crwdns2933423:0crwdne2933423:0

Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement

crwdns2942213:0crwdne2942213:0

  1. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement, Top Housing: crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement, Top Housing: crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Power down your Mac mini, disconnect all of the cables, and flip it over.

    • Insert the Jimmy into the crack between the aluminum top housing and the plastic lower housing.

    • The Jimmy should reach a stop about 3/8" down.

  2. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Gently bend the Jimmy outwards to pry the crack open a little larger and lift the lower housing up a small amount.

    • There are several plastic clips on the lower housing that fit into a channel in the aluminum top housing. Your goal is to use the Jimmy to push these clips inward enough to free them from the channel, while gently pulling up on the lower housing.

  3. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Once you have the first side free, rotate the Mac mini and start prying up on the front edge.

    • Use the same prying motion to both bend the clips inward and lift the lower housing up out of the top housing.

  4. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • You may need to move the Jimmy along the edge to pry up all of the clips. Be patient and do a little bit at a time.

  5. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Keep working around the perimeter, freeing the clips along the final edge.

  6. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Flip the Mac mini back over and lift the top housing off of the lower housing.

  7. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement, Internal Frame: crwdns2935265:07crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • In the next few steps you will be removing the AirPort and Bluetooth antennas (shown in red) from the internal frame. Be very careful, as breaking the brackets will require replacing the internal frame.

    • We will first remove the AirPort antenna, located in the lower left corner of this picture.

  8. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Slightly squeeze the two retaining arms toward each other and lift the AirPort antenna off its post.

    • Squeezing the two posts excessively will surely break them off the internal frame. Work delicately.

    • During reinstallation, you will have to slightly squeeze the two posts together so they fit into the openings on the AirPort antenna board.

  9. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • The two Bluetooth antenna boards simply lift off the internal frame.

    • Grab the Bluetooth antenna nearest the port side of the computer by the edges of the board and pull it straight up off the internal frame.

    • Pull carefully, as it may offer significant resistance and release suddenly.

  10. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the antenna board near the front of the mini by pulling it straight up off the internal frame.

    • If necessary, remove the piece of tape securing the antenna leads to the internal frame.

    • Be sure to keep track of the springs under each of the three antenna boards.

  11. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the audio ribbon cable connector up off the audio board.

  12. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:012crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the following four screws securing the internal frame to the bottom housing:

    • Three 6.7 mm Phillips #00 screws

    • One 9.5 mm Phillips #00 screw

    • The screw in the lower right corner of this image is recessed deep in the internal frame and longer than the other three screws. A flashlight and a thin screwdriver aid in removal.

  13. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:013crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the internal frame off the bottom housing, starting at the rear edge, until you feel the concealed edge connector on the motherboard disconnect. Then lift straight off, minding the bluetooth and 802.11 antenna cables.

    • When reassembling, the wifi antenna wire routes to the inside of the vent and then over the top of the vent.

  14. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement, AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card: crwdns2935265:014crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the three antenna connectors off the AirPort/Bluetooth combo card.

    • The black/blue antenna cable attaches to the AirPort card near the corner of the mini, and the white antenna cable attaches nearest the center of the mini.

  15. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:015crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth ribbon cable connector up off the combo card.

  16. Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Model A1283 AirPort/Bluetooth Combo Card Replacement: crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the three silver Phillips screws securing the combo card to the logic board.

    • Lift the combo card out of your mini.

crwdns2915888:0crwdne2915888:0

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

crwdns2935229:010crwdne2935229:0

Walter Galan

693,915 crwdns2915208:0crwdne2915208:0

crwdns2935297:01,203crwdne2935297:0

crwdns2944067:010crwdne2944067:0

where can I buy the Bluetooth antenna in china.or how to make sure my Bluetooth had broken.

xin - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

This card is unsupported in macOS Sierra, so this device is outdated by Apple, however folks have been able to replace the card by a "compatible card" and patch the macOS Sierra install app, to actually install sierra on this version of the Mac.

I would appreciate if iFixit could provide a guide as to which cards could work, especially in terms of the size/dimensions, in this unit.

Gene Rogers - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

I just successfully upgraded my Mac Mini 3,1 (Early 2009) to the BCM943224PCIEBT from a Unibody MacBook A1278 and everything works swimmingly on macOS Sierra 10.12.

As an Apple Certified Mac Technician, I can tell you that this has by far been the most challenging replacement I have ever done.

There are two hurdles to overcome. First is that the MacBook card is shorter, second is that the uFL connector from the antennas are slightly shorter than the connection on the new board, so I had to really jerry-rig it in there with a bunch of electrical tape.

I will be posting a write up sometime soon, and will update you when its done. In the meantime, go buy the card from eBay for $5 https://is.gd/PxYlLt

Get My Mac On -

Have you made tutorial?

adrian.c -

Thanx for your tip.Would you care to share how you solved the hurdles? Maybe with pictures?

arne - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

crwdns2917038:0crwdne2917038:0

crwdns2936625:0crwdne2936625:0:

crwdns2936751:024crwdne2936751:0 2

crwdns2936753:07crwdne2936753:0 11

crwdns2936753:030crwdne2936753:0 45

crwdns2942667:0crwdne2942667:0 42,187