Issue with damaged Wi-Fi antenna
Issue with damaged Wi-Fi antenna
Hi All, I have a damaged wifi antenna cable that might have been bitten by my cat while the PC was running. The network connection on 2.4 GHz seems fine so far, but it looks like you might need to insulate it with electrical tape. Could there be a short or internal damage in the WiFi module or motherboard/chipset? I’m not sure how antennas work, so I’m trying to understand. Also, I read something about Asus having specific issues—anyone have experience with this Z370-i model? Curious, what would happen if both cables were shorted or connected together?
Prior to my present setup, I utilized an Asus Wi-Fi device from a B150i model. I continue to employ the identical antenna on my current ASRock motherboard, without any changes in mind.
Yes, this approach would be effective for verifying functionality step by step.
you need to follow these steps because there’s no visible damage to the main wire, so it’s not urgent. If you notice any breakage, stop immediately. Just ensure the plastic parts don’t touch each other using isolation tape—it’ll help prevent issues. You can test one at a time without risk.
Verify if the Wi-Fi card or motherboard is intact, as they functioned properly until yesterday and you're unsure of the damage timing.
You can leave them as they are; the adhesive on insulating tape isn’t conductive. Just make sure the wires aren’t touching each other or any metal parts. If you’re unsure, it’s safer to keep them separate until you’re confident about handling electricity.
No, don't do that. Your cable wire are still intact from what i see. Don't re attach data cable like electrical cable, it would degrade the signal. If you want, you can splice it in the middle and put the tape there. Unless the wire is broken, there's no need to reattach.
I meant to separate both wires by cutting them in the middle, not to physically reattach them. I was asking if it would be possible to wrap the electrical tape around both wires as they are currently.