Where is my airport card?

[copydude]

Hello aliasland . . .

Welcome to the club.

Yes, the least Apple could do is remove everyone's Airport card and give them a free stick.

Thanks for the note - but I'm not sure that this Asus Tek model is still available.

I am using a D-Link USB adapter - DWL-G122. It works about 98% - it will drop the connection from time to time but only needs an unplug/replug to restart. It works 100% on my other macs, but the iBook has Leopard and the D-Link driver is not Leopard specific.

It has a lead and a cradle, so the stick doesn't block the other USB port. A solution, but not an elegant solution.

May I ask, did you ever find a USB Bluetooth dongle that works with the iBook?

[doki_3]

Hi aliasland,
We wait that warren will help us and will write more letter to Apple and they hjave to solve the problem.
If you were read what written here you could read your idea.
We still think that a machine that cost 1400 USD not have to stop work little more than after one year. Your solution add much more battery usage and not help to solve the problem. Also the working distance is much shorter what make additional problem.
I want a worling problem and will not invest in a sick computer.
Write a letter to Apple it will help. They promised me if a technician will tell that it is design problem will think about. A technician already promised me such a letter but he will not come here anymore I think.
Anyway thanks to share with us.
b.r. doki

[ryguy178]

Hi all,

This thread was both a goldmine, and served to anger me beyond control.

I've been having the kernel panics with my airport for a few days now, and was absolutely amazed to find a 29 page thread devoted to the exact symptoms my 12" iBook G4 is experiencing.

I'm heartbroken to learn there is no real fix, and incensed that apple has done nothing about this. I honestly don't know what to do.

My computer works without airport turned on, so is turning the airport off the permanent solution???

Have any of you switched to a wireless USB adapter instead? How is that working out? Do any of you recommend a USB adapter compatible with the new leopard?

This thread has been a fantastic resource, but also really depressing.

[warren2312]

Hi Doki_3, Hi all
I'm gonna send a letter to Apple again, and I wish that they'll reply us a good answer. My solution was a temporary solution, for people who wanted to use their laptop with AirPort and Bluetooth again.
We stay in touch

[doki_3]

Hi warren2312,

Thanks a lot in name of all. Hope this time Apple will answer you they will nice to check your offer.
But before ask you a question. See message #559 in this thread.
These explanations, these answers have to include in your letter also. Without they will not look on it. You have to convince them. (a little bit have to convince us too)
Anyway wish you good luck and please tell us the answer and may be copy of your letter too.
b.r.,
doki

[copydude]

Has anyone noticed that the Applintosh.net site is no longer there? Therefore the key article about the paper trick is suddenly missing from the net.

However the Applintosh You Tube video for repairing the iBook is still up:

Link

The first part of the video - removing the iBook case - is here too:

Link

What is clear here is that you need half a piece of A4 paper, folded.

What is annoying is that, if this works, then it stands to reason that a new connector would also work, and that a replacement connector would cost a lot less than the new logic board Apple prescribes.

[copydude]

For those wondering if soldering the Airport Card to the logic board would be a better solution: here is a very interesting link from another thread on iBook logic board failures.

This firm - First Phase Technologies - specialises in resoldering fractured joints and repairs iBooks.

Link

Quote: G4 Logic Boards: The Apple G4 Logic board failures exhibit the same thermal/mechanical stress fractures to the (G3), but in addition, have a history of fractured solder joints on SOIC devices affecting the video circuit. As part of our G4 service, First Phase Technologies will re-solder each pin on these devices whether we can visually see a fracture or not. To date we have successfully repaired well over 100 of these now for various customers providing our BGA chip reflow service. Our first repaired units have been in operation for over a year with no reoccurrence of the problem. Please note that this service may only be an interim solution. We’d like to believe that our reflow soldering is more focused and effective than the OEM’s, (providing you a permanent, long term repair), however, reflowing the device does not correct severely inconsistent paste printing by the OEM that built the logic board.

I am going to e-mail the company about this problem.

