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Help - wifi not available

T

ToomeyND

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 14, 2011
571
379
I installed an ssd in my new mini. After the install, the wifi has not been available. I was careful, and the connector to the logic board shows no issues. I've done a hardware test, no issues. Under the communications section of the Hardware Profile it shows an Ethernet MAC address and IR Receiver 1.0.

In the system profiler, the wifi shows up. Scratch that, the software shows up. Under network locations, I only get Ethernet and FireWire.

Did I break something? Can it be fixed? As of now, when I'm booted up, I can only see Ethernet and FireWire as options to connect under network preferences.

Edit: and to be fully honest, I installed the ssd before I ever had the chance to start up the mini. I was waiting on important parts (like a keyboard) and lost patience!
 
Last edited:
ToomeyND said:
I installed an ssd in my new mini. After the install, the wifi has not been available. I was careful, and the connector to the logic board shows no issues. I've done a hardware test, no issues. Under the communications section of the Hardware Profile it shows an Ethernet MAC address and IR Receiver 1.0.

In the system profiler, the wifi shows up. Scratch that, the software shows up. Under network locations, I only get Ethernet and FireWire.

Did I break something? Can it be fixed? As of now, when I'm booted up, I can only see Ethernet and FireWire as options to connect under network preferences.

Edit: and to be fully honest, I installed the ssd before I ever had the chance to start up the mini. I was waiting on important parts (like a keyboard) and lost patience!
Click to expand...

Go into network prefs. Lower left side click the + sign. See if you can add a new WiFi connection.
 
famous600 said:
Go into network prefs. Lower left side click the + sign. See if you can add a new WiFi connection.
Click to expand...

Sorry if I wasn't clear. Its disappearance from the network prefs (even after clicking +) was how I discovered the problem. It is completely missing from this section.

I was already hooked up via Ethernet, so wifi was an afterthought for the first day of operation.
 
Stupid question?

When you took it apart... Then reassembled the antenna grill did you attach the antenna cable properly? Or is that what you meant by connector cable to logic board?

Cheers Elo
 
elolaugesen said:
Stupid question?

When you took it apart... Then reassembled the antenna grill did you attach the antenna cable properly?

Cheers Elo
Click to expand...

As long as that means "plug it in," then yes. I've disconnected and reconnected a few times, no dice.
 
famous600 said:
Something somewhere isn't plugged in or plugged in incorrectly.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the help. As I said, I know that I did this as cautiously as possible, and that I did not do any physical harm to the wifi. In fact, I didn't even disconnect the wifi when I installed the SSD. I slipped the wifi with the mesh grate through the back of the mini with the mobo.

I already filled out the return info for Amazon. I'll have another go at this with the next mini.

Thanks again for giving this thread your time. :)
 
ToomeyND said:
I installed an ssd in my new mini. After the install, the wifi has not been available. I was careful, and the connector to the logic board shows no issues. I've done a hardware test, no issues. Under the communications section of the Hardware Profile it shows an Ethernet MAC address and IR Receiver 1.0.

In the system profiler, the wifi shows up. Scratch that, the software shows up. Under network locations, I only get Ethernet and FireWire.

Did I break something? Can it be fixed? As of now, when I'm booted up, I can only see Ethernet and FireWire as options to connect under network preferences.

Edit: and to be fully honest, I installed the ssd before I ever had the chance to start up the mini. I was waiting on important parts (like a keyboard) and lost patience!
Click to expand...

The wifi 'card' which the grill/antenna cable plugs into has a circuit ribbon at the end (flat ribbon 'cable' that plugs the wifi card to the logic board). It has two sticky electro magnetic interference patches on the card. it is likely you pulled up the sticky patches to much and dislodged the plug. If OSX is not showing wifi then it has no wifi card plugged in. I think you just need to check what you unplugged. The wifi grill wire plugs into the card and the card is then plugged into the logic board via the ribbon. There are also two 'plugs' at each end of the ribbon obviously so two possibilities of it being unplugged.

Sorry I cannot be specific but I am going blind here with my memory of the card setup.

Here,see ifixit. P.S. ignore the red indicator circles. They relate to the screws in instructions on the website.

