Toughbook CF-29p wireless adapter help

We currently have a few pcmia cards but the newer one we got is not working quite right (Belkin F5D9010). We are looking to get one that works and don't know which one to get. We were hoping that someone on this forum could recommend one. We are going to use it for web surfing/wifi hotspots, geocaching and gps mainly. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again and we look forward to hearing a response. Snow & Anton

 

Since the CF-29P models are "Federal Model" units which are not equipped with WLAN from the factory, I would suggest you install an internal MiniPCI card, such as the EnGenius EMP-8602+S 802.11a/b/g card. The factory WLAN antennas are most likely installed in the lid (under the two black "bump" covers).

Also, please post the complete Model Number, such as CF-29Pxxxxxx, as it aids in providing complete answers to the questions.

 

We have a CF-29PTQLZBM. Is it easy to install the Engenus card? I am not a computer repair person and we want to make sure it is done right so it does not get messed up. My husband knows a little about computer repair. How do I know I am getting a genuine one? Thank you! Have a great and safe day/evening!

Sincerely;
Snow & Anton

 

there is a listing on ebay for the engenious card , tempest_inc, that I've bought two from. they are the real deal, were 20 each but now 30 bucks. you might want to check out stickies on wifi upgrades for the cf-29, or check with Toughbook who I believe knows a bit about the federal models, TOPCOP I believe knows as well as tomcat57, hope this will lead you in a better direction. I installed the 2 I got, hopefully the antenna wires are already there and just make sure you get the thermal pad/ heatsink material back together or replaced with new and some artic silver ceramic paste(small dab), recently has been reference to a confusing website IFixit on taking bottom plate off the cf-29 off good pictures, you'll see, good luck..................Driller

 

So should I buy one of those cards from that guy? Is there a tutorial on how to install them? Or should I find someone local(Arizona) who knows toughbooks to install it for me? Is the federal model capable of having one of these cards installed? Thank you for all of your help! Have a great and safe week!

Sincerely,
Snow

 

If you or your hubby are at all "mechanically capable", you should have no problem adding the EnGenius card to your CF-29 "Federal Model" Toughbook. There are plenty of references to such a task in these pages.

Moreover, Forum "Modder-ator" Toughbook has experience WiFi'ing the "Federal Model" CF-29s, so he's your best source.

 

This should help you out Replacing Panasonic Toughbook CF-29 Sound Card - iFixit , it says how to replace the sound card but its the wireless card . If you are going to use it in the house with your router sitting across the room and you are getting a strong signal I would leave your old one in but if you are trying to get free wifi from next door then I would upgrade it .That's my feeling anyways. I did upgrade mine to that card because I use my toughbook down town and there is always free wifi to be found. Here is the link that a lot of us bought from ENGENIUS WIRELESS MINIPCI EMP-8602 PLUS-S Free S&H NEW - eBay (item 230488517343 end time Sep-14-10 08:15:12 PDT)

 

Well, at least the pictures are helpful.

Uh, Nails: it's a "Federal Model"; it doesn't have an "old one."

Ruffbook; you need to remove the two black "bump" antenna covers on top of the screen lid and see it the factory WLAN antennas are present. This will help you in your decision as to going internal WiFi or not.

 

Woops I knew that...really I did .That's what happens when you copy and past from another post. At least the antenna and lines should be there , at least others have said they were.

 

So, if I take the bumpers off and if I have antennas, that means I can go internal wireless right? But if I don't have antennas, then I should use an external wireless card like with a USB? I want to use it to get as much free WiFi as possible. I also have my iphone tethered to the 3g when I can't find signal. Thank you again for all of the help. I will check to see if I have those when I open it up. Have a great and safe week!

-Snow

 

Yes, So you are going for free wifi then you should go with the upgraded card. Just 2 screws to remove and the bumper should come right off....if its there then pull off the bottom and all you need to do is locate the 2 antenna wires , black and white on mine.Good luck

 

2 questions,

Ruffbook,

How was that tethering with the iFail? Most places I need internet I can't even make a call out.

Forum,

Is this card more powerfull/worth swapping out for us who already had an oem internal setup?

