golalmo

(sorry for any mistypes)
Probably many of you notice that some of are ux50 suddenly stop conncting to access-points when connecting or scannicg for wireless lan.
The sympthom is that the wifi led is turning on and off, and the ux is stuck in a loop at the initialize mode. Tapping "cancel" has no affect, and soon you have to soft reset the unit.
The problem still happend after hard-reset which mean it's a hardware failiur.
Sending it back to Sony will end by replacing the systemboard which the wifi chip lay on (184$ if not under warrenty, or an international customer, like me).

Well since I have encounter the problem a month ago, and sending it to Sony it too pricey (shipping costs), I decided to open it myself and found the same problem like in the new P4 cpu's. Since theres no "legs", just small balls that should press tightly agains the boards, many times one or more are disconnected.
Same with the UX50 wifi chip. I press it down against the board, check the unit, and WHALLHA wifi connect to my router in no time. I check the scanning option, and finally found what I was willing for month. I also add a piece of tape that constently tightly press the chip, closed the unit and saved my self 184$+s/h.
Since I didn't had the spacial screw tool, I used a very small flat head screwdriver, and opened the 4 screw on the back slowly. Also the small screw on the front should be opened (the one neer the rec button). Nothing else should be open or disconnect (beside the back cover, of course).
I hope it would help others.

p.s. sorry for the low quality pics. the wifi chip can be seen under the flat cable in the middle, coverd by piece of bright metal.

pic1: Open 4 screw on the buttom and the small one in the front.
pic2: Remove the backcover (be aware from the 2 thin wire). The wifi chip is in the middle of the buttom image.
pic3: Put a piece of thick tape on the back cover, to press the chip down.

Attached Thumbnails

     

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Nimiety

I haven't heard of that problem before - is it common enough to be a concern? My UX50 has never had that problem, only the occasional "invalid network settings" that is cleared up by soft-resetting.
N...

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crazy_smeggie

<SMEGGIE quietly knocks on wood in preparation for the jinx he is putting on himself>

I, personally, have never had any mechanical WiFi problems whatsoever...

HOWEVA...

This problem has been a regular topic here for some time. If you were to query "WiFi problem" you would find a litany of the same issue. If this "fix" helps - God love ya, Golalmo!

Just be very careful when opening the unit. The two halves are connected (after you remove the screws) by one thin wire, so pull the halves apart slowly and carefully if attempting this fix.


SMEGGIE

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golalmo

yep, those 2 wires are connected to the speaker thing on the back.
anyway, it is not necessery to remove them, just be carful.

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dhowe

hum... I think it's time for surgery, Well wish me luck... BTW I have worked on reparing computers (IBM and Mac), VCR, TVs, PDA (Palm 1, Handspring Visor Neo, and Handspring Visor Prisim), so a UX should not be That hard

dhowe

IT WORKS !!!!!!!!!! I spent .89 cents on a Eye-glasses repair kit used the screwdriver to open it then there were little washers in the kit so I used them as spacers. Fit snuggly, and I have access now

I thank you Golalmo

godhand

does anyone have better pic. I think this might come in handy someday (for me_

mcmew

Hi,

Could anybody help, I could not have clear view of the picture. Also, I have opened
another side (Display part). I guess I was wrong. Could you kindly describe in more
details the steps. Like open keyboard side (with serial no. label), etc.

Very thanks.

I wanna cry for my 2-week-old 2nd UX50 for wifi failure.
mcmew

dhowe

To give you an idea of what I did, look at the back of the UX, between where it says "Magic Gate" and "Palm Powered" there is a indentatio. If you remove that side there is a Static Protection Film that covers that bump. I put the Eye Glasses Spacer directly over that bump... sorry I didn't take pictures but I think that will help you locate the proper place.

BTW when opening the case I found that you need to "pop" the back by the Camera (and unscrew the the screw by the Headphone Jack)

I hope that helps you.

jamesgood72

Thanks for the tip Goalmo, my UX seems to have developed the same problem after a year of good operation. I just can't understand how you could possibly get such bad quality pictures?!

-James.

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jamesgood72

Update - I just pressed fairly hard on the back of my UX, where the indentiation is, and it's working again now. Definitely seems to indicate some bad connection somewhere...

-James.

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Amstel

Please! I would appreciate it too
It's time for surgery. I am in the same situation as Golalmo: no warranty and live outside US, so I'll go for it

Thanks for the tip!

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Amstel

BTW, what kind of screw drivers did you use??
I don't think I have one small snough

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Kosmonoko

That happened to my TH55 and the only way i solved it was doing a hard reset and hotsyncing wirelessly. So i didn't have to open my Clie.