Toughbook CF31 Black WIFi issue

Hello All,

My name is Kami and its my first post here, and have a problem I have bought 2 beautiful CF31K balck hawk government special order, these have no WIFI card on them! based on my research the wireless card in these models is "Intel Advance N6205", these are mini cards.

I have 2 questions for you toughbook gurus:

1- i have seen a lot of these cards on internet, they are all "Intel Advance N6205" but some other numbers at the button like TA and WFM are diffrent, do they matter or as long as the card model and shape is same it will work?

2- if i get the card and install it, what should i do about the antenna cables? i don't have them and i don't see where they will go to...

I really appreciate any help as without wireless these laptop are useless to me...

Thanks again and looking forward to hear from you guys....

 

Don't buy a card from or for a HP or IBM. They will NOT work in other laptops.
If they are Gov't special order they MAY not have WIFI in the BIOS. If that is the case, you will need to find a WIFI BIOS and flash yours.

Be warned..Many guys here do not like the seller Black Hawk.

 

Thanks for info, I am not going to sell these, I need them for myself, as a diesel tech I need these on the field, I just want to get the wireless going....

I appreciate any more help on this issue.

Thanks

 

If they are useless without wireless, put a external wireless pci-express-card or a wifi-usb-stick in the side, or send it back. I think there is no other option for normal people.

 

What is your full model number? From sticker on bottom or better from the first page of the BIOS.

Blk Hawk's CF31 page..

Black Hawk CF-31 - Panasonic Toughbook Sale: Military Ready CF-30, CF-31, CF-19 and CF-29 Fully Rugged Toughbooks. All GPS, Touchscreen, WiFi, 6 hr Battery, GOBI, SSD, Rubber Backlit KB for US Military and Law Enforcement around the World

Blk Hawk's home page

Panasonic Toughbook Sale: Military Ready CF-30, CF-31, CF-19 and CF-29 Fully Rugged Toughbooks. All GPS, Touchscreen, WiFi, 6 hr Battery, GOBI, SSD, Rubber Backlit KB for US Military and Law Enforcement around the World

 

Please.... Not another Black Hawk post... The guy who owns that site is pretty much a joke and worthless. We've been round and round with some of the garbage he sells. He used to sell home made caddies, I think he called them "Custom".... That is how he came to my attention a few years back. I left him very nasty feedback on eBay before he changed his name there.... THREE times! Then he was selling those stupid knobby laptop protectors. Please....

He's had it out with several of our forum members and is not welcome here. (The ONLY person not welcome as I recall!)

In this case, it is nice not being the mod here so I can say what I feel about this slug.

 

Welcome to the Panasonic Toughbook Forum
If you check the picture below you will be able to see where your antenna's should be. A lot of Toughbook models that are sold "wireless" still have the antenna's and lines installed just no card but as Shawn said "MAY not have WIFI in the BIOS". Let us know what you find.

The CF-31 is one of the newer models out , lucky you :thumbsup: . I would love to have one of them.

Yes I will say the black looks cool but its not for the outdoors...you know what it's like when you wear a black shirt when it's sunny out. Gets a little hot...yes , well the heat from the sun hitting the black LCD cover will kill the touch screen very fast. Now I am not sure who or where you bought your B-H from but there is one seller that comes to mind and he calls them that to make them sound better and he paints the lid and sometimes adds a rubber mat to it. He was a member here at one time (long story) but not now. I did noticed the other day there is a Canadian seller that calls his that too...this seller is still a member here and very well liked and his GPS kits are in many of our Toughbook's

.

 

Yeah... TechTuff had a go 'round with him too. Andre and I talked about that a few months ago.... LOL

 

Yes...I just wanted to be clear that I was NOT talking about Andre

 

A lot of people have had issues with the guy is my point I guess. We have all lampooned him at one time or another.

 

No guys, I bought these two from a local Panasonic dealer in Montreal, they are Panasonic MSS inventory, they are brand new with zero hours so I am not sure are not painted.

Now I found this "black hawk" term on Internet, so I am sorry if I mad a mistake, have not much experience with these....

So the schematic for antenna, is it for wifi card or for Sierra wireless card?

Here are some pics....

