iHome iH9 Antenna Replacement

ID: 37845

Description: If your device is producing bad sound quality,...

Steps:

1. Pull the tab towards you and lift up to remove the battery cover.
2. Remove the two AA batteries.

3. Unscrew the four 8mm Phillips #2 screws.
4. Unscrew the six 25mm Phillips #2 screws.
5. Reinstall the backup battery cover so it is out of the way.

6. Pry the backplate up with a plastic opening tool between the back plate and the speaker grill.
7. Be careful when lifting the bottom plate up; there is a short white and orange 4-pin connector attached to its underside.
8. Lift the bottom plate up while making sure the connector remains attached.

9. Use your hands to flip the backing plate away from you and rest it upside down on the iH9.
10. Unplug the white and orange 4-pin connector by pulling it in the direction of the wires.
11. Set the backing plate aside.

12. Place the device so that the speaker grill is face down.
13. Remove the two 10mm Phillips #2 screws on interior sides of the speaker housings.

14. Place the iH9 upside down.
15. Wires connect the core assembly to the housing; do not attempt to pull the core assembly completely out.
16. Using both hands, pull the housing siding away from the device while simultaneously lifting the motherboard and speaker assembly straight up.
17. Repeat for the other side.

18. Stand the iH9 on its grill.
19. Separate the motherboard and speaker assembly by rocking it back and forth and pulling the assembly towards you.
20. Remove the small back panel.

21. Firmly pull the wide 9-pin connector with black covering on the underside of the upper housing to unplug it.
22. Lay the housing and core assembly flat and close to each one another.

23. Unplug the narrow 9-pin connector from the motherboard.

24. Cut the zip tie holding the wires together with a wire cutter. The two sides of the device housing are now fully separated.

25. Set the motherboard assembly upside down to expose the spot of glue holding the antenna to the motherboard.
26. Pry up the glue with a metal spuger.

27. Flip the assembly over, the solder point is on the side opposite where the antenna comes out
28. Heat this point with a soldering iron while gently pulling the antenna down.
29. See the "How to Solder and Desolder Connections" guide