[doki_3]

Hi copydude,
The video about paper is a mirror one and once were promised that will transfer it to the real side. I think it was also warren site.
About the soldering that for check you really need a laboratory. there is chance that this problem is soldering points problem. May be but I not think.
As the problems came together, the type of problem, Apple changed the connector and do not use it anymore, the changed one make better, more secure connection. All show that this is a connector problem. To send it to solder can totally broke the computer but if success we can know nearly 100% where is the problem.
Just be careful.
b.r.,
doki

[ryguy178]

so I thought that I had the same problem, but I've been using my iBook with the airport turned off for a while now, but plugged into the internet using a cable instead, and everything was going fine, until i got another kernel panic. This really upsets me because I thought I had fixed the problem by turning the airport off. Is there something more I need to do to stop this? Uninstall airport or something? Please please help.

[copydude]

Quote: Originally Posted by doki_3 About the soldering that for check you really need a laboratory. there is chance that this problem is soldering points problem. May be but I not think. As the problems came together, the type of problem, Apple changed the connector and do not use it anymore

Hi doki.

I appreciate your points. And you are - unfortunately - quite right. It is impossible for poor consumers to prove anything without a laboratory. That is how Apple gets away with total denial of responsibility.

However, there are interesting points raised here by the company called 'First Phase Technologies'. They state quite clearly that the OEM who manufactured the iBook logic board was responsible for 'solder fractures' and 'severely inconsistent paste printing' - quote.

As you have said yourself, the connector itself is not made of adequate material - maybe not even International regulation compliant - to be in such a warm place.

Now, let's think a little further.

1. As we know, tens of thousands of iBook owners suddenly have the same kernel panic and Airport card problems. (At least 65,000 are looking at this thread on macosxhints. Another 10 - 20,000 have signed petitions throughout Europe.)

2. Apple doesn't want to know about the problem, gives customers at Genius Bar Apple Shop repair outlets disinformation and pulls/censors any thread about this problem from its own support website.

Why?

Obviously, Apple owns the manufacturing facility that made the faulty Chinese logic boards. Otherwise they would of course happily re-imberse customers and sue the OEM in turn.

So here there is both design fault and manufacturing fault for which Apple is responsible.

[copydude]

Quote: Originally Posted by ryguy178 so I thought that I had the same problem, but I've been using my iBook with the airport turned off for a while now, but plugged into the internet using a cable instead, and everything was going fine, until i got another kernel panic. This really upsets me because I thought I had fixed the problem by turning the airport off. Is there something more I need to do to stop this? Uninstall airport or something? Please please help.

Yes, you need to remove the Airport card. Sometimes starting up everytime in safe mode, with Airport off, helps, but not always.

Upside: You can always use a USB wi-fi stick for Internet

Downside: Probably you lose Bluetooth - haven't yet found a USB Bluetooth dongle that works . . . .

[doki_3]

Hi copydude; Hi All,

If the numbers like you say it goes that the connector wrong.
If it was soldier problem the number could not so big because they can change the soldering set up and the problem was going to other place. Not forget Apple used this type of connector in the same time just in some type of computers and never more. They changed them for a very strong one.
Sorry that we not have free access to the undersigned petitions. I asked them but they wrote want send it only to Apple. But I think they and only they have it. Can be they already made investigation about and they exactly know what happened.
By the way when I wrote about the Asus EEE computer was not possible to buy here in Switzerland. Just in a short time became very popular and a lot of people buy it.

I need the undersigned list. Have to send it to more place and give it to my lawyer also.
b.r.
doki

[copydude]

Quote: Originally Posted by doki_3 Hi copydude; Hi All, If the numbers like you say it goes that the connector wrong. If it was soldier problem the number could not so big because they can change the soldering set up and the problem was going to other place.

I agree that the numbers are convincing and the rogue connector is the big suspect.

There are only a few for whom removing the Airport card doesn't work.

About the Asus EEE computer . . . it is a handy machine for Internet and downloading digital fotos on the move. But not so good for people like me who use a laptop as a prime computer and need all my old Mac applications.
The Asus is only a 4 gig HD after all.

I now regret selling my old Pismo Power Book, which was bulletproof and very user serviceable and upgradeable. Occasionally you can find a good one on eBay for about £100. A place called Wegener Technologies do a G4 board - quicker than Apple's - for this machine and it's an easy swap any amateur can do. Even the G3 original will run Tiger 10.4. Any old Pismo is bound to need a new battery too - say £40. Anyway, for around £200 you have a rock solid professional machine. My tip.