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http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/MTfdSQyc1QspVPdA.large

http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/3ok6wbIPIIRnMOi2.large

See this website:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+Mac+Mini+Late+2012+AirPort-Bluetooth+Board/11709/1
 
Last edited:
opinio said:
The wifi 'card' which the grill/antenna cable plugs into has a circuit ribbon at the end (flat ribbon 'cable' that plugs the wifi card to the logic board). It has two sticky electro magnetic interference patches on the card. it is likely you pulled up the sticky patches to much and dislodged the plug. If OSX is not showing wifi then it has no wifi card plugged in. I think you just need to check what you unplugged. The wifi grill wire plugs into the card and the card is then plugged into the logic board via the ribbon. There are also two 'plugs' at each end of the ribbon obviously so two possibilities of it being unplugged.

Sorry I cannot be specific but I am going blind here with my memory of the card setup.

Here,see ifixit. P.S. ignore the red indicator circles. They relate to the screws in instructions on the website
Click to expand...

This is really helpful. So your suggestion is that it is perhaps one of those two other plugs just to the left of the orange circle? I want to make sure I'm looking in the correct place. The wifi connects to the gold female end just below the orange circle. I'll give those other two a look.

Thanks so much!
 
ToomeyND said:
This is really helpful. So your suggestion is that it is perhaps one of those two other plugs just to the left of the orange circle? I want to make sure I'm looking in the correct place. The wifi connects to the gold female end just below the orange circle. I'll give those other two a look.

Thanks so much!
Click to expand...

Possibly, but those two plugs are the aerial for the wifi and BT I believe. So I think if they are unplugged then you would only have 'no reception' and not 'no wifi card' (which I believe is your case?). Although who knows... it could be that simple and maybe it is the aerial.

I actually think it may be the 'ribbon' cable on the right hand side of the pic. It is not a cable - its a flat black ribbon. It is a flat 'L' shaped ribbon cable which connects the wifi card to the logic board. It has a rectangle pull-up part similar to the sata ribbon you would have levered off the logic board when you did the SSD. If it is disconnected then yes, you have no wifi card because it is not connected. You will have a small square EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) sticker on top of it. Just peel it up and check. then replace the emi sticker. Actually there are two square stickers.

Put it this way, if the ribbon cable is connected to the wifi card at one end, and to the logic board at the other (under the speaker); and the wifi aerial is connected; and then you have no wifi, then you have a problem...

This iFixit demo might help. It is to replace the wifi/BT card but check it to to see if everything is in place. The only thing I note is that I believe they are using a Mac Mini 2011 because there is not EMI shield stickers to remove. So just remember that.

Apple put the shields on the 2012s because of the issues with USB 3.0 and the interference with BT and wifi. When I say shields I mean the two square black cardboard stickers on the wifi/BT card.

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+Mac+Mini+Late+2012+AirPort-Bluetooth+Board/11709/1
 
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Re The Shielding see this OWC site.

They have a video about bluetooth/usb3 shielding.
From what I have heard if you are going to take your machine apart anyway/again then add the extra EMI shielding foil with non-conductive adhesive. It can be purchased in good electrical/electronic shops etc...... The extra shielding can only help.
I have not done any of this yet as I will wait 3 months more before I start to play with this beast of a machine. (I never take any machine apart for six months - warranty and if it fails it usually does so in the first few months of use)

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/DIYIMM12BTS/
 
"Did I break something? Can it be fixed? As of now, when I'm booted up, I can only see Ethernet and FireWire as options to connect under network preferences.
Edit: and to be fully honest, I installed the ssd before I ever had the chance to start up the mini. I was waiting on important parts (like a keyboard) and lost patience!"

One more reason why -- when I got my 2012 Mini -- I never even considered installing my SSD internally.

I put it into a USB3/SATA dock, it booted right up, and I got read speeds of 410mbps right off the bat.

Some folks can do the "internal swap" without problems.
Others can't.
I didn't feel like taking that risk.

My opinion only.
I realize yours is probably different.
 
opinio said:
I actually think it may be the 'ribbon' cable on the right hand side of the pic. It is not a cable - its a flat black ribbon. It is a flat 'L' shaped ribbon cable which connects the wifi card to the logic board. It has a rectangle pull-up part similar to the sata ribbon you would have levered off the logic board when you did the SSD. If it is disconnected then yes, you have no wifi card because it is not connected. You will have a small square EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) sticker on top of it. Just peel it up and check. then replace the emi sticker. Actually there are two square stickers.

Put it this way, if the ribbon cable is connected to the wifi card at one end, and to the logic board at the other (under the speaker); and the wifi aerial is connected; and then you have no wifi, then you have a problem...
Click to expand...

This fixed it. Thank you for the advice!!!
 
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