Current Escapades
Hi! I’m Tarun and I’m a technical writer, photographer, and teardown engineer here at iFixit. I figure out how to take everyday devices apart (the right way), take photos of the process, and write about it in hopes of teaching everyone else how to take them apart too. I also occasionally write other content for our platform.
Past Exploits
PolySat’s 11th mission: ISX (currently in space!)
I grew up in Plano, Texas before graduating in 2016 and moving out to San Luis Obispo to study computer engineering at Cal Poly SLO. While in school I was a member of Cal Poly’s satellite research and development lab, PolySat. Here, I worked mostly on attitude determination and control systems (ADCS) and assembled satellites that actually went into orbit! I later ended up switching disciplines to audio technology, my current major, during my third year in pursuit of a career in music production.
My passion for finding out how things worked began at a young age with me taking household items apart and trying my very best to put them back together. I loved playing with construction toys like lego and jumped at the opportunity to help my parents build a piece of furniture. I later began to hone in on electronics when I assembled my first PC and took apart and, successfully this time, reassembled my first smartphone. I also played trumpet throughout middle and high school in concert, jazz, and marching band as well as symphony orchestra; music has always been a huge part of my life.
Before working at iFixit, I worked in technical construction and helped build large-format gas filtration machines for the semiconductor industry. I currently also occasionally work as a professional DJ and perform at smaller venues in the area.
Me in the middle of a set on top of Cuesta Ridge, a local botanical area
Hobbies! (and vices)
In my free time, I mostly listen to, DJ, and produce music. When I’m not subjecting myself to mild hearing damage, I also watch (way too much) youtube, play videogames, fix my friends’ stuff, work on cars, and occasionally design clothing,
Since sourcing a new replacement part isn’t really feasible, your next best option would probably be looking for a used non-functioning device being resold for parts. You can then just use that device as a donor and transfer the antenna to your current iPod.
iFixit has a guide with several tips on removing stripped screws here. Just make sure to take care as you work through the guide and stop and move on to the next method immediately once you notice the current one isn’t working so you don’t further strip the screws. One last tip: instead of using a rotary tool with a cutting wheel like in the last few steps of the guide, you can use a flat head that is oversized for the stripped screw as a small chisel to slowly and carefully carve out a notch in the screw head. This works just like the cutting wheel (albeit slowly) to create a notch you can use to remove the screws. Damaging the screws isn’t ideal, but replacement screws are fairly inexpensive and widely available. Good Luck!
Hey Kenneth, as the 7th gen iPod touch is capable of 802.11-ac Wi-Fi connectivity and the 5th gen is not, the 5th/6th Gen Wi-Fi antenna won’t be completely compatible. There are minor differences between the antennas between generations that will cause issues with Wi-Fi connectivity.
The tape will likely not adhere as well as when it came out of the factory. This isnt an issue! As long as the tape is in place when the lower cover is put back on the device you should be good to go.
Correct. As stated in the introduction, while there are some superficial differences between the two devices, the repair procedure is the same.