upgrade for laptop

[l-ston]

Hi.. i have a hp 17-x115dx laptop but y does not have bluetooth capabilities because the network adaptor is not dual band i saw this    { Intel 7260.HMWG.R Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 Network adapter PCI Express Half Mini Card 802.11 b/a/g/n/ac }   on amazon i was wodering if it compatible to be added as an upgrade?

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Here's the Service manual:

Manual

See p. 3 at the bottom. The problem is that on models that came with an Intel wifi + BT module there are two antennae. If it has the Realtek wireless only module or combo card or Broadcom combo card it only has one antenna. The AC-7260 module you ask about (which is the best on the market, by the way) is going to need 2 antennae. Adding another antenna is a huge chore like brain surgery and beyond the capability of most mortals. 

There is an option for a Realtek wireless + BT card that can work with one antenna:

Realtek RTL8723BE-VB 802.11b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi + BT4.0 Combo Adapter 855106-855

and the Manual also mentions this:

Broadcom BCM43142 802.11 b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi + BT4.0 Combo Adapter

But does not provide a part number. 

See pages 41-47 of the Manual for "how to" on wifi card replacement. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-15-AY-Genuine-Laptop-Wireless-WIFI-Card-855106-855-Tested/253311886709?h...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/753076-001-Broadcom-BCM43142-802-11B-g-n-1x1-WI-FI-BT4-0-HMC-Combo-Ada/1729...

I would prefer the Broadcom personally. 

Post back with any questions and please Accept as Solution if this is your answer. 

[l-ston]

thank u very much so this braodcom of which you speak if i perchase it is it a sure thing that it will work?

and also i know some stuff but not all when you say two antenea do you mean that it has two plug on the top of it that are easily removed? if not please explain that to me thank you

[Huffer]

"Sure things" are hard to come by but within a reasonable degree of certainty (98%) it will work. No all the cards have 2 antenna nipples on the card but on many HP and other laptops there is only one antenna wire available inside the chassis of the laptop. Yours is one of those it appears. So you hook the single antenna to the nipple marked "main" and that is all the antenna you get. Explains why these have less wifi range than the 2 antenna models. For Bluetooth it will make no difference as range is very limited anyways.

[l-ston]

thank you again sir....

i check the manual and and on page 46 i see where it says spare part number arent those the spare parts to use??

[Huffer]

As I said the Broadcom card is listed in the first part of the Manual but does not have a part number assigned on page 46. 

Your laptop has no whitelist so any wireless card of the correct form factor will work but it has to be a 1 x 1 card or it will be crippled by only having a single antenna wire.

I am just not a fan of the Realtek product and I think the Broadcom card is better so I found you one of those and the Realtek. Yes, you can use the Realtek and it will also work fine and has an HP Part number. It is the same wireless chip as you have now with a bluetooth chip added so if you are happy with your wireless I guess it will be OK. 

[l-ston]

Good day again sir ....


Are there any that you recommend from Amazon please because eBay sells fraud sometimes

[Huffer]

eBay is just as safe to buy from as amazon.com...for these kinds of items you find the same people selling both places. 

I did look on amazon.com first because I know a lot of folks think the same as you but these are not available there. 

[JohnnyJS]

I have the 802.11b/g/n (1x1) adapter and on windows 10  in the adapter advanced properities there is no option to enable N, and the  wireless mode only gives values for b/g. How do I enable N, even with 1 x1 spacial channel? Drivers are all up to date and Connected to an N router.

Also, I am upgrading to an AC3100 router in the future,  Since N standard supports both 2..4 and 5 GHz bands, I sould not need a new adapter, with the single anntenna, correct? BTW there is currently no option for 802.11n channel bandwidth for 5GHZ, only 2.4