WIFI Card from CF-74 to CF-19

that's one thing i haven't yet done. i want to hold off on getting another card, but i guess it's the next step. maybe someone has one i can test out

 

what about a Dell 1390 MINI card? i have a Latitude D620 that i use for everyday average browsing/streaming with great working wireless (also using W7). i guess i could bust it apart later.

 

If you want to increase your power AND have known working wifi card... Go HERE and take a gander. They are the BEST cards for the money. I would advise trying to find the same card on eBay unless it comes from a known good source... There are a lot of counterfeit cards out there...

 

well the Dell card failed (as i suspected). i really think i'm doomed as far as getting an internal card to work on this thing.

 

would this allow me to put the side cover back on and keep it closed? (the one that covers the sd slots / pcmcia slots) i had to take mine off because of this stupid belkin card

 

well i decided to resurrect this thread. i'm still not willing to give up on my WLAN card. this pcmcia card is driving me crazy just sticking out the side and terrible transfer speeds.

anyone got any further instructions?

 

Are u handy enough to check the signals on ur Mini-pci-e card slot? I would think, that panny had not soldered all 0ohm resistors on the slot of the without-wireless-models. U should have look in the schematic of the CF-19. And on this:
http://www.pcisig.com/specifications/pciexpress/specifications/ECN-miniCEM_SIM_UIM.pdf

 

a lot of info in that file..now how can you measure the signals on the mini-pci slot..?
I thought more likely it is a software-BIOS issue..never thought of hardware restrictions!!!!
I also have a govt CF-19 as well but haven't got around to install a wireless card yet..

 

Update on this one! I did call Panasonic Support with this issue of installing a wireless card in a federal govt TB.
The first guy I talked to had no clue but he transferred me to another CS familiar with these models ..and sure enough he confirmed my worst fear..
to quote exactly what he said .." Even if you install a wireless card in, is not going to work unless you upgrade the motherboard as well" he would not go in details on why ..

Now this answer seems to be in tune with the possible explanation onirakkiss posted above...

 

indeed a lot if info, but i don't have the knowledge or tools to do that.

 

so they'll make it to where it shows up in the device manager, but just won't get signal?

 

yeap..from what they're saying this seems to be logical conclusion..see my private message as well in regard to this.

 

I am curious about the antennas..I opened mine and there is no antenna for WLAN . Are you sure yours is ?

 

If this is correct, the solution would be easy: just buy some aftermarket internal WLAN-antennas and put them in the sidecover of ur display IF there is no antenna-PCB.
Here can u see some pics of the original PCB: http://forum.notebookreview.com/pan...nect-not-used-3-wlan-antenna-use-draft-n.html

 

Thx onirakkiss..
Yeah this is what I am planning to do ...
I called Panasonic parts and they sell a WLAN module(N5HZC0000031) and a WLAN antenna(DL3U11553AAA) for the mk2's.

Wireless card is too expensive to buy it from Panasonic , priced around $120 and I believe you can buy it for cheap on ebay..not sure exactly what brand and model Pana is using ..
WLAN antenna - I have not found one for sale anywhere..
where did you get yours ?

 

For the wlan module itself u can buy any pci-e-card without used usb. But keep in mind, that only apple or panasonic cards will work as they are (maybe someone will correct me). All other cards need an tape on pin 20 on the card.

The antennas : Internal Laptop notebook Wireless WiFi Antenna PCI-e - eBay (item 400053279212 end time May-26-10 13:09:54 PDT)
or: Internal Laptop notebook Wireless WiFi Antenna antena - eBay (item 360023755704 end time Jun-02-10 20:58:41 PDT)
and so on

 

i think this one is going to work..according to the specs of the CF-19 mk2's they all cam with Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AG

 

If u want to use also N-draft just buy an intel 5100 card (i.e.).
But keep in mind to buy also 3 antennas

 

You should try changing the model number in the BIOS to CF-19CHGZXBM, non-federal model, just to see if the BIOS is blocking the WLAN.
Follow the instructions here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/475233-writing-bios-id-2.html#post6144446

You can download the BIOS from the Panasonic.ca support website. The first BIOS listed contains the BU19M1.EXE file that you need. Remember, you are not updating the BIOS. You just need to extract the BU19M1.EXE file.

https://panasonic.ca/PDP/Software/cf19_mk1_bios_v100l13m12-r-2007-0005-binary.zip

The process sounds more intimidating than it is.

