Crummy Wifi Card Guts - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: adnewhouse
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 01:08:52 am
content: I figured that I might as well post some pics of what I saw when I ripped open my WiFi adapter. The performance really is pretty crummy. The board is not secured in placer and there is not a single bit of shielding even through it's supposed to go near or inside a computer. For the past few months, this card has been sending and receiving corrupted packets as well. For $40 I was expecting more. What do you guys think?

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 01:26:18 am
content: None of the laptop wifi adapters (which are normally separate little cards that talk to the main cpu via an internal USB connection) that I've found from disassembled laptops have any shielding to speak of.Did it have two external antennas? The second jack is clearly not actually connected to anything.If it doesn't work well, then it doesn't work well, but I don't think that the construction is too awful.

author: adnewhouse
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 01:33:33 am
content: It came with two antennas. As for shielding, it looks as though there is an option for a little metal cover over the main chip-set because of the little slots and removed solder mask.

author: adnewhouse
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 01:35:08 am
content: Also note the crummy solder rework on the side button.

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 02:10:41 am
content: doesnt look like rework, thats the only through hole element on this side + its not that critical, i bet some 12 year old chinese girl solders those at the end of the line

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 08:58:31 pm
content: All the wireless cards that I have seen or had always have shields over the main chips. That one looks like it should have as well but for some reason was never fitted. Not only will it leak RF but also get polluted with any stray rf from the computer it is fitted in.

author: senso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 09:10:12 pm
content: The second connector is connected, there is a visible clean path for the trace to be buried in a inner layer.

author: adnewhouse
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 11:40:49 pm
content: I'm curious as to how important the the little metal can would be over the chip set? Does it make a huge difference?

author: lgbeno
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2013, 12:05:11 am
content: My experience is the shielding can help a little with receiver performance, it also helps protect your radio from other interference.With that said for normal use, I don't think it is too critical. Funny thing is that the little stamped piece of metal is probably just as or more expensive than half of the ic's on that board. So it gets pulled for cost.The other thing to note is that some countries, especially Japan require tamper proof shields over radios so you can't swap the oscillator or muck with the circuit. The pads might just be there for a version of the radio that ships to Japan...

author: Short Circuit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2013, 12:25:23 am
content: Quote from: westfw on May 15, 2013, 01:26:18 amMost, if not all, Intel wireless cards have shielding.Also makes a nice surface for their label.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2013, 12:40:27 am
content: Quote from: lgbeno on May 16, 2013, 12:05:11 am

author: adnewhouse
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2013, 02:46:44 am
content: Yeah this card just got replaced by a nicehttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=33-704-079&ParentOnly=1&IsVirtualParent=1which is rock solid in stability and has decent drivers for Linux as well.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2013, 05:03:28 am
content: I paid 20$ for a TP-LINK WN-821N usb adapter and it's not even nearly as crummyLooks like you got ripped off, big time.I now use a Intel 5300AGN that i got for 5 bucks.

author: adnewhouse
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2013, 09:56:41 pm
content: Rosewill will not be getting my business ever again. If anyone wants to avoid this card it is ahttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166046.

author: justanothercanuck
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2013, 12:12:52 am
content: Quote from: adnewhouse on May 18, 2013, 09:56:41 pmI bought one of their SATA cards a while back. Has a Silicon Image 3124 chip on it. Works great in windows or linux.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2013, 11:02:17 am
content: Rosewill is just a miscellaneous rebrander; all their products are produced by various OEMs.