Toughbook CF-28 old school Wireless Card--( WIFI POSSIBLE ) ????

Hi my name is kyle im new to this post thing. I have a panasonic toughbook CF-28 that came from San Antonio Police Department that i bought off a guy on ebay. I got the toughbook for alittle over 200 dollars its in mint condition and functions great. Im not a computer wizz or anything i know more about cars then computers but off that note .The laptop only has operating system installed he did tell me it needed some drivers and what not but im not really worried about that. What i getting to is on the laptop ive noticed that on the front it has the wireless button and the antenna on top of the LCD display that is retractable. When the button is pressed it does light up but nothing happens. Now i've read on some of the posts that the sierra sb300 (Heart of you wirless machine) card is a old product and is no longer available for service. What im trying to understand is there a internal card that will make this laptop WIFI and utilize the button on the front and the antenna on the LCD basicly make it look stock. Just with WIFI. If anyone knows of a card please give me the site and the name and what needs to be done for this to happen.

To my understanding someone was talking about the Engenious 600mW WIFI card, then there was something about intel that they might have a card out there. Is there a card that will take the place of the Sierra sb300 card inside the machine. Im trying to keep everything in the machine i dont want antennas all over and cards sticking out of my PCI..

Thank you for all your help
If at all possible if you would like to call and disscuss this issue im haveing please let me know it is much appriciated

 

Capra....First, Welcome to the toughbook forum. Try to read the sticky FAQ above. It will guide step by step procedure on how to use the existing antena for your wi-fi. To your Q? regarding the side (contorl switch) its useless as far I know but of course maybe somebody will come up and mod.. to use that switch. As of to date nobody. After reading the FAQ and still you have some Q? go back here and post your question. Good Luck.


ohlip

 

Hey there Cap!

Welcome to the addiction. I'm a dragon-ish sortof geek who lives in San Antonio, TX... some sort of serendipity there(Or maybe your laptop was trying to escape before I got around to poking in its innards)...

Anyways... If you have the Sierra/RIM CDPD MODEM under your battery, then NO, you cannot convert the MODEM itself into anything useful. However, the PCB it attaches to, THAT is very useful. We've got a hack that allows you to install a modern SIRF3 GPS inside your laptop:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=206533

More on the antenna testing HERE:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=216022

and another that lets you re-use the CDPD antenna as a decent WiFi antenna here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=215522&page=2

There's also some discussion there about the little bit of research we've done into the front-panel-lights thingie; not much, but after I got started on my USB Mods, I just wasn't willing to mess with my mini-PCI WiFi setup which was working VERY WELL.

Start with the CF-28 FAQ stickied to the top of the forum; I guarantee, once you digest all of that, you'll have dozens MORE questions to ask. There is just OODLES of info in this forum; the Forum Search drop-down on the top-right of the page is a great way to zero in on the particular stuff you want.

Again - Welcome, & good hunting.

mnem
But hey... no hunting the dwagon, OK? My tail's still sore from the last guy who...

 

yeah i appriciate your help but do you know what the best cards are that i need and exactly how to hook the antenna up or does it plug right into one of the specific card. im just trying to get the exact cards that i need no external antenna on the one on the LCD that way i can get all this done..

 

There are a couple of cards that fit into the hidden PCMCIA the cisco 300 and 350 If I am not mistaken. You only need to reroute the wire from sb300 to the hidden PCMCA area. It has the same connector MMCX male plug while the cisco has MMCX female plug. Just remember the cisco without antena builtin its the short one that will fit nicely on that location. BTW, did you know the hidden PCMCIA?



ohlip

 

that under the hd right now i have two slots i have a card taking up the right slot closest to the battery what about the left on do i need a card for that. also i heard the engenious 600mw wifi card i heard alot of people are using those are they any good and do i need two of them???

