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Removing Wi-Fi wireless networking from Mac mini?

J

JKK4

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 12, 2009
16
0
I'm interested in buying a new Mac mini, however, I absolutely loath anything wireless. (I'm aware that that's a minority opinion.)

I was therefore wondering if it's possible for my Apple dealer to remove the built-in Wi-Fi card (AKA Airport Extreme) from the mini, just like they'll upgrade the RAM to 2GB for me?
 
Richard8655 said:
Just don't use it. You can turn it off within the OS. Why have something removed that won't be used anyway?
Click to expand...

That's one way of looking at it. However, I wonder---why KEEP something that won't be used?
 
I suppose so. But do we use every application that's included on our computers? Yet we're not asking Apple to remove them because we don't use them. A bit odd. Look at it this way - wireless adds value to your Mini should you ever decide to sell it in the future.

Are you afraid the NSA is going to eavesdrop on you? Sorry, not meant to be sarcastic, but do you have security concerns?
 
Richard8655 said:
Are you afraid the NSA is going to eavesdrop on you? Sorry, not meant to be sarcastic, but do you have security concerns?
Click to expand...

Not security concerns, but health concerns---the long-term impact of exposure to electromagnetic radiation is unknown, no matter what people will tell you. (For that reason I don't own a cell phones either, for example.)

That's why I'd rather get rid of the Wi-Fi support in the mini altogether. And therefore I was wondering if it was technically possibly, at all, to remove the Wi-Fi? Or is this part of the main logic board?
 
EM radiation is passing through your house and body all the time - you can't escape it.

Just turn off AirPort.
 
JKK4 said:
Not security concerns, but health concerns---the long-term impact of exposure to electromagnetic radiation is unknown, no matter what people will tell you. (For that reason I don't own a cell phones either, for example.)

That's why I'd rather get rid of the Wi-Fi support in the mini altogether. And therefore I was wondering if it was technically possibly, at all, to remove the Wi-Fi? Or is this part of the main logic board?
Click to expand...

You have a valid point which makes sense. I'm concerned about radiation too. But your Mini and LCD display are themselves emitting radiation. The Swedish radiation standards were not long ago updated for LCD displays with the TCO'03 monitor standard, which some but not all LCD displays have passed (the display would show a TCO'03 label on the frame as mine does).

But my point is any electronic device is going to emit electromagnetic radiation, and the Mini's wireless system, if turned off, will be zero.

I agree on cell phones, and only use mine when absolutely necessary.
 
JKK4 said:
Not security concerns, but health concerns---the long-term impact of exposure to electromagnetic radiation is unknown, no matter what people will tell you. (For that reason I don't own a cell phones either, for example.)
Click to expand...

Say goodbye to ever going out in the sun again, then. :rolleyes:

Wi-Fi is a pathetic source of radiation.
 
JKK4 said:
Not security concerns, but health concerns---the long-term impact of exposure to electromagnetic radiation is unknown, no matter what people will tell you. (For that reason I don't own a cell phones either, for example.)
Click to expand...

You could probably trade the AirPort card for a Tin Foil Hat. Or better yet keep the AirPort card and wear a Tin Foil Hat when using it.
 
drlunanerd said:
EM radiation is passing through your house and body all the time - you can't escape it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but it's the dose that makes the poison ...

My view is that I should assume individual responsibility whenever possible, and that means if there is an unnecessary source of radiation, then I just remove it.
 
old-wiz said:
Don't forget to get rid of the microwave and cordless phones.
Old style televisions (CRT) have to go too.
Click to expand...

You're absolutely right about the cordless phones. I'm not sure about the microwave and the CRT TV, though. In any case I don't have any such product in my home anyway ...
 
Richard8655 said:
You have a valid point which makes sense. I'm concerned about radiation too.

[...]

But my point is any electronic device is going to emit electromagnetic radiation, and the Mini's wireless system, if turned off, will be zero.

I agree on cell phones, and only use mine when absolutely necessary.
Click to expand...

Thank you, Richard. I'm not familiar with Mac OS, so exactly where would I turn off Wi-Fi, then?
 
JKK4 said:
Yeah, but it's the dose that makes the poison ...

My view is that I should assume individual responsibility whenever possible, and that means if there is an unnecessary source of radiation, then I just remove it.
Click to expand...

I think that's a wise way to approach these kinds of things. Truth is, nobody has a clue of what the longterm effects of regular low-level radiation exposure is, and we live in a toxic world, so why not minimize these things in the few places we have control over? I have a cell phone but I use it sparingly, and I'll only use wi-fi in my home at the times I need it (as opposed to leaving it running 24/7).

In regards to the wi-fi card in a mini, I think the advice you've gotten from the others here is good advice - just leave it turned off and you've got nothing to worry about. No reason to go through the expense and permanence of physically removing the card from your machine, just don't turn it on.
 
