Spare parts - CF-18

Well after picking up a "cheap" deal from an aussie retailer on a toughbook with "slight cosmetic damage" (ie, Ram cover looks like its been attacked with a dremel and serious doubts on the waterproofing of the thing) im hoping to pick up some spare parts for it. The reason ive come to ask here is cause i have no idea on where to start looking (unless i use my old employers panasonic silver service contacts).

Currently im looking for (In order of priority)

• Ram cover with speaker and other grommets (is there ment to be some sort of seal around it?)
• Digitiser pen (currently using a ink pen or my fingernail)
• Illuminated keyboard (these can be changed right?)
• factory gps module/bluetooth module (if there is one with a HSPDA modem that would be even more win)
• Spare HDD cradle
• if it ever was able to be fitted with one, a CF Card reader

If anyone could point me to the right direction. it would be appreciated. in regards to the GPS module, i had been looking at doing the GPS Mod, but the walkthroughs arnt that clear for me to follow (have a little experiance in electronics as im currently a 2nd year electronics apprentice) and the antenna part kinda scares me (i drop my toughy quite a bit)

Also is there a Model number decoder to see what exactly my model is ment to be (just read that that digitiser version does not have serial ports but, this one doesnt work quite well when touching the screen)

once again, any guidance would be appreciated, would love to get this toughbook back into prestine condition.

Rod

 

Maybe there is a handy table somewhere for this, I don't know, but there is always Panasonic's Toughbook Configurator. It doesn't like many browsers, but should work with Internet Explorer. Go to 'Discontinued Models', select the CF-18 and then fiddle around with the options, until the model code matches your's.

A digitizer screen should not work by touch at all as far as I know. Are you sure you haven't got a touchscreen? It might just need calibration, there should be a utility for that, or you can download it from Panasonic.

Also, I cannot help sourcing the stuff on your shopping list as I haven't got any experience with that myself. Others may know. You might want to state what country you live in - the official spare parts distributors tend to ship only within their respective country. Looking over that list, though, I would think buying all that new from official channels will cost quite a bit, so you may be better off trying your luck here and on auction sites.

Björn

 

I am curious as to what a GPS module costs?

 

thanks zak, I am from sydney Australia... ill play with that configurator now.

Model: CF-18DHB22KA - According to configuator
D = Pentium 1.1ghz ULV (Centrino)
H= 10,3 XGA High Bright Touchscreen (yay i gues)
B = 40GBhdd 256mb ram, dual ant. connectors
2 Not listed (see below)
2 Not listed (closest is z but dmi viewer says 2)
B Windows XP Pro SP2
No destination code in dmi viewer

 

The panasonic GPS and BT kits carry an insane price tag, you really do not want one of those.

 

i could live without the gps i guess

 

rodgrech
This has been thoroughly hashed out before. Your CF-18 is a touchscreen model so you definitely do not need a digitizer pen, just get a PDA stylus at an office supply store.
You will not find your full model number anywhere for reference, it is a special model made for a telcom in Australia. It is probably loaded with an odd version of XP tablet, it should have XP Pro.
A spare hard drive caddy will probably cost you around $150US.
It does have a WWAN module installed, it is of no use to us in the US so none of us have fooled with it.
The only optional keyboard is a rubberized backlit one. It is hard to type on and will probably run you $200-225US.
The factory GPS leaves a lot to be desired, several people here have had good luck with an aftermarket GPS.
Finally, my MK4 has a SD card slot, factory installed. I'm not sure if its available for a MK2, but it will require major surgery to install if it is.

Welcome to the forum, let me offer the usual advice. Read-read-read, then come back with any questions which you still have, I suggest you start here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=358826

CAP

 

I used to live in Sydney but have been in Adelaide since Oct last year. My CF-18 that came from 'notebook-pro' in Melbourne is the same config as yours. It had the wrong OS on it (Xp tablet instead of Xp pro), and a 40 gb disk but I've replaced it with a new 160 gb disk and sourced OS restore CD's for it to put the proper Xp pro as a fresh install onto the new HDD.

I took off the speaker/memory cover and was able to carefully re-bend the metal panel so it doesn't press onto the speaker.

I just posted something in another thread about backlit rubberised kbd's. I have one fitted to my CF-28 system but the CF-18 ones are really difficult to locate. Depends how much you're willing to pay for one I guess.

The system also has built-in 2.4 GHz wi-fi with a standard Intel 2200-BG style 802.11b/g card already in the machine which worked straight away after I configured the wireless network settings to suit my wi-fi router/AP. I don't know if that's what other people are referring to as the 'WWAN card' though - Intel 2200's are a standard miniature wi-fi card designed supported by Windows, Linux, etc.

Craig.

 

sorry cap, kinda shot first read the forums later. yes it comes with wifi, but the place where the simcard goes (for wwan) is blanked out, im assuming the mob selling these removed the wwan device as it does not show up in the devices.

after playing with the NSW Police cf-19s and cf-21s im assuming the sim should be going in the slot under the sound ports.

 

rodgrech,
There is a WWAN card in mine, you need the software for the computer to see it. Look on the right rear side, if there is a rubber cover next to the GPS antenna block off you have or did have the WWAN modem. The port is for a headset, apparently the telcom modem has voice capability IF you have the service. Apparently Panasonic only provides sim card slots on computers which ship with modems intended for services which support sim cards. Kind of a PITA as my MK4 has a Verizon modem so no sim card slot. I have a rubber keyboard to sell but I'm reluctant to sell it here, it really is hard to type on.
Don't be offended, some of us get a little grouchy about people not doing any research before posting, we mean well.
CAP
EDIT: You've got a good eye, I never looked inside the headset/mic cover. There is a blanked off sim card slot there!

 

lol thanks cap, nah i should of used the grey matter up there first, all is good.

Yeah i have the headset doover here, unfortunately Telstra shut down the CDMA network so that is kinda useless to me now, so will be needing to find the gear that works with 3 Australia

lol after 2 years of MDT service with toughbooks, you kinda learn where things are. i just wish they let me play with the things internaly

 

Do you still have the backlit keyboard? I'm looking for one and am interested.