Where is my airport card?

[doki_3]

Hi Warren2212,

What you write here only shows that Apple made a big design mistake and do not want admit. If your solution is correct and help it mean that the connector not has enough press on it. So the design was not good.
You wrote that the solution of Apple is expensive.
If you spread a lot of support group this solution as you did with the paper why you not offered it to the Apple to have a costless and good solution? If you did why they not accepted it if this costless to make? If you offered and they not accepted because still cost a little what company it is that? I think if it was a good solution as you write here you could offer to Apple and they were accept this.
By the way the battery change was Sony problem and they payed it as Apple has to change these computers also.
Now about the Assus computer. The Assus EEE computer cost about 400 USD. It has a wireless connection. (For what I bought the iBook) It is a sublaptop, weight of 0,9kg.
It is a computer to take with you and do the office job outside. This is a good solution to have wireless connection that can replace the iBook and solve the Airport card problem with less investment.
As I told you I will not buy Apple computer and any Apple product until I not see that they solve this problem that they made with a bad design. This I suggested to my friends and they did so. It is not fair that after 14 months of use I have not a full computer because bad design and not got any support from Apple to solve the problem.
Wish for you and all only the best!
doki

[doki_3]

Dear warren2312
He alread tried this paper trick. You can read at the end of this letter how it helps.
doki

[warren2312]

Quote: If you spread a lot of support group this solution as you did with the paper why you not offered it to the Apple to have a costles

It's already done, but no answer.

Quote: By the way the battery change was Sony problem and they payed it as Apple has to change these computers also.

And where comes the logic boards from iBook G4 ? The battery was under Sony warranty ( 3 years ), so this is absolutely normal that they replace them.

Quote: Now about the Assus computer. The Assus EEE computer cost about 400 USD. It has a wireless connection. (For what I bought the iBook) It is a sublaptop, weight of 0,9kg.

This is maybe usefull for you, but many mac users won't came back at Linux or Windows ( for switchers ).

Quote: He alread tried this paper trick. You can read at the end of this letter how it helps.

Yes, I know, I've just purposed him to put a bigger paper sheet. Now, let the people react at this : Dear mac users, do you prefer : - Use your iBook G4 with a paper sheet or - Buy an Asus EEE Pc ? Cheers.

[doki_3]

Dear warren2312;
You are a certified Apple technician as you told? You mean Apple not answered you?
I really suggest try again. Please do it, if you believe in deep in your heart that it is good solution. If Apple care about their a solution they will answer you and adopt your solution.You see you are writing here and only one guy tried the paper. As he wrote probably will help him. You really have to write very quickly to Apple if you want help
Tell them that in every support group your solution is working. I will wait for that answer officially and when they adopt it will be true only.
I really not understood you what is the connection between the logic board and the Sony battery manufacturing. Some people find problem in the battery much after the end of the warranty and Sony changed it. It was also expensive. It is the time that Apple make the similar step and change the bad designed parts.
Lot of mac computer users want a good a computer as me. I had bad experiment, bad luck with Apple mac computer. I do not intend repeat my mistake. I speak here about hardware but one that want work out from home, from office will be glad with any OS just want a working computer and that offering any other one. When the paper or anything will suggested by Apple everybody can believe you and hope they will.
I very hope and wish you success.
Wish you the best; try Asus eee. Will see soon Apple will manufacture like that.
doki

[doki_3]

Dear Waren2312,

Please tell us if somebody broke the connector between the logic board and the airport card from the pressure or from anything else how can buy a replace one to soldier it? What is the type of the connector? what company made it? Can you tell us please? May you can tell us how we can order from Apple? It will be very helpful. Some people told here it is possible to soldier it. If I have that replace I will try the paper what you suggest.
Thanks a lot.
doki

[copydude]

Quote: Originally Posted by doki_3 Dear Waren2312, What is the type of the connector? what company made it? Can you tell us please? May you can tell us how we can order from Apple? It will be very helpful.i

Hi doki

I am still using my late revision iBook successfully without the Airport Card. I had a couple of kernel panics when I tugged on the USB wireless card connection, but nothing more than momentarily.

Since everything is OK for two months now, I think that it is indeed the Airport implementation at fault. Maybe not simply the connection. Although I have wireless via USB, I have been unable to get Bluetooth to work for any reasonable amount of time via USB. As you all know, Bluetooth and WiFi were combined on one card in this model. So, there is a problem in the way the software addresses the hardware. Stuff that works faultlessly on my Mac Mini, G4 Tower and even my old Pismo isn't 100% on the iBook.

So, I'm reluctant to take the case apart again - traumatic - and try the paper trick. The iBook works - but without Airport and Bluetooth. It's ridiculous of course, because you can buy a mobile phone these days with wi-fi and Bluetooth in Woolworths for nothing. Why pay stupid money for a Mac when Apple doesn't support you. I see the thousands of users who have posted on this problem on hundreds of different sites. Of course Apple knows what the problem is. We're just sitting here guessing. And if Woolworths can sell you a phone with wi-fi and Bluetooth for twenty quid, how come you can't get it from Apple?

