Need to replace Ralink RT3290 Wi-Fi on my HP Pavillion 15-n284ca laptop

[HuronBob1]

I need to replace the Ralink RT3290 Wi-Fi adapter on my Pavillion 15-n284ca laptop because the adapter is failing (dropping the conection continuously). I have tried everything possible from updating the bios to switching off the power management check box, updating driver,  blocking all other networks through the command prompt. Switched off all devices on the network. Nothing has worked so far. Can someone suggest a replacement for this adapter?

Thanks in advance.

Bob

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Bob:

Are there two antenna wires currently connected to the Ralink WiFi card?

You can only upgrade the wifi adapter if there are two antennas present.

If so, one of these two Broadcom wifi cards should work...

AC:

Broadcom BCM4352 802.11ac 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0 combo

HP part # 724935-001

Dual band N:

Broadcom BCM943228HMB WiDi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0 combo	HP part # 730668-001

Do your search by the HP part number, not by the model number of the wifi card.

Either card should be readily available on Amazon or eBay.

Here are the W10 wifi and bluetooth drivers for those cards...

This package provides the Broadcom Wireless LAN drivers for supported notebook models running a supported operating system. Broadcom Wireless LAN drivers are required to enable the integrated Broadcom Wireless LAN adapter. 

VERSION: 7.35.351.0 REV: A PASS: 1    EFFECTIVE DATE: October 25, 2016

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp78001-78500/sp78044.exe

This package contains the Broadcom Bluetooth driver for supported models that are running a supported operating system. Broadcom Bluetooth Driver is required to enable Broadcom Bluetooth devices.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp74501-75000/sp74988.exe

[HuronBob1]

Hi Paul, 

                     Thanks for getting back to me. the existing adapter has 2 antenna wires so we are good to go.  At the risk of sounding like a complete dummy, what is the difference between the 2 items you suggested (one said AC and the other said N). The original unit was a Ralink RT3290 802.11bgn wi-fi adapter.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The wireless mode is the only difference.

If you have a wireless AC router, the AC card would be the one to get.

If you only have a wireless N router, then you can go either way, but the AC card will max out at 300 MBPS connection speed, instead of the 867 MBPS it would get with an AC router.

Connection speed is not download speed.  Download speed is controlled by the package you get from your Internet Service Provider.

[HuronBob1]

I checked the specs of my router and it is a b/g/n router so it looks like I have my answer as to which adapter to purchase. I will be ordering this adapter today and will update as to whether it fixed my issue when I get it installed. 

Thanks again.

Broadcom BCM943228HMB WiDi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0 combo

HP part # 730668-001

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Looking forward to reading about how the wireless card upgrade went.

[HuronBob1]

Hi Paul,

                     Finally getting back to you and anyone else that was interested, on the replacement of the Ralink 3290 wi-fi card. I just recieved it today (on a slow boat from China). Removed the back cover plate, undid 1 screw,gently removed the atennae wires and slid the old card out of the socket. Installed the new card, re-attached the antenae wires, screwed the adapter down, replaced the cover, and turned on the laptop. I then installed the drivers you recommended. The installation went without a hitch and was actually quite easy to do. I have been running the card now for only about five minutes but it seems to be working fine. Thanks so much for your assistance on my issue. I don't expect any further problems but will definately let you know if I do.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That is great news!

Thanks for letting us know how the wifi card upgrade went.

[HuronBob1]

Hi Paul,

                     Here is an update to the installation of the new wi-fi card as recommended by Paul. The new card has been working great for the past two days. I have not had the connection to my network drop even once on me , Woo Hoo! Well, that's what I thought until I tried to connect my bluetooth speaker. I get the message that the bluetooth is not turned on. Bluetooth also does not show up in settings. Any chance I can get some help with this?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The issue may be if you didn't uninstall the Ralink bluetooth adapter and drivers in the device manager before you installed the Intel wifi card.

Another person had the same issue when they replaced the Broadcom wifi card with the Intel one and didn't uninstall the drivers first.

And in order to do that, you would have to go back and remove the Intel card, install the ralink card, and then uninstall the Ralink bluetooth adapter and driver in the device manager, and the Ralink bluetooth software in the windows control panel.

Other than that, there isn't any reason I can think of as to why the Intel BT isn't working.

You would also need to install the Intel bluetooth software from the link below.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27195/Intel-Wireless-Bluetooth-for-Windows-10?product=7517...

You would not need to remove and reattach the antennas.  I would try to do the operation with the Intel card hanging from the antenna wires.  Plug in the Ralink card and uninstall the drivers, etc. taking care not to let the Intel card touch anything inside the notebook when it is on.

If you don't feel comfortable with that procedure, then at a minimum you would have to completely remove the Intel card and detach the antennas, but you should not need to reattach them to the Ralink card in any event.