Linksys e1200 Wireless Router Ethernet Port Replacement

Tahisha Hicks and 5 other contributors

Last updated on January 17, 2025

1 hour

Very difficult

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Missing Steps

Introduction

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This repair will require using a soldering iron to remove and replace damaged Ethernet ports. This is very delicate operation, involving 8 contacts per port. Be very careful as to not gob the solder around, and do not damage the Printed Circuit board.

What you need

Tools

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Step 1 Ethernet Port

Linksys e1200 Wireless Router Ethernet Port Replacement, Ethernet Port: step 1, image 1 of 3

Linksys e1200 Wireless Router Ethernet Port Replacement, Ethernet Port: step 1, image 2 of 3

Linksys e1200 Wireless Router Ethernet Port Replacement, Ethernet Port: step 1, image 3 of 3

The PC board is loosely attached to the plastic base. Note the micro-soldered terminals on the Ethernet ports. These are very small and require significant expertise to desolder and replace.

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Step 2

Do to modern manufacturing, you will need to cover the area in solder flux; it is messy, so be careful.
Prep your desoldering braid by pulling it into a shape that will allow it to contact the solder on the baord itself.
Touch the soldering iron to the top of the contact after it has heated sufficiently; the flux will melt, as will the solder, and both should flow into the desoldering braid.

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Step 3

After removing all of the solder from each terminal, you may try pushing out the ethernet port. If it won't go, you need to remove more solder.
If neccessary, you will need to make a custom tool to touch all of the contacts at once. This one is made of bent copper wire and can replace the tip on a pencil-style soldering iron.

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Step 4

Once the ethernet port is removed, you may replace it (or anything else you had to remove), and solder it to the circuit board.
You can find many fine soldering guides online, here is a reccommended one: http://www.wikihow.com/Solder-%28Electro... Remember to add flux to the joint prior to soldering.