What is this part in my laptop screen?












2














So recently the hinges of my laptop broke, and while fixing it I came across the following component.



component



My laptop is an Asus VivoBook S551LB-CJ046H. It's at the bottom of my screen, and is normally hidden by a cover. I think that it is part of the Wi-Fi antenna. Initially there were two cables leading to it, however one of the cables has broken. Surprisingly my Wi-Fi is still working fine. Taking the component off of the screen there are two small metallic blocks that come in contact with the screen backcover.



This has generated two questions:




  • Am I right in assuming that it is part of the Wi-Fi module?

  • What would happen if I disconnected the remaining cable from this component?
    Would it diminish the signal significantly?










share|improve this question
























  • What color was the second one?
    – Pancakedinner
    Dec 10 '18 at 21:18






  • 3




    I couldn't make out much from your pic, but very often a laptop will have multiple antennas for WIFI (to handle differential signaling/mimo/corridors and/or multiple bands). It can still work with degraded performance - which could be invisible save that it's slower/less sensitive.
    – davidgo
    Dec 10 '18 at 21:22
















2














So recently the hinges of my laptop broke, and while fixing it I came across the following component.



component



My laptop is an Asus VivoBook S551LB-CJ046H. It's at the bottom of my screen, and is normally hidden by a cover. I think that it is part of the Wi-Fi antenna. Initially there were two cables leading to it, however one of the cables has broken. Surprisingly my Wi-Fi is still working fine. Taking the component off of the screen there are two small metallic blocks that come in contact with the screen backcover.



This has generated two questions:




  • Am I right in assuming that it is part of the Wi-Fi module?

  • What would happen if I disconnected the remaining cable from this component?
    Would it diminish the signal significantly?










share|improve this question
























  • What color was the second one?
    – Pancakedinner
    Dec 10 '18 at 21:18






  • 3




    I couldn't make out much from your pic, but very often a laptop will have multiple antennas for WIFI (to handle differential signaling/mimo/corridors and/or multiple bands). It can still work with degraded performance - which could be invisible save that it's slower/less sensitive.
    – davidgo
    Dec 10 '18 at 21:22














2












2








2







So recently the hinges of my laptop broke, and while fixing it I came across the following component.



component



My laptop is an Asus VivoBook S551LB-CJ046H. It's at the bottom of my screen, and is normally hidden by a cover. I think that it is part of the Wi-Fi antenna. Initially there were two cables leading to it, however one of the cables has broken. Surprisingly my Wi-Fi is still working fine. Taking the component off of the screen there are two small metallic blocks that come in contact with the screen backcover.



This has generated two questions:




  • Am I right in assuming that it is part of the Wi-Fi module?

  • What would happen if I disconnected the remaining cable from this component?
    Would it diminish the signal significantly?










share|improve this question















So recently the hinges of my laptop broke, and while fixing it I came across the following component.



component



My laptop is an Asus VivoBook S551LB-CJ046H. It's at the bottom of my screen, and is normally hidden by a cover. I think that it is part of the Wi-Fi antenna. Initially there were two cables leading to it, however one of the cables has broken. Surprisingly my Wi-Fi is still working fine. Taking the component off of the screen there are two small metallic blocks that come in contact with the screen backcover.



This has generated two questions:




  • Am I right in assuming that it is part of the Wi-Fi module?

  • What would happen if I disconnected the remaining cable from this component?
    Would it diminish the signal significantly?







network-adapter hardware-detection






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Dec 10 '18 at 22:05









K7AAY

3,62321438




3,62321438










asked Dec 10 '18 at 21:08









Bart van Ingen

132




132












  • What color was the second one?
    – Pancakedinner
    Dec 10 '18 at 21:18






  • 3




    I couldn't make out much from your pic, but very often a laptop will have multiple antennas for WIFI (to handle differential signaling/mimo/corridors and/or multiple bands). It can still work with degraded performance - which could be invisible save that it's slower/less sensitive.
    – davidgo
    Dec 10 '18 at 21:22


