 

It is for wifi card. I am not sure what the Sierra wireless card uses since I don't have any in my Toughbook's...sorry

Good , I am glad you did not get one from him. The Black factory models you do not see very often

 

Here are some photos, if some one can tell me which connectors are going to be connected to the card for antenna, i appreciate...

 

That's more U.FL connectors than I have ever seen in a Toughbook. If you got them from a dealer why not just ask him? I can see 3 open connections at the top of the photo next to the hard drive and maybe 3 banks of dip switches?
CAP

 

We still need a FULL model number.......

 

The model number is CF31KYG8RDM

 

I purchased a wifi card today and i am going to test, although i still dont know which and where are the antenna cables...

I also bought a DLink usb wireless adapter, it is so small that fits at the back usb port and the lid also can be closed and works fine... so if ifail to install the internal card i guess i will just use the dlink usb thingy....

 

Those are some rare birds! In all the hundreds and hundreds that I have customized... I have only seen two of the CF-29 type that were black anodized from the factory!

 

Guys you might be surprised, i installed a mini card from an HP laptop and it in installed fine, the only problem is there is no antenna so it cannot detect any wireless network, i am working on it and will update you all...

Meantime if anyone has any comments or suggestion, i appreciate....

 

Thanks to all of you guys and specially for the nice guy who posted the antenna diagram..... a great success with a mini card from HP laptop........ with your help i saved 800$ on getting the wireless from Panasonic.....

Next i will test the other card i bought today....

 

Now... Since you did that... You should get a set of these antennas which you could mod into your laptop... (Or something similar)

Sony Vaio VGN CR 390 Left Right Internal WiFi Wireless Antenna Set w Screws | eBay

Personally I would go with a better wifi card... At least an Intel AGN card... But that is up to you. But the point is you have the hardest part out of the way... Sort of. The routing of the wifi antennas should be a piece of cake.

 

I would buy a set of flag antenna's and mount them in the top of the lid. Should not take much more than a hour or two to install.

edit..guess Rick got to it first

 

I can't tell in the pictures whether he has the antenna covers on there. I would assume he does. I would think mounting a smaller wifi antenna under the covers would be good. Wouldn't flags be too big? They need to be out behind the magnesium cover.

EDIT: Yup... He has the covers...

 

The antennas are there, i just unplugged 2 of those cables from the board as you can see on that image and connected them to the wifi card and voila, i got the reception and works great.... one cable is green (2) and another is white (1)... i am not sure if i did it correctly, but it works...

 

Awesome! Good job!

 

Thanks, i would like to try the Gobi card for having the GPS, what kind of card is it? and what antenna we have to use?

 

THAT, young Skywalker, is a MUCH larger issue. While it can be done fairly easily... I think it would be cost prohibitive to buy all the parts you need to install the WWAN antenna on your LCD cover. Plus... It might be a little harrowing if you have never installed one before. I have never installed them on a CF-31 but have on CF-29s and 30s.

It would be much easier if you already had a "wireless ready" Toughbook... Then you just slide the card in the side and install your software and register it.

Personally... I prefer a wifi hotspot. I have a Verizon 4G hotspot that I use with mine. I have industrial Velcro to attach it to the side of the CF-30 and it works well. It will not fall off... It has to be pulled and almost twisted off. I like the convenience of allowing others access, if needed, or to use it on any other laptop I have and need a wifi signal. I use mine every day on the road.

 

Hi Rick
Do you think this is faster than OEM Verizon REV A MC5725. Where do you mount inside and what about antennas?
Nick

 

Nick,

To mount the WWAN caddy you take out the WM cover (left side of palmrest) and slide it in. But you would have to build all the hardware to install it plus the antennas.

A hotspot might make more sense. If you could take apart a CF-31 to see what was involved... Or needed... You would get it...

 

Rick

All my 30m2's are wwan ready. I've been using the oem sled MC5725 Verizon rev A for several years. I just wish it was faster. I get use to the Cable TV broadband service at home. It's around 27 download 6 upload most of the time.

On the road with Verizon is slow when your use to those speeds. But Verizon does often run better that the Hotels WIFI.

Nick

 

Hmmmm... I didn't see the pull-up antenna in the picture...

I thought Rev A was 3G??? I must admit... I don't normally fool around with the WWANs as I have no need for them.

