changing out the wireless card cf29

how hard is it to swap out for a different card? I was thinking of upgrading to a 3945 and not sure where to locate the card or how easy it is

 

It's easy ,you will only need to remove the bottom base, but you will need to rethink your choice as the cf-29 uses a m-pci card, not a m-pci-e
Read the cf-29 faq and main cf-29 threads


Alex

 

i did read it but couldnt find anything about putting in anything better than the stock 2915

is there a better card than the 2915?

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/471935-engenius-emp-8602-plus-s-wireless-card.html


http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/512061-toughbook-cf-29p-wireless-adapter-help.html



Alex

 

i ordered one of the 8602's for 17.00 hopefully it wil be better than my 2915

 

The EnGenius is the best option in the m-pci type
The Intel 2915 is better than the cards before it , the horrible 2100B , and the not too much better 2200BG but certainly not as good as the 3945 that the newer Toughbooks use



Alex

 

i have a question, i have a cf29 it has the antennas on top of the lid, i want to make them work, everything i read on here says to use the engenius emp-8602 plus-s........is this the one i shold use and is there one certain one for a cf29. is it easy to install or is there something special you have to do? ive read something about a "driver" whats that and if i need a special one how/where do i get one.......sorry im new to this.

 

The lid-mounted antenna is for WWAN, not WLAN.

Post your unit's full Model Number; such as CF-29xxxxxxx; in order to get more info.

 

its out in my garage i will post model number tomorrow.

 

You know he did say

he could have indeed been referring to the WLAN antennas in the plastic bump outs.

 

Hmmm: missed the "s"; Oh, WELL.....

We'll know a lot more when we see the Model Number.

Anywho...

I agree that the choice of the EnGenius EMP-8602 Plus-S card is a good, and proven, choice for the CF-29-series Toughbooks (I have three of them myself).

There are also been good reports on the EnGenius EMP-8602+ and EnGenius EMP-9701 cards, as well.

 

model number is.....CF-29FTTGZKM
I have wireless in the house and I want to pick it up in my garage [125 FT from house} I have the little antennas on the lid under the little black caps, everybody on here talks about the "ENGENIUS EMP-8602 PLUS" someone told me I needed to get a card and install inside and the antennas would work, right now it uses a NETGEAR card sticking out the right side and I dont like that. So I thought about putting in one of the ENGENIUS cards and wanted to know which to use or is there only one for my CF-29? thanks for everyones help.

 

Well, that tells a lot!

Model Number:
CF-29FTTGZKM
Status:
DISCONTINUED
MSRP:
$4,603
Description:
***Federal Only***
Pentium M 1.3GHz LV (Centrino), 13.3" XGA Transmissive Touch Screen, 256MB Base RAM, 40GB HDD, NON-WIRELESS, Windows XP Pro, SmartCard Reader

Both the EnGenius EMP-8602+ (400mW) and the EMP-8602 Plus-S (600mW) are excellent cards; you can't go wrong with either one (links provided perviously).

 

so do I just by one of these cards from somewhere, pop it in, fire it up and I'm good to go? Once I install it do I need to do anything special to make it work, to make the computer know its there, and will the computer work using the two little antennas on the lid or do I need to somehow tell it to start using them. Sorry if my questions seem odd but I'm not that computer savvy, I know cars "ASE Master Tech." not computers.

 

Some sources were provided previously in this thread.

Close...

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

Once you pull the bottom off the unit to install the EnGenius Wi-Fi card you should see the two antenna lead-in wires that connect the card to the two antennas under the clack plastic covers on the top edge of the display screen lid.

 

ok thanks, I will get one later and try, will be intouch if I get stuck.

 

about the two little wires, i think one was black the other white, do they plug on a certain way or can black go on either side and white can it also go on either side?

 

Either way is fine.
CAP

 

Thanks I will let you know how it goes when I get it done, if I get stuck I will yell.

