HP 15s-fq2000 and ax211 / 201 / CNVio2 WiFi cards

[Vatharian]

I've bought the HP 15s-fq2000 laptop, new. It had, however, terrible network performance (constantly dropping the connection). I decided to change the WiFi. I checked the HP PartSurfer (by s/n) to see what my options are - it apparently should have come with Intel AX201 card - mine had Realtek AC 2x2 NIC. I bought AX201, but seller offered me AX211 for almost the same price. Unsure if it will work (Realtek is PCI-e/USB combo card), I took both.

It turns out neither can install. Windows can see them as network controller and Bluetooth device, somehow both register their IDs as VEN_8086 and DEV_A0F0, and neither allows drivers to be installed (installation either fails, or ends up with code 10 when done manually).

This brings a question - does this laptop has pure NGFF key-M PCI-Express slot, or is it CNVio2 capable one? CPU, Core i5-1135G7 definitely supports on-SoC WiFi.

I know that CNVIo and CNVio2 cards aren't compatible, but AX201, 211 and 411 are all CNVio2, and since it should support, if I am to believe PartSurfer.

Cards are Intel-branded - so does this laptop model has... BIOS whitelist?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

If your notebook came with a Realtek Wi-Fi card, then the Intel CNVio2 cards won't work.

I don't know why, but they won't.

There is no one on this forum that has replaced a non-Intel card in their notebook with an AX201, 211, etc., even if they are listed as supported in the service manual.

I suggest that first, you update the Realtek Wi-Fi driver to the latest version and see if that helps any.

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp140501-141000/sp140954.exe 

If that doesn't help any, then I recommend you upgrade to this model, which is not a CNVio card:

 You can find them on eBay.  Search by the HP part number.

Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 ax 2×2 + Bluetooth 5.0 MU-MIMO M.2 2230 non-vPro   HP part # L35282-005

[Vatharian]

> If your notebook came with a Realtek Wi-Fi card, then the Intel CNVio2 cards won't work.

> I don't know why, but they won't.

It's hard to put into words how disappointed I am. I was really hoping for it to work.

This is literally 3rd time I bought HP laptop and 3rd time when changing wireless device proved to be problematic.

Thank you for pointing this out to me, and I am sad I haven't found any indication of this before.

Well, AX200 from my AMD machine goes in, I'll manage since it has wired network. Realtek card has newest drivers already - I suspect it may have to do more with my access point, it's not the first Realtek card it has issues with.

Edit: I have swapped the AX200 from my Clevo machine, and it runs very, very well. On the flipside, the Realtek card in other laptop has same issues - it can barely link with my AP, and is unstable, but connects and works fairly well with my mobile hotspot from my phone. So this is issue with my AP, not the card.

Thank you again.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The Realtek wifi driver I gave you installs this version...

2024.10.227.0  06/21/2022