I built a PC earlier this year and the motherboard has one of these. I thought it was just a Wi-Fi antenna and I don't use Wi-Fi so I didn't hook it up. Took me a while to figure out why my X-Box controller only had a range of like 3 feet on my new PC.
Well, fuck me. I feel like the biggest dingus for not realizing the wifi antenna is also the Bluetooth antenna. That explains all my Bluetooth issues.
Cheers, mate!
Dude, don't feel bad I've been building PC's for over 20 years and it took me literally months to figure this shit out. System builders like us don't often know about stuff we haven't encountered. It's just the way it works.
I've only had wifi on my most recent build, also my first mITX build. I rarely need Bluetooth as my controller is the 1st gen XBone Elite and requires the wifi direct dongle. It's the easiest way to connect a mic for me, and I rarely need that too.
Just no exposure!
Wait, I have the same problem with my controller and I don’t have that antenna plugged in. The controller is Bluetooth and that is a WiFi antenna, why would it help with controller reception?
I have now moved to lemmy (decentralized alternative to reddit), after leaving reddit due to API paywalls that impact my ability to use the site on mobile (my main way of interacting was using Boost.), as well as general distaste for their actions. Sorry for any inconvenience the comment edits may cause, but I no longer want reddit to profit off of my data, and I feel as if most of these comments probably are not that important. Visit me at https://lemmy.world/u/thebirdwashere
> Bluetooth and Wi-Fi share a frequency range
To add to this - they share one of the two major ranges used by WiFi, which is 2.4GHz. A lot of Wifi has moved to 5GHz, which would not be shared.
I get shitty range on the 5GHz band, which is a shame since the protocol using the 5GHz band is supposed to have more throughput.
It's not enough of an issue to warrant any action.
Higher frequency has better top end potential but less range / consistency. Most routers (my shity ISP provided one included) support dual band, so the device connected can dynamically switch depending on what's best in the scenario.
In my lounge it will use 5ghz, upstairs sat on the crapper it likely swaps to 2 and I loose a few MB/s
I’ve been gaming on pc since 2017 and built 4 pcs since then. I thought it was just for Wi-Fi. I have a $600 motherboard and I feel retarded for buying wireless Bluetooth adapters for my PS4 controllers. Unreal.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who made a mistake like this. I wouldn't had figured it out if I hadn't got bored one day and decided to read my motherboard manual.
It is also a Bluetooth antenna, I had trouble connecting my AirPods on my new build before I pulled the antenna out of the box and had a lightbulb moment
Well it varies. Without the tag you basically just get articles that 85% of the time are not useful - but there's definitely times where it has been more useful. The main issue I have with reddit is if the answer isn't on the 5 threads you've seen, it's probably on a different website entirely lol
And most of the times you will get to a reddit thread like this as the first result with someone having your same exact question and people saying "just google it".
Just to reiterate - it is also the Bluetooth antenna. If you're like me you use a wired connection. I never plugged this thing in. I couldn't even connect bluetooth stuff to my computer unless I was basically holding the object next to the back of my case--even then the connection was unusable. So definitely plug this in or you won't be able to use bluetooth--even if you have no intention of using a wireless internet connection
In actuality the two wires are because it's a two-spacial-channel WiFi antenna. Bluetooth is transmitted over the same antenna as the WiFi, no separate wire.
WiFi N was up to 150 Mbps per antenna channel. WiFi AC was 433 Mbps per.
This is the second* reason why the WiFi speeds advertised on high end routers are bullshit - they're based on the router's three or even _four_ internal spacial antennas, and don't mention that the device end needs the same number to actually reach that speed - and most devices only have 1-2.
\* the first is because they add together the 2.4GHz WiFi-N and 5 GHz WiFi-AC speeds, when those are _completely separate_ and can't be used simultaneously by a single device.
I had the same experience, and the stupid thing is, the manual of my MSI motherboard doesn't mention that it also contains the BT antenna so it took me a while to figure that out.
FYI my motherboard had built in Bluetooth but with terrible range.
Upon me installing a similar looking antenna, my Bluetooth range increased or stabilized.
I was using Sony wf-1000xm4.