 

Concensus is "Yes"

 

just checked my cf-29 ltqgwbm at my other office with the engenious card and am pulling in 12 sites as opposed to the intel card on the cf-29l3lgwbm which was pulling in only 5 sites. I think I'm going to buy a few more of these cards from that guy..........Driller

 

Model Number: CF-29LTQGWBM
Product Family: CF-29
Description: ***Barkersfield PD ONLY*** Intel Pentium M 778 1.6GHz LV (Centrino), 13.3" Touch XGA Screen, 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, Intel 802.11a+b+g WLAN, WIN XP SP2, Wireless Ready, GPS, No Optical Drive

Model Number: CF-29L3LGWBM
Product Family: CF-29
Description: ***Barkersfield PD ONLY*** Intel Pentium M 778 1.6GHz LV (Centrino), 13.3" NON Touch XGA Screen, 256MB RAM, 60GB HDD, Intel 802.11a+b+g WLAN, WIN XP SP2, Wireless Ready, GPS, No Optical Drive

Did you do the 2GB DDR2 SODIMM upgrade on the CF-29L3LGWBM?

Of not, it would be a great addition when you install the EnGenius card.

 

We took off the bumper covers and underneath were what looked like chip boards or something. On the battery side there was a white wire that was attached to the board. I think there was a black wire on the HDD side. I can't remember. The chip things say WLAN-L. Are these the signs we need to go internal? I just ordered that engenius card from eBay so we will see. Thank you again for the help.

Adamwest436: we just did the jailbrake and so far have only used it where we know we get 3g from our phones. We have not yet tried it when we don't get a signal although, I am pretty sure it won't work when we are not in a 3g zone. All it does is use the 3g we already pay for on our iPhones so we don't have to pay any additional to get it. I will say that the only con is that when using the tethering app MYWi, it does eat up battery life on the phone even if it is plugged in and you maybe get an hour and a half Internet usage before you have to charge the phone but I like that I am not having to pay extra for something I already have and am paying for. It is worth only getting a short amount of time on the net.

 

You will need these: EnGenius EMP-8602+S Drivers: Windows XP

 

TopCop1988, I did the crucial 2gb upgrade and shows system mem 2048 MB in bios. has 3630 hours on the clock so far. managed to get 3 of these Bakersfield units, but only one that will do the upgrade ram 2GB. did do the engenious card on the other 2 though. they do pull in signal much better as I can tell checking out how many more sites I can pull up. ........Driller

 

Did you happen to try the 2GB SODIMM in one of the 512MB-base units to see what results you get?

Just curious.

 

not yet, I'll give it a shot tomorrow, but my luck is so bad I could fall in a bucket of tatas and come up osculating my thumb. will let you know....Driller

 

the suspense was killing me, so I tried and got extended ram failure, a no go. put the 2gb back in the cf-29l3vgzbm and it worked as expected. there must be somekind of trick that would allow the 512mb base units to get up to 2gb, maybe a 1.5 gb sodimm would do the trick(a defective ram or one altered like I know what I'm talking about), someone said once something about a ram with a bad bank on one or a bad MB ram would do it. I ain't willin to trash a MB to find out....Driller

 

It had been tried, and failed, before by others here, but "what the hey", it was worth a shot!

 

Yeah I'm already paying too much for the data and it's almost the same if I just used the Sony Ericsson wwan card. I'm on my 6th 3gs and they all had the latest update each time I got them. Every update eventually breaks my phone and I end up with a new one.

 

Great find, odd it's labeled a sound card .

