WiFi card upgrade

[sirVasilis]

Hey everyone, 

I got a notebook Hp 15-da0xxx with i7-8550u. My wifi card doesn't support 5ghz band. I was wondering if it is possible to upgrade to a dual band wifi card. And if yes, where can i take instructions? 

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Yes, you can replace the single band Realtek wifi card with this dual band AC card...

Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11 ac 1x1 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter (MU-MIMO supported) HP part # L17365-005.

You can find this model on eBay, or Ali Express. 

I see an Intel card listed as the first one on the eBay listing, so don't buy that one.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=L17365-005&_sacat=0&_sop=15

Do not buy the first card showing up on the list, because that is an Intel 3165 AC card that requires two antenna wires to work and the seller must have put the wrong part number on the listing.

The card will have the same 72 MBPS throughput as the original wifi card on the 2.4 GHz wifi band, but on the 5.0 GHz wifi band, it will have a max throughput of 433 MBPS when you have an AC router with an excellent wifi signal strength.

You can find the wifi card removal and replacement procedure in the service manual.

HP 15 Laptop PC Maintenance and Service Guide

[sirVasilis]

So, following your suggestion I ordered that module. It should arrive in the next days and I have to ask if there is something I need to watch out before I go to install it. Software or hardware.. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Software:

Before installing the new wifi card, go to the device manager.  Click to expand the network adapters device manager category.

Right click on the Reatek wifi adapter and select Uninstall.  Also check the uninstall driver box.

Do the same thing for the Realtek bluetooth adapter in the device manager under the bluetooth device manager category.

Shut down the PC and install the new wifi card.

Hardware:  The antenna cable is thin and delicate.  Use care when removing and reattaching the antenna wire.

Here is a video that may help with that...

Replace the Wireless Module | HP Notebook 15, HP 250 and 255 G7 Notebook PC | HP - YouTube

Here are the latest wifi and bluetooth drivers for the RTL8821CE wifi card.

Download and save them now so that you have them to install after you install the new card.

 Wifi:  2024.0.10.221

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp112501-113000/sp112619.exe

Bluetooth:  1.8.1037.3000

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp111501-112000/sp111899.exe