 

Capranger,
Welcome to the forum. I'll second or third or whatever the replies above. Please take about 30 minutes to read the CF-28 FAQ sticky just above this thread. You'll know more about your computer than most computer salesmen know about whatever they sell. There is a wealth of info here and you will find the most helpful group of people you have ever met, but we are more interested in trying to get a Toughbook to power our SUVs than talking about the same old wifi card for the 100th time! We don't flame people here, its just that we know you will be best served by reading at least the FAQ to speed your descent into the madness, er strike that, your journey into the joys of computers that can double as unregistered weapons. Again, welcome.
CAP

 

The CF-28 FAQ is actually here...

Craig.

 

Yeah.... When you type out FAQ it actually takes you to the forum FAQ... not ours....

Capranger... Welcome to the forum and the down the slippery slope of modding your Toughbook.

If you are handy... Here's what I would do... You have 3-4 choices for antenna systems for the CF-28... I just started using the hack that Mnementh suggested. It works as well or better than any system I have used to date. It does require that you solder though... Or have someone do it for you. The easiest way would be to hack what you have.... Your antenna cable leads to the pass-through connector on the back of your laptop. (The little brass thing) The ONLY thing that pass-through is good for is if you intend to dock your laptop in one of the numerous types of docks on the market. Anyway.... You can install ONE Engenous 600mW wifi card and then run a U.fl ended cable to the pass-through connector and solder it on there... As you see the other one soldered on.

Once you read u on the CF-28... Look at a few diagrams and schematics you will become more familiar and start to work on it without any fear you are going to break it.

Just be careful removing the keyboard.... The brown lever on the big connector breaks easily!

 

thank you all for your help it is much apriciated?? i (think thats how you spell it lol) now the Engenous 600mW wifi card i heard is one of the best cards on the market now only have the one card that is on the right under the harddrive closest to the battery do i only need one??. also the antenna on the top of the LCD does it have the right jack for this card or will it need to be modified to secure correctly to this card.? and i saw that the color of the wire when i opened up the LCD case is blue and then there is a black wire that travels the same path i just dont know where they connect to i would think the antenna wire goes directly to the card.?? do you know if the antenna on the lcd only has one wire and what color it is so i can easily locate it. i do see a blue wire that travels to the sierra sb300 card under the battery and has alittle brass thing to connect it, is this that wire?

 

Okay.... Yes... You only need one card... It will fill the slot to the right. (Looking down on it with the cover off.) The way the stock setup works is that the antenna goes to the passthrough connector and then the blue wire branches off from there to run to the cellular modem. You can take the cellular modem out and use the card for a GPS if you want to. (A whole different conversation)

Anyway.... What you need to do is to find a longish (14" or so) length of wifi wire with a U.fl connector on ne end. You will need to solder the other end to the passthrough connector exactly as the blue wire is done. You will also need to modify the antenna by reading the link that mnementh posted. DOing that hack turns the cellular antenna into a great wifi antenna.

The long and short of it is... You will not be able to just "snap together" anything and have it work well.... You will have to probably spend a few days reading and poking around on the site. And of course everything depends on how you intend to use it and what you will use it for. Hopefully you have the skills to do this... If not... You'll eed to find someone who can.

 

Yes, you only need one. The antenna wire will connect directly to your Engenous card and run back to the pass-thru that Rick was talking about. So, you would need to buy the Engenous card, and a cable U.fl to U.fl long enough to reach from the card, to the back of the laptop to the pass-thru. You would then just solder the cable, connector and all, to the pass-thru just as the existing one is soldered on. The other end just plugs into the Engenous card.

Just so you know, the existing LCD antenna does NOT go directly to the wifi card. It travels to the bottom of the LCD to what would be the back of the laptop. If you look at the back of your laptop (opening the cover of course), you should see a little brass circle (maybe two). This is what is called the pass-thru. The LCD antenna goes to this, then another cable goes from there to the card. So knowing the color of the cable from the antenna isn't really going to help you because it could easily change color from the pass-thru on. It's like this:

LCD Antenna---------->pass-thru----------->wifi card
----------------------------|
----------------------------|
----------------------------|
----------------------------\/
----------------------------Docking Station

Does that help at all?

EDIT: TB posted his response as I was typing apparently, but combine our posts and I think you will get it done. Happy Modding!

