Chosen Solution
Wondering if there was antennae (more than 1 antenna) anywhere for wifi in that teardown? Wasn’t there one inside of iPad 1 behind the apple logo?
Yes - there is a flex antenna for Wifi, located on outside surface of the internal acoustic chamber for speakers, near the home key button. It is attached via a foam pad with adhesive on both sides. When the lens is assembled, the pad pushes the antenna flat against the inside of the glass (blacked out non-viewing area). There is also additional adhesive on the inside surface of the glass, which the flex antenna adheres to. The antenna then connects to the main PCB board via a coax cable which is soldered to the flex on one end, and then connected to the PCB via a coax quick connector on the other.
J Lee, GlobalDirectParts.com has them, but I wouldn’t recommend them. I just ordered my iPad 2 digitizer from them and I received it broken. The flex cable was torn and not usable. I had waited for 2 weeks to get it and now I have to ship it to them and then they ship me another from China. But so far, they are the only ones that I have seen that actually have this part. They also have a minimum quantity order, which sucks…. But I have come to the conclusion that this is indeed a wifi antenna because my wifi is very weak. I may go ahead and order some today. If you still need one and I receive it in the mail, I can let you know and just list them on ebay or something.
It definitely affects to WiFi operation. I replaced my digitizer couple weeks ago and had torn the damned antenna as well. I soldered cable back to the antenna surface, but it was a really hard job, so was not sure about the quality. I tested WiFi and Bluetooth operation. WiFi seemed to be less sensitive, but working well within my apartments. I had been working fine by yesterday when it failed to discover my network. I spent an hour making resets, installing the latest firmware, but nothing helped. Then I put Ipad right next to the WiFi router and it worked out. Signal was week, but stable. I placed the device on a table in 1 meter range from the router. The signal became even weaker, one point on the indicator. Then I started pushing on the display at place where the antenna is located. Suddenly, signal raised up to a maximum, then dropped again. So whatever it is Bluetooth or not, the antenna somehow affects to WiFi operation. I’ve ordered a new one, but I’m itching to try to fix it earlier.
As with a few of us, I also broke the Wifi antenna (despite of following instruction and being careful) while doing the broken digitizer replacement. I ordered a new WiFi Antenna. But the one I got is a little different and does not have the flat PCB with a flex wire, but instead have a think black plastic casing. I don’t think it is the right part. Searching online this does come up as a replacement ipad2 antenna. To see an example see : http://www.sourcingcat.com/product_info…. Is this the right antenna? If not, what is this one used for, and where on the ipad2 will it fit?
I think the part you are after is this one here: http://www.powerbookmedic.com/iPad-2-Wi-…
I replaced this part and now the ipad gets possesed and starts ytping all on its own! I guess its something to do with the way I stuck the screen back down :-(
I dont really understand , maybe it must be my Ipad 2 is maggic, as most of you while changing the screen digitizer I complety distroyed the antena next to home button, ( When I said distroyed , I mean it, is only a bit of the cable left the foam and chip is all gonne) so I was like shite now I lost my wifi, but still decided to test my ipad 2 and wifi works as good as before, the bluetooth is gone , so for sure that antena is just for bluetooth, so I just wont be bother to change it as I never use bluetooth. Peace every one
I have an iPad 2 3G, I fixed the broken digitizer after using the iPad as it was for around a month…. I also ripped the antenna from it’s 3 screws securing it to the metal back housing, the wifi worked for a bit, Bluetooth also sometimes worked. Having seen the price of the antenna and the realizing the hardest part I had already done, I ordered the the antenna fitted it in, and no wifi… No bluetooth…. WHEN I stand next to my router, I suddenly get a bar of wifi signal, but still no Bluetooth… Really gutted, I want to seal this iPad back up, but It’s really doing my nutt in… I refuse to give up…. I checked the continuity on the mini coaxial cable that connects to the logic board and it’s shorting…. On the old antenna and the new one I bought, I was wanting to share results, can anyone do the same with an antenna they have spare or in fron of them… I know it’s really small cable and it has 2 cores so are very easy to damage..l BUT I need to know, if anyone’s reading? Is there continuity at the coaxial plug of the antenna? Further info is that I have not taken any of the tape of the adhesive stickers yet, that shouldn’t make any difference though, as wifi works through walls and this is only a few pieces of tape we are talking about…
there are 2 ports for antennae (antennas ok???) on the pinky sized wifi card. you can just chew the coax cable off and put your cantenna on it. i am not sure if one is for bluetooth or if bluetooth is just a software setting using the main port (most likely with crapple). it looks like most problems with the people are having are because they 1. tore apart the screen without properly heating the glue and removing the wifi antenna first or 2. did not properly secure the coax cable to the port before sealing the ipad screen back up. my advice, dont use the glue and let it hang for a while so you can test all the buttons and features.
I also replace digitizer, then cut wifi antennae ordered a oem wifi flex cable replaced it and NO WIFI, check all connecetios several times and cant figure it out. It is driving me nuts. Everything else works fine. But no wifi
The wifi Antenna is a single antenna that is Wifi/Bluetooth. I recently replaced one of these and had poor wifi reception but after finding out the one I installed was faulty I sent it back for a replacement and now Wi-FI works awesome. It doesn’t need to be installed in any special way but it is a very fragile cable that can be damaged easily so avoid flexing the cable when installing.
