I've got a '99 G3 PowerBook (Bronze kbd) with an intermittent ethernet conection. My question is a s follows: how difficult is it to get at and repair the ethernet port? I've got plenty of hardware knowlidge, and have soldered on laptop logic boards before. The ethernet connection is useless as it is now, so im not worried about making the problem worse, i'd just like to try to repair it.
Anonymous
User login
Please support the defense of Ukraine.
Direct or via Unclutter App
Active forum topics
Recent content
Navigation
No Ads.
No Trackers.
No Social Media.
All Content Locally Hosted.
Built on Free Software.
We have complied with zero government requests for information.
Unfortunatly, the only way to repair the NIC port is to replace the whole motherboard. I would suggest purchasing a PCMCIA network card, there are versions for both OS9 and OSX. The other option would be to pick up a 3COM or Orinoco 802.11 wireless card and a cheap 29.00 wireless router from your local Walmart or what have you. Orinoco and Dell PCMCIA cards will work under OS9, I've had best results with 3COM and Linksys cards under OSX.
If you have experience soldering/desoldering SMT and other small components, then replacing the Ethernet jack shouldn't bee too difficult for you. Finding a new replacement part may be the tricky part, but if anything you can always try to find a dead Lombard/Pismo motherboard to source the part from.
If you do feel brave enough to solder a new RJ-45 jack onto your board, takign apart a Lombard is fairly step-by-step, as many components such as the CPU/RAM come off in one snap. Be very careful, however, as the pinouts for the NIC jack on Lombards and Pismos are *TINY* and will require a very fine-tip soldering iron and low-heat solder... I would suggest one of those new cold-burning micro irons available at Sears Hardware or what have you.
The pinouts for Apple's RJ45 port are in a position so that a standard x86 jack won't necesarily work for this unit. You would have to find another Lombard motherboard.
One more thing- often times, unless you can see visible damage to the ethernet port, the LAN chipset gets fried. I'm not sure if it was a big enough problem for a recall at any point, but working on many Lombards has shown this symptom come up a few times with no port damage. Good luck!
Well, in the time between my first post, and now, i've got the 'book completly disassembled (damn, am i glad i took good notes). Im looking at the logic board as i type this, and there does not appear to be any visable damage to the ethernet jack itself, so im afraid youy may be right, my LAN chipset is FUBAR. I've got a wiereless card, but it's out for "warrenty replacement". I think im just going to end up buying anoter 102.11 card. Will the LAN chipset being fried affect my ability to use a wireless PCMCIA card?
Oh, btw, i used the takeapart guide on www.pbfixit.com. Very detailed and helpfull.