Squak Mountain Consulting, Inc.

Linksys BEFW11S4 V2 Disassembly Instructions

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Linksys BEFW11S4.V2 Wireless Access Point Disassembly

You take all the responsibility for your use of this information.
There is no warranty, no support, no assurances.
There are errors in this information.
If you hurt yourself and/or others, it's your fault.
If you destroy your equipment or invalidate the warranties, it's your fault.
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NOTE: There is nothing to clean or adjust inside this unit, so there's very little reason to actually perform this procedure other than curiousity.

You'll need:

  • the  BEFW11S4.V2 Access Point
  • a #1 phillips screwdriver
  • an open-ended adjustable wrench,
  • a metal probe that can reach around right angles
  • a thin, blunt tool that's about .5mm thick to pry the case open with. Anything with a sharp edge ( like Swiss Army knives ) should be avoided, as you don't want to scratch the insides while you're working. The metal nailfile in the pictures worked great, and is cheaply obtained at the local drugstore or nearby girlfriend ( ASK FIRST if you don't want to sleep on the couch ! ).

  • Re-assembly is mostly the reverse of dis-assembly. The notes indicate where it is otherwise.

    1. Turn the AP upside down and remove the rubber feet.
    2. Unscrew any screws you find under the rubber feet.
    3. Remove the antenna nut caps
    4. Revealing the knurled antenna nuts
    5. Unscrew the antenna nuts and remove both antennae
    6. Unscrew the antenna connector nuts

    7. Remove the nut and its two washers. 

    NOTE: the rubber washer is closest to the case.  So, the order starting at the case is: rubber washer, metal washer, nut.

    8. Use outward pressure on the feet of the case to pull off the front ( blue ) cover
    9. Revealing the front cover locking groove.
    10. Fully removing the front cover reveals the status lights, the inside of the case, the antenna pigtails and the back of the antenna connectors.
    11. Push the antenna connectors into the case, which frees the innards from the back of the case.
    12. Turn the unit upside down.  Pull on the back/top of the case.  As you pull, you will see the metal bar that bridges the two antenna connectors.

    13. After you've removed the back/top of the case and the metal bar, turn the unit right-side-up.

    Remove the metal bar and set it aside.  

    14. Pull and twist on the pigtails to remove them.

    15. Unlock 2 sides of the Outer RF Shield.

    The locks are metal tabs of the shield that are pushed into holes in the base.  You must bend these tabs out of the holes to release the locks.  BE GENTLE ! BE PATIENT !To re-lock during re-assembly, push the tabs back in.

    Use a flat, dull piece of metal (nail file shown in top picture), and something small and curved that can pry from behind the lock (dental pick shown in bottom picture).

    16. Remove the Outer RF Shield, revealing the motherboard and the radio daughtercard.
    17. Unscrew the motherboard from the case bottom.

    18. Slide the motherboard 1/4 inch to position the locks to the open position.  Then lift the motherboard off the case bottom.

    In this photo, the locks on the case bottom and the motherboard are highlighted.

    19. Unscrew the screws that hold the radio daughtercard in place.
    20. Remove the radio daughtercard and set it aside.
    21. That's the end of the procedure.