Hi. I would like to upgrade the wifi card in my HP Pavilion M1X98UA#ABL

[colin1950]

Hi. I would like to upgrade the wifi card in my HP Pavilion M1X98UA#ABLHi.  The card currently installed is a Broadcom BCM43142 802.11 b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi + BT4.0 Combo Adapter.  I would like the new card to have a 5.0 GHz capability. Although I understand that a dual antenna is also desirable, I'm assuming that what I have now is a single antenna, and to add another antenna is a major undertaking.

Can anyone recommend a 5.0 GHz card which will fit my laptop?  Thanks.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You can upgrade to this dual band AC WIFI card with Bluetooth.

It is the only one that will work in your PC with one antenna wire.

That will eliminate the need to completely disassemble the entire notebook including the display panel area to properly install a second antenna wire and tranceiver.

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, or Ali Express,

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

The card will have the same throughput as the BCM43142 on the 2.4 GHz wifi band, but on the 5.0 GHz wifi band, it will have a max throughput of 433 MBPS when you have an AC router with an excellent wifi signal strength.

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

HP Pavilion 14 Notebook PC (Intel, model numbers 14-ab000 through 14-ab099) Maintenance and Service ...

[colin1950]

Hi.  Thanks for the very prompt and thorough reply and for your recommendation.  I assume from your reply that my HP has only one antenna and I certainly don't want to have to take apart the display in order to add another one.

Thanks again.

P.S. Would you know what is the maximum throughput of the BCM43142?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Yes, as far as I'm aware there is only one antenna wire connected to the Broadcom card in there now.

You can take it apart before buying the card and confirm that I am correct.

In the unlikely event there happens to be two WIFI antenna cables connected to the Broadcom card, then you can upgrade to this dual band WIFI card with Bluetooth instead.

Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 802.11ac 2 × 2 WIFI + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter   HP Part # 793840-005.

Your existing BCM card has a maximum throughput of 72 MBPS on the 2.4 GHz WIFI band.

[colin1950]

Thanks again.

A further question:  would the Intel card you recommend work in my HP if the laptop has only one antenna and not two?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The WIFI part of the card would probably work, but not the Bluetooth because the card needs to have both antenna wires connected to work the Bluetooth.