JKK4 said:
Not security concerns, but health concerns---the long-term impact of exposure to electromagnetic radiation is unknown, no matter what people will tell you. (For that reason I don't own a cell phones either, for example.)

That's why I'd rather get rid of the Wi-Fi support in the mini altogether. And therefore I was wondering if it was technically possibly, at all, to remove the Wi-Fi? Or is this part of the main logic board?
Click to expand...

JKK4 said:
You're absolutely right about the cordless phones. I'm not sure about the microwave and the CRT TV, though. In any case I don't have any such product in my home anyway ...
Click to expand...

The amount of radiation being emitted from a wifi adapter turned ON is miniscule at best. The power cord to the Mini is going to emit a heckuva lot more radiation, as will all the wiring in your house. And every fluorescent light. And every motor (refrigerator compressor, air conditioning fan, hair dryer, condensing unit, ceiling fan) has some pretty good-sized magnets in it that emit a magnetic field whether the motor is energized or not.

You're looking at the wrong source if you're trying to eliminate EM fields and radiation from your life. The wifi is nothing.

You could always shack up in the Unabomber's old hideout, though.
 
If you are buying from a 3rd party retailer, and if its a small shop, then they might disconnect the Wifi antenna for you..... especially if they are adding RAM at the same time. I seriously doubt an Apple Store, or a big box retailer would... they just aren't set up to do this kind of work. This is a special request, and I would think is technically a hack.

There is a website called ifixit... here is the new Mini's "First Look". I think it looks pretty simple to remove the antennas. There are 3.

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/First-Look/Mac-mini-A1283/659/1

While I may not entirely agree that the EM radiation from a Mini is dangerous, I believe you have the right (in a civic way, if not constitutionally) to make that decision for yourself. I hope the link and the info above helps.

UPDATE: Even if turned off, in some Apple products the antennas are still energized so that they can detect a "wake from sleep" signal. I don't know the details for the Mini, but the best solution is to disconnect the antennas. Keep them incase you need to send the system back for warranty repair, or want to sell it.
 
I feel the same way as the OP although not quite as fearfull perhaps. I have an iMac which also has the wireless built in, so I simply have it turned off. There is no need to have it physically removed. BTW, you are aware that it also has BlueTooth wireless aren't you? :D

Rich :cool:
 
snberk103 said:
If you are buying from a 3rd party retailer, and if its a small shop, then they might disconnect the Wifi antenna for you..... especially if they are adding RAM at the same time.

[...]

While I may not entirely agree that the EM radiation from a Mini is dangerous, I believe you have the right (in a civic way, if not constitutionally) to make that decision for yourself. I hope the link and the info above helps.

UPDATE: Even if turned off, in some Apple products the antennas are still energized so that they can detect a "wake from sleep" signal. I don't know the details for the Mini, but the best solution is to disconnect the antennas. Keep them incase you need to send the system back for warranty repair, or want to sell it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the information. I guess if it's only a matter of disconnecting the antennas, then I may ask them to do it for me (all three antennas, for both Wi-Fi and BlueTooth, as RichardI pointed out).
 
hahhahhahaha another one of these wifi is bad for you threads?
Does the OP not realize that there are electromagnetic waves going through his body 24/7 that are stronger than the ones from his router just from the sun? let alone cell networks.
 
This is serious tinfoil hat territory stuff. The people who fear EM radiation don't seem to realize that earth's magnetic field is ***a lot*** stronger than what their computers can ever possibly emit.

Also, the claims above that no long term studies on health effects have been performed is false. Just google Sverdlow for a pretty solid debunking. EM radiation can harm a living cell in only one of two ways: DNA mutations or heating. DNA mutations require extremely short wavelengths -- basically UVA (think sunburn), xray, gamma, etc. Wireless operates around 2-5 GHz which corresponds to 6-15 cm -- way too big to cause mutations. The other way for radiation to harm is through heating. Basically, the watts per square meter need to be larger than what a cell can dissipate through its built-in heat exchange processes. All the research shows that computer wireless is not even 1 one-millionth strong enough to cause any heating to a human.

And to close, to all the EM radiation fearing people, consider these additional sources of EM radiation even after 802.11 and bluetooth are disconnected:


  • Remote controls (infrared is EM radiation)

  • CPU processor harmonics (2.0-2.26 GHz from mac mini)

  • LED indicators and display (visible light is EM radiation)

  • DVD (has a laser that emits EM radiation)
 
JKK4 said:
Yeah, but it's the dose that makes the poison ...
Click to expand...

But to train yourself, you're suppose to take non-lethal dosages and over time your body becomes immune and you can take an otherwise legal dosage and not have to worry about possible death.
 
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