Qualcomm Atheros 802.11 a/b/g/n Dualband Wireless Network Module Chipset Number?

[Powney7]

Hello, I've been having troubles updating my Qualcomm Atheros 802.11 a/b/g/n Dualband Wireless Network Module driver. I've looked as hard as I could to find out how to determine the chipset number, but no cigar. I've even took a look inside my computer to see if I could find anything, but that was no use. The Atheros Wireless Diagnostics Utility tells me I have the wrong driver installed (there's a 99.9% chance that that was my doing). Here's part of the diagnostics result: Driver installation test
This test is to check the radio driver installation.
The radio's registry keys are OK.
Nic name. . . . . . . . . : Qualcomm Atheros 802.11 a/b/g/n Dualband Wireless Network Module
Driver name . . . . . . . : ATHRX
Driver path . . . . . . . : C:\WINDOWS\\SystemRoot\System32\drivers\athrx.sys
Driver version. . . . . . :

Here's the first string under hardware ids for my Qualcomm Atheros 802.11 a/b/g/n Dualband Wireless Network Module: PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_002A&SUBSYS_1000168C&REV_01.
 

[CherylG]

Have you checked your Support page for drivers? Get your Product number from the Service Tag attached to machine.

How Do I Find My Model Number or Product Number

 Once you have the info, use the button at top of this page titled "Support", then click "Download drivers" from the menu. Enter your Product Number. After entering  click 'Go". On the next page use Option 1 to let the wizard scan OR use  Option 2 to go direcly to drivers list.

[Powney7]

Thanks for the reply, but the Original Atheros Wireless LAN Driver from the support page only works in windows 7 (I have windows 10). I was hoping I could update my driver with the latest drivers from this site: https://www.atheros.cz/atheros-wireless-drivers.html. But then again, I do not know which one to download.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

I have zipped up and attached the file from atheros.cz you need (under Attachments below).

Note that it is only good for W8 and older, so it may not work on W10.

I had also read a post from another forum member that wants to install W10 where the MS W10 compatibility checker reports that the wireless card you have is not supported.

So...try this and if it doesn't work, unfortunately, you will need to obtain a newer wireless card.  I suggest you look into a dual band external usb wireless card.

Download and unzip the file I attached to its folder.

Go to the device manager and click on the network controller needing drivers.

Click on the driver tab.  Click on Update Driver.  Select the Browse my computer for driver software option, and browse to the driver folder you unzipped.

Make sure the Include Subfolders box is checked and see if the driver installs that way.

The hardware ID you posted is present in the driver setup information file.

[Powney7]

Hey, I updated the driver using the attachment you gave me. After that, I ran the CCX Diagnostics Utility and got this as a result:

Driver installation test
This test is to check the radio driver installation.
The radio's registry keys are OK.
Nic name. . . . . . . . . : Qualcomm Atheros 802.11 a/b/g/n Dualband Wireless Network Module
Driver name . . . . . . . : ATHWBX
Driver path . . . . . . . : C:\WINDOWS\\SystemRoot\System32\drivers\athwbx.sys
Driver version. . . . . . :

Driver has not been installed correctly.
Try reinstalling the software.
If that does not work, try replacing the radio.

Am I still good to go or do I need a newer wireless card like you said? I can access my network fine, but I'm just curious if the driver will cause issues. Thanks.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If you can connect to the internet and do other wireless networking tasks, such as wireless printing or transferring files from one PC to another, I don't see any reason to be concerned.

Worst case scenario is you have to buy a $50 wireless adapter that will work with W10.

I use the linksys AE3000 external USB wireless adapter on both of my HP desktops.

It works just fine on the W10 technical preview using the W7 drivers that came with the device.

[Powney7]

Okay then, my problem is solved. One more thing then I'll mark your answer as the solution, how did you know which model or driver was needed for my wireless network module from this site? So I can update my driver in the future. Thanks again.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I did a search on the forum and someone else with that card presumed it had an AR5B9 wireless chip.

Post reference:

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Other-Desktop-PC-Questions/Atheros-802-11-a-b-g-n-Dualband-Wireless-5G-...

Then I went to the atheros.cz site, and selected the newest driver available for the first AR5B9x wireless chip listed.  I believe that was the AR5B91.  That was the Windows 8 driver file, as there were none newer.

Note:  It doesn't matter which AR5B9x model you actually select, because the driver is the same for any of those listed.

Then I downloaded the driver, and before I replied, I confirmed that the driver contained the hardware ID for your specific model wireless card in the file.

You can find that hardware ID listed in the athwbx setup information file in the driver folder for 64 bit, and the athwb setup information file for 32 bit.

If you look at the driver setup information file I referenced, you will see that dozens and dozens of various wireless chips are supported by this driver.

Here is a copy and paste of the section where the ID for the wireless card in your PC is located...

; HP Desktop
%ATHR.DeviceDesc.2A5F103C% = ATHR_DEV_OS61_2A5F103C.ndi, PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0024&SUBSYS_2A5F103C
%ATHR.DeviceDesc.500011AD% = ATHR_DEV_OS61_11AD.ndi,     PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001B&SUBSYS_500011AD
%ATHR.DeviceDesc.500111AD% = ATHR_DEV_OS61_11AD.ndi,     PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001B&SUBSYS_500111AD
%ATHR.DeviceDesc.1000168c% = ATHR_DEV_OS61_1000168C.ndi, PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_002A&SUBSYS_1000168C
%ATHR.DeviceDesc.1000168c% = ATHR_DEV_OS61_1001168C.ndi, PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_002A&SUBSYS_1001168C

And that is all there is to it. 

Just takes a little detective work.