<<< The "Official" CF-30 Thread >>>

Dukeswharf, i have the 293am emmissive kb in my cf-30 from ebay-it works great.(and has the super coooool RED F11 key!) careful fitting 27/28 kb's into 29/30"'s there were several types from what i've read in older threads

 

Bump on our old cf-30 thread

I just purchased a uj-870 dvd multidrive to fit in the cf-30 caddy ,part # cf-vdr302U to replace the standard dvdrom cdrw and had to solder pins 45 to 47 to make the drive work
That was not the case on my other dvd multidrive replacement
The cf-vdr301U dvd cdrw caddy worked without pin mods with the UJ-831S dvd multidrive


Alex

 

Hello old thread...

 

is this "solder pins 45 to 47" trick work on other makes dvd multidrive example sony ?

 

Yes, but try the drive first, as some work without the mod
Hit F2 while booting and look for the optical drive listed in the bios
If only the hard drive is listed and no optical drive , you need to mod


Alex

 

TOUGHBOOK,
I will be getting a CF-30 and be adding a CD/DVD. I have seen both a CF-VDR302U and CF-VDR301U that are compatible with the CF-30. They appear to have the same specs. Is there a difference in these drives and will either work in the CF-30?
Another unrelated question. I noticed that you using iGuidance GPS software in your CF-30 and would like to know what GPS receiver you are using? I am currently running iGuidance 4 with a Holux 236 blue tooth GPS receiver on my Dell Inspiron E1705. I would like to use this on my CF-30 when I get it. Do you know or does anyone else know of anyone that has installed iGuidance with the Holux 236 GPS on their CF-30?

 

Well... According to Google.... the 301 model is external and the 302 is internal. I would assume that either works....

I like I-Guidance as I run mostly local trips and I-Guidance has big on-screen buttons instead of MS drop-down menus.... So it is very touchscreen friendly. Right now I am running an OEM GPS system with the CF-30, MK1 I have and it does a fair job. Sometimes if I fly into another city... It make take a little while to get a fix where the custom ones do not...

Your external BT receiver question needs to be answered by someone else... I don't like them... Just another piece to carry around, drop, break, etc.

I like I-Guidance but, according to to others, there are some other programs that have better trip planning features.... I can't speak to that.

Hope this helps...

 

Toughbook,
Thanks for getting back so soon.
I also googled CF-VDR301U and on "buy from Panasonic" it shows a photo and describes it as CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo - plug-in module. It looks exactly like the CF-VDR302U. Also for sale on ebay they apear to be the same. I'm wondering witch one I should get for my CF-30?
Are you using your CF-30 internal GPS receiver with your iGuidance software? If I can do that then I don't need my Holux 236 bluetooth GPS receiver.

 

Toughbook,
This was the web site that I Googled.
Learn about Panasonic's CF-VDR301U

 

That's the one you want... You can also mod it into a DVD R/W the same as the CF-29.

Yes... I use the OEM/Stock GPS that came with my unit from the factory with I-Guidance. It seems to work great... But if I fly to another city... I have to start it up and let it sit for a few minutes to get its new bearnings. Something the modded units with the EM-408 don't really need to do... Or at least they acquire sooner...

 

TB,
So, I guess I still have the same question. If the CF-VDR301U drive is the one that I want, what is the CF-VDR302U? Can I also use the CF-VDR302U and what is the difference? Can you tell me what model CD/DVD drive you have in your CF-30?

 

If I had to guess, I'd say that the drive inside is a newer model. Maybe faster speeds and more formats supported. Both should work on all Mk's of CF-30.

Both, CF-VDR301U and CF-VDR302U are DVD-ROM & CD-R/RW.

The CF-VDM301U and CF-VDM302U are DVD-Multi Drives that also burn DVD's.

Glen

 

Thanks Glen. Does anyone know if there is another CD/DVD plug-in module from other Toughbooks that would also work in the CF-30?

 

Ok! this is one of my secret that I kept for while. I don't want to reveal it publicly as those lurker will take advantage again. Also the price of those hardware will go up tremendously. Just pm me and I will give you a detail to have you a dvd rom drive for cf-30 for 25 buck and sometimes less if you've got lucky on ebay.


ohlip

 

This is my no secret, but don't ask me anything , SORRY!

 

I smell something,



ohlip

 

I see something.... The buzzards circling..... Waiting for a post....

 

Any idea what would the best lightscribe burner to install in a CF-30. Just looking for some input

 

The down side to this mod is you still need a cd-burner that is set to master....no pins to solder , 45 to 47 to make the drive work.

 

I am pretty new to toughbooks and finaly upgraded my CF-29 ( which I got about 6 months ago) to a CF-30 but there is a password on the BIOS settings and I am unable to change any of the setting. So my question is this.Is there anyway around this? or am I just out of luck.



lol

 

Welcome to the forum. As stated in the forum rules we can not discuss how to crack the password. You will need to send it to http://www.heartlandsi.com/ for service or replace the mother board which others have done on here.

 

Hmm So its not in conjunction with the Trusted Platform Module in the device Manager. I was hopeing it was something contolled by windows.

Thank you for the help tho I will contact heartland.

 

But it isn't to hard to change it......

 

Very good job. So I guess I will pull the top off my HP burner and see what I can mess up .

 

Sounds like a plan...... .......I used a 12 watt pointed tip soldering iron to mod mine. Good luck and be careful.

