My iBook has seen better days...

**DonnelsonM** · November 17th, 2002, 08:59 AM

Well, I love my iBook. It's my little 500mhz, dual usb, trusty little iBook with a DVD drive. Good ol' 8mb radeon (whimpy, I know!), 640 mb ram, Airport card.
Now about that Airport.

I have had my iBook over a year, and did not purchase applecare coverage. Well, I have tried everything to get my iBook to work with every wireless configuration imaginable...and it's just not happening. I had a dual ethernet Base station. Got it out, put in my airport card, configured it in only a few mintues...then walked 10 ft away from the BS and lost the signal. WHAT?? Something's not right. I tried EVERY configuration possible, diff. channels, etc...still a weak signal. I've even tried it on other wireless networks. No dice.
My buddy brought his 700 mhz iBook over, and it got an AWESOME signal. I tried swapping out our cards...he STILL got a great signal and mine still sucked.
I took it to the Mac guys at CompUSA and they said there's some sort of internal wiring problem and it would have to be sent to Apple for repair. EECH!! I can't afford that, who knows what it will cost. Not to mention I dont' want to be without my baby if they get it and I find out I can't afford to get it fixed! This sucks. Any ideas?

**kenny** · November 17th, 2002, 11:21 AM

Sounds like a problem with the antenna. The fact that you can get a signal at all indicates that the card and associated software is fine. Having someone else try validates your base station. Swapping the cards was a good idea, also.

In other words, I'm afraid you're boned. I feel your pain, though - I had to send my iBook in only a few weeks after I got it when the lid-latch broke. The bad news is that to replace the antenna requires a pretty thorough disassembly of the iBook; the antenna is in the lid, behind the display.

**DonnelsonM** · November 17th, 2002, 11:27 AM

any idea of what that's gonna cost me for repair? Any apple technicians? Arrrrggghhhhh this is so aggrivating...but maybe an excuse to get a new powerbook.
yeah right, the boss (my wife) would never let me.

**kenny** · November 18th, 2002, 09:47 AM

I'm no Apple tech, but I'd guess that it should cost no more than US$250-300 to do. It's a pity that you didn't discover this while the 'book was under warranty.

The 'good' news is that Apple seems to do a really fine job of handling this sort of thing in a timely manner. At least, that's been my experience. I called on a Wednesday, had the shipping box on Thursday, sent the 'book in, and (of course) tracked it as being received on Friday. They did the work and had my 'book back to me on Tuesday morning. There was strong evidence (datestamps and logs on MacOSX) that the machine had been worked on on Sunday. Of course, I have AppleCare on my iBook, so your mileage may vary.

Good Luck!

**DonnelsonM** · November 18th, 2002, 12:14 PM

That's what it's gonna come down to...
LOL
I am a 19 Year old, married, POOR college student. My wife and I are both working overtime to pay off the debt from the wedding...I think the wireless connection will have to be put on the backburner for a bit.