 

thank you all for you help im sure ill be having a fun night reading up on all of this and going through the laptop. i apoligize if i had to kinda get everyone to explain alittle bit im not best when it comes to computers but i am a very handy person.. if i have anymore questions i will ask but for now i think im gonna be ok.

 

Whether a little explanation, or an encyclopedia, we are here to help or at least try.

 

the pass trough is a little card the wireless antenna is solder to and the blue wire runs under the cover back to the sierra sb300 card correct? in order to solder that i gotta remove the keyboard huh? because the space they give you under the little cover where the wire fishes through is ungoldy small..

 

You can actually take out the whole passthrough assembly from the bottom plate. Just pop off the cover, pop off the connector on the black antenna wire, unscrew the 2 screws on top and bottom of the pass-through and then fish it up through the hole. But it also depends on where your blue wire is running to. If it disappears into the bowels of the laptop... You'll have to split the laptop... But it should follow the channel under the cover to the battery compartment, go under the battery and then plug into the modem. Just unhook everything and take it out.... Then you will see what you need to unsolder. You will be replacing the blue wire with a thin 2 conductor, braided antenna lead with a u.fl connector on the end. Then you can fish the lead through the same channel but instead of going into the battery compartment, you go into the pci connector spot. You have to fish it into some tight spaces... But the connector ends are small so it can be easily done.

 

now why can i just use the blue wire with the connector already on. i have it all out right now and the wire itself comes up out of the board soldered in that place the its does a u-turn and goes back in and is soldered again. I just dont wanna mess up the board it sits on or im f*****. i know thats a dumb question witch im sure theres a perfect explanasion and im assuming its a non wifi wire correct. also the blue wire just before it goes into the board it has some type of metalic braid or a metal mesh braid that comes out and connects to the plastic?? does this give a purpose or did they just put it there to add to the toughness of toughbook..?

 

The Blue wire has an MMCX connector... You need a U.fl connector.

The braid is there to act as an additional grounding source... It isn't really needed but can be reused if you are careful...

 

do these connector's look similar because mine looks just like it and looked it up on ebay and google

 

ahhhh it looks like the black wire connector right lol .... im confused.. well you know more then me obviously so soldering will be the tricky part

 

Hey Capranger,
Please shoot pics while work-in-progress and after you're done with the installation. I'm sure there are others who're also keen to learn.
Cheers,
Ron in SG

 

do you know any places that sell the antenna cords 14" long. the one i have is 10" long and that looks like its long enough. let me know so i can order one i still need to order the wifi card aswell. i have everything out thank god i didnt have to crack open the whole laptop im very hapy about that.

 

Ok after reading this I'm starting to work out what is meant by 'passthrough' (note the 'correct' Aussie spelling! lol). My CF28 has nothing next to the main docking station connector, however it seems there should be some sort of provision for one, maybe two, antenna sockets there since there is a small section of unused rear panel between there and the two audio ports. Has anyone got some clear, close-up images showing how that's set up so I can pull this system apart and have a look?

If it makes more sense to route antenna cabling for wi-fi, etc. to the 'proper' location for external antenna sockets, I'd prefer to do that. Do all the docking stations supporting external antennas actually have mating connection setups to use antenna pass-through ports mounted next to the main docking-station connector?

Craig.

 

Capranger.... 10" may work... Try it out... I was guessing at the length.

Craig... The passthrough connector is a little brass fitting right beside the main docking connector in the back. If you DON'T have one... There will be a strip of foam tape covering over a hole where it is supposed to go.

 

i got a 50cm Or M one of them comming i the mail with one u.fl connector and the other end is open. im just waiting for the card and that to come in the mail then i gotta get a soldering kit for computer, might be able to get one from radio shack maybe then ill be good.

 

Hmmmm.... Yes... I think the 40W soldering iron at Radio Shark will do the job. Just get one with a fine point. You'll need that for other work on the Toughbook...

You'll see what I mean about the soldering on he passthrough.... The blue wire is so fat... It's obvious... The smaller wire is just a tiny version of the blue wire.

