a1278 Antennas

[sonicsteve]

Hi folks I'm new here,

I was trying to remove the superdrive from my mackbook 2012 and replace it with an extra hard drive bay.

I accidentally snipped one of the antennas. It's connector is labled J3 on the airport board. Does anyone know what this particular antenna is used for? I'm wondering if it would easier to buy a USB replacement dongle, or replace the antenna.

The Wifi works fine. My hunch is that it's bluetooth related.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[JTToft]

I'd guess the J3 connector is Bluetooth.
Why don't you just check to see if your Bluetooth is working?

 

[sonicsteve]

I'd guess the J3 connector is Bluetooth.
Why don't you just check to see if your Bluetooth is working?

I tried that with mixed results. My phone sees the Macbook, but the macbook can't see anything. I'm really just trying to confirm without any doubt. This is my first Mac so I'm not quite used to how it behaves with certain functions, like with bluetooth.

 

[sonicsteve]

Next step

I took an antenna from another laptop (didn't fit perfectly), and it seems that J3 is responsible for bluetooth reception.

Now the question is this,

This particular antenna doesn't seem to be part of the main group of antennas included in this replacement part, I can only see three connectors.
http://www.powerbookmedic.com/MacBook-and-MacBook-Pro-Unibody-Airport-Antenna-p-18060.html

There bluetooth usb dongles that work, has anyone tried this? For instance
http://www.iogear.com/product/GBU521/

 

[mhrob]

The Bluetooth antenna is not part of the cables that come out of the display: it is the golden tipped cable that stands out because it snaps on the LONG SIDE of the wifi-bluetooth card, not on the SHORT SIDE, like the 3 other cables do.

The antenna module is GLUED to the bottom case and mostly hidden under the left side speaker along the left side of the bottom case. If you search for it on Google or eBay, be sure not to be confused by the labeling of the "cables" module vs the "antenna" module with are quite different animals. The antenna module is tiny (2 in. max), the cables module is much longer (4 in min.) and is hidden inside the monitor's plastic black hinge.

< http://www.powerbookmedic.com/MacBook-and-MacBook-Pro-Unibody-Airport-Antenna-p-18060.html >
< https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-MacBook-Pro-A1278-Bluetooth-Antenna-/382672770100 >

 

[maflynn]

The Bluetooth antenna is not part of the cables that come out of the display:

I'm pretty sure the OP has moved on, since its been 4 years since he started the thread.