WWAN External Antenna for CF-53

[pentester101]

Hello,

I have several CF-53 Toughbook's equipped with Gobi 3000 chips. The air cards are activated with AT&T and work great while outside or when docked in the vehicles. The vehicles have Havis docks equipped with dual high gain antennas and there are no connection issues. I am finding that the internal antennas in the Toughbook's do not work that well when inside buildings, which is a requirement. I have been trying to find an external antenna that will use the antenna port on the back of the Toughbook's without needing a docking station. Basically they want to be able to carry around an antenna that might have a 10 - 20 ft cord where they can put the antenna outside the building (hanging out the window or door) and then connect it to their Toughbook so they will have an internet connection.

I have searched high and low for a connector that will fit the back of the Toughbook but have had no luck. Outside of the docks I cannot find any antennas that will connect directly to the Toughbook's.

I welcome any insight or assistance.

Thanks!

[Shawn]

It's a spring loaded connector. You won't find anything that will work unless it's mounted to a solid surface.

I swapped it out on my CF30 to a RP-SMA. Mine is for wifi but it's the same setup.

My mod

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panason ... rough.html

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panason ... ost8946063

[pentester101]

That is a nice mod, however, since we are using the connector when the Toughbook's are docked we would be unable to mod the same connector.

[Shawn]

Maybe replace your desktop port replicators with a vehicle dock that has the antenna connector.

[SHEEPMAN!]

I'd like to see one of the dual high gain antennas. The actual antenna not the mount on the dock.

Couple ideas tickling my brain dependent on size.