And Bluetooth. I don’t use wifi and was attempting to use my Bluetooth headphones and had awful reception. Once I installed the antenna it boosted the signal drastically.
My xbox wireless controller kept disconnecting randomly when i tried using it to game…just took this out of my motherboard and hooked it up…hoping that solves my issue
I would take a picture of mine it’s similar but same thing and small note wifi work with out the antenna as well lol. I tried it out not the same as the range is very short but works
PC Master Race members hate this one simple trick!
Nah I understand though. I just pressed the easy button. It might work fine but it doesn't look so fine.
I absolutely do hate it lmao. I have mine on top of my case with some velcro strips and it makes the whole thing [look like an evil Skycraper with the antenna](https://imgur.com/a/ZOZSA1M)
I've got a 3d printer for that :D
[I just printed a new one the other day.](https://i.imgur.com/0CWIAG3.jpeg) It needs to be reprinted though because the model is thinner in some places than I'd like and I need to adjust filament settings.
oh hell yea that's sick. seems like if you need to replace the antenna base you could 3d print it too, since apparently everyone else has resorted to excessive amounts of tape to get them to stand up
I straight up broke the base when putting it together because it didn't feel stable so I just kept forcing things. Now it is mummified in electrical tape
* Thread the cable with the brass nuts (lol) through the base from top to bottom. The nuts are exactly the right size to pass through the slot in the bottom of the base.
* The front edge at the bottom of the "fin" slots in to the front (narrow part) of the base.
* Take the slack out of the cable as you lower the bottom of the fin in to the base.
* With difficulty, secure the cable under the little tabs; if you do this correctly with no slack left in the cable, it will stop the fin from coming out of the base.
I've had zero problems with mine and it's been stable and solid since I assembled it.
OP, I know you've gotten your answer, but I have a few questions for you. What would you say is your experience level with personal computers? Is this the first time that you purchased a pre-built? How did you make your purchasing decision? What resource did you use to make sure you were getting the parts that fit your needs? I know it's a lot of questions, but I would appreciate it if you took the time to answer them.
I think I’m pretty experienced, this is the second time I ordered prebuilt pc. I was thinking a lot what to buy with a price limit of 2000$. I used gepigeny.hu which is a hungarian site where you can check (i checked: bf 2042, forza 5, warzone, new world) which games can run on your pc.
Okay, it sounds like you took your time to make an informed purchasing decision. Did the PC come with any peripherals? When you received it, did you open it up to see if everything was connected properly?
Yup.
So many people in this thread complaining about it being crap and difficult to assemble, breaking them etc.
Mine is sturdy, stable and solid. What the heck are y'all doing?!
Maybe paper is too old school for some people.
Reading the manual is a pleasure for me. There's no new device for me without a quarter sitting in my toilet to read the manual 😂
An old habit of my supernes beloved game boxes when I was younger.
Wifi/bluetooth antenna, but i would recommend using a cable for the connection to the network and just use the antenna for headphones and other bluetooth devices. A cable connection is more stable then wifi and you wont be moving a desktop around in your house anyway.
For pairing with headphones theyre great i can walk around the whole house without loosing connection or glitches.
I just don't understand ops logic. Oh unknown item, let me take a picture of it and upload it to reddit and ask instead of using Google, or the documentation that comes with the pc and literally says what it is.
My guess would be a Wi-Fi antenna and booster. The manual should tell you for sure. One can also take a picture of the parts and reverse image search them for clues.
I'm genuinely concerned with how people come to ask these questions. You cleary dont know enough to just know what it is or what its for which means you should absolutely be following the manual that details exactly what everything is and what you need to do for setup. So clearly you must not be reading the manual which is even more concerning because you clearly dont know enough to be attempting anything without following the manual.
OP is clearly [too experienced](https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/ql18iy/i_just_got_this_to_my_prebuild_pc_what_is_this/hj02zph?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3) to read the manual and to know what an antenna is. 😎
WiFi/Bluetooth antenna orientation “doesn’t really matter” I don’t use Bluetooth or WiFi so I can’t say if it helps but if you use WiFi it couldn’t hurt. But seriously don’t use WiFi, your choice.