This whole issue is shameful. I've bought Macs for twenty years, but never again. I won't download an iTune either, that's how angry I am. And if you read through the petitions on the Internet, which Apple is ignoring, you'll find I'm not alone.

By my calculation, I estimate about 50,000 iBook owners in Europe will never buy Apple again. Read the petitions - they are out there in English, French, German, Dutch, Swedish you name it. I think Apple know that, and their profits from iTunes dictate that they can afford to say to customers, 'screw you'.

You can make your own mind up if you want to deal with such a cynical company ever again.

[novice01]

Hello all,

I am another to add to the list, I have a 1.42 GHZ G4 that started developing problems about 8 months ago. Gave up on it for a bit, am now back trying to fix it again. Have been to the apple store and the genius isolated the problem to the airport card in his opioion. Serial number 4H53XXXXXXX.

My airport card is not recognised when I start up my computer most times. When it does recognise the card it is sure to panic after some short period of time.

Am going to head back to the apple store and try to make a complaint and send a letter off to apple for some feedback.

May resort to trying to fix the problem myself and just keep hassling Apple for the sake of all others having trouble and get them to take some responsability

G

Good luck all

[novice01]

Been trying to get my Mac apart to have a look at the parts that need to be soldered but have hit a few problems.

I have been to ifixit to check the instructions but my computer seems a bit different. I do not have the airport card under the keyboard, there is only the RAM slots under the keyboard. A genius did tell me that my model was a difficult one to take apart - any other places that I could get some instructions.

Cheers

[cmstar]

Unfortunately I have the same problem with my ibook G4.

I tried the paper trick (actually used a small piece of plastic). This worked perfectly....for all of nine hours, then the kernel panics returned. They kept getting worse and worse until I finally disabled the airport and bluetooth card.

I started using a usb wireless adapter. This has been awkward but working. However, the ibook is still having random shutdowns, especially during sleep. And occasionally it boots into open-firmware. So tomorrow, I'm opening it up and taking the airport card completely out of it.

I'd like to see if anyone gets this repaired. Not just by Apple. Has anyone successfully resoldered the connector to the board, perhaps with lead solder for a better hold?

[doki_3]

Hi copydude, cmstar and all,
Copydude I agree with you Apple think and hope the people will forget it.
The number can bigger even that not buy anymore Apple computer. I just told rwo of my friends about the case and I visit a lot of places from my work and each case telling what happen to the ibook. I am not angry of them just find that true if they made a mistake they have to stand behind it. Look they were not able to give an anser about the soldering gun and not about the connector type.
cmstart, I think 8as an electronic technician) that hte problem is in the connector, in the connection points. From the warm they loosig the strenght. That is all.
The plastic that press the card connecte4d to the warm cooling element and his place very close to the HD. That make the problem and not the soldering. I the problem was come from soldering more easy to tell that that is the problem.
Best regards,
doki.

[bwid1313]

new here, to report the same problem. But my mac is powerbook g4. buut i bought it used a belive the HD was replacced with a g4 ibooks. but exact same problem.

[doki_3]

Hi bwid1313,
You are very lucky that you not have iBook.
Your computer is an absolute other computer and probably you have to start a new thread to solve your problem. If you write me privately the computer type you have can send you the original technical manual book.
The same problem you have come from other thing
b.r.
doki

[copydude]

Quote: Originally Posted by novice01 Hello all, I am another to add to the list, I have a 1.42 GHZ G4 that started developing problems about 8 months ago. Have been to the apple store and the genius isolated the problem to the airport card in his opioion.

Yes, you have same late revision model.

The sad part is that it doesn't take a 'Genius' to tell you your airport card is causing problems. You can look it up on the diagnostics log yourself.

What the Apple Genius doesn't tell you is that there is nothing wrong with your Airport card. After an argument, I had them try a new card to find the same problem. Then remove the card altogether, to solve the problem. I then had them test the iBook without the card and it's fine.

Of course, they wanted to charge me over £400 to replace both the Airport Card and Logic Board.

It is beyond belief that any Genius does not know about this problem affecting tens of thousands of iBooks. Think about it: thousands of unsuspecting customers (as I was originally) go to Apple and pay the £76 diagnostic fee not to be told the truth: that it's a design fault that can't be fixed.

By the way, the iFixit instructions do tell you how to take an iBook case apart. You need to remove both the top and bottom. There are a lot of plastic snap connectors which are tricky to release. Not for the faint-hearted.

The paper trick is hit and miss, since no one has actually specified a size/thickness of shim or a material that won't degrade in this location - the warmest place in the computer. At the very least, Apple could specify a shim in the public interest - but they are unwilling to help at all.

I think the only recourse is to try a complaint to (if you live in the UK) your Trading Standards Officer. Regardless of manufacturer's guarantees, products are by law supposed to be of 'reasonable quality'. A premium priced laptop that only lasts 1-2 years does not meet this expectation.

