cf-31SELAX1M gobi card questions

Hello and thanks in advance for the assistance!

I have a CF-31SELAX1M that I am trying to get a Gobi 2000 card working in. I have installed the card and it does not show up in device manager. Here is what I have tried so far:

1. I have enabled the WWAN option in the bios wireless settings and also gotten into the optional kit area and changed the WWAN card from FF to 4. I read here and on the web that all this needs done. I got the impression it would not even show in the bios if the card was not installed?

2. I have verified that it is a genuine panasonic part by installing them (I have three) into another CF-31 that has a working Gobi card and verified they work and I am able to pull data via the Gobis.

3. I found the bios setup files that are floating around the web and made a usb boot disk. This did not work. It gave me an error saying the setup was not for my machine. I think mine is a MK2 or maybe MK3 so I guess that program was for MK1?

4. I removed battery and AC and did a 10 second hold on the power to clear the bios. This did not help. I just recently read that it should be longer than 10 seconds and will try that also.

5. I read somewhere to use the PC information and it shows that I have a WWAN card installed there and it is enabled. Again when I try to install the drivers it says Gobi 2000 not found.

Any directions or ideas would be most welcome!

greg

 

Welcome to the Panasonic Toughbook forum

Model Number : CF-31SELAX1M
Status : DISCONTINUED MSRP : $4,389
Description: Win7, Intel Core i5-3320M 2.60GHz, vPro, 13.1" XGA Touch, 500GB(7200rpm), 4GB, Intel WiFi a/b/g/n, TPM, Bluetooth, Single Pass (Selectable), No Drive, Toughbook Preferred

Any I have is that way.

You have a MK3

Yes that is what I do but also I do this about 10 times....sometimes I even unplug the cmos battery and memory

 

thanks! I will look into removing cmos battery... I tried doing the battery pull switch reset a few times and still nothing. It turns out a usb drive is just the right size to hold the switch on. I have it setting without battery and switch on. I plan on leaving it that way for an hour or so.... we'll see what happens.

 

I don't have a CF-31 yet but that's what I do with all my other Toughbooks

 

well an overnight with switch held on did nothing. I am going to try a backup battery disconnect next. If that fails...I am stumped....

again thanks for the help!

 

There is a few other members that could help you out but they have not been on this weekend...yet

 

ok just in case anyone is interested, I pulled the cmos battery connector and still nothing....hopefully as you said others may have ideas that have not been on this weekend. Otherwise I may be out of luck.

thanks
greg

 

did you go here and download the multi carrier software for the gobi 2000?
http://business.panasonic.com/support-computerstablets-downloads-wirelesscarrier

 

I sure did. I followed the instructions that came with the CSA and it still does not find the card....

 

Did you set the type to 4 or 04.....I think it needs to be 04.

This thread may help.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/gobi-device-not-found-on-my-cf-31.569787/

 

so thats a good question. If I enter 04 it shows 4. There doesn't seem to be any way to make it show 04. My other MK1 cf-31(working gobi 2000) shows "4h" in pc info and the non working one shows just "4". I tried it again before I replied to this just to be sure. I went into the optional kit area, typed in 04 and then hit f10 and saved it. Still no go.... The hardware test sees it and says it's ok. PC info and wireless switch see it and allow me to turn it on and off. Just nothing ever shows up in device manager and CSA doesn't install correctly.

Is it possible that the MK3 is not compatible with the gobis? I tested them ( I have 3) in the working cf-31 and they all connect and transfer data....

I appreciate the second set of eyes and your experience!



greg

 

Did the mk3 Cf31 use a Gobi 2000 or Gobi 3000?
I bet it was a 3000..

 

No it has never had a wireless card till now... so is it possible that my cf-31 is not able to use a wwan card... i.e. it isn't wireless ready somehow? I read about the MK1 and the software for the bios. Is there something like that for the MK3 that needs run before I can use a card?

 

What I meant was any CF31 mk3 that came with a GOBI...Were they 2000 or 3000?
I just did a search and it seems the mk3's came with GOBI 3000's.
It's "possible" that the CF31 mk3 is not backward compatible.

Did you check the wireless manager program and verify WWAN is turned on?

 

I did not have the wireless manager installed. I did have the wireless switch utility that sees the gobi card, lets me turn it on and off etc. I installed it and the wireless manager does not see the card and does not give me an option to turn it on.

Maybe the MK3 can only use a gobi 3000. Wonder how or who I could verify that with?

 

If anyone knows if the MK3 does not work with the Gobi 2000 I would be interested in knowing that. I have seen some 3000's on ebay, but they are a good bit pricier and if I need to upgrade, something with LTE would be a better use of my $$$

grge

 

Go to the link and contact Rob..He is a dealer and will know..

http://www.toughbooktalk.com/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2

 

If you get one on ebay make sure it is for a Toughbook. Other brands will not work or are just too hard to setup.

 

A CF31 mk2 and mk3 both used an Ericsson F5521GW for 3G not a Gobi..

 

My Mk2 (CF-31JBGEA1M) came with a GOBI 2000.

 

Interesting... lots of conflicting information.
Kinda glad I don't use WWAN

 

Were these bought brand new or used

 

Used -- but has what appears to be the Panasonic factory IMEI/MEID/SIM Serial number sticker on the bottom of the case,so would assume it came that way from the factory.

Also, the Panasonic Configurator says that model number came with GOBI:

Model Number:
CF-31JBGEA1M
Status:
DISCONTINUED
MSRP:
$5,389
Description: Win7, Intel Core i5-2520M 2.50GHz, vPro, 13.1" XGA Touch, 320GB(7200rpm), 4GB, Intel WiFi a/b/g/n, TPM, Bluetooth, Dual Pass (Upper:WWAN/Lower:Selectable), Gobi, GPS, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, No Drive, Toughbook Preferred

 

I agree.

Still no joy on making this work. I have been buried with my job and have not had time to pursue this further. Hopefully once it slows down I will get some time to make this work.

It is a genuine panasonic card and works perfect in my mk1 but not my mk3. Go figure...

 

Could it be a BIOS difference?
Mine has:
BIOS V2.00L11
BIOS Config. 0010-0000-0007
EC V2.00L10
INTEL ME Firmware 7.1.10.1065

 

I think you are headed the right direction.

 

Just to verify, Did you try the SPGobi2 file?
Or the wwan.exe file?

What are the full model numbers and bios info of all your CF31's?


I have an idea...

 

Also, for what it's worth, my 31 shows the card in Device Manager but says it can't find the driver on the Panasonic Reinstall disk (the one Heartland said was the correct one for my specific Model number). The 31 is a new acquisition that I haven't tried to download the Panasonic GOBI software package for yet. ( I'm assuming all the software I need for it is in that download package.) I have a Sprint family plan and can activate it for $10 per month and use my existing data package, so I'll probably try to get it up and running in the next week or so.

 

Curiosity....successful installers...are you using PL2303 USB to Serial drivers.

Thanks,

Jeff