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Upgrading to a CF-31 and I need some input on these.

Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 3:23 am
by AKnReaper
I am finally going to bite the proverbial bullet and get myself a CF-31.

What I am looking for in particular is the following.

i5 or i7 processor
8-16Gb Memory
Back-lit Keyboard
120GB+ SSD
Prefer Vid card with its own Memory
Bluetooth/Wifi/LAN

Touchscreen and GPS a plus

I am currently looking one of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162167645662?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Now from what I read, it should have BT, however I cannot seem to find it mentioned anywhere on the listing. How difficult is it to install BT?

or I was looking at this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/322245781795?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

again I am not seeing anything about BT.

Also which is a better GPS, stock or Ublox?


Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Reaper

Re: Upgrading to a CF-31 and I need some input on these.

Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 5:31 am
by Shawn
Hmm.

First of all. Do you need the ALL black model? What is more important, All black or the ATI graphics?
The all black are military editions. May be tough to find a military edition with the dedicated ATI graphics. Not sure they ever made one.

In my opinion the stock CF 31 GPS is very good. The Ublox is slightly better. The software side of the GPS is usually where the difference is really at. Streets and Trips vs Garmin vs Freeware. The Ublox drivers can be confusing at first.

Bluetooth is easy to install as long as the BIOS supports it. Military editions almost always have custom BIOS's which can make things very difficult to add.

The Docs Laptops one you linked to is an i3. And he does not list the hours. I would insist on seeing a photo of the BIOS info page and a photo of the bottom of the laptop with ALL numbers showing.

Re: Upgrading to a CF-31 and I need some input on these.

Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 5:46 am
by AKnReaper
Actually the color does not matter. The zero hours is what peaked my interest, not the color, hell it is a brand new machine! My biggest thought on this is, I cannot get the drivers for XP anymore on some of the radio stuff I have. I was thinking on just upgrading the OS, however my CF-29 MK V cannot handle it. I figure since I need to upgrade computers might as well go with the a 31, since most 30s will be running into the same problem. Heck I even went to Panasonic's website for a brand new MK V but for 4K, however, it appears that you cannot buy directly from them. I prefer a SSD or a traditional HDD or SATA drive even, mostly because I am out in the field frequently. This machine won't be a gaming machine just a work machine. If you know anywhere I can get a great price on one with the requirements I posted I am more that willing to look in to it.

Oh and the GPS question is because I want to be able to use it with topo maps etc.

Reaper

Re: Upgrading to a CF-31 and I need some input on these.

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2016 8:07 pm
by droppointalpha
What radio software are you using?

Re: Upgrading to a CF-31 and I need some input on these.

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2016 11:57 pm
by SHEEPMAN!
Shawn and I are messing with CF-31. I like MK2......and have a MK3 in the "system".

If you can find a clean low hour 31J we have experience installing OEM GPS. It's no big deal if you can find reasonably priced parts.

Install extra ram at the same time.

Stay away from odd bios settings. Ask for a picture of main bios screen.
1. It confirms that the unit doesn't have a password.
2. Anything with a M 18 (or etc) after bios # is suspicious. As in no sound, bluetooth, WLAN, WWAN and so on.

Send me a picture of the main bios screen.

As always complete bios number from main screen tells a lot.

Please PM ....see my signature. If I don't answer PM Shawn.

Thanks,

J'd

Re: Upgrading to a CF-31 and I need some input on these.

Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 12:18 am
by AKnReaper
Thanks for the info. I am still going to get a CF-31, but I am going to hold off a couple of months. I did find a CF-19MK4 low hours (130 to be exact,seen the bios screenshot) with all the features minus a digitized screen, for 325$ from a company who lease them out. It only has 4GB of ram and win7 pro 32 bit and a SATA drive. I am going to see how it runs and may get another as well.

Tho with the 31s and 19s do they require a special caddy for SSD? I have 128GB one I was going to upgrade the 29 with but could not get it to fit in the caddy and close correctly.

Reaper

Re: Upgrading to a CF-31 and I need some input on these.

Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 12:22 am
by AKnReaper
droppointalpha wrote:What radio software are you using?
SDR frequency scanner.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00P2UOU ... ref=plSrch

They do not have the software that supports XP anymore.

Reaper

Re: Upgrading to a CF-31 and I need some input on these.

Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 3:32 am
by Shawn
That would be a great device to do an internal mod with.
The CF31 makes it a bit of a challenge to attach the antenna though. A CF30 would be easy to add the antenna.
NooElec_NESDR_Mini2SDR.jpg
NooElec_NESDR_Mini2SDR.jpg (240.71 KiB) Viewed 9917 times
p1030079.jpg
p1030079.jpg (189 KiB) Viewed 9917 times

Re: Upgrading to a CF-31 and I need some input on these.

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 10:48 am
by droppointalpha
Not familiar with the nature of the antenna connection in the back but could you use that?

SDR Receiver- interesting... I see what you mean with the software support.

Re: Upgrading to a CF-31 and I need some input on these.

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 10:53 am
by AKnReaper
It is a sub connection to the computer. Lol had to buy a sub extension cable to even fit lol.