Wireless USB adapter with broken plug
 

I have this wireless USB adapter with a broken plug. Specifically, two
of the contact points for the plug have become unsoldered. I have
kludged my way past this problem in the past by using bits of tin foil
to complete the circuit where the contacts where broken (don't laugh!),
but for whatever reason, that doesn't seem to be working anymore. The
power led for the device will light up just fine, but the link light
will only light for a second, then go dim (in the best case scenario;
sometimes it doesn't light up at all), and whenever I do a `lsusb`
(Linux command to determine the bus ids plugged in usb devices) it
isn't detected. Hotplug doesn't seem to find it either. If I move the
plug around, I can get the leds to light up or dim though, depending on
how I move it, although sometimes doing this causes kernel panics. I
just thought that fact would be useful so that you all know how *I*
know how the broken contact points are truly the problem. Needless to
say, it's wireless networking capabilities remain, for the time being,
null. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. :)

PS: Sorry for the double post (if you even noticed it); Somehow when I
posted earlier it got listed as an 'active older topic' (o_0;) , so I
posted it again.

Wireless USB adapter with broken plug
 

Need either to open the thing physically up and do some actual diagnostics
or go purchase another one. The tinfoil routine may have done more damage
than good, especially if any debris has found it's way deeper into the
product. Remove the case, use a magnifying glass to physically look at the
connections you are referring to, see if any of the circuit traces are
physically broken or if maybe only the solder connections have come loose.
If you are adept at soldering then have at it, otherwise another exercise in
fustration.
"The Slash" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have this wireless USB adapter with a broken plug. Specifically, two
of the contact points for the plug have become unsoldered. I have
kludged my way past this problem in the past by using bits of tin foil
to complete the circuit where the contacts where broken (don't laugh!),
but for whatever reason, that doesn't seem to be working anymore. The
power led for the device will light up just fine, but the link light
will only light for a second, then go dim (in the best case scenario;
sometimes it doesn't light up at all), and whenever I do a `lsusb`
(Linux command to determine the bus ids plugged in usb devices) it
isn't detected. Hotplug doesn't seem to find it either. If I move the
plug around, I can get the leds to light up or dim though, depending on
how I move it, although sometimes doing this causes kernel panics. I
just thought that fact would be useful so that you all know how *I*
know how the broken contact points are truly the problem. Needless to
say, it's wireless networking capabilities remain, for the time being,
null. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. :)

PS: Sorry for the double post (if you even noticed it); Somehow when I
posted earlier it got listed as an 'active older topic' (o_0;) , so I
posted it again.

Wireless USB adapter with broken plug
 

Art wrote:
Remove the case, use a magnifying glass to physically look at the
connections you are referring to, see if any of the circuit traces are
physically broken or if maybe only the solder connections have come loose.

Yeah, the connection from the actual plug to the rest of the device is
broken, so it only has power when I move it a certain way.