Glen

 

well i followed the steps, and it shows up correctly in the bios as a C instead of a D, but still no wireless. i hate it because in the device manager it shows up perfect, but i just can't get it to see ANY networks.

 

pin 20? i only counted 18 on the big row

 

all wires are soldered on there correctly too. don't mind my dirty screen

 

OK, how about this? Now that the BIOS identifies it as a regular CF-19, reflash the BIOS and EC, just in case the previous flash did something different because it was a federal model.

If you look at the files in the EC update you will see two different EC files. Some thing like RV110L11.191 and HV110L11.191. Only RV110L11.191 is referenced in the ecup.bat file. Is it possible that the HV file is used if a federal model is detected. I'm not saying to flash the HV file since I don't know what it's for.

Glen

 

is there a specific way to flash it or just download it from the panasonic website and run it like i did when i installed win7?

 

BIOS download link:

ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasonic/toughbook/downloads/BIOS/CF-19/19m1bl15.exe

EC download link:

ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasonic/toughbook/downloads/BIOS/CF-19/19m1ecl11.exe

From the EC ReadMe:

=============================================================================
[ Software Name ] EC for Windows Vista
[ File Name ] 19m1ecl11.exe
[ Author ] Matsua Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Corporation IT products division
[ Publisher ] Panasonic Corporation of North America, Computer Solutions Company
[ Reprinting Policy ] Reprinting prohibited.
[ File Type ] Self extracting file.
[ Compiled Date ] 11/08/07
[ Version ] V1.10L11
==================================================
[ Target Units ]
CF-19C/D...

[ Target OS ]
Windows Vista

[ Software Introduction ]
EC Update for CF-19C/D to Support Windows Vista

[ Notice ]
1) This module is made to be installed for the above units.
2) Please login as Administrator before attempting installation.
3) While installing this module, please do not run any other programs.
4) Driver installation instructions are based on a clean driver install, not an upgrade.

[ Download Procedure ]
1) Download the file to a temporary place on your computer. The recommended location is C:\temp as shown below.
2) Execute C:\temp\19m1ecl11.exe, self extracting file.
3) When the file extraction is completed the files will be located in C:\util2\EC

[ Installation Procedure ]

Use EXTREME caution when updating the BIOS and EC. Make sure the battery is installed, and the AC adapter is connected to the unit to be updated.
After extracting the 19m1ecl11.zip to a new folder on the hard disk drive.

1. Create a bootable diskette with no config.sys or autoexec.bat. Label it EC.

2. Copy the contents of the EC folder to the EC diskette.

3. Make sure the computer has the AC adapter connected, and a USB floppy drive attached, if necessary. Also make sure the CF-19 is set to boot from the floppy drive under the "Setup" area.

4. Re-boot the computer, booting from the EC diskette.

6. When finished remove the diskette and restart your computer. Enter the BIOS, by pressing F2 upon start-up. Verify that the BIOS version is correct and reset the CF-19 to boot from the Hard Disk Drive under the "Setup" area.

Glen

 

well i deleted the autoexec and config files, but it still says i don't have enough room on my floppy to copy all the files

 

When I ran into this problem I used 2 floppies. The first is a regular DOS startup disc. On the second disc I put the EU19M1.exe, RV110L11.191, and HV110L11.191. Boot from the first disc. When you get the A: prompt, switch discs and type eu19m1 RV110L11.191 (the command in the ecup.bat file) and follow the prompts.

Glen

 

i've got extremely great news and some bad news. great news is that the wireless now works after the EC flash. bad news is that now it says it can't load the MISC driver, and the sound won't start. i flashed with the bios from the link (1.00-L13M12), and now when i try to flash with the bios from the panasonic website (L.01-L15) it says the bios is not for this model.

EDIT: i think i was just over-reading and not sure why i tried to redo the bios

 

Wow, that's great news about the wireless. It seems to prove that the EC is what locks out the wireless on federal models.

How are you trying to flash the BIOS? Copy BU19M1.EXE, ECMOS.EXE and V101L15.191 to a blank floppy. Boot from the startup disc. Change discs and type BU19M1 V101L15.191 and follow the prompts. Hopefully that will work.

Glen

 

when i try to update using bu19m1 v101L15.191 it says the bios is not for this model. it's like i'm stuck at L13, and when i try to run the executable bios_19_1_r070207 from the update site, it says ERROR: This program will not run on this PC.

EDIT: now it's periodically working. when i restart, sometimes it'll come up (the wireless) and sometimes it won't. i got my hopes up i guess. it's partly working now