How-to: Mac mini Take-Apart
Replacing AirPort and Bluetooth
Prerequisites
Tools You Will Need
- #0 Phillips Screwdriver
Disassembly
Caution: The AirPort and Bluetooth antennae are fragile, and kinks can affect their performance. Do not alter their shape.
Unless you only want to remove the antennae, we recommend against removing them while the mezzanine board is still attchaed to the logic board. Given the limited room to work inside the case, the small connectors are likely to bend. Instead, remove the two #0 screws that secure the mezzanine board to the logic board. Gently lift it straight up off of the mezzanine connector.
You can easily access the antenna once the mezzanine board has been removed. The Bluetooth antenna is very small and fragile, and should be removed first lest other actions cause its demise. The connector is very small and can be pried free with a fingernail or nonconductive tool. Pull firmly, but take care to not cause any damage.
The AirPort Extreme antenna uses a standard MC Card connector. It is quite a bit larger and sturdier that the Bluetooth antenna’s connector; it will also take some force to remove.
The two antennae are not interchangable.
Remove the two #0 screws that secure the Bluetooth module to the mezzanine board, then gently remove the Bluetooth module. The AirPort Extreme card may or may not be secured with Kapton tape. On a factory installation, three pieces of Kapton tape typically secure the card, but a service install may not have any (it should, however). If the tape is present, peel back enough of the tape to free the card. (Kapton tape can maintain its adhesion with several removals.) The card also may or may not have a clear plastic tab to pull and easily remove the card from the connector. If not, grip the card firmly on both side edges and pull straight out.
The AirPort Extreme card is Apple’s standard mini-PCI 802.11g module based on a Broadcom chip. We’ll be playing around with this down the road.
Reassembly
Begin by inserting the AirPort Extreme card into the mezzanine board by aligning the card with the connector and pressing in very firmly. It is easy to not fully secure the card, so make sure that there is no additional travel in the card when you press in. Resecure the Kapton tape if it was used. The tape is especially important at the end of the card where the antenna connector is. Without it, the card will come to rest on one of the logic board components when the mezzanine card is inverted and reattached. If your installation didn’t have the card secured, we advise buying some tape and securing it tight to the mezzanine board.
Connect the Bluetooth module to the mezzanine board and attach using two #0 screws. Attach the AirPort Extreme antenna by aligning the connector and pressing very firmly in. The connector should click when fully inserted. Attach the Bluetooth antenna similarly.
Without damaging the antennae, align and connect the mezzanine card to the logic board. The mezzanine card fits very closely to the modem card and might need a slight push to fit in the proper place. Replace the two #0 screws and the internal frame is ready to be replaced.