BT WiFi upgrade.

[ChristianW_8]

I have the HP15-ba042nr laptop. It has no Bluetooth functionality. I have added a soundbar with Bluetooth functionality and a usb Bluetooth adapter to this laptop. The setup is not optimal because latency is about 200ms. A technician suggested the adapter is most likely to blame, so I figure this is my occasion to upgrade my WiFi mini PCIe card to one with Bluetooth functionality (I have performed other upgrades to this laptop already). What card should I buy? Is there a better brand Broadcom, Realtek, Quallcom?

The laptop is HP15-ba042nr, with AMD Quad-Core A10-9600P microprocessor, has a single WiFi antenna. Product# Z2K88UA#ABA. I believe it was made in 2016(?). It has Windows 10 Home OS.

The WiFi card is AW-NE259NF Rev03, uses the driver for Realtek RTL8188EE 802.11 bgn.
It can be seen here: https://www.ebay.ca/i/232613950101

The USB Bluetooth adapter is NS-PCY5BMA2-C, presents as the Broadcom BCM20702A0.
It can be seen here: https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/insignia-insignia-usb-bluetooth-adapter-ns-pcy5bma2-c-black-ns-...?

The soundbar is the Samsung HW-M360.
It can be seen here: https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/samsung-samsung-hw-m360-200-watt-2-1-channel-sound-bar-with-wir...?

I can connect my Wifi to the FibreOP R3000 modem.
I believe that the modem is 802.11n for 2.4GHz @ 600Mbps and 802.11ac for 5GHz @ 1.7Gbps.

[banhien]

@ChristianW_8 

Your machine only has ONE antenna, to be able to get better speed with new card you need TWO antennas.  The following cards are supported as pre-installed options:

• Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 802.11 ac 1x1 WiFi + BT 4.2 Combo part # 806723-005
• Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168 802.11 ac 1x1 WiFi + BT 4.2 Combo Adapter part # 863934-855

Regards.

[ChristianW_8]

Thank you for your prompt response.

I think I am still confused on one point. Is the card/port I am using M.2 or mini PCIe?

Does this link match one of the two products you have pointed. Which one?
https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/intel-3165-ngwg-ieee-802-11ac-bluetooth-4-2-wi-fi-bluetooth-com...?

I expect BT and WiFi share my one antenna that I will be attaching to a card that accepts two.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @ChristianW_8 

None of the dual band wifi cards in your notebook's service manual will work correctly, because you need to have two antenna cables to attach to the card.

The wifi card in your model is a M.2 form factor.

Though it is not listed as supported, I suggest you experiment and try this model wifi card. 

it is inexpensive, and it is the only one that will work correctly with one antenna cable.

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

Basically it is the AC version of the Realtek 1 x 1 bgn wifi card you have in there now.

This card will have a maximum throughput of 433 MBPS on the 5.0 GHz band, as long as you have an AC router.

The card has been on back order from HP for months now.

The only place I know of where you can get them is on eBay. You can see from the photos that there is only one terminal to connect an antenna cable to, just like the wifi card your notebook has now.

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