[bushpilot223]

Very weak wifi signal, even when only several feet from router. If farther than 10 feet cannot pick up wifi at all. This started happening all of the sudden, no issues before.

Phone: Galaxy S4 i545 Verizon
Android 5.0.1
build: LRX22C.I545VRSGPL1
kernel: 3.4.0
hardware: I545.07

Solutions I've tried:
Factory reset 3 times, once from settings, twice from Recovery Boot.

Reset router and reflashed firmware. Also tried different router. Same issue.

Opened phone to look for wifi antenna, completely removed main chip from phone, inspected visually, no obvious corrosion or tarnish on metal contacts. Disconnected all contacts possible and reconnected after inspecting.

Finally resorted to rooting my phone, and going in as a SU and deleting wpa_supplicant.conf from system/data/etc/wifi and rebooting.

Nothing has worked, I'm desperate. This is a work phone and they refuse to give me a upgrade or new one, and I'm forced to use my phone all day as navigation, when I'm home I need wifi, I am only allowed 2gb per month and I have been going over my limit because of this problem. Any help greatly appreciated.

[Rukbat]

It sounds as if the wifi antenna got disconnected, broken or the cable connecting it to the motherboard broke. It's not the obvious cable, that's the cellphone antenna.