Wifi antenna interference

[daniel.avasilichioaei]

that's all guessing.

This statement is false. You have very strong evidence: the display always stays on and the unused amplifier no longer goes into standby (which means that the OS thinks that the amplifier is in use, although it is not - that is, you have brought the OS into a bug zone of software).

[thumb5]

Fact is the sound quality improves a lot when removing the card. So electrically this seems to be better.

To be pedantic: the fact is that the sound quality as you perceive it improves.  You are implying that this is correlated with being "electrically better", but that seems to be an assumption unless you have some concrete evidence.

[Vivialet]

I'm using my ears as evidence for me. I don't want to convince anybody here to try it. It has a risk of damaging the amp and the side effect with the auto dim issue.

[hardcore]

that's all guessing.

This statement is false. You have very strong evidence: the display always stays on and the unused amplifier no longer goes into standby (which means that the OS thinks that the amplifier is in use, although it is not - that is, you have brought the OS into a bug zone of software).

I don't use auto-dim and auto-standby so I don't see any problems. However, as I suggest, you can LEAVE the WiFi card in but DISCONNECT the 2 small antenna connections from the WiFi card (but insulate their connectors so they don't short on something else), and you might get the sound improvement, and the standby feature still works normally since the OS can detect the WiFi device.

[Vivialet]

removing the antenna connectors includes the risk that attaching them again fails. Happens to me once in a NUC pc. Are you sure that the auto standby is not working anymore when removing the wifi card ? I think it is still working for me, need to check again. But usually I switch on my system with the AQ Niagara and switch it off again after use.

[hardcore]

removing the antenna connectors includes the risk that attaching them again fails. Happens to me once in a NUC pc. Are you sure that the auto standby is not working anymore when removing the wifi card ? I think it is still working for me, need to check again. But usually I switch on my system with the AQ Niagara and switch it off again after use.

I don't know about the auto-standby not working - it was an issue reported by @daniel.avasilichioaei. If you don't have any problems with the Wi-Fi card removed, there's no reason to put it back in. Those antenna connectors pop out and pop in, but you're right they are fragile. You have to be careful as you might damage the cable connector if you force it while it's not aligned. The ones on the Wi-Fi card are called MHF4 IPEX connectors. You're supposed to detach / attach it as 'parallel' as possible like so:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbBDx2X7x0w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgMCGgSMIRg

My system without the Wi-Fi card works fine. It powers on and off normally, the 5 second reset function works normally. The diagnostic screens work fine and don't show any faults (Wi-Fi MAC address shows all zeros). Temperature wise, after a few hours powered off, things seem normal: the master unit feels cooler and the companion unit feels slightly warmer, which is normal for the RCA-XLR link setup.

EDIT: I just turned on the auto-dim function and it is working fine, both Master and Companion's screens turn off.

If I'm travelling or not going to be using the system for a while, I also turn off the power on the power conditioners.

The system does sound better with the Wi-Fi cards removed, so I'm leaving it this way for now.

[hardcore]

A while back I decided to keep the wifi card connected but disconnect the wifi antennas. This keeps the display auto dim functioning but still brings about an improvement in sound quality. There are 2 antennas. One of the antennas is connected to the rear chassis and the other is connected to the core infinity board.

Here are some photos of the 250 / 1000 Pro when opened. Please note that it is tricky to open the amplifier and you can easily damage it, as the ADH sticks to the bottom cover and if you are not careful you will damage the connecting pins when removing or closing the cover.



Pictured above is the 250 Pro with the bottom copper cover removed. That black metal shield in the middle is loose and would cover the ADH module.



Pictured above is the ADH module which is 'stuck' via thermal pad to the bottom copper plate of the 250 Pro. It has rows of pins which slot into the motherboard on the opposite side. The heatsink for the CPU is also stuck to the bottom copper plate. I didn't touch both.



Pictured above is the wifi card inserted but with the antennas disconnected. The long antenna cable which goes to the rear antenna socket is picture here with the end covered. I removed and kept the short antenna cable which goes to the core infinity board.

[markush]

Nice! If you describe the improvement/the extend in %, how much of an improvement would you rate it?

[hardcore]

Nice! If you describe the improvement/the extend in %, how much of an improvement would you rate it?

It's been a long time since I did it, so it's hard to say. But it did sound better in the 'less digital edginess, more analog sounding' direction.