  • What color was the second one?
    – Pancakedinner
    Dec 10 '18 at 21:18






  • 3




    I couldn't make out much from your pic, but very often a laptop will have multiple antennas for WIFI (to handle differential signaling/mimo/corridors and/or multiple bands). It can still work with degraded performance - which could be invisible save that it's slower/less sensitive.
    – davidgo
    Dec 10 '18 at 21:22
















What color was the second one?
– Pancakedinner
Dec 10 '18 at 21:18




What color was the second one?
– Pancakedinner
Dec 10 '18 at 21:18




3




3




I couldn't make out much from your pic, but very often a laptop will have multiple antennas for WIFI (to handle differential signaling/mimo/corridors and/or multiple bands). It can still work with degraded performance - which could be invisible save that it's slower/less sensitive.
– davidgo
Dec 10 '18 at 21:22




I couldn't make out much from your pic, but very often a laptop will have multiple antennas for WIFI (to handle differential signaling/mimo/corridors and/or multiple bands). It can still work with degraded performance - which could be invisible save that it's slower/less sensitive.
– davidgo
Dec 10 '18 at 21:22










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

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0














The "metallic blocks" you describe are the Wi-Fi antennas. The cables connect them to the wireless adapter located in the laptop base.



On many laptops, the Wi-Fi antenna is located above or below the display. Systems with all-metal chassis often have a visible "antenna line" similar to what you might see on a metal smartphone to allow signals through; if such a line is present, that's where the actual antennas are located. That cable connects the wireless network adapter (often a small M.2 card, type 2230, with older systems typically using mPCIe) to an antenna. This is what an antenna line may look like on a laptop:



Antenna line on HP ENVY x360 laptop



If you have two antenna cables, disconnecting one of them will reduce signal strength and range, and limit your Wi-Fi to single-stream, or 1x1, operation (most better laptops have dual-stream or 2x2 Wi-Fi). If the other cable is disconnected, you'll lose all wireless connectivity.






share|improve this answer































    0














    WiFi module, no: WiFi antenna, yes. That's one of the two antennas commonly found on the back of laptop screens, which run to snap-on connectors on the WiFi Module. The module looks at signal from both and uses the better one. Don't disconnect the other, else WiFi reception will greatly suffer.






    share|improve this answer





























      0














      This laptop is similar to yours https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=w95gpUxIp7Y.



      It also has two wires, One White and one Black, They are both connected to the Wifi adapter card.



      Like Davidgo said, Your wifi might still work, but with a loss of range or speed. Some Wifi cards are different, but normally they use two antennas (I believe 3 usually means 5GHz).



      One to send and one to receive (Pretty much 2x faster than having it share one antenna to send and receive), I guess the Adapter knows its missing one and switches to 1 radio (Obviously slower).



      You might find this interesting https://www.quora.com/What-happens-when-you-exchange-the-black-and-white-antenna-cables-main-and-aux-that-attach-to-the-WiFi-adapter-card-in-laptops






      share|improve this answer





























        0














        You would be right assuming that it is a wifi antenna. My old HP 2000-299wm laptop is very similar, except my laptop's antenna runs to the top of the screen.






        share|improve this answer





















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          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes








          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          0














          The "metallic blocks" you describe are the Wi-Fi antennas. The cables connect them to the wireless adapter located in the laptop base.



          On many laptops, the Wi-Fi antenna is located above or below the display. Systems with all-metal chassis often have a visible "antenna line" similar to what you might see on a metal smartphone to allow signals through; if such a line is present, that's where the actual antennas are located. That cable connects the wireless network adapter (often a small M.2 card, type 2230, with older systems typically using mPCIe) to an antenna. This is what an antenna line may look like on a laptop:



          Antenna line on HP ENVY x360 laptop



          If you have two antenna cables, disconnecting one of them will reduce signal strength and range, and limit your Wi-Fi to single-stream, or 1x1, operation (most better laptops have dual-stream or 2x2 Wi-Fi). If the other cable is disconnected, you'll lose all wireless connectivity.






          share|improve this answer




























            0














            The "metallic blocks" you describe are the Wi-Fi antennas. The cables connect them to the wireless adapter located in the laptop base.



