I personally have never deal with this device, but take a look at this Teardown and see if it helps you any. Good Luck.

step 25 here Installing iPad 2 Wi-Fi EMC 2415 Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Antenna shows were the wi-fi antenna plugs in

Hey chris its because the antenna flex cable tape is broken even in the guide on replacing the digitizer on the pad 2 they ripped the antenna flex or its not properly glued to the digitizer you need to buy a new one. and install it.

I know you gotta go back in =[

Envigopcrepairs.com

-Aldo R

To answer your question about where the wifi plugs into it plugs Ito the silver button not the gold after replacing mine with a new one I still was getting a weak signal I can't explain it I'll figure it out I'm sure

Hi,

I'm also getting weak wifi after fitting a new digitizer. I would have thought if I damaged the antenna I would have had no wifi but I'm just getting weak wifi. It will work when I'm close to the wifi access point but when I move into the next room its gone. Is this indicative of me damaging the wifi adapter or cable?

Is it a new antenna I need. I'm loathed to open the iPad again because I doubt if I can get the digitizer off in one piece!

Update

P.S. I've just noticed an item on the old digitizer which sits just over the wifi antenna. Obviously this is something I've broken either when the ipad was dropped or when removing the digitizer.

The wifi antenna is a flat piece of copper and it screws to the main body and tapes to the digitizer. If you haven't taken off a digitizer before you almost certainly tore it off.its too easy to,tear off. If you are getting a weak signal you most definitely tore it or pulled the plug,loose. Most likely tore it. The only way to fix it is to take it back apart. Changing the wifi antenna is somewhat tricky. Not that you can't do it but the digitizer cable seems easy to mess up in the process. If you aren't comfortable doing it.,there is a great place in Kalamazoo mi. That can fix you up in no time..

Which iPad do you have ? I have an extra wifi antenna if you have the ipad2

I remember having this issue; it was really annoying being forced to use the new iPad, only in the same room as my wifi router because of the poor range. I've searched endlessly on Google, in the hope that someone would figure out on how to solve this, once and for all... I did a bunch of research came across WIRED magazine and found a extensive and detailed review of Pong Research cases www.pongresearch.com . These guys make a very special case which has a built-in antenna in between its layers, which redirects and boost the signal and range of your new iPad, iPhone and other devices. This solved my new iPad 3 wifi issues and now as a result, I'm able to connect to my router from further distance without a problem at all. I also enjoy a lot the Origami Smart Cover it comes with, which besides providing the classic sleep/awake function, folds and allows you to stand the iPad on 5 different positions.

Next time an iPad 2 WiFi comes in to my shop I will do a guide on repairing the WiFi as part of the service (very straight-forward, takes 15 minutes at most on a non-shattered screen)

I just did a repair on an iPad 2 WiFi (my first one) and snapped the WiFi cable while removing the digitizer (was left on top of a car, skidded 30 metres along a street and was run over by 2 more cars) which had been shattered into hundreds of pieces, power button and chassis had been compacted ~10-20mm inwards and towards the front. Suffice to say, a difficult repair. Ended up using the Dremel to create a new home for the power button even haha.

The WiFi cable itself is an easy job to do, however, if you are not an experienced technician (an actual technician, not 'I've run a tech store outta me garage for 7 years and thusly I am the hottest of all shite' technician - MCTS, MCITP, ACMT (for those playing in Australia) Cert IV I.T etc.) you may find it a bit daunting and you may make simple errors that cause major problems (not draining the battery completely - working on a live PCB - using metal spudgers to decouple flex cables - overheating adhesive before prying iPad open and melting the home button etc. etc. etc.).

If you would still like to jump in straight away a quick Google search found a very usable Youtube tutorial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26liR46z7...

Like I said though, if you are even slightly unsure about it, don't do it, get it done by a professional. You will know within 2 minutes of starting whether you are going to succeed or fail.

As mentioned above, within a couple of weeks (hopefully) I'll have a WiFi tutorial up on iFixit for you guys, just need someone to bring me another broken iPad 2 :)

I had this issue. My problem was that the new antenna wasn't seated as well as it should be. After reopening the iPad and making sure that the antenna was definitely connected to the board properly, Wifi is working properly.

I was pretty sure I had connected the antenna properly the first time, but I had not. With it barely connected, it worked, but the range was terrible and it would only pick up one wireless signal.

I hope this helps.

Can the wifi address get corrupted in any way? If it can, would this cause this problem and could it be corrected?