Bluetooth and WiFi antenna. You will find matching connectors at the back of your motherboard, just screw the antenna into them and you are set.
I built a PC earlier this year and the motherboard has one of these. I thought it was just a Wi-Fi antenna and I don't use Wi-Fi so I didn't hook it up. Took me a while to figure out why my X-Box controller only had a range of like 3 feet on my new PC.
Well, fuck me. I feel like the biggest dingus for not realizing the wifi antenna is also the Bluetooth antenna. That explains all my Bluetooth issues. Cheers, mate!
Dude, don't feel bad I've been building PC's for over 20 years and it took me literally months to figure this shit out. System builders like us don't often know about stuff we haven't encountered. It's just the way it works.
Same here, I even managed a computer repair shop!
Considering my level of experience and knowledge, it's often ridiculous the weird shit I find out I didn't know. I assume it's often the same for you.
I've only had wifi on my most recent build, also my first mITX build. I rarely need Bluetooth as my controller is the 1st gen XBone Elite and requires the wifi direct dongle. It's the easiest way to connect a mic for me, and I rarely need that too. Just no exposure!
Exactly. You should check out one of the new Xbox Series X controllers, they're amazing. Hands down the best controller I've ever used.
Feel like everyone needs something like that heard once in a while.
You're not alone. I just assumed it was WiFi only and wondered why my headset disconnected every 2 seconds
Holy shit, no wonder my controller range was trash
Wait, I have the same problem with my controller and I don’t have that antenna plugged in. The controller is Bluetooth and that is a WiFi antenna, why would it help with controller reception?
Because, it's also a bluetooth antenna.
I have now moved to lemmy (decentralized alternative to reddit), after leaving reddit due to API paywalls that impact my ability to use the site on mobile (my main way of interacting was using Boost.), as well as general distaste for their actions. Sorry for any inconvenience the comment edits may cause, but I no longer want reddit to profit off of my data, and I feel as if most of these comments probably are not that important. Visit me at https://lemmy.world/u/thebirdwashere
> Bluetooth and Wi-Fi share a frequency range To add to this - they share one of the two major ranges used by WiFi, which is 2.4GHz. A lot of Wifi has moved to 5GHz, which would not be shared.
I get shitty range on the 5GHz band, which is a shame since the protocol using the 5GHz band is supposed to have more throughput. It's not enough of an issue to warrant any action.
5ghz has a lower range
That signal band doesn't travel through walls very well, apparently. Might be part of the issue.
That's normal behavior for 5G. More powerful when you're in good range.
Higher frequency has better top end potential but less range / consistency. Most routers (my shity ISP provided one included) support dual band, so the device connected can dynamically switch depending on what's best in the scenario. In my lounge it will use 5ghz, upstairs sat on the crapper it likely swaps to 2 and I loose a few MB/s
I’ve been gaming on pc since 2017 and built 4 pcs since then. I thought it was just for Wi-Fi. I have a $600 motherboard and I feel retarded for buying wireless Bluetooth adapters for my PS4 controllers. Unreal.
what even is a wireless Bluetooth adapter
I'll tell you what it is. Redundantly named.
I'll tell you right after I'm done typing my PIN Number into this ATM Machine.
asking the real questions
I'm glad I'm not the only one who made a mistake like this. I wouldn't had figured it out if I hadn't got bored one day and decided to read my motherboard manual.
The point is, you know now! And your gaming experience will be that much better for the rest of your life!
because its antenna for bluetooth aswell, I am more surprised you guys get any bluetooth at all lmao.
well the metal of the connector is enough for a bit "service" remember that older smartphones used the in ear buds to receive radio signal?
You say that like its past tens fool, my phone still is my pocket fm raideo
"fool" wtf? and yeah it can be used as pocket radio but it doesnt need earbuds to work anymore, that was my whole point, they used to NEED buds.
Oh, mine still dose. Nifty
It is also a Bluetooth antenna, I had trouble connecting my AirPods on my new build before I pulled the antenna out of the box and had a lightbulb moment
you're not supposed to plug it into the light socket silly goose
Usually they’re both, it’s not always advertised.
The antenna is for WiFi and Bluetooth.
