Toughbook MK-19 Mk6 Sierra MC7305 GPS

Hello!

First post here, really hoping someone can help! Formerly had a CF-18 and recently purchased a CF-19 Mk6 with Sierra Wireless MC7305 card. All is great except for GPS!

I installed the driver pack (version 13.12.1005.25) with /USBCOMP=8 and that provided me with both the serial access to the card on COM5 and NMEA on COM4. I've also installed the GPS aerial from my CF-18 to the right hand side of the CF-19 and connected it to the GPS port of the Sierra card hoping it would help.

So COM4 shows what appears to be NMEA-ish traffic (happy to provide a capture if it will help) but I never ever get a fix, nor any satellites. I'm currently sat in a field on top of a peak in Shropshire with a clear blue sky so location not an issue. Connecting on COM5 and issuing AT!GPSSATINFO? always returns NO SAT INFO and AT!GPSSTATUS? returns fix session ACTIVE but fix status of NONE error code 12 which from the AT code manuals is timeout.

As a solo hiker I take this machine with me literally everywhere and I'd like to not have to take a USB or bluetooth GPS dongle with me!

All help most gratefully received!

 

It would be best to get a cf19 gps module and antenna. It sounds like the antenna is not compatible or working properly.
You can receive nema data with improper antenna or no antenna attached. This is what the symptom sounds like.

 

I was thinking that might be the verdict. But it would appear that the Mk6 has a daughter board for the Sierra card and doesn't have connection points for the GPS card (presumably because Panasonic expect to use the Sierra card). Not a hardware expert, just going on my eyes ... am I right in this?

 

Yes you are correct

 

Thanks for your quick reply! So (and my apologies if I'm asking an idiot question) what daughterboard do I need? I need both 4G and GPS. If of course this isn't possible internally I guess I'm back to a Bluetooth or USB arrangement.

 

You need this setup
https://customrugged.com/product/cf-19-gps/

 

Hmm... yes that's a GPS card but I don't see inside my Mk6 that I have anywhere to connect it to?

 

The gps module connects to the board under the Wan board.

 

Ahhhhhhh thank you - that's the missing bit of information I needed. Many many thanks for your help here!

 

Nope.

@JamieQuackers, go this way - enable GPS and select proper antenna. WWAN GPS is good enough for navigation. I do use it on all my PC's.

 

Thanks for the tip BaRRmaley - happy to give anything a go here! So, following that guide I'm good until selecting the antannae type...

AT!PCINFO?
LPM force flags - W_DISABLE:0, User:0, Temp:0, Volt:0, BIOS:0, GOBIIM:0
W_DISABLE: 0
Poweroff mode: 0
LPM Persistent: 0

OK
AT!ENTERCND="A710"
OK
AT!CUSTOM="GPSLPM",0
OK
AT!GPSPOSMODE=7F
OK
AT+WANT=0
ERROR

I'm using the antanne from the CF-18 which I assume is passive - if there's a way to check the current config happy to try that too. I also restarted the machine afterwards anyhow but no change in behaviour, so I'm inclined to think that perhaps steve.steve is onto something with the antannae being the problem here? Would be interested to know the GPS aerial that shipped with the Mk6 originally and how it differs from what I have.

 

Do not. Just connect WWAN antennas to Aux and Main connectors. Remove that GPS antenna from your PC, you don't want it
You will not have to switch anything, just enable GPS in your MC7305 modem.

 

Whether it's connected or not it makes no difference, never get a GPS fix and always times out. I've decided to get the dedicated card and install that as it sounds like a far more reliable solution that this rather odd GPS setup that Sierra have provided.

 

It's your choice
I'm using sierra gps in all my panasonic and lenovo pc's, and they work stable through wwan antennas.

 

GPS receiver arrived today - I ordered the Leadtek as a kit for the CF-30 as I already have the antannae from the CF-18 and the chip is the same. What I didn't realise was the ribbon cable is flipped for the CF-30 but straight through for the CF-19 - so fashioned my own cable and working a-ok. Getting a fix within 2 metres in 10 seconds even whilst indoors on a very grey day.

Thanks for the assistance. Very happy with this setup!

 

Indoors on a very grey day inside of an underground lead mine
Definitely a "too hot" start, but it's great you are happy

 

Don't forget you can add a cmos battery to the GPS card to keep it "hot".