            On many laptops, the Wi-Fi antenna is located above or below the display. Systems with all-metal chassis often have a visible "antenna line" similar to what you might see on a metal smartphone to allow signals through; if such a line is present, that's where the actual antennas are located. That cable connects the wireless network adapter (often a small M.2 card, type 2230, with older systems typically using mPCIe) to an antenna. This is what an antenna line may look like on a laptop:



            Antenna line on HP ENVY x360 laptop



            If you have two antenna cables, disconnecting one of them will reduce signal strength and range, and limit your Wi-Fi to single-stream, or 1x1, operation (most better laptops have dual-stream or 2x2 Wi-Fi). If the other cable is disconnected, you'll lose all wireless connectivity.






            share|improve this answer


























              0












              0








              0






              The "metallic blocks" you describe are the Wi-Fi antennas. The cables connect them to the wireless adapter located in the laptop base.



              On many laptops, the Wi-Fi antenna is located above or below the display. Systems with all-metal chassis often have a visible "antenna line" similar to what you might see on a metal smartphone to allow signals through; if such a line is present, that's where the actual antennas are located. That cable connects the wireless network adapter (often a small M.2 card, type 2230, with older systems typically using mPCIe) to an antenna. This is what an antenna line may look like on a laptop:



              Antenna line on HP ENVY x360 laptop



              If you have two antenna cables, disconnecting one of them will reduce signal strength and range, and limit your Wi-Fi to single-stream, or 1x1, operation (most better laptops have dual-stream or 2x2 Wi-Fi). If the other cable is disconnected, you'll lose all wireless connectivity.






              share|improve this answer














              The "metallic blocks" you describe are the Wi-Fi antennas. The cables connect them to the wireless adapter located in the laptop base.



              On many laptops, the Wi-Fi antenna is located above or below the display. Systems with all-metal chassis often have a visible "antenna line" similar to what you might see on a metal smartphone to allow signals through; if such a line is present, that's where the actual antennas are located. That cable connects the wireless network adapter (often a small M.2 card, type 2230, with older systems typically using mPCIe) to an antenna. This is what an antenna line may look like on a laptop:



              Antenna line on HP ENVY x360 laptop



              If you have two antenna cables, disconnecting one of them will reduce signal strength and range, and limit your Wi-Fi to single-stream, or 1x1, operation (most better laptops have dual-stream or 2x2 Wi-Fi). If the other cable is disconnected, you'll lose all wireless connectivity.







              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited Dec 11 '18 at 2:06

























              answered Dec 11 '18 at 1:56









              bwDraco

              36.5k36135177




              36.5k36135177

























                  0














                  WiFi module, no: WiFi antenna, yes. That's one of the two antennas commonly found on the back of laptop screens, which run to snap-on connectors on the WiFi Module. The module looks at signal from both and uses the better one. Don't disconnect the other, else WiFi reception will greatly suffer.






                  share|improve this answer


























                    0














                    WiFi module, no: WiFi antenna, yes. That's one of the two antennas commonly found on the back of laptop screens, which run to snap-on connectors on the WiFi Module. The module looks at signal from both and uses the better one. Don't disconnect the other, else WiFi reception will greatly suffer.






                    share|improve this answer
























                      0












                      0








                      0






                      WiFi module, no: WiFi antenna, yes. That's one of the two antennas commonly found on the back of laptop screens, which run to snap-on connectors on the WiFi Module. The module looks at signal from both and uses the better one. Don't disconnect the other, else WiFi reception will greatly suffer.






                      share|improve this answer












                      WiFi module, no: WiFi antenna, yes. That's one of the two antennas commonly found on the back of laptop screens, which run to snap-on connectors on the WiFi Module. The module looks at signal from both and uses the better one. Don't disconnect the other, else WiFi reception will greatly suffer.