If you don't need Mac OS, you can buy a new Dell or something in PC World for around £350. Almost anything is better value than a Mac. The new MacBooks look even more flimsy than the iBook and have terrible keyboards - they remind me of the old Sinclair home computers of the 1980s.

[doki_3]

Hi copydude,
I not wanted say if somebody need a computer Asus eee for him and I am agree with you any word you wrote here. It is a sub laptop just for take with you.
By the way it has no HD and no CD/DVD what make it more usable in train and outside care. It has 3 USB what even the new mac laptop has one only and also has touch screen.

I have some years a PC with Win XP. ( I like OC because can change any part I like. Sometimes change the HD where I have Linux. Anyway the time of Windows go down and I do not think I will buy the Vista any more.
I like Linux very much and even works better by my opinion. For example the iCal datas understand and the calendar works much-much better like in mac. Just miss 2-3 programs what I have only in PC. Use the two system possible but in practice made me problem. Also start emulator is not so perfect.
Sorry for change topic here.

B.r.
doki

[doki_3]

Hello warren2312,
If you any time come here and read this horrible thread about the iBook problem to help us please write us the letter copy you sent to Apple to explain them how to solve easily the problem. Like to know how came such an idea, what is your paper tricj explanation, what is change in reality in the computer??? I hope Apple will adopt it and I will also understand that why it is a good solution.
Thank you a lot to try help. See you soon.
doki

[dar_k]

I think i am a lucky one on this logic board - airport KP problem. I have mid-2005 iBook G4 1.33 GHz. It worked fine for three years traveling around the world with me but about a month ago it started to KP, at that point i didn't need laptop so i just stored it away. I found this forum couple of days ago by googling just out of curiosity, while reading it i started to get frustrated because it seemed that there were no solution or constant way to handle the situation. Then i saw the the paper fix trick, that did it for my iBook, no more KPs, i am satisfied and thanks for the help.

Ibook G4 12" 1.33 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB HD - best laptop that i have used, beats MacBook 100-0!

[doki_3]

Hi dar_k,
Very good you did. Do you see this warren, you are right.
Please write finally this company called Apple and tell them explain them finally your solution how to do it. Send us please finally the copy of the letter also that we can learn exactly if they not answer as they like to do.
This paper shows as warren admit that this is a design problem and expect from Appöe repair my computer also that can work with it like other computer owner whom not has such a design problem.
dar_k Thanks a lot a good luck to you.
doki

[doki_3]

Hi All Again,
Just read in an other support group the next things. This the paper trick. We can understand why Apple refuse this solution. I was prefer to see that the certified Apple technician write them and tell them what a nice solution find and more glad if they accept this cheap solution. Even more glad if they were repir my unusable iBook.
But here is how work this paper trick. Two ours of use.
Best regards,
doki
"I researched the problem for a few weeks using my wife's computer (thanks babe!) and read this thread several times. I tried zeroing my drive, resetting the PRAM, and all the other solutions suggested. I even shimmed my airport card twice (once with a thin shim, then with a thicker one). The thick shim (a folded piece of card stock) gave me the best results - I used the airport for about two hours, but the kernel panics showed up again once I had to restart."

[prutsky]

I didn't have kernel panics, but I did have a malfunctioning Airport. I did the paper trick which solved my Airport problems (not seeing any networks at all) for a week...
after one week: kernel panics

So if anyone can say if re-soldering the airport socket will help I'll go for it. Using a laptop connected with a ethernet cable is no fun


before


After


close-up

[copydude]

Hello Prutsky.

Thanks for posting. The paper trick seems to work for some but not others.

I posted before about the lab which noted that iBook logic boards suffered from 'solder fractures' and 'severely inconsistent paste printing'.

Since removing the airport card (though nothing wrong with it) my iBook has been OK. I use a D-Link wi-fi stick - DWL G122 - which is a fix for portability. I haven't been so lucky with a Bluetooth substitute however. It works sometimes, then drops the connection for no reason.

I'm now seriously thinking of getting one of the 10" netbooks that you can convert to a 'hackintosh'. The Advent 4211 has the Intel Atom board and you can patch Leopard onto it. All for less than £300.

Full instructions are here: Link