The Office Of Fair Trading will give you the address of your Trading Standards Officer.

[doki_3]

Hi copydude,
About the problem I have the same opinion with you.
But like to make some more addition.
It may can help to write the BBC Watch dog also?
"Ifixit" find very good but I had a better one from where I downloaded all the Apple original technical manuals. (The late 2005 iBook is 24 Mb) but I not see it work now. Anyway it is here:
http://node123.cit.geneseo.edu/~stratton/

I find them and I came back, They tried to change something. The "Service Manuals" link is not correct there.

http://node123.cit.geneseo.edu/~stra...erviceManuals/
Try this before will late. If you want all try this program www.httrack.com very good one.

The Airport card (and the sensitive connector!) is on the most warm place of the computer. But not only that. It is pressed by a plastic and the plastic connected to the cooling board.
As I know, as I learnt this connection to the cooling board is prohibited and have to check in the IEC standard also if it correct for 2005 also.

The "Trading Standards CEntral" URL address is here
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/

About the paper I will ask on day warren and will write it in a separate letter.
best regards,
doki

[copydude]

Hi doki.

Thanks for interesting information.

Well - one question is easily answered. I wrote to BBC Watchdog and so did another poster here - Chubb. No reply - despite citing petitions from consumers running into thousands. So much for so-called consumer protection. The BBC doesn't want to get involved.

Remember - Chubb's thread was censored/pulled/locked three times by Apple's own support forum. It is only on macosxhints that it is being discussed at any length.

While it isn't satisfactory to have a computer with a design fault, I can understand these things happen and surely Apple would have been better to own up about the problem and at least suggest a workaround.

I still think about the earlier iBook failures and the fact that the pressure needs to be applied in the same place . . . the design fault is probably in the logic board.

As I said earlier, it is inconceivable that a company with the resources of Apple do not know how to solve this problem and we are all left guessing.

My iBook laptop is about two years old. It may work, but now I have to trail leads and USB mice and antennae and blah blah around. Everyone else has a cool Windows laptop which works out of the box. Don't Apple realise that they are shooting themselves in both feet here?

Apple's PR department should be lined up against the wall and shot.

[alissa]

my ibook G4 was purchased nov. 2005...same thing happening. a few weeks ago got the first KP when trying to use airport (hadn't used it for over a year). got it working again for a few weeks via safe boot and turned off airport. now i just get a black screen at startup & it doesn't sound like anything is running at all. i'll continue testing using ideas given here but am very interested in hearing updates as it sounds like apple should be replacing logic boards (fixing their faulty design) for all of us.

[doki_3]

Hi copydude,
As an electronic technician can tell you my opinion where is the problem.
The problem is in the connector between the logic board and the airport card. The problem is that it is very sensitive and the warm place make the4 connection weak.
Once warren told that the same connector they use some other computers (see earlier here) but they are all work. I checked and they sit all well aired places.
I guess an other well made connector could work in this warm place also.
I bought mine 12" November 2005 and first kernel panic came I think February 2007.
Now the Airport card is out and even they change both parts the problem will come back with the same connector.
b.r.,
doki

[copydude]

How about drilling holes into the iBook case - to the left of the touchpad?

More ventilation!

[doki_3]

Dear warren2312,

I like you ask some question to understand your trick.
1. What change made and where exactly the paper and how it can help?
2. How you came for such an idea to try this?
3. Did you tried write again to apple to offer such a cheap solution like their to change the logic board and the airport for nearly 1000 USD?
best regards,
doki:

copy dude, all thes thing is a bad joke. doki

[aliasland]

Hi all,

I too hava suffered from much of the symptoms you all describe here. This went on for months as i tried pretty much everything other then opening it up myself and taking a look. Apple specialists were useless (was told i need to replace the card first, then when that didn't work, they told me it's the motherboard). I got fed up in the end and looked for an alternative way to get wireless on my ibook 12" G4 1.33Ghz. I removed the airport card completely to get rid of the kernel panick and freezing (it did the trick) and did a bit of reseasrched on the mac usb wireless adapters out there. I came across the one manufactured by Aftermac. I ordered it and although it worked well there is a design flaw in the casing that doesn't allow the usb stick to cool hence i had two of them die on me before i gave up on it. I then talked to an apple store employee that recommended a usb adapter that he had been using and ensured me that it would work. It's been 3 months now and the stick is doing an amazing job. It's rotatable so isn't sticking out like other usb sticks can. From someone who wasted a lot of time trying to fix the card, this is a great solution to your wireless issues. I doubt apple will ever fix this issue so my advice to all is to try this usb adapter. Others out there may not work with mac. The model is: AsusTek WL-167g USB Wlan Adapter. Good luck. I am using it with OS 10.4.11 but will work with all Mac OSX. I got mine at an Apple reseller store so it shouln't be hard to find.