Panasonic FZ M1 - long range bluetooth

I'd be skeptical of any BT device that doesn't have an external antenna when it comes to running a robot. It seems that most hardware developers consider BT to be a short-range technology, and if their device can connect to something 100 feet away they're happy. In my experience, you need a 5dBi antenna (about 7" long) to effectively run a robot in normal surveying circumstances. (By "normal" I mean like what I was doing today: running control and topo with my robot at distances up to 1200 feet.)

Yes, the Panasonic ToughPad's do have class 1 bluetooth (long range). There is a problem with the OEM Windows 8.x bluetooth drivers on the FZ-M1 and FZ-G1. But if you remove the OEM driver, and use the default bluetooth it works fine or load the older 2013 driver it works fine. No problems with OEM drivers on Windows 7 and 10.

With the FZ-M1, I can get a solid 900ft from a Topcon GPT-3003 robot, and over 1600ft from a Topcon PS-103 robot. Carlson's robot is struggling with long range bluetooth distance when connecting with the FZ-M1 in OEM, so they sell the external usb bluetooth adapter (PARANI-UD100-3) and works fine. As you can see, the range is also limited by your instruments bluetooth hardware.

The key to using these PC's and getting good bluetooth connection, is remember they are PC's. You must shut down the device down completely at least once a day. These are not cell phones, though sleep mode is an OK option, you must clear the bluetooth stack and ram to ensure solid performance.

Thanks Lee/Jim,

I've decided to go for the FZ-M1 and now have one on order, and will try to pair it with my TPS1100 via a long range Parani SD1000. I will try your suggestion Lee and remove the OEM bluetooth driver, failing that I also have a UD100 so I will test that as well.

leegreen, post: 358034, member: 2332 wrote: Yes, the Panasonic ToughPad's do have class 1 bluetooth (long range). There is a problem with the OEM Windows 8.x bluetooth drivers on the FZ-M1 and FZ-G1. But if you remove the OEM driver, and use the default bluetooth it works fine or load the older 2013 driver it works fine. No problems with OEM drivers on Windows 7 and 10.

With the FZ-M1, I can get a solid 900ft from a Topcon GPT-3003 robot, and over 1600ft from a Topcon PS-103 robot. Carlson's robot is struggling with long range bluetooth distance when connecting with the FZ-M1 in OEM, so they sell the external usb bluetooth adapter (PARANI-UD100-3) and works fine. As you can see, the range is also limited by your instruments bluetooth hardware.

The key to using these PC's and getting good bluetooth connection, is remember they are PC's. You must shut down the device down completely at least once a day. These are not cell phones, though sleep mode is an OK option, you must clear the bluetooth stack and ram to ensure solid performance.

Hi Lee,

I have removed the OEM bluetooth driver and used the default bluetooth - but i'm still only getting about 150m from the Toughpad back to the Parani SD1000. Do I need to install another bluetooth driver?

I was wondering if SD1000 can be used a repeater ??

JH Surveying, post: 364321, member: 11044 wrote: Hi Lee,

I have removed the OEM bluetooth driver and used the default bluetooth - but i'm still only getting about 150m from the Toughpad back to the Parani SD1000. Do I need to install another bluetooth driver?

You need to also uninstall Intel Bluetooth software.
if you have the FZ-M1 then yes you need older driver 2013. I can send you a link when I get to my PC. Are you using the 5" antenna with the SD1000? The reasonI ask, your distance is greater than most get with OEM driver.

Thanks Lee. Antenna is a 5bdi, overall length closer to 8".

[USER=2332]@leegreen[/USER] Nice website! Interesting services and links.

JH Surveying, post: 364329, member: 11044 wrote: Thanks Lee. Antenna is a 5bdi, overall length closer to 8".

JH,

Try this link to download bluetooth driver.

FL/GA PLS., post: 364331, member: 379 wrote: [USER=2332]@leegreen[/USER] Nice website! Interesting services and links.

Thank you.

I just got back from Orlando, Florida with some surveyors I met on this board. Heading to Atlanta, GA next week. Then to Stennis, MS for work at the space center. Seems all my work these days, is out of state. Not bad to be in warmer climate this time of year.

Hi Lee,

Thanks for the link to the bluetooth driver, however I'm having some issues. I tried the following:

1. Deleted the existing driver - by un-installing in Device Manager and then deleting under Programs and Features
2. Extracted the file you provided to the toughpad - it prompts to create a file called util2
3. Opened the util2 file and tried to run Autorun - it started to install then gave an error message saying it required my computer to be running 32 bit Vista SP2 or Windows 7 or above, and then the install was cancelled.
4. I then navigated to util2/drivers/bluet/Win8/Win64/Install/Intel Bluetooth - whilst this driver appeared to install properly it did not run - when I navigated to Intel Wireless Bluetooth (R) 4.0 the following message was found under properties - "Windows has stopped the device because it has reported problems (Code 43)
5. Next I searched for the same driver on the panasonic web page and downloaded the following (BluetoothSoftwareDriver_v3.1-pv3-wwbtw0430_3.1.1307g_M1C_W764_ss15498.exe) - I believe this is the same link you provided. This gave the same result as above.
6. I searched for another driver on the panasonic web page and downloaded the following (BluetoothSoftwareDriver_v3.1-pv6-wwbtw0459_3.1.1307g_M1C_W8164_ss15567.exe) - this one worked, however bluetooth range appears to be only 150m.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Choose the proper operating system for your Toughpad. Tell me the specs.Looks like 64bit Windows 8? It is tricky to uninstall the Intel Driver.
Call me. See phone number on my website.

We have also seen success in upgrading to Windows 10. I hate Windows 8, but I do have dozens of clients using Win8 with ToughPad and the driver I sent you. They use it with Topcon instruments.It is odd that you get 150m. With the wrong driver we get only 10m.

Is there a pole mount for these?

For 7" panasonic tablet and standard pogo this one should fit http://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-B-400-C-UN8U . Looks like arm is too long. For my 9" tablet I use shorter Double Socket Arm, and bigger x-grip.