[nikoz1200]

After getting my 12" Pb back from service last week, I have had trouble connecting to my wireless router. The Apple service center had replaced a faulty logic board, and to my surprise, also my wireless card (which was working fine before I sent the computer to be fixed)

I only get one bar signal strength , even sitting just 10 feet from the base station. At the apple store, the computer showed the same problem. The tech then booted from an external disk, which then produced a full 4/4 signal. He said it was a software problem and that I should archive and reinstall. I went one step further and did a clean install, and still have the same problem. I get 4/4 signal for about 5 seconds, then it drops to 1/4 then eventually 0.

Any ideas? Is there some sort of software update that I can do? (I did the auto updates already)

Thanks

[ghporter]

Your antenna cable is not properly connected-I'm 99.999% sure that's your problem. Go to Apple's support knowledge base and look up how to install an AirPort card in YOUR MODEL; these instructions will tell you how to get at the card. Once you're there, you'll be able to push the antenna cable FIRMLY into place.

This happens more frequently than you'd imagine, but not typically when you get it back from Apple service. And the "software issue" is obviously NOT what your problem is. Instead, it's the card trying to connect and failing because it isn't getting enough signal.

[nikoz1200]

Well i took it to the genious bar to have them look at it, and even after reseating the card, checking the antenna plug, and finally putting a brand new card in, the problem persists.

is there a coupling or something down the line that may be lose?

[ghporter]

Not really any kind of coupling-the antenna cable is pretty much straight from the antennas to the card. But did the Genius folks see the problem? This one is pretty odd; 99.999% of the time, it's the connector that's come out (they have a habit of doing this on some machines), not some other issue.

[nikoz1200]

Ok so i rechecked the antenna connection, and it turns out the little pin on the coax was bent... so i carefully straightened the pin, and plugged the cable back in and BAM it works perfect.

The genious bar guy who looked at the pb a month ago took the card out to reseat it, and must have damamged it then. I never had the card out before that. Anyway thanks!

[ghporter]

That's too cool! I was right and the Genius wasn't! Yay me!

I'm very glad you have fixed your problem and you're connected. Congrats!