Crummy Wifi Card Guts

[adnewhouse]

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?

[westfw]

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.

[adnewhouse]

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.

[adnewhouse]

Also note the crummy solder rework on the side button.

[Rasz]

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

[G7PSK]

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.

[senso]

The second connector is connected, there is a visible clean path for the trace to be buried in a inner layer.

[adnewhouse]

I'm curious as to how important the the little metal can would be over the chip set? Does it make a huge difference?

[lgbeno]

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...

[Short Circuit]

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.
...

Most, if not all, Intel wireless cards have shielding.
Also makes a nice surface for their label.

[c4757p]

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.

 

[adnewhouse]

Yeah this card just got replaced by a nice http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=33-704-079&ParentOnly=1&IsVirtualParent=1 which is rock solid in stability and has decent drivers for Linux as well. 

[T4P]

I paid 20$ for a TP-LINK WN-821N usb adapter and it's not even nearly as crummy  Looks like you got ripped off, big time.
I now use a Intel 5300AGN that i got for 5 bucks. 

[adnewhouse]

Rosewill will not be getting my business ever again. If anyone wants to avoid this card it is a http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166046.

[justanothercanuck]

Rosewill will not be getting my business ever again. If anyone wants to avoid this card it is a http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166046.

I bought one of their SATA cards a while back.  Has a Silicon Image 3124 chip on it.  Works great in windows or linux. 

[amyk]

Rosewill is just a miscellaneous rebrander; all their products are produced by various OEMs.