No Wifi - help!

[aberdinny]

Hi - new to this forum and in fact new to Macbooks/ MacOS. ...and not entirely sure if this should be here or in the Software Forum
After years of work requiring adherence to Windows, I am retired and wanted to experiment with MacOS. Bought an early-2015 Macboook that needed quite a bit of work - but I enjoy a challenge. Replaced the keyboard (base unit), SSD and battery and updated to Big Sur and all seemed fine until the WiFi became flakey and then just died on me. Tried all the resetting advice online PRAM/ SRC but no dice. Booted into Safe Mode - no difference. Replaced the WiFi card but that made no difference. Antenna seems fine as well. I even put the old SSD back in with Mojave and that didn't work. Makes me think its hardware

So...having to use Ethernet, which works but is obviously not ideal. Any suggestions?

I have attached screen shots of what I get from settings etc

Thanks

 

[ferrarr]

Was this a known issue when you purchased the MBP?

Since the wi-fi is not showing in the System Information panel, I have a feeling it may not be properly inserted, or the port on the board is bad. Does the Bluetooth work or show in System Information? Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on the same card.

 

[aberdinny]

Thanks for your reply ferrar. No, it was working fine when I bought it. It seemed to only start being a problem after my upgrade work and Big Sur. The bluetooth was also not working so i replaced the Airport card with one I bought on ebay. Bluetooth then worked, but not WiFi. That makes me thing the card is registering but I don't understand what is wrong with the Wifi. I have since taken it out and back in again but still nothing.

 

[ferrarr]

Did you see this thread on Apple.com?

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250720965

Something there might help?

 

[aberdinny]

Much appreciated. I’ll have a look. If this doesn’t work, I’ll have to look at a USB WiFi adapter - if only there was one that worked with big sur! Thanks again

 

[MacInWin]

Are you at the latest version of Big Sur? I seem to recall one of the updates addresses some issues with WiFi. The latest is now 11.2.2

 

[aberdinny]

Hi - yes I have updated to the latest.
Ferrarr's suggestion didn't work as Big Sur blocks the process of writing to the disk and the warnings about the 'workaround' almost certainly crashing my OS put me off taking it further.

 

[chscag]

You could have gotten a bad WiFi card. Most if not all Mac parts found on eBay are cannibalized from non working Macs. It's a good way to buy parts for older Macs but there is always the chance that you receive a dud.

Try another WiFi card if at all possible.

 

[aberdinny]

Thanks chscag, I had begun to wonder about the replacement card I bought. More so that the replacement one the Bluetooth is working but not the WiFi. Will see about a replacement one, thanks

 

[aberdinny]

Hi chscag - replacement tried but just the same. In the absence of any other options, is it likely to be a Logic Board fault?

 

[ferrarr]

Unless you have another identical MacBook to test the cards on? Then yes I would assume it is the logic board.

 

[aberdinny]

Thanks ferarr, feared as much. Not worth further investment in a new logic board so I will have to consider a USB adapter. I know that this is a challenge currently with Big Sur, so if you know of one thats good quality and can work, that would be appreciated?