Wifi Card Upgrade

[V9Xg9]

I'm trying to upgrade the wifi card on the laptop and I wonder if a AX210 wifi 6e is compatible. I know that some laptop have a whitelist, how do I find what is on the whitelist of the laptop so I know what I can upgrade?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

In order to try and answer your question, I would need to know the full model number or product number of your PC.

Find Your HP Laptop Name, Product Number, or Serial Number | HP Notebooks | HP Support

[V9Xg9]

Oh I thought the info of my laptop would just pop up on here because before I create this discussion I had to fill out information about my laptop before posting. 

HP Pavilion Laptop

Model: 15-cs2064st

Realtek Radio Model: RTL881CE

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I believe that there may be an issue with that part of the forum.

I see that it works for some folks and if you filled out the model info at the top of the page and it didn't work, unfortunately, that happens.

The problem been reported in the past, but I don't know when it will be fixed.

As for upgrading the Wi-Fi card:

When your notebook comes with the RTL881CE Wi-Fi card, there is only one antenna wire in the notebook and the AX210 would need two.

The Intel AX210 was not offered in the 15-cs2000 model series, and I can't find any posts where anyone installed the card.

Since the notebook has an Intel core processor and chipset, it may be possible the AX210 will work, but you would need to install a second antenna wire, or your notebook will not have any Bluetooth reception if Bluetooth is a requirement for you, or you would have to use a USB Bluetooth adapter.

If you want to try out the AX210 in your notebook, this is the part number you will need:

Intel AX210 Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX + Bluetooth 5.2 M.2 2230 non-vPro   HP part # / SPS # M27269-005

Below is the link to the service manual where you can find the wifi card removal and replacement procedure:

Maintenance and Service Guide HP Pavilion 15 Laptop PC

There is also this service video:

Replace the Wireless LAN Module | HP Pavilion 15-cs0000, cs1000, cs2000, cs3000 Laptop PC | HP

[V9Xg9]

What is another WIFI card that'll be compatilbe since my notebook doesn't have a Bluetooth antenna? 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Unfortunately, there isn't any other dual band card available where the Bluetooth will work with one antenna wire in your notebook.

I once gave a person this card as a recommendation for an upgrade on a different model notebook, but it didn't work.

You can try the Realtek Wi-Fi 6 card I gave the other forum member but with the understanding that it may not work.

Realtek Wi-Fi 6 RTL8852BE-VS + Bluetooth 5.3    HP part #  N26166-005

If you do a search by the HP part number on eBay, there are several of them for sale.

You'll be out less than $15.00 if it is a bust.

[V9Xg9]

Oh okay I understand. Do you know if putting in the new WIFI card  won't be whitelisted from the notebook?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

That is the part that neither I nor anyone else knows in the absence of any feedback, because HP does not publish any info on which notebook model series have BIOS whitelists and which do not.

The only way we find out if a certain Wi-Fi card works or not is from forum member feedback.

There is general info regarding whitelists we have gathered over the years such as:

All HP notebooks made in 2011 or earlier have BIOS whitelists.

~75% of those made in 2012 have BIOS whitelists.

~50% of those made in 2013 have BIOS whitelists

~<10% of those made in 2014 or later have BIOS whitelists, and that is where you get those isolated issues of a Wi-Fi card not working.

In the old days, you got an unsupported Wi-Fi card BIOS message on the screen, and prompted to remove the unsupported card to continue to boot the notebook up.

Nowadays, it is more subtle.

The notebook works fine but there is no trace of the Wi-Fi card in the device manager.

The notebook works fine, and the Wi-Fi card is present and indicates working normally but it doesn't as if it was switched off, and there is no way to turn it on.

Sometimes the Wi-Fi card will work, but the Bluetooth won't and visa versa.

So, all you can do is hope that in the absence of previous info, that your experiment is a success.

[V9Xg9]

Thank you for your help and support. I now have a good understanding and a clear idea of what to do.  It was very much appreciated.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I see that I omitted the part number for the Realtek Wi-Fi 6 card, so I edited my post where I listed the card info and added the part number.