15-p030nr - HP Beats Special Edition G6R14UA upgrade to AC WIFI

[PABSVAZ]

Hello

The support from the community is greatly appreciated. There is truly a great respect for those sharing the wealth of knowledge on topics like these.

The current resolution looking to gain is to upgrade an 802.11n wifi card to an 802.11ac wifi card. There seems to be deficient literature on the machine itself and ultimately, pointing in the direction of compatible AC wifi cards. It is understood that a 1x1 card is for one antennae machines and 2x2 is for 2 antennae machines (not cheeseburgers). A skill set of installing two antennae is available if need  be (not preferred though). 

The machine in question is the:

HP pavillion beats 15 notebook pc G6R14UA#ABA 15p030nr.  with the AMD A8-5545m.

The wifi card currently installed is the:

 RTL8723BE with 1 antennae.

Which AC wifi cards are available to this machine? Is there a BIOS whitelist on this machine? Best alternatives to have modern AC wifi speeds?

Thank you once again for the invaluable support from the community.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Your notebook does not have a BIOS whitelist, but it has the older style HMC form factor wifi adapter, for which they all need two antenna cables for everything to work right.

With only one antenna, I believe (but cannot guarantee) that either the wifi will work, or the Bluetooth will work, but not both. 

If you attach the antenna to the wifi card's main or #1 terminal the wifi will work, for example.

If you are willing to run a second antenna cable which requires the complete disassembly of the notebook including the display panel area, or you are willing to live without bluetooth, you can upgrade to this model AC card...

Broadcom BCM4352 802.11ac 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0 combo.   HP Part # 724935-001.

The card should be readily available on Amazon or eBay.

Do your search by the HP part number, not the model of the wifi card.

You can find the antenna kit you need to order in chapter 3 of the service manual, page 41.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04402649

[PABSVAZ]

Thank you very much. Will purchase that one and antenaa kit. Any drivers, setting changes, or finishing steps to get it to work as designed?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

W10 will install one version newer wifi driver after you are connected to the internet, but here are the HP W10 wifi and Bluetooth drivers you need to get going...

Wifi:   7.35.351.0

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp78001-78500/sp78044.exe

Bluetooth:  12.0.1.921 

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp75001-75500/sp75330.exe

[PABSVAZ]

This is great help, Paul! Updates will be posted after placing the order and installing everything to thank you one last time for the success.

By the way, will the same principals/logic apply to the hp pavilion x360 13 so20ca/na i3 5010U with Realtek RTL8723BE (hp Part number 792204-001) 1 antenna 1x1 WIFI card being replaced with the Intel ac3160 card (hp part number 784644-005) 2 antenna 1x1 WiFi card?

Please confirm if I understood or misunderstood.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Actually, that model uses the M.2 form factor wifi card,   The part number 792204-001 you posted shows this picture...M.2.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/792610-005-792204-001-Realtek-RTL8723BE-802-11b-g-n-1x1-Wi-Fi/123536350015?...

You can install this model AC wifi card instead if the PC only has one antenna, and not have to mess with running another antenna wire.

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

Unfortunately, the card has been on back order for months on the HP parts store, but there are several for sale on eBay.

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

The 8821CE will have the same throughput on the 2.4 GHz wifi band as the RTL8723BE wifi card your notebook has now, but it will have up to 433 MBPS on the 5.0 GHz wifi band if you have an AC router.

[PABSVAZ]

Thank you.

All external routers and equipment have been updated to the latest AC capabilities. The internal components of the laptops  just need to be upgraded.

For the x360 s020ca/na (this would help in understanding thet 15 p030nr system) the Intel 3160 AC card was purchased as the upgraded WiFi card. The card works great with 2.4 anda5 GHz  wireless network connectivity but lacks Bluetooth range. Upon dissecting the manual for the 3160 WiFi card, it was understood that although 1x1 chain achieves both 2.4 and 5 ghz ranges with one antenaa, a second antenna would be needed for Bluetooth ranges. This is what Intel calls "Wilkins Peak 1".

Will the same be true for the Realtek 8821CE for the x360 s020ca/na system and for the BCM4352 on the 15 p030nr?

Also, when shopping for the hp part number 724935-001, the bcm4352 and the bcm94352 show up. Are these two the same Broadcom wifi card?

I appreciate your tolerance and patiemce to this long winded repsonse.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

If the Realtek wifi card in your 360 s020ca, is of the M.2 form factor the part number shows it is, then the Realtek  8821CE's wifi and Bluetooth will work just fine with the one antenna.

If you want to add a second antenna to the 360 s020ca, then you may as well upgrade to a better card...The Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 802.11ac 2 × 2 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter HP Part #793840-005

You will need to add a second antenna for the Broadcom card in order for the Bluetooth to work.

Yes the bcm4352 and the  bcm94352 are one in the same.