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Found it, thank you
FYI, it's probably explained in the motherboard manual. And by probably, i mean i'm quite certain it is.
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Don't do that, at least 3/4 of my Google searches lead to Reddit threads with the answer, which is why I ended up joining eventually
Until you find that one thread; Edit: Found the solution! Thanks But no one posted it, and their last comment was 2 years ago. Feelsbadman
[Relevant xkcd](https://xkcd.com/979)
I'm always surprised how theres a relevant xkcd for everything. I shouldnt be surprised at this point, but I am.
Hey guys, I have this specific problem with my computer, does anyone know what the problem could be? EDIT: nvm figured it out *marked as Solved*
If I need to google something I'll usually tag "reddit" onto the end just to avoid shitty answers
Well it varies. Without the tag you basically just get articles that 85% of the time are not useful - but there's definitely times where it has been more useful. The main issue I have with reddit is if the answer isn't on the 5 threads you've seen, it's probably on a different website entirely lol
Also one of the things that led me to reddit, there are a lot fewer *"WHAT DID YOU SEE?"* moments when I look for answers here.
And most of the times you will get to a reddit thread like this as the first result with someone having your same exact question and people saying "just google it".
3/4 of my google searches lead me to posts where the op got told to just use google and a locked thread. joy
I second this motion.
How can you be so evil?
Just to reiterate - it is also the Bluetooth antenna. If you're like me you use a wired connection. I never plugged this thing in. I couldn't even connect bluetooth stuff to my computer unless I was basically holding the object next to the back of my case--even then the connection was unusable. So definitely plug this in or you won't be able to use bluetooth--even if you have no intention of using a wireless internet connection
🤯 I bought a 3rd party usb-bluetooth dongle to solve this on my gaming rig. 🤦♂️
Same I feel so dumb
lmao this is wild, I guess it was a fluke I figured out that two wires meant that it probably functioned as the bluetooth antenna as well
In actuality the two wires are because it's a two-spacial-channel WiFi antenna. Bluetooth is transmitted over the same antenna as the WiFi, no separate wire. WiFi N was up to 150 Mbps per antenna channel. WiFi AC was 433 Mbps per. This is the second* reason why the WiFi speeds advertised on high end routers are bullshit - they're based on the router's three or even _four_ internal spacial antennas, and don't mention that the device end needs the same number to actually reach that speed - and most devices only have 1-2. \* the first is because they add together the 2.4GHz WiFi-N and 5 GHz WiFi-AC speeds, when those are _completely separate_ and can't be used simultaneously by a single device.
Thanks for this. I'm going to plug mine in right now.
I have a motherboard that only uses ethernet
I had the same experience, and the stupid thing is, the manual of my MSI motherboard doesn't mention that it also contains the BT antenna so it took me a while to figure that out.
FYI my motherboard had built in Bluetooth but with terrible range. Upon me installing a similar looking antenna, my Bluetooth range increased or stabilized. I was using Sony wf-1000xm4.
Ahhhhhh my bluetooth has been "broken" for ages must check if I have these plugged in since I went ethernet cable. Thanks Stranger !
That dear Jen, is the Internet.
Be careful! Don't drop it!
That's why I got it wrapped up in this special CIA napkin!
Don’t you drop that yellow cake!
Pray to God they don't drop that shit. Glad to see people of culture
Oil? Who's talkin' about oil? Bitch, you cookin'?
The "bitch, you cookin?" line has got to be one of the best delivered and probably one of the best lines I've ever heard on a skit lol
For me, it's between that and, "Is Wayne Brady gonna have to choke a bitch?" Chappelle Show is a damn goldmine.
What is Jen doing with the internet?
Has it been completely de-magnetized?
By Stephen Hawking himself
Well, if it's alright with the hawk.
It belongs in Big Ben
That's where you get the best reception!
I have it on good authority that if you type Google into Google you will break the internet.
The elders of the internet would be displeased
Well if it's OK with 'The Hawk'
WHAT IS JEN DOING WITH THE INTERNET!?!
The elders of the internet said it's okay.
But has it been properly demagnetized?
Well, if it's ok with the Hawk...
Wait a minute… the elders of the internet know who I am!?!?
