Maximizing wifi on my Pavilion

[KathyEman]

When streaming a video, this Pavilion stops often, and for lengthy periods of time.

I've installed a new router and on the router's website can see that the Pavilion has signed on to the 2.4 gHz wireless network. When I search for available networks, the 5G does not show up, despite all of our other devices finding and using the 5g.  I have done the wifi diagnostic, but still no other networks appear. Any ideas? Thank you

[banhien]

@KathyEman

Probably the wireless card on your Pavilion does NOT support 5GHz, only 2.4GHz bandwidth. You can't change wireless card on nearly all Pavilion laptops which were built before 2015. But you may be able to change wireless card on newer Pavilion laptops.

Regards.

[Huffer]

The kind of help you are asking for requires that we know what hardware you have and that means we need the Product or Model number of the laptop. First thing that comes to mind is the wireless card is 2.4 ghz only but hard to know that without knowing what kind of wireless card it is. 

[KathyEman]

Thank you. Can you tell if the wireless card can be swapped with
SN CND434B6TV
PN F9J18UA#ABA
Model 11-n010dx
Thanks

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Here's the problem:

Wireless Integrated wireless local area network (WLAN) options by way of wireless module Support for the following WLAN formats: ● Atheros AR9485 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter with 1 antenna ● Qualcomm QCA9565 802.11bgn 1x1 Wi-Fi + BT4.0 Combo Adapter with 1 antenna ● Ralink RT3290LE 802.11b/g/n 1×1 WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 Combo Adapter with 1 antenna ● Realtek RTL8188EE 802.11bgn Wi-Fi Adapter with 1 antenna

Your laptop has one antenna wire and you need 2 in order to have a dual band 2.4 or 5 ghz wireless card. None of the above choices or any other single antenna wireless card is worth having, frankly. 

Adding an antenna is not really worth discussing; it is major surgery. 

Your best bet I hate to say (but its true) is a usb 802.11ac dual band wireless dongle like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Mailiya-AC600Mbps-Wireless-Adapter-Mini/dp/B01MYQW7IR/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=...

They are cheap, easy to install, and are small enough now they do not stick out much. 

Post back with any more questions. 

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it.