Why are there two wires on my WiFi card, and what happens if I leave one unplugged?
Asked by
TechWhiz123
I have a laptop, specifically a MSI GF63 Thin 10SC. I noticed there are two little wires connected to my WiFi card, but I was unable to connect the black wire (the one labeled as number 2). I expected that not connecting it would cause my WiFi to not work at all, but surprisingly, everything seems to be functioning fine. I'm really confused because I thought these wires were crucial, being part of such an important component. Why can I leave one unplugged without any noticeable issues? I'm really lost here and would appreciate any tips on how to connect these wires properly or insights into why it's not affecting anything!
Answers
It's technically for the antennas, and if you don’t connect them, you won’t fry the WiFi card, but you could experience significantly less range.
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Those wires are actually antennas! One of them might be for Bluetooth or for a different frequency of WiFi. If one is disconnected, it can still work, but you might get reduced range or performance for certain functions.
CuriousCat56: Oh, I see! What does BT mean? Is it okay to leave the black wire out for now?
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The antenna cables usually run through the hinge into the monitor area. They should ideally be flat and not blocked by anything metal. You might not notice a huge difference yet, but typically, having both connected is better for signal strength.
TechWhiz123: Gotcha! But why does it still work with just one plugged in?
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LostInTech68: Really? I haven't noticed any problems so far. Does that mean only one wire is necessary to function?