Who's game to do a "tear down"? ;-)

[Guest glossywhite]

I may have to do a "tear down" photo shoot soon, but I thought I'd ask if anyone else is considering one? I usually prefer to do my own; I've been in electronic repair and design since 1991, so I am more than competent... but also VERY VERY picky about photo quality and extremes of detail in things which most people would see as "irrelevant" in product internals.

So... who's up for it? Anyone else? C'monnn! Man up! ^_^

[Guest darrellr]

Not too sure there's any point, there's nothing we don't already know at this point that is important as far as I can see. We know the processor (RK3188), we know the wifi chipset (BCM4334 based), we know it has Hynix 29xxxx nand flash and we know the 

 

I suppose if we got to see the actual RAM and got the kernel sources we could play with DRAM clock speeds but I doubt we'll get the source!

[Guest greyrider]

Could be well worth doing if it shows the battery could be upgraded.....

[Guest glossywhite]

Not too sure there's any point, there's nothing we don't already know at this point that is important as far as I can see. We know the processor (RK3188), we know the wifi chipset (BCM4334 based), we know it has Hynix 29xxxx nand flash and we know the 

 

I suppose if we got to see the actual RAM and got the kernel sources we could play with DRAM clock speeds but I doubt we'll get the source!

 

 

You can't know what you don't know, until you know it (what you previously didn't know), and are able to assess whether what it is, is something you already know ;)

Edited October 15, 2013 by glossywhite

[Guest Rocket]

Took the back off today as my camera had stopped working after I dropped it. The header was loose from the motherboard. I took plenty pics before I replaced the back. Its easy to get off without damage and the battery is easy to replace when they become available and necessary.

[Guest greyrider]

What a hero! How'd you get the back off?

[Guest Rocket]

Basically jammed my thumb nail in the gap and slid it round the perimeter as the old credit card is too thick. Hopefully this will show the catches that need releasing.

[Guest greyrider]

Excellent, thanks. No caveats? And..goes back together with a push?

Also, I don't have a problem here, but could the WiFi antenna/aerial be improved?

[Guest Rocket]

It goes back together with a gentle push when correctly line up. I just fitted a short side first then worked my way up the long sides in parallel then the final short side. The Wi-Fi antenna seems a fairly standard affair like in most laptops. There seems to be only one as it's a single stream device so no diversity. I think the problem is its proximity to the metal chassis. The GPS antenna is burried even deeper which would certainly explain its very poor performance.

[Guest greyrider]

Looks as if mods to both the WiFi antenna and GPS leads could be done quite readily. I must have really fat fingernails, no amount of attempts can get one jammed in the thing - although I did manage to fracture the end of one so a manicure's coming later ^_^

I don't need to open it up, yet, so I'll hang on before ramming a tool blade in.

[Guest Rocket]

You could try a plectrum from a leccy guitar. Thinner than a credit card and harder than fingernails.

[Guest PsYcHoKiLLa]

The thing you need is called a spudger:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/tag/spudger/products

 

http://www.cellz.com/plastic-spudger-disassemble-tool-365917.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&gclid=CLCX2vGh8rsCFQMYwwod2k4AoA

Edited January 9, 2014 by PsYcHoKiLLa

[Guest QLF]

The Cellz.com ones worked great.

 

I managed to take the whole thing down to almost constituent parts. Breakdown as follows:

 

 - Screen and digitiser stuck together (Glued tight, and didn't want to tempt fate.

 - Motherboard + frame (Frame weighs a tonne, at least 50% of the weight - hopefully this can be reduced for hudl 2 without impacting build quality)

 - Speakers x 2 (Easily upgradeable)

 - Camera modules x 2 (easily upgradeable)

 

Notes:

 - WiFi and GPS also likely upgradeable quite easily - possibly room to bring in a different GPS module altogether.

 

Will post pics when I get a chance.

[Guest mjcoon]

You could try a plectrum from a leccy guitar. Thinner than a credit card and harder than fingernails.

 

I don't intend to open mine yet, but if I did I'd try using the cap from a Bic biro...

 

Mike.

[Guest norwichcomputers]

Just a quick video here showing how to open the Tesco Hudl

 

 

I have the charging ports on order from HK so will make another showing the procedure soon!

 

Enjoy

 

Norwich Computers

[Guest glossywhite]

Just a quick video here showing how to open the Tesco Hudl

 

 

I have the charging ports on order from HK so will make another showing the procedure soon!

 

Enjoy

 

Norwich Computers

Superb video, thank you.

Please feel free to have a gander at my channel, where I do teardowns and repairs etc: http://youtube.com/unlokia

Thank you so much for this - a hardware hacker's delight :)

[Guest howellj0nes]

Has anyone had problems with the USB port?

 

I'm thinking of replacing mine with this one that's for sale on Amazon. http://goo.gl/GwjLUx

 

I hope it becomes clear what to do once I have taken the back off.  :P

[Guest bpcairns]

It is very easy. You must remove the battery first. It is held down by sticky tape but it takes a little courage to lever it up. The ribbon cable that connects to the part you refer to runs under the battery and is quite fragile. Removing the battery makes the job simple and safe. Once you have the back off you'll need a fairly tiny crosshead screwdriver and something pointy to open and close the connectors for the ribbon cable. Good Luck Brian

[Guest glossywhite]

£19.95? You might be better off putting that money back in your pocket, and putting it towards the hudl 2 which is out tomorrow :)

[Guest emotty]

thanks :-)

 

not going to pull mine to bits yet ... but at least i now know how :)