 

one more question, here is what I was told about mine when I bought it.........
MEMORY....1GB
HARD DRIVE......500 GB SATA HD
OPTICAL DRIVE.....INTERNAL DVD-RW WITH LIGHTSCRIBE
DISPLAY......13.3 TOUCH XGA
SOFTWARE......WINDOWS XP
CPU......INTEL PENTIUM 1200MHZ {1.2GHZ}

what I want to know is as far as toughbook cf-29's go is this good, or what upgrades would you or should I do?

 

Well, obviously you were somewhat misinformed, as the Model Number you posted earlier, CF-29FTTGZKM, specs out as:

Model Number:
CF-29FTTGZKM
Status:
DISCONTINUED
MSRP:
$4,603

CF-29FTTGZKM Description:
***Federal Only***
Pentium M 1.3GHz LV (Centrino), 13.3" XGA Transmissive Touch Screen, 256MB Base RAM, 40GB HDD, NON-WIRELESS, Windows XP Pro, SmartCard Reader

So, if the Model Number is correct, the RAM is either, 256MB, 512MB (+256MB) 768MB (+512MB), or 1.2GB (+1GB): there is no way to get to an even 1GB.

As to the 500GB hard drive, "SATA" does not fit the Toughbook, unless the system has a "SATA-to-PATA" adapter conversion istalled.

If the system is a Mk2, as indicated by the Model Number, it isn't 1.2GHz (which would be a Mk1).

The unit could easily have had a LightScribe DVD RW installed; I have three of these in my own CF-29s.

The actual Model Number, installed RAM and hard disk information can be recovered from reading the BIOS info (press [F2] during the bootup sequence while the blue Panasonic screen is visible), or from Windows Control Panel → System → Hardware → Device Manager utility applet.

Kinda depends on what you ultimate usage goal is.

 

I checked and model # is right, I also checked the BIOS like you said and got....
MODEL.....CF-29FTTGZKM
SERIAL.....4IKSA56672
CPU TYPE......INTEL {R} PENTIUM {R} M PROCESSOR 1300 MHZ
CPU SPEED......1.30 GHZ
SYSTEM MEMORY.....1280 MB
PRIMARY MASTER......500 GB
SECONDARY MASTER......CD/DVD DRIVE

I ALSO SAW SOMEWHERE IN THE DEVICE MANAGER AREA SOMETHING ABOUT
1.24 GB OF RAM.

I HAVE A AUTO REPAIR SHOP IN MY BACKYARD AND BOUGHT THIS JUST TO USE OUT THERE AS A SCAN TOOL AND TO GO ON LINE TO LOOK UP TORQUE SPECS, TIME AND LABOR ESTIMATES AND TO PRINT OUT CUSTOMERS TICKETS. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OR WHAT I SHOULD DO. I AM GOING TO ADD THE ENGENIUS CARD SO I CAN PICK UP SIGNAL BETTER BUT BESIDES THAT NOT SURE TO DO ANYTHING OR IF IM GOOD.

THANKS, ROBERT

 

First: turn off the [CAPS LOCK]!

Second; considering the workshop environment you are intending to use this system in, I would suggest exchanging keyboards for a backlit rubber one.

It's also possible that someone in this Forum might have one to sell.

 

So everything else looks good to you? And yes if anyone has one of the keyboards {are they hard to change?} I would change that, I'm new to this and just want to have a "good" one.

 

anybody got one for sale?

 

I have some, if Gork! doesn't want to sell you his.
CAP

 

Thanks Cap. Rob bought it. Appreciate it.

Jeff

 

how much will it cost me? and very hard to change?

 

Well; seeing as how you asked:

FS CF-29 Rubber Keyboard with Matching Bezel Excellent Cond

 

well i have no idea on what to offer for it. and i dont have paypal i would have to send USPS money order, and what is the "emissive keyboard" that he wants?

 

that emissive keyboard sounds cool, are they better than the regular backlit ones? anybody got one of those for sale, i just want which ever one is better, of course.