Compatible wifi dual card for 17-f113dx

[Bobh1950]

So I bought my laptop, a Pavilion 17-f113dx a little over 3 years ago.  I am swapping the drive for an ssd drive and I thought while I go to all the trouble of disassembling the laptop that I would change out the wifi card with a dual wifi/bluetooth card to improve wireless performance.

I understand that there may be a whitelist in the bios of compatabile cards for a laptop this old.  Where would I be able to find that list?  Or is there a solution short of installing a hacked bios?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

There is no whitelist, but there is almost a bigger problem...

1. The notebook requires extensive disassembly to get to the wireless card.  If you can overcome that, then #2 is the killer.

2.  On most of these newer HP notebooks with single band wlan cards, there is only one antenna connected to the card, and there isn't a second one present.

A dual band card such as the Intel 7260 N or AC requires 2 antennas to work.

It will take even more disassembly including the display panel area to run the 2nd antenna.

Do not rely on the picture in the service manual which normally shows two antennas.

You will need to physically inspect your notebook's situation before buying a replacement card.

If it has two antennas, then you are good to go.

I would recommend the Intel 7260 dual band N or AC card for your 3 year old notebook.

[Bobh1950 · Accepted solution]

Solved!  Thank you for your reply.  Yes you are right that there is only one antenna to this Pavilion 17-f113dx.  And yes you are right that disassembly is somewhat involved.  However, I undertook the project and installed 8gb of ram, added an AzureWave Broadcom BCM9435HMB/BCM94352 dual band/bluetooth half mini pci -e card, and added a 750gb ssd.  I canabalized an old hp laptop and used an antenna from it to install in my f113dx.  Took about 45 minutes to carefully disassemble and tuck new antenna beside existing antenna and behind display brackets.  Fired it up and had bluetooth and dual band working right away.  Now I am raring to go!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Glad you were willing and able to upgrade the wlan card.

[XavierM1]

Hi @bonh1950

I am have connection issues with my laptop . I have the same model laptop as you mentioned in your post. I would like to replace my wifi card as you mention you did. Can you give me any information or pctures ? You mentioned you used a wire from another laptop. Where do you place this wire in the laptop ?

Thanks