GPS antenna damaged... Functionality?

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iPhone 5

Repair information, troubleshooting tips, and guides for the sixth iteration of Apple iPhone, announced on September 12, 2012. Model: A1428, A1429

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zackven @zackven

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Posted: Mar 3, 2016

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GPS antenna damaged... Functionality?

Hi all,

So I am trying to bring an iPhone 5 back from the grave and I am curious about one thing.... The phone was severly damaged but still managed to power on with a replacement screen. During disassembly though this tab broke off of the logic board.... Did I just destroy any chance I had of resurrecting this phone? Pics attached below. My best guess is that this is for grounding or for another antenna of some sort?

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So upon further research it looks like these are for a GPS antenna.... Does this mean I have no GPS now or just decreased reception?

Mar 3, 2016 by zackven

I've broke this multiple times before. Not a single customer complained about GPS, Signal, Wi-Fi or bluetooth degradation. Remember to unscrew it next time (There are two phillips head screws for the antennas)

Mar 3, 2016 by Ben

Thanks for the reply! Sad thing is I did unscrew it and still managed to rip it. These ribbon cables are terrible.....

Mar 3, 2016 by zackven

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Tom Chai @tomchai

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Posted: Mar 3, 2016

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The two flex cables are for GPS and cell diversity. Losing cell diversity means poor reception and slower downloads, losing GPS means losing GPS.

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4 Comments:

Thanks for the reply! So I wonder how loosing just one of these tabs will have an impact. The reply above seems to say not much at all but I guess we shall see as I do not want to attempt a desolder of the flex cable.

Mar 3, 2016 by zackven

So if I am reading that right, one corresponds with cell and the other with gps? If so any chance you can tell me which one I broke?

Mar 3, 2016 by zackven

The broken one is for GPS.

Mar 3, 2016 by Tom Chai

So the phone is back together and everything seems to be functional. It does acquire gps signal and location with both wifi and cell off. Accuracy seems to be a bit decreased but not terrible. It is still usable!

Mar 6, 2016 by zackven

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So upon further research it looks like these are for a GPS antenna.... Does this mean I have no GPS now or just decreased reception? — zackven
I've broke this multiple times before. Not a single customer complained about GPS, Signal, Wi-Fi or bluetooth degradation. Remember to unscrew it next time (There are two phillips head screws for the antennas) — Ben
Thanks for the reply! Sad thing is I did unscrew it and still managed to rip it. These ribbon cables are terrible..... — zackven
Thanks for the reply! So I wonder how loosing just one of these tabs will have an impact. The reply above seems to say not much at all but I guess we shall see as I do not want to attempt a desolder of the flex cable. — zackven
So if I am reading that right, one corresponds with cell and the other with gps? If so any chance you can tell me which one I broke? — zackven
So the phone is back together and everything seems to be functional. It does acquire gps signal and location with both wifi and cell off. Accuracy seems to be a bit decreased but not terrible. It is still usable! — zackven