The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #173940 Message #4220764
Posted By: Stilly River Sage
12-Apr-25 - 12:11 PM
Thread Name: Tech: Time to update modem/router WAC
Subject: RE: Tech: Time to update modem/router WAC
That makes sense. It's a fascinating excursion through the hardware when starting to plan the project. All of the possible other things that could be attached back there. And lots of obsolete technology can come alive again (old printer and monitor connectors, phone connectors, etc.)
It wasn't pretty to watch and the operation took a flashlight, a couple of small Phillips screwdrivers, and several tries to get the teeny tiny antenna connectors to stay put. The new card was about 1/4" wider than the first, but fit the slot exactly. There is an acrylic support thing that screws the bottom end down and holds the antennas in place and it was getting them sandwiched properly that did the trick. I reassembled the computer, turned it on, uninstalled the old Bluetooth drivers, turned it off then on again and Windows found the right driver. Bluetooth mouse now connected and the nano plug is taped to an index card and filed away in case it is ever needed again (in other words, collecting dust in a drawer).
The end result is I now have two of three front USB ports open (a transfer cable lives permanently in the third—it acts like an extra drive between this computer and the old computer on the desk behind me, where I do more detailed photo work and any video editing.)
Often times desktop computer cases are a box of air with stuff attached all around the sides, but this particular Dell doesn't let as much space go unused. It has a hinged framework for the power supply so when you open the case the next thing is to move that part out to see the rest. It feels a bit more automotive than computer, like having your spare tire on a frame on the rear of the vehicle and moving it to get into the back end.
When I opened it to take a look before ordering the WiFi card I realized Dell had used the PCI Express 16 spot for the graphics card. So if I do add new USB ports it'll have to be the smaller PCI card.