dust and fine particles from grinding. We used to play around with magnesium filings when we were kids and they burn pretty good! Railroads weld track with thermite which is a mixture of magnesium and steel filings in a ceramic crucible.
CAP

 

Actually, thermite is a mixture of aluminum and iron oxide, although magnesium strips are a popular way to light it, since a normal lighter simply doesn't burn hot enough to ignite it in most cases - but the lighter can ignite the magnesium, and the magnesium easily burns hot enough to ignite the thermite.

 

Yah, so.....

I have a cf29 with smart card reader, OEM Gps, and Verizon WWAN card. I, for the life of me, don't understand what is being asked here. Can someone dumb it down a little for poor me? Are we trying to see if the 408 will fit where the smart card reader is being installed?

~Paul

 

Paul,
Yes, this shamelessly hijacked thread has deteriorated from an original question about putting a em408 in the usual location which is currently occupied by a card reader. You gotta love how we work around here
DiscoPanda, I stand corrected, I thought the thermite had magnesium in it.
CAP

 

My GPS opinions...

I've got 3 types of GPS for my Toughbooks. The internal modded board (using the 408), and two USB types. One is a permanent mounted unit that sits in my Caprice on the roof (355 I think), and one is a "dash mount" unit (353).

The internal board is still great, but while I'm in my car I've had some troubles with losing signal at just the wrong time. (I had a redundant GPS though, and the Magellan on the windshield still had signal, and got me on the right off-ramp). To be fair though, the magellan was right at the window, and my toughbook was about 3' from it, and the antenna was just below the dash level.

When I'm in my Caprice, I use the roof mounted unit mostly, but not all of my Toughbooks have internal GPS either. (I've got the cards/modules for them, but only one has an antenna).

Now, back to the smart card unit.

I have never tried one out, but that is because my only option would be to use a USB to smart card adapter, or a PCMCIA adapter, which always was too long to stay internal. But feel free to try one out and tell us how it does.

 

Hi Skipper, I haven't posted enough to pm yet. I'd appreciate your advice on charts and marine navigation software at your convenience. I'm moxon at humboldt dot edu
N 40 52.520' W 124 06.629'

Thanks, Tim

 

moxie,
You got it. Keep an eye on your email. Mrs. Dogfish and I were in Eureaka in late September and it was one of our favorite places on the California coast. We drove from Morro Bay to Crescent City.
CAP