 

I'm stepping up to a CF-30 from my CF-29. I'm looking at a CF30FTSAZAJ with BIOS ver V2.00L15 Will a GOBI modem work with this CF-30 ?

Thanks

 

CF-30FTSAZAJ is a Japanese model. Where did you find that?

Yes, a Gobi 1000 modem should work however, that model number is not WWAN ready. You will need a lot more parts than just a Gobi modem.

I have one in my CF-30 Mk2 with that BIOS. It will not work with the earlier BIOS V2.00L11.

My CF-30 was originally equipped with an AT&T HSDPA modem. It is a simple swap, then set the dip switches on the WWAN sled correctly.

I don't know for sure but, I don't think a Gobi 2000 will work in a Mk2.

You would also need to download the Panasonic Carrier Selection Application (CSA) from the Panasonic website.

Glen

 

Thanks Glen, What am I getting into ? What other parts am I missing ? I'm looking at this listing for the gobi PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK CF-30 INTEGRATED GOBI MODEM - eBay (item 370222860726 end time Jan-21-11 12:23:01 PST)

Thanks for your help !

 

I got the model number wrong, its a CF-30FTSAZAU

 

I had problems using a GOBI 1000 on a CF-30 Mk3 with Windows 7. Last check there are no Win7 drivers for the GOBI 1000. I have two of them here and have had no luck with either. Using XP I have no problems.

 

That kit is for a WWAN ready CF-30. It is plug and play. At a minimum you would need the connector and cable that the WWAN sled plugs into. You should also get all the extendable antenna parts that mount on the top left corner of the lid and the antenna cable that connects to the sled. It would probably work OK without the antenna as the WWAN sled has an antenna built into it. I rarely use the extendable antenna on mine.

OK, U is what country? M is North America.

Glen

 

Didn't the new CSA take care of that problem? I know that on a CF-30 Mk2 and a CF-19 Mk2 with either XP or Vista that there was a firmware upgrade to 7.5 Mbps, at least for AT&T.

Glen

 

Glen, don't know what the "U" is, sorry

 

The Z digit means that it is a non-wwan model
Best pass on this if wwan is a requirement , and find a model configured with gobi ,or at least a X digit one that only needs the sled
The cost of a gobi sled could set you back $500

Part's costs on the wwan antenna kit/wwan pocket socket, the sled , and the labour to install will will most likely discorage you from going with this model

Mk-2 will be gobi1000,and mk-3 are gobi2000 btw

Also if you are needing to buy these parts from heartlands ,they will install it but not sell the modem as a separate part

 

My cf-30 has a cracked LCD! Any ideas or am I out of luck

 

Your best bet is to call heartlands but it will be costly. They have no online store but you can get the number from there web site.
Heartland Services > Home

 

Post your model number, and a picture if possible
There are actually 2 displays used on the cf-30

 

Took Rob's advice and ordered the Cf-30 D-rings from Heartland. They are different than the ones for my CF-29. Is this an option or did the D-rings come on most CF-30s Mine is a CF-30FTSAZAU. part number for rings is DFMD9104ZA-0 and it was $4.70 each, BTW the screws are extra, need (2)
$1.05 each

Derrick

 

Forgive the duplicate post but I thought some mention of this should be in the "Official" CF-30 Thread.



http://forum.notebookreview.com/7049121-post102.html

 

Unless I am reading this wrong, the CF3- MK2 has the GOBI1k and the MK3 has the GOBI2K. They did put the 2K in some of the very last MK3's. I use a GOBI 1K on my MK2 and 3 with W7 without any problems at all. What problems are you having with W7?

 

Hi, i installed my rubber backlit keyboard from old CF-28 to the CF-30CTQAZBM. Everything is fine and all FN hotkey work (i had to reinstall the drivers for that), and F11 button glows red, but all other keys are dark and hitting FN-F12 does not turn them on. The keyboard worked perfectly on CF-28...
Is there anything to be done about it? I have read about a similar case here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/336882-cf-m34-backlit-keyboard-install-problems.html
with a solution to check the wiring, but mine seems to be in order.
Is it possible that CF-28 keyboard just doesn't work with CF-30 ?

Thanks in advance!

 

I'm not sure about the inter-operability. Are you tapping F12 one at a time? It is 4 clicks from off to full brightness.

 

You most likely have the keyboard that requires an inverter. If so, it will not work in the CF-30 or -29. Does the keyboard have two or three ribbon cables?

 

I'm not quite sure and i can't open it up right now, but as i remember it was only 2 ribbon cables (the orange line isn't it?). Does this mean it won't work on CF-30?

 

I have never seen a rubber backlit keyboard that required an inverter. The CF-27, 28, and 29 rubber keyboards all interchange, the only difference being the earlier models have shorter cables but they will work if you are careful. I have never tried to put a rubber keyboard in a CF-30 but I'm guessing it should work, the CF-29 and 30 keyboards interchange.
CAP

 

I took a backlight from a cf 29 and put it in my 30 no problem, it does have three connectors though.

 

This might of been covered already but I am too busy to read this whole thread...

I am trying to fix a cf30 when it boots I see the winxp splash and then nothing it goes dark. I have seen the inverter cause flickering issues before but not seen the whole screen go black during logon. Any chance this is an inverter issue as well? Guess I could swap the inverter from my good one but I hate to play with something thats working.

Thanks


W

 

Should try a external monitor to see if anything shows up

 

Yeah thats a good idea, thanks

 

Can this thread be made a sticky?