X61 wifi switch is touchy, how to permanently disable it?

[HelloKitty61]

It happens incredibly often when my wifi switch is even slightly bumped.
What is the easiest way to get it set to "on" always?
I also use an Atheros card which does not respond to the wifi light anyway, so it's not too much lost.

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com! My take on it would be to open up the system, remove the switch from the printed circuit board and force pin 3 (of 5) to system ground. From looking at the schematic diagram, the switch is tied to a signal named GLOBAL_WL_DISABLE. Typically if a signal name does not have a minus sign in front of it, then it is "active high". Grounding it should permanently enable the card.

[axur-delmeria]

An alternative would be to remove the plastic sliding thing from the bottom casing.

[rkawakami]

But if the actual switch contact is dirty or intermittent, that would not permanently solve the problem.

[jaspen-meyer]

But if the actual switch contact is dirty or intermittent, that would not permanently solve the problem.

Would switching it on-off-on-off-on-off a few times be a laymen's solution?

[rkawakami]

It could possibly help but the problem may return. The way I read the first post, OP is/was looking for a stable solution.

[HelloKitty61]

I followed rkawakami's initial suggestion to force it to "always on". It worked well.

[briancady413]

... open up the system, remove the switch from the printed circuit board and force pin 3 (of 5) to system ground. From looking at the schematic diagram, the switch is tied to a signal named GLOBAL_WL_DISABLE. Typically if a signal name does not have a minus sign in front of it, then it is "active high". Grounding it should permanently enable the card.

I disturbed the wifi switch when wrongly rreplacing the plastic slider, causing troubles, and have now removed the switch. I don't understand 'force pin 3 (of 5) to system ground' but really want to now.

help?

Brian
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[RealBlackStuff]

This 'famous' pin 3 goes from that switch to resistor R287.
With switch seen from above, it is the rightmost pin (3) of the three that are visible there.
1...2...3 pin-number
------X slider

Solder where pin 3 came from (before you removed that switch), to ground.

Or if the switch is still there: solder pins 2 and 3 together to make a permanent wifi-ON.

[briancady413]

This 'famous' pin 3 goes from that switch to resistor R287.
With switch seen from above, it is the rightmost pin (3) of the three that are visible there.
1...2...3 pin-number
------X slider

Solder where pin 3 came from (before you removed that switch), to ground.

Or if the switch is still there: solder pins 2 and 3 together to make a permanent wifi-ON.

Thanks, Real Black Stuff (can I call you 'Guinness'?) I used a ohmmeter and found that, while pin 2 and 3 are connected with switch on, pin 1 and 3 are connected with switch off. I will try to resolder, or get resoldered, the switch into place again. If that fails, I'll connect pins 2 and 3 permanently.

Brian
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PS: where do you all get the schematic telling you this stuff?

BC

[RealBlackStuff]

Pin 1 is not connected anywhere.
Pin 2 goes to Ground.
Pin 3 as above.
1-2 = wifi OFF (in other words: does nothing).
2-3 = wifi ON.
Basic switch knowledge!