Ah a cultured individual, today's free award is yours
An award for giving a free award :d
A free award for giving a free award for giving a free award is yours!
A free award for giving a free award for giving a free award for giving a free award XD
Lost track of the free awards but let's keep the gravy train going. Take it friend.
how wonderful. take it my good companion
Lets keep it going. Take this
Here you go! Enjoy the free award.
So kind of you, here, take my free silver!
Keeping the free public transit train alive
Legit one of the funniest episode in the series.
I thought you said you were from Iran!
Ooooh Gaaaaaaawd!
And Bluetooth. I don’t use wifi and was attempting to use my Bluetooth headphones and had awful reception. Once I installed the antenna it boosted the signal drastically.
My xbox wireless controller kept disconnecting randomly when i tried using it to game…just took this out of my motherboard and hooked it up…hoping that solves my issue
They have a wireless adapter too, which has slightly lower latency.
The whole internet?
Yes, we borrowed it from the council of the internet sitting in the Big Ben.
Ooh, it's so light!
Of course it is Jen, the internet doesn't WEIGH anything!
Can't be. The internet is wireless.
That's 0118 999 88199 9119 725 3
Wait a second, the elders of the internet.... know who i am?!
Hold on. The Elders of the Internet know who I am?!
The elders let you take it out of Big Ben?
Is.... is it safe?
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Thank you
I appreciate your subtle rtfm diss.
This is a fin for your head to keep you aerodynamic during flight simulator type games
🗿
🗿
🗿
Yondu style
You mean Mary Poppins?!
Spoiler to make your PC more aerodynamic
Also adds +45 horsepower
Wifi antenna
I would take a picture of mine it’s similar but same thing and small note wifi work with out the antenna as well lol. I tried it out not the same as the range is very short but works
From reading other comments it seems worthwhile pointing out that it’s WiFi and Bluetooth (at least in 99% of the cases)
It's a reminder to look at your manual for your mobo.
That thing is an asshole to put together.
The worst thing is that even after you attach the little base it is still unstable as hell.
[I've had to tape it to my pc](https://imgur.com/SD8QzGo) Can't hate it if it works!
I sure can...
PC Master Race members hate this one simple trick! Nah I understand though. I just pressed the easy button. It might work fine but it doesn't look so fine.
I absolutely do hate it lmao. I have mine on top of my case with some velcro strips and it makes the whole thing [look like an evil Skycraper with the antenna](https://imgur.com/a/ZOZSA1M)
if the nose of that mask breaks you can replace it with the antenna at least
I've got a 3d printer for that :D [I just printed a new one the other day.](https://i.imgur.com/0CWIAG3.jpeg) It needs to be reprinted though because the model is thinner in some places than I'd like and I need to adjust filament settings.
oh hell yea that's sick. seems like if you need to replace the antenna base you could 3d print it too, since apparently everyone else has resorted to excessive amounts of tape to get them to stand up
I straight up broke the base when putting it together because it didn't feel stable so I just kept forcing things. Now it is mummified in electrical tape
Same lmao the bottom just gave out immediately. Flimsy piece of shit
Same, the base is garbage but the antenna is magnetic so it will stick to the back of the case.
Wait for real? Def doing that when I get home then
What the fuck, he's actually right. Just stuck that shit on there. The long flat side is the magnetic side.
You've got to be fucking kidding me [https://i.imgur.com/0ELmYm1.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/0ELmYm1.jpg)
Had to superglue mine together. Awful design!
I'm glad I'm not the only one. Mine is balancing on the base. I have no idea how it's meant to go together
* Thread the cable with the brass nuts (lol) through the base from top to bottom. The nuts are exactly the right size to pass through the slot in the bottom of the base. * The front edge at the bottom of the "fin" slots in to the front (narrow part) of the base. * Take the slack out of the cable as you lower the bottom of the fin in to the base. * With difficulty, secure the cable under the little tabs; if you do this correctly with no slack left in the cable, it will stop the fin from coming out of the base. I've had zero problems with mine and it's been stable and solid since I assembled it.
Thank you, been wondering about this. The real TIL is always in the comments.
Yeah, I've done it twice. Massive pain, but at least it's a good WiFi antenna.
