Internal wifi card replace BIOS limitation

[kenarsuleyman]

Hi all,

I have envy 15-k202nt notebook with Broadcom BCM43142 wifi + bluetooth card. I want to replace it with Atheros AR5BHB116 because of 5Ghz support. But my question is is there any limitations in BIOS to block different model/brand of wifi card?

Also i know i have to replace internal antennas for 5Ghz but this is not problem for me. My warranty  date already passed.

I saw someone said in this forum "Check your driver download page. If there is driver for different brands of wifi chips than you can replace it." Is that correct?

If yes, in my driver download page there are drivers for Intel, Broadcom and Atheros chipsets. Is that means i can replace my card with on of these brands?

I'm waiting for answers from you.

Thanks

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

If you really can install a second antenna (not an easy job) then there is no restriction on the wireless card you can install as long as it fits the slot. HP did away with the BIOS restriction almost 4 years ago now and any laptop built since then does not have any restriction. 

[kenarsuleyman]

I want to ask something releated to this topic.

My current wifi  card is single band and has 2 cables attached to it. The card i planning to buy is dual band but also it has 2 cable sockets. Isn't that weird?

I need to install another antenna for  5Ghz band and then i will have 3 cables and 2 sockets?

I'm assuming that i don't have to remove old antenna because they are for 2ghz band and then just add another antenna for 5 ghz band.

And is it possible to i have 2 antennas for single band to increase speed like 2x2 connection? If this is the case i just need to remove one of old antennas.

[Huffer]

When you said you had to install antennae for 5 ghz I thought you had already looked and have one antenna. If you have 2 antennae you are good to go. It is not as simple as one antenna is for 2.4 and one for 5 ghz. No need for 3 antennae and a dual band card uses exactly the same kind of antennae so jut remove the old one and plug in the new one and hook it up is all you need to do.