GOBI in a new CF-52 or CF-31 with i3/i5 CPU

Does anyone know how to activate the slot for the GOBI device?

All new CF-52 and CF-31 as well with the i3/5 CPU do not have a dip switch to activate the slot for the GOBI device.

The CF-30, 19 and CF-52 MK1/2 always have 2 or 4 dip switches to configure the slot.

Does anyone have an idea???

Reply 1 : GOBI in a new CF-52 or CF-31 with i3/i5 CPU

Does it show WWAN "enabled" in the BIOS? Did the GOBI come installed OEM or did you install it? Have you installed the CSA application from Panasonic?



Glen

Reply 2 : GOBI in a new CF-52 or CF-31 with i3/i5 CPU

The CSA application is only for the US; users of Toughbooks outside the US (or Canada possibly) do *not* need the CSA at all for any reason.



The DIP switches have disappeared as there is now only one 3G modem (that is used on Europe and in the US, the DIP switches used to configure the antenna between EVDO and UMTS modes as well as some other stuff).



And lastly, the BIOS is not configured for HSPA (Gobi) unless you have actually bought the Toughbook with HSPA. This means that if you bought the device without HSPA (and have retrofitted the Gobi device yourself), then you may not be able to enable it in the BIOS unless someone can prise a BIOS patch out of Panasonic or knows of some way around it.

Reply 3 : GOBI in a new CF-52 or CF-31 with i3/i5 CPU

Quote:

Originally Posted by r-d-e Does anyone know how to activate the slot for the GOBI device? All new CF-52 and CF-31 as well with the i3/5 CPU do not have a dip switch to activate the slot for the GOBI device. The CF-30, 19 and CF-52 MK1/2 always have 2 or 4 dip switches to configure the slot. Does anyone have an idea???

The CF-52 MK 3 and the CF-31's use a Gobi 2000 modem. To activate the slot for the Gobi device, you have to enable it in the BIOS. The bad thing is that it's a written program (I don't know the name of) that is "programed" into the BIOS.



Toughbooks that use the Gobi 1000 modem, dipswitch settings enable the slot. You probably already knew that though.

Reply 4 : GOBI in a new CF-52 or CF-31 with i3/i5 CPU

Resellers can do it, so obviously it can be done.

Reply 5 : GOBI in a new CF-52 or CF-31 with i3/i5 CPU

Quote:

Originally Posted by old busted Resellers can do it, so obviously it can be done.

You're right it can be done. In my previous post I said it could be done.

Reply 6 : GOBI in a new CF-52 or CF-31 with i3/i5 CPU

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comptronic To activate the slot for the Gobi device, you have to enable it in the BIOS. The bad thing is that it's a written program (I don't know the name of) that is "programed" into the BIOS.

Before the WWAN:Enable/Disable option appears in the BIOS (assuming a WWAN card is present), there is a flag in the BIOS for the WWAN that is invisible.



If the flag is set to disable, then the WWAN:Enable/Disable option will not appear, regardless of whether the WWAN card is there or not.



If the flag is set to enable, then the WWAN:Enable/Disable option will be present if the WWAN card is also present.



In Europe, the flag is set to disable by default for other reasons: if you order a 3G Toughbook unit, then the flag is set to enable. I'd presume the same is similar in the US, but obviously I'm not entirely sure.

Reply 7 : GOBI in a new CF-52 or CF-31 with i3/i5 CPU

So the million dollar question is: How do you set the flag to enable?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinecone In Europe, the flag is set to disable by default for other reasons

What are these "other reasons"?



Glen

Reply 8 : GOBI in a new CF-52 or CF-31 with i3/i5 CPU

My assumption would be antenna-related, not really sure.



As for flipping the flag, I think you can do it with the BIOS update exe (BU52m3.exe or whatever) but I'm not sure on the syntax and Panasonic are horrific at documenting the switches by /?

Reply 9 : GOBI in a new CF-52 or CF-31 with i3/i5 CPU

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinecone My assumption would be antenna-related, not really sure. As for flipping the flag, I think you can do it with the BIOS update exe (BU52m3.exe or whatever) but I'm not sure on the syntax and Panasonic are horrific at documenting the switches by /?

I wouldn't say they're horrific. I do agree that they do make some mistakes on their documentation and procedures.