Toughbook 52 wlan card

Hi! I can gladly say now that I am a member of the Toughbook family. Today I bought a CF-52 FKN10AM (I believe this was a bestbuy model) . The computer is awesome but it does has one caveat: It does not included a wlan card!!! So my question is if I can install any Intel wlan 5100 in the laptop or does the bios has the whitelist problem present in many other computers? That is all, I saw a similar thread but it was about the wwan flag in the bios so I posted this one.

 

No whitelist problems. Only maybe have a problem with the wireless LAN switch... Do a search, it's on here somewhere. I figured it out. You may need to put clear nail polish over a pin.

P.S, don't use a Dull wireless card... they suck! Use a stock Intel 4965ABGN card!

P.P.S, welcome to the madhouse

P.P.P.S, stop while you're ahead or you'll suck yourself, your wife, and all your friends into it... it's a black hole that has no boundaries and no bottom to it when it comes to Toughbook land!

 

Hi, tyvm, I think I will enjoy it a lot, the screen is magnificent! I want to clarify that my model uses the 5100 AGN card!

BTW , whats a Dull wireless card?

 

Nope: it's a retired FedGov unit:

model number
CF-52FKN10AM
MSP: $3,051.00
Status: CHANNEL LIMITED

CF-52FKN10AM

CPU:
F - Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 (No WLAN) - 2.4GHz (Federal only)

LCD:
K - 15.4" WUXGA (512MB ded. VRAM)

Hard Drive - RAM:
N - 160GB HDD and 2GB RAM

Integrated Options:
1 - DVD Multi-drive + SmartCard + No Absolute in BIOS

Wireless:
0 - No Wireless and No Absolute in BIOS

Operating System:
A - Win Vista COA, downgrade to XP

Geographic ID:
M -US

DESCRIPTION:
Vista COA
**No WIRELESS**
Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.4GHz, 15.4" WUXGA, 160GB, 2GB, 512MB VRAM, Win XP, Multi-drive, NO WLAN, No Bluetooth, SmartCard, No Absolute BIOS, Toughbook Preferred

If you want wireless LAN access you are going to have to "DIY" it.

 

That's "Toughbookspeak" for Dell.

 

What does this mean?

No Absolute in BIOS

 

Absolute in the maker of a product called Computrace.

Computrace is software that is embedded in the BIOS and on a chip soldered on the motherboard that (to cut a long story short) enabled the device to be tracked location-wise if enabled, and thereby aid recovery of the unit if stolen.

Obviously Government & Military customers aren't really too keen on anything that could potentially track movements, hence it usually being removed by default from Government and Military units.

 

Big Brother is watching

 

I'll try the 5100 card in my 2530p. I bought this one for $700 but I have yet to see the warranty state and if they can service it here in Mexico (international warranty). The bios marks 0 hours and I believe I did power it on for the first time so I am happy. It's a bummer a mod must be made. Does anyone here has a 52 hardware maintenance manual? Also I cant find bios updates for this model in specific. IS there a 52 owners lounge or something?

 

No lounge
You have to mingle with all of us

Having no bios updates is a good thing , that means that Panasonic got it right to begin with

 

I got lucky on my buddys 51. It had wires already but the 72 didn't I ended up getting random wireless antennas for like $7 shipped from a parted out IBM Shatpad. I got a wireless card and pull out antenna from another 72 but the Cisco card was just as worse as... see below

I pretty much had to turn ALL wireless security off to connect to the internet. Wired was the best option.

 

This means my 52 wont have the antena cables installed? In that case does anyone here knows if a flush expresscard/pc card is avaialble somewhere?

Anyone here knows the location of the 52 wireless antena? I believe the two access panels below are for RAM and hard drive? I also need to install a spare ssd I have in my T400? Does anyone knows if the toughbook uses a 2.5" drive or a 1.8"? (Hopefully it uses a 2.5)

TYVM I am proud of the community here,I had a really good welcome. Merci!

 

It uses a 2.5" drive, let me suggest the stickies and some research. This has all been hashed over several times. Find Azrial's search tool and have at it.
CAP

 

@ fakeplasticblah
Sent you an email

 

TYVM. I'll soon have my Toughboook ready.

 

Does anyone here knows that type of mini pciE card the 52 uses? I got a pretty decent deal on al half mini pcie intel wifi 5100 but I don't know if it will match the toughbook. Another questions is if anyone here has their respective toughbook with nano receivers plugged in with the top covers on? TYVM

Does the Cf-52 accepts any kind of mini pciE card or does it has to be the intel one? (I find many atheros and broadcom ones with decent prices)

 

I don't know for sure but I would expect it to be full size ,that is the case with the cf30 and cf74
Stick with Intel ,I beleve your mk# used a 5100

 

I just bought the same laptop and noticed it has no WLAN. I get the laptop next month soI cannot have a look to it now. I had a look to the service manual. Are the antennas and WWAN PCB installed ? Did you checked at the bottom of the laptop where you install the Mini PCI WLAN card if there are two antenna cables which have to go to the WWAN PCB ?

 

I believe the wwan card slot is behind the top cover near the hinges. Good luck, BTW, ]I have not installed my card yet because I can't find one here in Mexico. (full height mini PCIE).

 

The mini PCI WLAN card is not the problem. I can send you one to Mexico but the CF52 I bought is in US and send to California and I would be there before mid Feburary. So if you simply can open the cover at the bottom where the WLAN mini PCI card goes in (it is te one close to the battery release) and have a look inside if there are two antenna cables and letme know. If not this modell has no antennas pre installed and it will be really difficult.

Klaus

 

Hi! Sorry about the delay! I can now say mi CF 52 is rocking hard with a wireless card. I tried a Broadcom A/B/G card in it and it worked!!! Wireless Switch included! Excellent alternative to the intel one if you can live without wireless N.

So to answer Klaus question, Yes, it does have the cables and a dummy card inclueded (model FKN10AM)