 

yeah i saw it the blue wire though it looks like its incased in some type of plastic and the braid is around the plastic im guessing?? i got my cd-rom drive today in the mail so just waiting on other parts to get here then i can get everything rolling here. do you know of any drivers for the 28 that xp sp2 can support?? i need the touch screen driver and the wireless driver, i dont even have a network adaptors folder?

 

Kyle

Maybe I missed it in your posts but, whats the full model # for your cf-28?



Alex

 

All of the drivers are available online... If you get stuck... A number of us have all the drivers, pretty much.

XP will find the network LAN but not the wifi card... You'll have to load the Hotkey driver, Touchscreen driver and a few others depending on how may you want. There is a DMI application that tells you about the system and Panasonic's Hand Writing utility that let's you draw on the screen. There is a certain way to install the touchscreen driver on the 28... you musy "update" the mice and other pointing devices.... Tell it to update in Device Manager and point it to the unzipped folder that has your driver. You should o hotkey the same way... You'll see a yellow ? in Device Manager... Just update that and point it to your hotkey driver and it will pick it up.

So... Let us know how it goes....

 

i got the touch screen working the calibration i messed up when i go to do it 9points, you have to drag your finger then it moves. When your done they tell you to press enter but i get a, Error A (Parameter Error. Please input, again) i hit ok but it wont finish the calibration you have to exit it. anyone ever had this before i got the driver from the modly site that has a bunch of CF-28 drivers on it. My Model Number is CF-28PTJAAQMBKB

 

Yes I had that happen to me as well. I believe what I did was uninstall, then reinstall it. Try that and let us know what happens.

 

So i got everything installed, i have the new wifi wire with the u.fl connector in the passthrough. The antenna well...??? im mad because i was trying so hard to get one of those small resistors on there and i had no luck. The single 0 resistor that was suppose to stay on i heated that up and it came off so i tried taking solder from where that one resistor was suppose to be right up to the mast to, i guess ground it??? I know thats totally they wrong way to do it. This question is also gonna sound stupid but im still getting no response out of the wifi not a good signal...its this antenna huh??? also the braid on the pass through that wraps up top and is melted to the plastic does that get grounded to the caseing or anything or is it just there for looks? or does it get grounded by the first whole (the bigger one) to the right where the wire first goes through. the wire then does a u-turn and the skinny wire inside the casing goes through and gets soldered.

 

You should just be able to use a small piece of wire instead of resistors... They don't matter... Did you remove the capacitors?

Uh... You shouldn't be melting anything except solder... But it sounds like you have the right idea?

 

yeah the coil things right?, there was 3 of them? i just popped them off with a screw driver. so if that is ok do you think my problem would be the passthrough? maybe i did something wrong in there? what about the braid does that act as a ground when the passthrough is screwed into the caseing, or is it grounded inside when it goes through the first hole.

 

When you used the word "melted" you lost me.... Nothing should have melted...

The outside braid acts as the ground and should be soldered straight away when going through the hole. The center conductor (Still in the insulation!) must pas through the hole and then double back and be soldered. You could probably avoid having to go through the hole at all if you are careful soldering. There is nothing really that can go wrong woth the passthrough. All it is is a soldering point to connect the wiring... and to be able to "pass through" the signal to the mount...

 

Cap -

Popping them off with a screwdriver probably tore the traces off of the polymer substrate; this is probably why it doesn't work. I gave pretty detailed instructions; there's a reason I didn't just say "fire up the chainsaw and start trimmin'" - this is pretty delicate work & requires a bit of care. Also, you still haven't told us what the results were with a ohmmeter... this is how you make sure its done right. Without seeing the remains I couldn't tell you if it's resurrect-ible or not.

mnem
As a matter of fact, I DO Know JACK. I met him in Key Tortuga, and he really likes his rum...

 

And then there is that!

Rick
I know Jack too... Mr. Daniels lives in my game room bar!

 

I had to move Mr Daniels from the GameRoom; he tends to be a little belligerent when he's tipply, and keeps getting into pistol duels with his neighbors. I lost two Walker Bros (Black AND Red); and Mr Beam was so traumatized I just HAD drink him up in one night...

mnem
So I started off with Burgundy, but soon hit the harder stuff...