If you're like me, you discovered your RCD-N7 lost all usb and internet functionality.
Symptoms: no USB or iPod dock functionality. Ethernet ports do not light up when a cable is plugged in. Wifi connection cannot even see networks. With these problems, the display will never let you go past step 2 for Network/USB/iPod setup.
Since mine is out of warranty, I wasn't afraid to open it up and see what the problem was. Here is what I found, and here is how I fixed it:
Open it up.
1) Unscrew the white side plates (rear and bottom screws).
2) Unscrew the white front plate (bottom screws).
3) Remove the sides **note, all screws, save for the flat bottom ones, are the exact same size. Don't worry about keeping track of what goes where, just don't lose them**
4) Unscrew all screws on the sides, securing the metal framework together. 5) Gently push in metal tabs on left and right sides, near the front white faceplate, to gently remove the front faceplate. **note, front faceplate has wires connecting it to the main body - do not pull too hard. Just enough to separate it**
5) Gently lift the white plastic top of the unit (still fastened to the metal sides, this is okay). **note, the top's iPod dock is connected to a board inside with very little slack. You can slide your hand in and gently remove this connector from the board**
IMG_3001 | Flickr - RCD-N7 repair
6) Now you can clearly see the Network/USB board.
IMG_2995 | Flickr - RCD-N7 repair
7) Please note the black foam tape - this is where the problem originated. The wifi card lost connection to its power, which it draws from the Ethernet/USB board below it. The wifi card losing connectivity causes all 3 to stop functioning.
IMG_2996 | Flickr - RCD-N7 repair
8) Do not perform this step unless you're curious. Not necessary to complete the fix.
IMG_2997 | Flickr - RCD-N7 repair
9) To firmly secure the wifi card, I simply pressed the two boards together in that tape area. I could feel and see the connecting. The boards were noticeably closer together. I then used a small strip of tape, laid over the foam, to redo what the foam tape was originally intended to do.
10) Before you reassemble, I suggest you test it. Starting with the unit unplugged, press and hold the volume up & down buttons at the same time on the loose front faceplate. Now plug in the AC power cord in the back. Release the volume buttons, and the display should read "Initialized". After the screen changes from initialized, you should test an ethernet cable first for lights around the ethernet port on the back. Lights took nearly 30 seconds to turn on for me, so give it a little patience.
If they light up
only when a cable is plugged in: hooray you're done! Reassemble and enjoy.
If they light up
without a cable plugged in, the wifi card is only partially connected. You'll want to recheck the connection of the wifi card, and may as well check the neighboring connections as well while it's open.
If it does not light up at all, don't worry! The connection is finicky, and just try resecuring them. This happened to me and it all worked out well in the end.
**Note, if you unplug the wifi card while the unit is powered on, it will likely register a hardware error and power off, making the power light flash red on the front panel. No damage has been done, you just need to reset again with the volume buttons. IMPORTANT! Your ethernet port will not light up if the power light is flashing red. It will only light up when the power light is solid green (aka powered on).
I hope this helps someone. It was a tedious process, but well worth it in the end. My unit is performing the firmware upgrade while we speak.