Need help on how to replace Wifi adapter

[jehulberg]

I have a HP Spectre x360 Convertible Model 15-eb0053dx. It's been working perfectly until just the other day. Wifi stopped working. It didn't see any networks. I tried the troubleshooting tool, and it didn't detect anything. I went into Device Manager, and it has a splat on it. I uninstalled it, and it reinstalls, and then stops working almost immediately. I tried restoring the BIOS, and everything else that previous posts have mentioned (hard restart with a sealed battery, default restore of the BIOS, etc).

I found multiple videos on replacing the card, so I opened up the back of the laptop, and the card is NOT where every single video including HP's own video says it should be, at the back left by the hinge for the monitor. I have searched support, Google, everything that I can think of. HP doesn't appear to document the wifi adapter anywhere in any human readable format. I did find one post that someone mentioned it's soldered, and the laptop has to be sent in for a fee-based repair. I am hoping that a business practice like that has not been employed by a company like HP. I am hoping this is not correct, and that it simply isn't documented well, and that I can be given proper direction on how to replace it.

Thank you!!

[banhien]

@jehulberg 

This is a very tricky task because WLAN card is integrated. Please use the following manual to work out where it (page 33 may help)

           http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c06618425.pdf

Regards

[jehulberg]

Thank you for the feedback. It looks like because of this component failing, and because this laptop only has one USB port so using an external wireless antenna is difficult, it would just be easier and cheaper to get rid of it. That's the unfortunate reality of going integrated. It's a shame because I liked the laptop. But it only lasted 2 years before this died. Just not worth the cost when you design something so you can't replace the broken piece. Especially something that sat on a desk without being moved its whole life.

Thank you!

[banhien]

@jehulberg 

This is the first time I read a "Maintenance and Service Guide" which does NOT have WLAN section because its wireless adapter is Integrated wireless local area network (WLAN) with two built-in antenna(s) Support for the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 ax 2×2 + Bluetooth™ 5.0 MU-MIMO M.2 1216 non-vPro 160 MHz MIPI+BRI WW with 2 antenna(s)

Regards.

[banhien]

@jehulberg 

Its specs

           https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c06642682

My solution:

1. Wifi adapter: You can use USB port for wifi. I am actually using the following USB wifi adapter

           https://www.scorptec.com.au/product/Networking/Adapters/67965-USB-AC53-NANO

    There are many similar around, cheaper too.

2. Other ports : Machine has

• 1 Thunderbolt™ 3 (40Gbps signaling rate) with SuperSpeed USB Type-C® 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort™ 1.2, HP Sleep and Charge);
• 1 SuperSpeed USB Type-C® 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort™ 1.2, HP Sleep and Charge)

You can connect above 2 ports to many different devices. For USB-A device, all you need is a small USB-C to USB-A adapter.

Regards.