possible to change cf-30 into wlan model

hey everybody,
i have bought me a new cf-30 and installed a intel 4965 AGN card. the laptop recognizes the new hardware only wen i try to install the driver it says i have to enable the hardware...
is there any option to do this?

 

Device manager

 

Hit f2 when booting
Look it the bios for wireless options and enable
And of course there is a switch on the right front of the laptop

Alex

 

already tried the switch and in bios is only the wireless switch option mentioned. i`m getting a bit stressed over here!
have already tried to install drive from panasonic (no result)
keeps saing : make sure the wireless switch on your computer is on.....

 

NONONO!!! I remember this... I have this card in my laptop... you have to put either a piece of tape or clear nail polish over one or two of the pins! its a pain in the !

 

Also here are the current drivers that I'm using (straight from Intel...): http://www.robsnetworks.com/toughbo... Intel ABGN Wifi Drivers (11.1.1.0) (052507)/

Their might be newer ones from Intel but this is what I've been using in my since 5-25-07...

 

interesting.. could you please please tell me what pin I need to cover? or upload a image with just a simple paint file
tomorrow i`m going to try newest driver from your site.
thanks for the quick replay guys..

 

No problem... if I get a chance I'll physically take my laptop apart and get the card out and find out

Scroll down to the bottom of here for a pinout:

http://www.interfacebus.com/Mini_PCI_Express_Bus.html

I think this is where I found it...

You have to block the switch pin... more to come soon

 

Sooooooooo I haven't had a chance yet to get to that card to give you the pin because I've been downloading a crap load of stuff getting ready for my new system build that is coming in from newegg on Thursday... I'll try to get to it tomorrow ... I won't forget about ya!

 

Here we go : http://www.robsnetworks.com/toughbook/CF-30 Upgrade to 802.11N Intel 4965 Fix/

I used clear nail polish and covered up the 2nd pin on the 2nd row as
seen in the pictures to fix the issue where it says that its always disabled.
You can use tape I'm sure but that would require an EXTREMELY steady hand and might
peal off if it's removed and re-inserted often.

Use a toothpick with the clear nail polish... that is your best bet.
Make sure you let it dry overnight as you don't want that crap getting into your PCI-E slot!!!

 

Once again thanks Rob you are the man!!!!

-James

 

thank 2 all, = working perfectly!

 

No problem!!!

 

JB, why did I not have to do this mod on mine? Curious minds wanting to know!

 

Umm... It must be the wireless LAN switch ferries ...

I donno man... was yours an Intel 4965AGN?

 

4965AG Where the heck did the AGN come from? Is mine inferior or what!!!!!!!

I was on Intel's website last week seeing if there was an update on the FW. Talk about frustration... Everything showed 4965AGN, but no AG? My current vesion is 11.1.1.3 Anybody know if I am behind once again?

Come on JB! You have all the s**t in your head!

 

LOL!!! Their isn't an "AG" version... Only an AGN (Which would run A, B, G & N)... their was a 3945 (as seen here: http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/wireless/prowireless_mobile.htm)... which is only A/G (& B)...

The 4965 was the upgrade to the 3945... however they still manufacture both cards... the 4965 is finicky sometimes with the toughbook... I actually only got mine to connect at 144MBPs and couldn't achieve the full 300MBPs even though my (at the time) Access point could do 300.

I think it has to do with the fact that I only have 2 antennas hooked up (because thats all my toughbook came with) instead of all 3.

I Have a Mark 1 CF-30... I think the Mark 2's have 3 antennas... can someone confirm that?

 

Hi,

Thanks for the great info on this mod. I bought a CF-30 "D" series off ebay and didn't ask if it had Wifi, just assumed it would, wrong.

I have the 4965 card in and hooked up.

I had to do the mod on the 2nd pin just like the pictures and text said.

I used a dremel and carefully ground down the contact, didn't want to wait for and didn't have any nail polish.

Only downside is that you can't use the switch to turn the WiFi on/off - not a major problem, compared to a $1400 mistake.

One thing I added was the "3rd Antenna".

Bought a couple salvage CF-51 antennas off Ebay and since I don't have WAN card installed, I used double stick tape to mount the 3rd antenna inside of the Plug/Cover that they install on units without the WAN card. That way it is clear of the case to get a signal, though plastic, and is above and clear of the battery.

The antenna connections were a little tight, the gray one was pinned down with little or no slack, so I used the factory antenna's on 1 and 2, and my added antenna on 3.

Not as good as having three on the top, but better than nothing and no major disassembly to install.

The instructions here are a great help, many thanks.

Z28barnett

 

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your success! Happy future modding and please feel free to help us out too if you can!