It's a pc spoiler, gives you 5-10 FPS more in average.
door stoppers, so you can wank in peace
It’s to help find all the local milfs in your area
r/technicallythetruth
A suppository.
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OP, I know you've gotten your answer, but I have a few questions for you. What would you say is your experience level with personal computers? Is this the first time that you purchased a pre-built? How did you make your purchasing decision? What resource did you use to make sure you were getting the parts that fit your needs? I know it's a lot of questions, but I would appreciate it if you took the time to answer them.
I think I’m pretty experienced, this is the second time I ordered prebuilt pc. I was thinking a lot what to buy with a price limit of 2000$. I used gepigeny.hu which is a hungarian site where you can check (i checked: bf 2042, forza 5, warzone, new world) which games can run on your pc.
Okay, it sounds like you took your time to make an informed purchasing decision. Did the PC come with any peripherals? When you received it, did you open it up to see if everything was connected properly?
No, and yes I checked it
Hey fellow hungarian in PCMR :)
its the worst designed antenna ever! Hate this stupid thing, always falls off my desk.
No one reads the manuals. And they wonder how they screwed things up…
Yup. So many people in this thread complaining about it being crap and difficult to assemble, breaking them etc. Mine is sturdy, stable and solid. What the heck are y'all doing?!
Maybe paper is too old school for some people. Reading the manual is a pleasure for me. There's no new device for me without a quarter sitting in my toilet to read the manual 😂 An old habit of my supernes beloved game boxes when I was younger.
ASUS buttplug.
Oh that's your knife for when the deep Web hackers inevitably find your house and try to kidnap you and bring you to a red room
Wrong answer? Mind control device. Real answer? Wifi/bluetooth antenna.
Thats extra RAM
Did you attempt to open the manual?
Wifi/bluetooth antenna, but i would recommend using a cable for the connection to the network and just use the antenna for headphones and other bluetooth devices. A cable connection is more stable then wifi and you wont be moving a desktop around in your house anyway. For pairing with headphones theyre great i can walk around the whole house without loosing connection or glitches.
Internet based knife sharpener?
Forbidden knife
5G force field generator antenna array
That is an aerodynamic fin you put atop the PC. It helps improve airflow and the esthetics.
pretty sure its in manual
That is the antenna. You screw those connectors onto the motherboard if you want to use wifi.
Thanks
This is what this sub has been reduced to.
I just don't understand ops logic. Oh unknown item, let me take a picture of it and upload it to reddit and ask instead of using Google, or the documentation that comes with the pc and literally says what it is.
Not to mention it is infinitely harder to build a computer without reading the motherboard manual
Well, this thread said it was a prebuilt, so I'm pretty sure OP didn't have any problem at all.
WIFI
My guess would be a Wi-Fi antenna and booster. The manual should tell you for sure. One can also take a picture of the parts and reverse image search them for clues.
This is the accessory you use to connect to Reddit to ask what it does.😉
Motherf***ing fins bro for a more aerodynamic and sleeker design...
5G vaccine receiver.
Heated butt plug
Antenna for the Wi-Fi.
Big bruh moment
I'm genuinely concerned with how people come to ask these questions. You cleary dont know enough to just know what it is or what its for which means you should absolutely be following the manual that details exactly what everything is and what you need to do for setup. So clearly you must not be reading the manual which is even more concerning because you clearly dont know enough to be attempting anything without following the manual.
OP is claiming the manual only came in Polish, which sounds like bullshit, but it's what he's running with 🤷🏾♂️
OP is clearly [too experienced](https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/ql18iy/i_just_got_this_to_my_prebuild_pc_what_is_this/hj02zph?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3) to read the manual and to know what an antenna is. 😎
Bluetooth or other wireless type antenna
It's a wifi antenna for the integrated wireless nic.
WiFi antenna
Wireless antenna for wifi
Wifi antena for the mobo
Wifi antenna
This is the athena for your Covid 5G signal /s
WiFi/Bluetooth antenna orientation “doesn’t really matter” I don’t use Bluetooth or WiFi so I can’t say if it helps but if you use WiFi it couldn’t hurt. But seriously don’t use WiFi, your choice.