Connecting to 5G

[shonuf76]

I started working in a school and they use only 5G wifi, which apparently isn't available to me on my existing laptop.  How can I correct this?  I read in another post that I would have to get a new card or something, but I am not as tech-savvy as most on here, so I am looking for answers that I can understand.  Hopefully, it is something like "Go into the thing, click this on, and you should be good" but I am worried that it will be more like "Order this part, crack open your laptop and start pulling on cords".  Please help!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

In order to connect to the 5.0 GHz wifi band if you can't now, that means your PC's wifi adapter is a single band card that can only work on the 2.4 GHz wifi band.

Depending on what model PC you have, upgrading the internal wifi card may not even be an option.

I recommend that you purchase an external USB dual band wifi adapter.

They make some nano-sized ones that hardly stick out of the USB port.

Something like this.

https://www.amazon.com/Cudy-650Mbps-Wireless-Included-Compatible/dp/B07TV1BC5M/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&...

If you want to see if you can upgrade the internal card instead, I would need to know the full model number or product number of your notebook.

Use this guide to find that information...please do not post the serial number.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00033108

[shonuf76]

Thank you!!  I just purchased the adaptor, so I'll let you know if it works.  My laptop is the HP Laptop 15-da0xxx.  I am amazed that it doesn't have 5G connectivity!  Had I known that I would not have purchased this version!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

Yes, your model must have the Realtek RTL8723DE wifi adapter.

That is about the only wifi adapter left that isn't dual band. 

The only other one in use is the RTL8188EE wifi adapter, and that model doesn't even have bluetooth.

FWIW, you can replace the internal card with this one...

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.

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

The card has the same throughput as the RTL8723DE card on the 2.4 GHz wifi band, but on the 5.0 GHz wifi band with an AC router, it has a maximum throughput of 433 MBPS.

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

https://content.abt.com/documents/90195/15DA0046NR_manual.pdf

There is also a service video gallery with remove and replace videos...

https://www.supportvideos.ext.hp.com/?q=15-da0000