Problem connecting cables to Wi-Fi

[johnrobert]

Had 3 or 4 tries putting these back on, tried everything pliers, I got one on then it came off trying to put other on,
Had to use usb wifi, I would like to get internal working again any work around.
Anybody else had this problem with tiny cables Acer laptop?

 

[backwoodsman]

You have to get them centered very carefully, then press and they'll click right on. Once they're on correctly they won't fall off easily. Probably best to install the card first.

 

[britechguy]

@backwoodsman is correct.

That being said, if you used pliers there is a very strong probability you've damaged the connectors on one or both sides of the equation.

The best way I can describe these is that they're kinda-sorta like the connections for a 9-volt battery, but single and in ultra miniature and without the slits. They snap together just like clothing snaps do, and when correctly aligned are as close to zero force as you're going to get. If they're not snapping together that way, at least one side is damaged, if not both. I had this recently with a wifi card where the "snap" on the card somehow managed to come off in the wire connector. One other time something bent, slightly, and was simply done. Since those incidents, which taught me hard lessons, I know that "perfect" alignment and very low force are all that are needed to get these things together and the wire to card connection is done after the card screw has been placed.

 

[seashore]

They're a pain. If at all possible I leave them connected when disassembling a laptop.

 

[Markverhyden]

As @britechguy mentioned you probably have damaged the connectors. The ones at the end of the cable. Look at them with a magnifying glass. If the outer ring is bent you might be able to use a very pointed pair of needle nose pliers to straighten it out. Done that before. As mentioned they just need a little push and you'll feel it snap on.

 

[NETWizz]

I hate those. Upgraded the Wi-Fi card on my laptop during COVID to Wi-Fi 6e for like $40... then I saw these cables are now even smaller than they were 10 years ago. They are now like a small wire. It was very tough. I had to line everything up perfect and push with the plastic pointed end of a spudger gently.

Use one of these... the pointed end to gently press once lined up.



Someone else said your connectors may be damaged. If that is true, step 2 is going to be to replace the antenna assembly in the laptop and re-route the cable exactly as it was.

 

[GTP]

That being said, if you used pliers there is a very strong probability you've damaged the connectors on one or both sides of the equation.

This ^^.
You have to take care and line them up perfectly. I agree with others that you probably damaged the connector.

 

[britechguy]

you probably damaged the connector.

It's just so very easy to do. When I was rehabing the Dell Inspiron 15 earlier this year I had to buy a new WiFi card because I couldn't figure out why one of the two cables would not seat, and destroyed the connector snap on the card in frustration.

These things take a very gentle touch, every bit as gentle as the smallest ZIF connectors do. I've managed to damage the little "flip clips" on those in the past, too, partially because I could not figure out "where to flip." There should be standardization of the color of the flip clip on those things that makes it obvious from the smallest to the largest.

 

[HCHTech]

I've managed to damage the little "flip clips" on those in the past, too, partially because I could not figure out "where to flip."

I don't know the name, but those ribbon connectors where you insert the cable vertically, and the clip is captured, so you have to pull it up, then hold it up somehow to slide in the cable, then press the clip down to lock it in. I had to do one of those yesterday on an HP 24 all-in-one, while holding the darned LCD panel up with the other hand. ONSITE, no less - that was definitely a bad call. Yikes. My myopia is getting to the point where I'm going to have to let the other techs do all of the finicky hardware stuff like this. Just another benefit of getting old!

 

[frase]

I don't know the name, but those ribbon connectors where you insert the cable vertically, and the clip is captured, so you have to pull it up, then hold it up somehow to slide in the cable, then press the clip down to lock it in. I had to do one of those yesterday on an HP 24 all-in-one, while holding the darned LCD panel up with the other hand. ONSITE, no less - that was definitely a bad call. Yikes. My myopia is getting to the point where I'm going to have to let the other techs do all of the finicky hardware stuff like this. Just another benefit of getting old!

Yes I use a scope to connect these darned things, one slight misudjustment and the connector pin is bent.

 

[GTP]

I've managed to damage the little "flip clips"

I ruined a clients 16 month old laptop with those damn flip clips! Like you I couldn't figure out how it unlocked the cable so I just pulled it!
I soon realised that's not how you do it!.
Long story short I had to replace the PC with a new one.

 

[frase]

I ruined a clients 16 month old laptop with those damn flip clips! Like you I couldn't figure out how it unlocked the cable so I just pulled it!
I soon realised that's not how you do it!.
Long story short I had to replace the PC with a new one.

I did the same with a gaming laptop, ripped the connecter off the most stupid design Asus Rog if I recall.

These stupid things

Asus Rog

 

[Markverhyden]

I don't know the name, but those ribbon connectors where you insert the cable vertically, and the clip is captured, so you have to pull it up, then hold it up somehow to slide in the cable, then press the clip down to lock it in. I had to do one of those yesterday on an HP 24 all-in-one, while holding the darned LCD panel up with the other hand. ONSITE, no less - that was definitely a bad call. Yikes. My myopia is getting to the point where I'm going to have to let the other techs do all of the finicky hardware stuff like this. Just another benefit of getting old!

There's several different types and it's so easy to damage the connector and/or the cable. I've even seen one, looking at you Apple, which you have to flip up and then move it out a bit to get the ribbon cable out or in.

 

[britechguy]

I don't think I've yet encountered one of these "vertical insertion" cable/capture systems (for which I am eternally grateful).

If anyone happens to encounter same in the near future, I'd love to see a photo of the *(^*ed thing.

 

[Larry Sabo]

I did one last week and have another identical laptop for the same repair (fan replacement). Alienware M17 R4.

 

[britechguy]

@Larry Sabo

Thanks. I definitely have not hit that particular cable style yet, or at least have never needed to touch one, and would not have noticed.

Those look a lot like what I consider standard "push-pull" cables where I pull using my fingernails at the end of the plastic strip around the cable. But I'm guessing based on what's been said here that those are actually securing clips that flip down and closed once the cable seats correctly and that you have to to that with those miserable tabs near the end of the cable which are never stiff enough to make the task easy and that you also need to flip them up before trying to pull the cable.

 

[Larry Sabo]

securing clips that flip down

No, they don't flip at all, just slide up and down. They slide up/down fairly easily, in my experience.

 

[britechguy]

No, they don't flip at all, just slide up and down.

OK, that makes sense. I should have ventured the guess that they move, in some way, to clasp versus release.

 

[sapphirescales]

Long story short I had to replace the PC with a new one.

All you have to do if you break one of those flips is use a shim to keep the cable pressed against the contacts on the motherboard. The plastic grip on the cable itself is ironically usually the perfect thickness for this. Cut off the plastic grip and use it as a shim and shove the cable into the connector. It works like a charm.

When I have to deal with this stupid WiFi cable connector, I often vent my frustration by fantasizing about going back in time and murdering the guy before he's able to invent it, thereby doing the world a great service.

Use one of these... the pointed end to gently press once lined up.

I've found these aren't really strong enough. I use a metal pry tool, this one specifically:

https://imgur.com/7QUvSze

 

[Larry Sabo]

When I have to deal with this stupid WiFi cable connector, I often vent my frustration by fantasizing about going back in time and murdering the guy before he's able to invent it, thereby doing the world a great service.

LOL