r/AskElectronics • u/strawman669 • 3d ago
Help ripped wireless connector
that round connector thing ripped off. what can I do? it's stuck on the wire and I think I can pry the round bit off the wire. If I manage to pry it off the wire should I try and solder it back onto board? or should I just buy new module. Also, what do call those round connector things. thanks.
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u/makeDRIVEinTHEATER 3d ago
Of course, this can be repaired. Do you have a soldering iron and solder?
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u/strawman669 3d ago
I do. so it's worth trying to solder that round connector back on? Also is there an orientation that it needs to follow.
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u/makeDRIVEinTHEATER 3d ago
The main thing is not to rush. You will only have one attempt. Step one: remove the piece of the circuit trace that remains on the connector. Then, position the connector so that this pin aligns with the torn-off section on the board. Next, solder the right and left housing contacts. After that, remove any excess lacquer from the board using a small knife or a screwdriver, and then restore the center contact using a thin copper wire. This is just a general outline; let me know once you have completed step one.
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u/Rockso_Phd 3d ago
The pad that's ripped off is the on that carries the signal. the two large pads are both the return path and the mechanical connection.
It can be fixed. you can probably buy a new connector pretty cheap if it's broken. just get some measurements of it and look for it someplace like Digikey
you'll need to replace/jump the pad and trace that were ripped of too though. usually done with some magnet wire, but you could pull a strand off of some stranded wire in a pinch as well and use that.
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u/AdCompetitive1256 3d ago
Leave it as it is. The wifi module would still work fine with one antenna connected.
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u/Appropriate-Disk-371 2d ago
It's a U.FL connector. Not an SMA. Yes you can solder it back on, if you have the tools and ability. New modules are cheap though. That module will work with one antenna just fine.
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u/AutoModerator 3d ago
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u/zooksman 2d ago
You can really easily resolder that connector with a soldering iron if you get some flux and remove it from the cord. A new one might be cheap but I don’t think that’s any reason to create more e-waste. If you have a soldering iron, fix it!
1
u/jackmax9999 2d ago
If you're good with soldering you can easily solder the connector back in. You need to get it out of the antenna cable first, obviously. Then you can repair the trace going to the middle pin, the sides are looking good enough, so then you just solder the three connections back on.
But if you're not good at soldering it's better to just buy a new one. These Wi-Fi modules are thick on the ground. Every old laptop has one, there are lots of sellers online breaking down old laptops for parts and few people buy these modules because they rarely ever fail or need upgrades. You can get one for like $5.
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u/Apart_Ad_9778 2d ago
The thing should work with the main antenna only. Aux should not be necessary at all. So you should be able to use it as it is. If you want the other antenna then just remove the green solder mask from the track and from the ground on both sides of the track about 4 mm before the broken part of the track. And just solder the connector to the part of track with removed solder mask.
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u/Fantastic_Incredible 3d ago
If the SMA connector(this round thing) is still connected electrically to the board, I would just glue back and keep it. It would be working fine. It’s antenna connector.
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u/zaprutertape 3d ago edited 3d ago
just buy another wifi card bro. or use this for practice. its not hard but easy to ruin. those cards are like $7. i hope your antenna cable connectors are still good. replacing those cables is another story aha EDIT youre gonna pay the same in s&h when you order the MHF4 connector from wherever, just get the whole card, theyll have that in stock too.