What is this thing that Virgin Media sent me, and what do I do with it?

happyshopper

I feel really daft asking this, but here goes: I'm upgraded my broadband package and Virgin Media agreed to send me a wireless router and a USB dongle for my PC. Well I've received a Netgear USB 2.0 adaptor and a cable with a dark red plastic oval thingy on the end of it which I'm damn sure ain't a wireless router. So what is it and what do I do with it? The connector doesn't seem to fit anything. Please don't flame me if this is a stupid question, I'm actually quite techy savvy usually but i've never seen one of these before and it didn't come with any instructions or paperwork. I couldn't search for the answer because I don't know what to search for!

I'm going to ring them tomorrow and enquire about the whereabouts of the router, but I don't even know how to describe this thing to them....

Anyway, here are some pics:
http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/ss24/happyshopperphotos/IMG_1155.jpg

http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/ss24/happyshopperphotos/IMG_1156.jpg

Thanks in advance!

hs

Sput2001

It looks like a remote control receiver, or something along those lines...

happyshopper

Thanks NickMidgley. OK, a remote control receiver perhaps. What would that be for, and what do I plug it into? I've tried to google it, but keep getting pictures of TV remote controls. This is my first adventure into wirelessness and I've fallen at the first.

hs

PROLIANT

I think it is a flux capacitor.

Sput2001

I'm fairly sure that's some kind of external infra red receiver.

It sure as heck isn't a wireless router, at least not like one I've seen before.

456789

seems to be some kind of receiver - phone them up and ask?

Sput2001

happyshopper, did you get any further with this?

I'm on tenterhooks!

macman

I would agree, looks like the infra-red wireless receiver I have on my mouse/kb set up. But it's not a USB or PS2 plug, looks like a phono jack?
I think someone in VM's despatch dept has had a bad day...

wearside_2

PROLIANT wrote: »

I think it is a flux capacitor.

What the flux is a Flux capacitor?

robt_2

Has the bulb end got tiny holes in it like a microphone would have?

macman

So what would VM be doing with a microphone-or indeed with a flux capacitor? My guess is that some guy in their postroom has been frantically looking for his personal one for days...