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Dec 10 '18 at 22:03









                      K7AAY

                      3,62321438




                      3,62321438























                          0














                          This laptop is similar to yours https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=w95gpUxIp7Y.



                          It also has two wires, One White and one Black, They are both connected to the Wifi adapter card.



                          Like Davidgo said, Your wifi might still work, but with a loss of range or speed. Some Wifi cards are different, but normally they use two antennas (I believe 3 usually means 5GHz).



                          One to send and one to receive (Pretty much 2x faster than having it share one antenna to send and receive), I guess the Adapter knows its missing one and switches to 1 radio (Obviously slower).



                          You might find this interesting https://www.quora.com/What-happens-when-you-exchange-the-black-and-white-antenna-cables-main-and-aux-that-attach-to-the-WiFi-adapter-card-in-laptops






                          share|improve this answer


























                            0














                            This laptop is similar to yours https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=w95gpUxIp7Y.



                            It also has two wires, One White and one Black, They are both connected to the Wifi adapter card.



                            Like Davidgo said, Your wifi might still work, but with a loss of range or speed. Some Wifi cards are different, but normally they use two antennas (I believe 3 usually means 5GHz).



                            One to send and one to receive (Pretty much 2x faster than having it share one antenna to send and receive), I guess the Adapter knows its missing one and switches to 1 radio (Obviously slower).



                            You might find this interesting https://www.quora.com/What-happens-when-you-exchange-the-black-and-white-antenna-cables-main-and-aux-that-attach-to-the-WiFi-adapter-card-in-laptops






                            share|improve this answer
























                              0












                              0








                              0






                              This laptop is similar to yours https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=w95gpUxIp7Y.



                              It also has two wires, One White and one Black, They are both connected to the Wifi adapter card.



                              Like Davidgo said, Your wifi might still work, but with a loss of range or speed. Some Wifi cards are different, but normally they use two antennas (I believe 3 usually means 5GHz).



                              One to send and one to receive (Pretty much 2x faster than having it share one antenna to send and receive), I guess the Adapter knows its missing one and switches to 1 radio (Obviously slower).



                              You might find this interesting https://www.quora.com/What-happens-when-you-exchange-the-black-and-white-antenna-cables-main-and-aux-that-attach-to-the-WiFi-adapter-card-in-laptops






                              share|improve this answer












                              This laptop is similar to yours https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=w95gpUxIp7Y.



                              It also has two wires, One White and one Black, They are both connected to the Wifi adapter card.



                              Like Davidgo said, Your wifi might still work, but with a loss of range or speed. Some Wifi cards are different, but normally they use two antennas (I believe 3 usually means 5GHz).



                              One to send and one to receive (Pretty much 2x faster than having it share one antenna to send and receive), I guess the Adapter knows its missing one and switches to 1 radio (Obviously slower).



                              You might find this interesting https://www.quora.com/What-happens-when-you-exchange-the-black-and-white-antenna-cables-main-and-aux-that-attach-to-the-WiFi-adapter-card-in-laptops







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered Dec 10 '18 at 22:20









                              Pancakedinner

                              1975




                              1975























                                  0














                                  You would be right assuming that it is a wifi antenna. My old HP 2000-299wm laptop is very similar, except my laptop's antenna runs to the top of the screen.






                                  share|improve this answer


























                                    0














                                    You would be right assuming that it is a wifi antenna. My old HP 2000-299wm laptop is very similar, except my laptop's antenna runs to the top of the screen.






                                    share|improve this answer
























                                      0












                                      0








                                      0






                                      You would be right assuming that it is a wifi antenna. My old HP 2000-299wm laptop is very similar, except my laptop's antenna runs to the top of the screen.






                                      share|improve this answer












                                      You would be right assuming that it is a wifi antenna. My old HP 2000-299wm laptop is very similar, except my laptop's antenna runs to the top of the screen.







                                      share|improve this answer












                                      share|improve this answer



                                      share|improve this answer










                                      answered Dec 11 '18 at 1:27









                                      KALI99

                                      335




                                      335






























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