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A Closer Look :::...
The WiFi data is handles through the PCI slot but for the Bluetooth functions there needs to be a connection made with a USB header on your motherboard. There are a few possible problems here, the first being that the fly-lead is quite short and won't necessarily reach your nearest, or nearest free USB header.
The single stumbling block may be that by using a molded plug, MSI have assumed your motherboard will be using the stock pin arrangements. Most are, but not all.
Finally comes the possibility that your motherboard may have no on-board headers at all, and in these cases it would be useful if MSI bundled a regular USB data cable that could exit though an expansion blank and plug into one of the regular hardwires USB ports on the back of your board. This would of course push up the price slightly but it needn't be by much. Perhaps two versions of the kit, or an optional data lead, could be made available?
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USB Lead - Internal |
The two wires from the card combine in a plastic junction from which just a single cable emerges and travel on to the antenna. I'm guessing (possibly wrongly), that the Bluetooth antenna is actually contained within the bulge of this plastic molding and that the antenna itself deals only with the WiFi signal.
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Antenna |
The oval section antenna stands just under seven inches tall including the base, which is either solid plastic or is weighted slightly.
A rubber pad covers the entire underside of the base and helps keep it from creeping around your desktop, as these things always tend to do.
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Antenna |
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Antenna |
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Antenna |
The two antenna connectors are of the push-on variety and are colour-coded, the blue one being for use with the Bluetooth connector and the black one for use with the regular WiFi connector. Under a gloomy desk it'd be nice if the connectors on the card itself were also colour-coded as reading the faint connector names stamped in the bracket isn't always easy.
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Antenna Connectors |
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