 

Hi kamiar, please ser this thread (there is a pic in page 2, hope it helps):
http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/627616-cf-31-wwan-hardware.html

AFAIK, all CF-31 have the antennas for WLAN and WWAN pre installed (different from 29's and 30's)...

Hi Rick, Blair and folks!

lemarq

 

There is no pull up antena on CF-31 wwan. Instead it is a pcb type like on CF-19. But is located on the top of the LCD together with the wi-fi antena house on the black plastic piece.


ohlip

 

Well... As soon as I can afford a CF-31... I'll learn more about it... LOL

 

Hi. I just bought a CF-31KYG8RDM with the black wifi issue and would like to ask kamiar how things worked out since it is the same model. For what I paid for the unit it is in near mint shape and rate it a 9.5 out of 10 only because it is used and I would like to invest some funds and time into it to get the wireless lan working. The Panasonic site says this model takes an intel Centrino advanced - N6235 combo card with wifi and Bluetooth. I am new to all this and would appreciate any ideas and feedback

 

Just buy the Ubiquiti SR71 AGN card and you should be set.

 

Thanks for the info Toughbook and I will look into that card. May I ask why you recommend the Ubiquiti SR71 agn? Thanks!

 

It's a quick and easy upgrade. For me it isn't faster than the stock card... But its 400mW power does allow you to be a little further away from the Wifi router and still have a useable signal.

 

^^^^^^^^What he said ^^^^^^^^^

 

Okay but before I decide I would like to open up the Toughbook and have a look at the situation. My son ran a Panasonic diagnostic lan program on the unit and the result was a message stating there was no internal lan wireless adapter installed. With that info I am not even sure if there is an antenna there so the only way to be sure is to have a look inside. Problem is there isn't really a good service video or manual available for guidance so I am a little hesitant on where to begin on a CF31. I do know it is below the keyboard on a CF30. Sure would appreciate hearing from someone who has the knowledge regarding this.

 

@krtb, PM your email address to me and I will send you an html version.

EDIT: Looks like you need a couple more posts to be able to PM. That should not take too long.

 

Thanks mklym

 

Sent. You, or Blair if he sees this, should get rid of your address.

 

Hey mklym. I couldn't get my email to you any other way that's why I posted it but I removed it now. krtb

 

Good that it is gone. I forgot to mention in the email that you click on the 'index.html' to run the manual.

 

Hey thanks again for sending me that info and when I get around to the disassembly I will post the results.

 

krtb; I seems like you are familiar to me. Are you the guy who sent a mail to me a week ago regarding the CF-30 Toughbook? Btw, on Ebay site.

ohlip

 

Hi Ohlip and yes I am the same guy that emailed you regarding the CF-30 gps kit upgrade on ebay. I came across this black CF-31KYG8RDM Toughbook by chance on a kijiji ad so I put in an offer and got it. The only issue with it is it will not connect to any lan wireless networks and I'm assuming there is no internal lan adapter card installed and maybe no antenna either. The bios settings in the unit appear to be correct according to my kid who is way more tech oriented than myself. Mklym sent me a service manual file (thanks again) so I am thinking of doing a fix on this. I did see your earlier thread when Kamiar was having the same black wifi issue with the exact same model and I was hoping to speak to them to see how things went. The Panasonic site says this model should have an intel centrino advanced N6235 wifi and Bluetooth half mini pci-e card installed and I guess there are some other options for me too. My son says to go with a wifi card that just pops into the pcm cia slot but I prefer something internal so I can keep the port cover closed. Sorry for rambling ohlip and I welcome any ideas or feedback you have regarding this. krtb

 

You should be able to send and receive PM's now

 

NO...... No cheap and easy ways out... Do it right! Get it working correctly!

Have you checked Device Manager? (Right click on My Computer then go to Properties, then Device Manager) If you look under Network Adapters... It should tell you if you have one installed and if you do... If there is a problem or conflict with it.

Who knows if the OS and drivers were installed correctly if it came to you as a "working Toughbook"... There are A LOT of sellers out there who really have no clue when it comes to these and they don't take the time to learn.

EVERY Fully Rugged Toughbook I have ever seen, wifi or no wifi has always been at least "wireless ready" meaning the antennas are there. So...

1. Find out if the card is even installed
2. If not, buy one and install it!
3. If so... Update the drivers for it.

This should be an easy fix.