Apple AirPort Extreme Model A1143 Teardown
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 12 Steps
Ready to dive into the world of tech? Let’s get cracking on taking apart the Airport Extreme 802.11n! Follow these steps carefully, and you’ll be a pro in no time. Remember, if you run into any trouble, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
– We recently got our hands on the new Airport Extreme 802.11n. Instead of diving straight into disassembly, we decided to run some quick benchmarks first—because why not? (Yes, our screwdrivers felt a little lonely for a bit.) Here’s a sneak peek to give you a taste of what’s to come. The new base station is impressive: we saw a 10x boost in performance and a 3x increase in usable range—way better than Apple’s claims of 5x and 2x. For detailed benchmarks, check out the next page.
Step 2
– What’s in the box? You’ll find a base station, our iconic $1.99 install CD, a compact power brick, and a handy manual. Just a heads up, there’s no USB or ethernet cables included.
– Our office setup is a bit of a spread-out adventure! We’ve got two snow 802.11g base stations and two Airport Express units. The good news? We might just be able to simplify things and replace all of them with a single new base station!
Step 3
The base station matches the Mac Mini in size, but stands a little taller than a stack of pancakes—just over half its height.
– From the bottom up: here’s your Mac Mini, followed by the shiny new base station, and the trusty old base station on top.
– This device is seriously solid and has a bit more heft (1.70 pounds) compared to the old base stations (1.22 pounds).
Step 4
These benchmarks are a bit rough around the edges, but they should give you a general idea of performance. All tests were run on a MacBook Pro 15″ with a Core 2 Duo, using both a ‘snow’ 802.11g Airport Extreme Base Station and the upgraded 802.11n Airport Extreme Base Station.
– Here’s the legendary $1.99 unlock for 802.11n Wi-Fi. Sarbanes-Oxley approved—because even your Wi-Fi likes to follow the rules.
Step 5
We ran each benchmark at least three times and averaged the results for you. Speeds can change a lot depending on distance—our base stations were inside, but to hit that 300-foot mark, we had to venture outside for some fresh air.
Here’s a breakdown of transfer speeds at 5, 100, and 300 feet for both base stations. The graph isn’t perfectly to scale, but it gives you a solid look at how distance impacts speed.
Step 6
– We transferred two 35MB QuickTime files (70MB total). The first spot was 5 feet away from the base station. Using the G base station, we saw a communication quality of 56, while the N base station gave us a much better 76. To check the communication quality, just run the command `/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/airport -I`.
When you’re 5 feet away, N was zipping along at an impressive 9 MB/s (average around 7.8 MB/s). Usually, I keep an ethernet cable handy at my desk for those big file transfers. But with 802.11n Wi-Fi, you can ditch the cable and keep things wireless. At 300 feet, even with a building blocking the way, we still managed a decent 500 KB/s. We got tired of walking and stopped, but chances are, you’d still get signal at twice that distance. If you’re aiming to cut the cord and go wireless, Salvation Repair is here to help if you need it.
Step 7
Check out the numbers on the bottom: FCC ID BCGA1143, IC: 579C-A1143, and Model Number A1143. They’re like the secret codes that help us know exactly what we’re working with!
– There’s a rubber pad stuck to the bottom with some pretty stubborn adhesive. Gently peel it off to get access to the base station—slow and steady wins the race!
– Underneath that pad, you’ll find five Phillips #0 screws waiting to be unscrewed. Grab your screwdriver and set them free.
Step 8
– Gently pop out the perforated plastic cover and set it aside.
Step 9
The upper case has two hefty aluminum blocks that Apple uses for heat dissipation. That’s right – the upper case weighs in at 0.9 lbs, which is more than half the total weight!
Inside, you’ll find three antennas carefully tucked away: one at the front (white cable), one on the left (grey cable), and one on the right (black cable). All of them sport standard antenna connectors, so nothing too fancy here!
– Carefully lift the innards of the base station out of its casing.
Step 10
Check out this crisp, close-up shot of the top side of the logic board.
– Here’s the top of the logic board. Notable features: a 3V battery (could be for the clock?), two Samsung memory chips, and the Apple part number #820-1942-A. Oh, and the processor is snug under a heat sink for protection.
Step 11
Take a look at this high-res shot of the logic board’s underside for a super clear view.
– Here’s the underside of the logic board. Nothing wild here—just a big component under a heat sink, a plastic cover over the LED up in the top right, four ethernet ports, one USB port, a power jack, and the reset button. The airport card’s Apple part number is 603-9396-A.
Step 12
– Looking to fix your iPod without the hassle? Salvation Repair has got you covered with genuine iPod parts and straightforward repair guides. Plus, if you’re upgrading your Mac laptop or replacing a part in your iBook, PowerBook, MacBook, or MacBook Pro, we offer a wide selection of parts at prices that won’t break the bank. When you’re ready to get your device back in shape, remember: if you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
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