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Mystery box connected to Dell Optiplex 7010

Can anyone there identify the square black box with silver trim and blue light that came with the following computer? I think it has something to do with wireless connectivity, and it also feels like it has spinning platters inside it. It attaches to a PCIE card port on the computer via a 2 or 3 foot cable that does not detach from device. It's a black box with silver going around it, about 4" x 4" x 2", with one blue light.

When I unplugged it, ALL of the "device manager" items under "networking" remained, however internet seemed to go down about 2 minutes after unplugging the devices. (Could be coincidence.)

Dell Optiplex 7010, Service Tag d32pcx1
Service Tag: D32PCX1 | Express Service Code: 28484111269

See attached photos of it's connectors. (I forgot to take a photo of the device itself!)

If you find this easily on the internet, PLEASE tell me precisely what your search words were.

Thanks!
dellport.jpg
dellconn.jpg

CompProbSolv

It would be useful to see what the external device looks like.

I've not seen this before, but based on the icon stamped on the bracket on the computer, I'd say it was some sort of wireless device.

CompProbSolv

I went to dell.com and tracked down your computer by the Service Code. Based on the list of components shown there, I'd conclude that it is the Dell Wireless 1530 PCIe WLAN kit.

When you say "when I unplugged it" are you referring to the external device or the internal card? If just the external device, then I'd not expect to see any changes in Device Manager. If you remove the card, you should see the 1530 disappearing from Network Devices.

CompProbSolv

This is likely what you have:
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/dell-wireless-antenna

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CompProbSolv

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it_saige

The product in the first image is the Wireless LAN adapter. The component that you unplugged is the antenna.

You can do a search using the component that CompProbSolv identifies.

-saige-

dgrrr

ASKER

Thanks for the photo link - yes that is the device, exactly. So it's an antenna -- that explains why unplugging the external device doesn't change things in device manager.