Apple AirPort Extreme Model A1143 Teardown

Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 12 Steps

Ready to take apart the Airport Extreme 802.11n? Let’s do this step-by-step. First, make sure you’ve powered down the device and unplugged all cables. Grab your toolkit and find a clean workspace. Carefully remove the screws securing the casing—patience is key here. Once the screws are out, gently pry open the case, taking care not to damage any clips or connectors inside. With the case open, you’ll have access to the internal components—proceed with caution and keep track of all parts. If you run into any tricky spots or need expert hands, you can always schedule a repair with Salvation Repair for professional help.

Step 1

– Our brand-new Airport Extreme 802.11n just landed, and before we let our tools loose, we decided to see what this thing could really do. (Don’t worry, the screwdrivers got their time to shine soon enough.) Here’s a little preview to get you excited.

– This base station is seriously impressive. We saw a 10x jump in performance and a 3x boost in usable range—way ahead of what Apple claims. Check out the next page for the full benchmark details.

Step 2

– What’s in the box? Base station, a classic $1.99 install CD, a power brick that’s slightly smaller than expected, and a manual. No USB or ethernet cables though, so you’ll need your own.

– Our office setup is a bit spread out–we’re rocking two snow 802.11g base stations and a couple of Airport Express units. But hey, we might just swap them all out with a single new base station!

Step 3

– Stacked from the bottom up: Mac Mini, the shiny new base station, and then the trusty old base station up top.

– This device feels solid—and it’s got some heft, weighing in at 1.70 pounds versus the lighter, 1.22-pound older base stations.

Step 4

– Here’s the famous 802.11n Sarbanes-Oxley-approved $1.99 802.11n enabler. Perfect for boosting your device’s Wi-Fi capabilities without breaking the bank!

Step 5

Step 6

– We moved two 35MB quicktime files (that’s 70MB altogether). Our first test spot was just 5 feet away from the base station. Using the G base station, the comm quality showed up as 56, while the N base station gave us a commQuality of 76. To check your commQuality, run this command in Terminal: `/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/airport -I`.

Step 7

– The bottom of your device has a rubber pad held on by some sticky adhesive. Peel it off to reveal the base station.

– Underneath that pad, you’ll find five Phillips #0 screws waiting to be removed. Grab your screwdriver and get to work!

Step 8

– Gently pop out the perforated plastic cover—like you’re taking the lid off a secret snack stash.

Step 9

– Gently lift the innards of the base station out of its cozy casing.

Step 10

– Here’s the top side of the logic board—check it out! You’ll spot a 3V battery (possibly for the clock), two Samsung memory chips, and the Apple part number 820-1942-A stamped on there. The processor is hanging out underneath a heat sink, keeping cool. Pretty neat, right?

Step 11

– Take a look at the bottom of the logic board—pretty chill down here. There’s something big hiding under a heat sink, mysterious style. Up at the top right, you’ll spot a plastic cover over the LED. Along the edge: four ethernet ports, a solo USB port, a power jack, and the reset button. For the curious, the airport card’s Apple part number is 603-9396-A.

Step 12

– A little shout-out: Salvation Repair has your back with all the iPod parts you might need. Fixing an iPod on your own is a breeze with our parts and handy repair guides at your fingertips.

– Oh, and if you’re in the market for Mac laptop parts, we’ve got you covered there too! Whether it’s an iBook, PowerBook, MacBook, or MacBook Pro, we offer a wide range of parts and upgrades at prices that won’t break the bank.

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