BlackBerry Curve 8900 Antenna Replacement

Written By: Johnny Tran

Comments: 9

BlackBerry Curve 8900 Antenna Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

20 - 30 minutes

Introduction

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 is a 2008 cellphone, developed by BlackBerry Limited (previously known as RIM, or Research In Motion).

This page is a step by step guide on how to replace the cellphone's antenna. You might find this replacement necessary if your Blackberry Curve experiences frequent call drops, static, poor reception, slow download speeds, or generally low wireless signals. If you can't replace a damaged/faulty antenna, your device might be incapable of receiving signals from cell towers.

Luckily, this repair requires no special background knowledge and can be completed in a few simple steps.

Tools

Step 1

Remove the back cover of the phone.
The battery will now be visible.

Pry off the back and separate it from the front of the phone case. You should see the battery once you pry the back off.

(rewriting the second sentence)

You will see the battery once the cover is removed.

Aubrey - 12/03/15

Step 2

Pinch the battery at the grey semi-circles on the top left and top right corners of the battery using your fingers and remove it from the device.

On both sides of the battery, there is a lighter grey half-circle. This is the best place to use your fingers to gently lift the battery free of the housing. Set aside the old battery, then replace it with the new battery. It should easily fit into place.

(deleted "it sits in") from second sentence

Aubrey - 12/03/15

Replace backing of phone, pressing gently to secure to back of phone case ( There seems to be a bit of repetition in this sentence so I rewrote it.)

Reattach the back cover by pressing gently until cover is secure.

Aubrey - 12/03/15

Step 3

Remove the lower rear cover, using a small iFixit opening tool.

Step 4

Remove the six screws from the mid-frame of the device, using the T6 Torx Screwdriver.
Set the screws aside once they've been removed.

Should say something like ‘Beginning from the middle of the device begin removing screws with a screwdriver…’ or ‘Using a screw driver, begin removing screws from the middle of the device…’ instead

Deepika Sawyer - 28/04/21

Step 5

Gently remove the mid-frame from the phone, exposing the motherboard.
This is the motherboard.

Step 6

Gently pull back the plastic tabs that secure the motherboard to the case.
Slowly pull the tabs, working your way around the case, until they are lifted and the motherboard is free.
Remove the motherboard.
The keypad and navigation ball may become loose and fall off the motherboard.

First bullet should be red

Deepika Sawyer - 28/04/21

Step 7

Carefully detach the antenna from the two clips on the side of the motherboard.
Disconnect the antenna from the motherboard in the same manner.

Step 8

Carefully disconnect the ribbon cable located on the bottom right of the motherboard.

Bullet should be red

Deepika Sawyer - 28/04/21

Step 9

Locate the chip underneath the screen.
Gently remove the screen, without applying too much pressure, taking care not to damage it.

‘…by applying too much pressure…’

forgot much

Deepika Sawyer - 28/04/21

bullet should be red

Deepika Sawyer - 28/04/21

Step 10

Lift up the motherboard from the bottom edge to reveal the ribbon cables.
Carefully disconnect the two ribbon cables connecting the motherboard to the display on either side.
Remove the motherboard and place off to the side.