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First-generation Apple iPad with Wi-Fi, available with 16, 32, or 64 GB. Model Number A1219. Repairs are straightforward and do not require heat.

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converting regular Ipad to Ipad 3G

Hello, After watching the Ipad 3g tear-down and checking the price difference between Ipads with and without 3g, I came up with this question:

Is there any way to convert an Ipad Wi - Fi to an Ipad 3g by buying the 3g circuitry and antenna, and possibly updating the firmware? bear in mind that the price difference from cheapest to most expensive is about 400 dollars but the issue is not money, it would only be interesting if it was possible.

Thanks beforehand!

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from what I've seen, it'll be a lot of tinkering. If you look at the wifi's mothrboard, the 3G chip is just a add-on. and its like a PCI-E mini like slot. If you solder all the connections, its likely that it'll run like a 3G. The problem is the RF window on the top and the antenna. You'll need to wire an antenna inside and if you don't do anything about the RF window, your reception will not be as good as aluminum isn't that great for reception. Also theres the SIM tray you need to make...

One interesting thing to do is to take the 3G chip out of a 3G and see if it reports as a wifi ipad, because if so, the 3G is all in that chip and the logic board just checks to see if its there and reports it.

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Go to the iPad teardown, step 13 to see what I mean

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They run different OS's though

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but if the OS is dependent on hardware and the MoBo reports a 3G board and thats all it needs to be a "3G iPad" then at restore, it'll "correct" it. The only way I can think of to prove this is to take the 3G board out of a 3G and see if it reports as a WiFi model.

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It wouldn't though, the OS that's installed on the iPad itself, is different for the different models, the OS doesn't change itself based on what it detects.

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But that would just make things more complicated for Apple! One time itunes thought my iPod touch was an iPhone (idk why) and just to see what would happen, I restored it, and I got the NO SIM sign on the top and my music icon was turned into a iPod icon, thus iPhone OS.

In the end, the hardware is the same, its just those add-ons.

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No it's not possible, there's a reason why it's a lot more expensive. The entire form factor of the whole machine is very different. I'm pretty sure they have different logic boards too.

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When you use a 3G Ipad logic board in a Wi-Fi Ipad you lose the Wi-Fi too.... SO what you get is a large Ipod.... There is some of the Wi-Fi on the 3G board as there is an additional Wi-Fi antenna connection on the 3G board.

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