 

So we finally got the wireless card and tried to install it by that link you posted but aren't sure about, 1: popping off the back part cause we wish not break the seal like it says. 2: why is the card pictured in the fixit bigger than the 8602+s card. This card is way smaller and doesn't take up that whole slot space. As far as I can tell it just seeds in that slot right? What about the metal brackets on the sides, they would only hold one side in since the card is much shorter than the slot. Our laptop has that orange brown film metal peiece in above where the card goes. 1: what is it? 2: does it need to be in there 3: if not can we just take it out, or if it does need to be in there how do you install the card around it. Any help please as we are trying to install this before we go to Colorado tomorrow @ 2 mst. I've already took out all the screws so I would assume just seeding the card is the only step left. Thanks again have a blessed day/night Anton & Snow

 

The card on Fixit is a Intel card and its the same size as the Engenus card. I am looking at one right now and they are the same size. Is this who you bought it from ENGENIUS WIRELESS MINIPCI EMP-8602 PLUS-S Free S&H NEW - eBay (item 230488517343 end time Sep-14-10 08:15:12 PDT) I just happen to have one apart...check out the pics. If your card does not look the same then you got the wrong card

 

Yep ordered it and waiting on it to come. Gonna see if the old one fits the 51 since he has nothing there.

 

Yes the old one will fit your 51. I did the same thing.

 

just got in a cf-51 duo core non wifi federal, and 3 engenius cards. putting them in my cf-29's and the old intel card in the cf-51. hope the federal model won't give me too much headache as I put in antennas and new card from one of the swaps. will the bios for the federal be any problem? we'll see.......Driller

 

Your Federal model never had antennas.....mine did but no card.

 

Thinking about doing this swap in my CF-29NT. Question: after swaping the cards and installing the XP driver (the one linked to elsewhere in this thread), will I continue to be using the same "Intel PROset/Wireless" applet the Mk5 currently uses to manage its' WiFi connections? - or will it be replaced by something loading with the EnGenus Driver?

The reason I ask: I was in Best Buy today getting the new Verizon 5-Spot WiFi Hotspot and, during set-up, their wireless "expert" was quite surprised to see the Intel applet report their three "secret, hidden" WiFi networks "for internal use only". He said he'd set up at least one of every WiFi capable device in the store and had never had those networks appear before. (Good thing the ToughBook is waterproof; before I got done I had half the salesforce looking over the "expert's" shoulder drooling all over it!)

A bit off-topic, but the latest model Verizon 5-Spot seems pretty useful - 30' range, 3G Verizon network, up to 5 other WiFi devices can hook up, about the size of a PCMCIA card but either totally external or USB cabled to one device, SIMM card inside already to work internationally, removeable battery, includes AC adapters for most world AC outlets to USB charging, and costs only $1-- with 2 yr plan (3GB, 5GB or 8GB/month for $35, $50 or $60 respectively). Now when I travel my wife and son can use their Nook and IPad - and in Europe my team can nowy use one in-country SIMM for all of us and save BIG $$.

 

Short answer
You unistall Intel PROset when changing cards
ENGENIUS has it's own utility ,if you choose to use it
I like the built-in in XP

 

So you agree the Engenius is a better WiFi card than the built in one, but to check out using the WiFi manager buil into xp over either the Engenius one or Intel. Right? Anything in particular that I should notice/appreciate in the XP WiFi manager?

Brian
PS Thanks for your help!

 

Yes, it has higher sensitivity and output power

The XP manager is very easy to use and although you liked the ability to see other networks in the proset utility ,that info is not really necessary as you would not be able to connect to them most likely

Install a free application called inSSIDer
Thats what I run to see what networks are broadcasting

 

Just noticed, I have the later Intel 2915ABG WiFi card in mine - still worth swapping it for the Engenius EMP 8602+S ?

 

Yes it is
I use the 2915 pulled from mk4's on the mk1 or mk-2 for upgrades before I sell them as the 2915 is so much better than the 2100 or 2200
The 2200 and 2100 are tossed out
It's a case here of a less noticeable improvement
The Engenius is superior to the 2915 , but live with it for a while and see if it works for you
If it gives you a reliable signal in you situation you might not feel the need to upgrade

 

yes I also agree this card is better. You can even see it just searching for wireless spots. Ones you never saw before will be there. On the highway I had a dead phone but was able to pull wifi from a nearby hotel. Parked on the shoulder not near the building. My phone didnt even pick it up before dying. Pretty sure you could use it for
)(wardriver duties I haven't. Usualy kill wireless for battery sake.

 

Thanks Guys.
I saw two of them on eBay last night for $15 @. By the time I got my son to bed both were gone. Oh well, the gods of eBay giveth deals and taketh.
Brian