On a similar vein, I just installed Windows 2000 + all updates on my Thinkpad T42 with an Intel M 1.8GHz single core, 1GB of ram and 160GB of spinning rust. The ultimate goal was to set up an Embedded Visual C++ 3.0 development environment so I could try out coding for Windows CE devices (shout out to NCommander and his nethack on Jornada video).
The biggest surprise came after I got it fully updated with Legacy Update, installed all the drivers and finally got my head around wireless supplicants by stumbling onto the Boingo client - my 5GHz SSID was in the wireless networks list. This prompted a full recheck of my router config (that came up correct), then some confused googling until I found IBM's Press Release touting the 5GHz prowess of the Intel 2915ABG card in my laptop: https://www.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?infotype=an&...
The wire from the basement was for an earth ground, he probably had another antenna wire either in the attic or going outside. Check out Galena detector radios.
You might want to give the Amazfit Bip a go, it's as barebones as it gets. The only gripes I have with it is the craptastic app and the lack of vibration, it only has a beeper.