The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    HELP! Broke my Wifi card 17r4

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by GSXRMIKE04, Dec 9, 2016.

  1. GSXRMIKE04

    GSXRMIKE04 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    6
    dissembled my 17r4 to do a repaste everything went fine till i had to disconnect the antenna from the card when the white wire (AUX) broke off with the connector stuck in the connector, i then tried to solder the connector which didnt do much i think i need to replace the card and now the antenna now! looking on advice please and thanks
     
    GSXRMIKE04, Dec 9, 2016
    #1
  2. SUADE8880

    SUADE8880 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    171
    Messages:
    648
    Likes Received:
    188
    Trophy Points:
    56
    You're not alone. Those killer cards connectors are prone to do that. Upgrade to the intel 8260,8265 which is better anyway. In the meantime your wifi might still work if you haven't messed with it too much. If the broken side wire still has the connector in it than try to perfectly place it back on the card to where it broke off and used the plastic protector to hold it in place by screwing it down tight. Whats is wrong with the antenna now?
     
    SUADE8880, Dec 9, 2016
    #2
  3. GSXRMIKE04

    GSXRMIKE04 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    6
    with the connector i cant see the pin inside anymore it looks like the connector is still stuck inside and im not to sure how to remove it or it the connector is damaged after i try to re solder it by heating the connector
     
    GSXRMIKE04, Dec 9, 2016
    #3
  4. b.kolev

    b.kolev Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    17
    Messages:
    74
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Same here, but the two connectors stuck inside of the antenna pins... how to pull out the WIFI Adapter connectors from antenna? I didn't do any soldering. Just received my new wifi adapter, but cannot put it, because of the antenna pins :(
     
    b.kolev, Dec 16, 2016
    #4
  5. Xenrail

    Xenrail Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    209
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Pry them out from the pins w/your fingers
     
    Xenrail, Dec 16, 2016
    #5
  6. b.kolev

    b.kolev Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    17
    Messages:
    74
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    26
    I mean u.fl male connectors from wifi adapter had broken and are stuck in the antenna female connectors.
    Now i can't pull them out from the antenna :( some advice?
     

    Attached Files:

    b.kolev, Dec 16, 2016
    #6
  7. Xenrail

    Xenrail Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    209
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    41
    You can disconnect the pins from the connectors no problem. It's much easier to do since it's no longer attached to the wifi chip lol
     
    Xenrail, Dec 16, 2016
    #7
  8. b.kolev

    b.kolev Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    17
    Messages:
    74
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    26
    But the wifi adapter is not connected to the antenna. I had to disconnect the antenna from the card when the white and black (both) wires broke off with the adapter connectors stuck in the antenna connectors. So now I can't pull them out both. The card now don't find any signals, because of the missing antenna.
     
    b.kolev, Dec 16, 2016
    #8
  9. GSXRMIKE04

    GSXRMIKE04 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    6
    wow, that sucks i read some where someone said use a needle with a magnifying glass, i submitted a e-mail to dell telling them the wifi card was broken, waiting for a tech to call
     
    GSXRMIKE04, Dec 16, 2016
    #9
  10. DeeX

    DeeX THz

    Reputations:
    254
    Messages:
    1,710
    Likes Received:
    907
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Since it is a known issue they will fix it for sure.
     
    DeeX, Dec 17, 2016
    #10
  11. rinneh

    rinneh Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    854
    Messages:
    4,897
    Likes Received:
    2,191
    Trophy Points:
    231
    I have pulled the antenna's off a dozen times. Are they really that easy to break? Never heard that tbh.
     
    rinneh, Dec 17, 2016
    #11