Chosen Solution
I’ve read through the forum and it looks like most answers to disabling wifi default to the settings on the device. That is not an option for me. No wifi/3gish devices are permitted in my work space, so I need to PHYSICALLY disable the wifi in my note 10.1 N8013 (2012). I have it apart but the wifi/bt module is not clearly labeled. All input is appreciated. Thanks! Update: Jayeff’s answer moved me one step closer: On this diagram somewhere is the wifi circuitry. Can anyone point out exactly which I need to sever, I believe it is one of the 5 sections of the large 5 section frame?
Hi, Here is a link to the ifixit video guide on how to replace the battery and LCD screen of a Galaxy Note 10.1. At 11:53 minutes onward (a few seconds anyway) into the video, it shows the WiFi antenna - a metal bar. I’m wondering if disconnecting this would be good enough for your purposes as it would severely limit the range of the Wifi signal. Not sure how far the range will be then, but anecdotally, people who report that they are having problems using WiFi devices, due to low or no signal (laptop’s etc) and also state that they have to virtually “sit” on the WiFi router to get it to work usually find that the antenna is either loose or disconnected. You could always try this first to see if it is sufficient for your purposes. If this is not sufficient, you could try and trace the antenna connections back to the WiFi IC, which should be nearby (verify by “Googling” the number printed on the IC to see if it is a WiFi IC) and then either find the data sheet for it, to see if you can work out the “enable” lead so that you can disconnect it from the pcb or remove the entire IC from the pcb. The latter is a bit drastic but if that is what is required, then needs must. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Digitizer & Display Replacement
jayeff thank you for your advice!
