Lan Barnes wrote:
During an unrelated tech visit to Josh, he also helped me troubleshoot the
laptop. Josh did a yum update of the F8 kernel and wireless components
through the hardwire (why do I not remember that basic step so often?),
and the machine instantly found the card and loaded a working module.
Problem one solved (F8 FWIW).
However, "iwlist scan" only found Josh's access point approx 15 feet away
and a weak signal at that. Josh said he scans 4 or 5 neighbors easily. So
a bad antenna is definitely still on the table.
After discussion of probabilities, P&L support contracts ("break this seal
and we kill you and smash the machine"), etc, we agreed that the following
course of action makes sense.
1. I will drop the bottom and physically wiggle and pressure the snap
connection to the card. Josh has had the experience of buying a laptop
where this wasn't properly snapped on, and it acted just like this. He
says that the correct snap is unmistakable, and takes more force than one
thinks.
2. If that doesn't solve it, I will not attempt to open the screen to see
if the antenna has fallen down. The warranty contract is really about
components like the DVD, screen, and keyboard, horribly expensive. I just
can't risk voiding it. If the snap doesn't do it (pray to your appointed
fictional supernatural agent, please), it's back to Fry's for the
difficult job of getting them to honor the contract. Hmm ... tha'll take
sme prayer, too.
I feel closer to the truth, and the solution, than ever. Thanks to all for
the support.
I have been told by a good friend who also happens to work at Fry's (and
also doesn't really like the place - it's a job, yadda, yadda,
yadda...), that with their warranty, if the product doesn't work as
expected, and they can't fix it, you get a new one, or at least an
equivalent replacement.
He's told me he has customers who will routinely buy extended warranties
on expensive electronics and then like 3 months before they expire call
on a problem[1], which usually can't be fixed, just to get a new unit.
They supposedly have a standardized (their standard) testing process to
check the thing as expediently as possible, and if they find something,
they've got to fix it or replace it.
I expect you'll have no problem getting it fixed, or most probably replaced.
Also know that some Wifi chipsets are set at the (laptop) factory with
their TX levels too low. How you "Turn it up", I don't know, except it's
often possible.
[1] On many consumer electronics, there's almost always something that
breaks/degrades/works crappy after 3 years, so it's not like you /have/
to make up a problem. By then, the model is out of production, it costs
more to fix than replace, and the only replacement is the newer model.
[BTW, better pay attention to those BCC:'s. I almost replied to your
relatives as well as the list. :o ]
--
Best Regards,
~DJA.
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