OMEN Transcend Laptop 14, AX211 will not show 6ghz networks

[Mtngeek1]

I have a year-old laptop that will not pickup 6ghz networks. I have followed all the instructions online for registry edits, driver rollbacks, and settings that I can find online. I have reinstalled a fresh window 11 and even tried a different network card. It just will not see 6ghz networks. I have tried multiple networks and verified that they are receivable by other equipment. At this point I am thinking the bios or chipset is not compatible, although the laptop was advertised as wifi 6e.

Anyone have any ideas on this, or what I might try? I have been working for a solution for a couple of months now.

BTW, I am not a novice trying to do this. I have spent the last 8 years running an IT helpdesk for the government.

[Paul0311]

You probably have already addressed these but I'll offer a couple of thoughts. On the wifi 6e adapter advanced settings you'll want to set the Preferred band to 6 GHz and the Wireless mode to 802.11ax. Netgear says that WPA3 Security for the 6 GHz band is mandatory and you won't be able to connect to that band if both the "client" and AP are not configured for WPA3. Check your adapter setting:

Control Panel > Network & internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings > double click wifi-2 > Wireless Properties > Security tab > Security type: WPA3-Personal > ok

Some routers have a Smart Connect option; You'll want to disable that and set unique SSID for the 6GHz, 5GHz bands, 2.4GHz. I'm guessing that the 6 GHz band already has WPA3-PSK already set. If the other bands are set for WPA2 I think that is ok.

It might be useful to use the Event Viewer to troubleshoot the issue. The wifi connection consists of:

1. Network discovery (scanning for networks).

2. Authentication - handshaking between the adapter and the AP

3. Association - adapter joins the network

4. Data transfer can start.

Some of this gets logged. Open the Event Viewer > Applications and Service logs > Microsoft > WLAN-AutoConfig

Click Operational

For a normal connection you will see entries in the top log panel:

Event ID             Name

8000                   AcmConnection                  a connection has started

11000                 MsmAssociation                 association has started

11001                 MsmAccociation                  association succeeded

11010                 MsmSecurity                       security started

11005                 MsmSecurity                       security succeeded

8001                    AcmConnection                  connection has succeeded

If you click on a event id you get a short description of the event in the panel below. So if you get some other id you might be able to get a clue to the connect problem. 

[Mtngeek1]

Thanks for the reply.

The 6GHz is set for WPA3-psk, and smart connect is off. I also have the 2.4 and 5ghz set to WPA3.I do have my laptop set as 6ghz preferred. Issue is it wont even see the 6ghz band. Get the exact same thing with the BE200 card. Network discovery never sees the network. I know it is there as other items, like my cell phone see and connect. 

My thoughts are if it was a router setting, the other items wouldn't see it, and if it is a setting in Windows 11, the clean install would have fixed it.

The more I work with it, the more I feel it has been locked out by HP, which doesn't make sense as it was advertised as being a 6e system. 

While I see others having the same issue, non seem to be this model, so I am at a loss.

[Paul0311]

Sorry, I misunderstood your original post. I thought it was just a connect issue. Since the wifi scanning is handled by WLAN-AutoConfig and your able to see other networks, it seems unlikely that there is a problem with that service. I'm inclined to think that it is an adapter driver issue. For your laptop there is one Previous version on the HP support site that you could try if you haven't already. And there is a 8/25/2025 version on the Intel web site (Package 23.160.0 I think) that I suppose you could try. Although I have read that original mfr drivers are modified for specific laptop models by the laptop manufacturers.

I don't have any BIOS settings that pertain to wifi so I can't comment on that. If I run across something I'll post it. 

[Paul0311]

Found this on the Netgear web site on why some have difficulty connecting to a 6 GHz band. I added the details from from the user manual for one of their wifi 6e routers. Thought I would pass it all along.

Use a preferred scanning channel (PSC)
Preferred scanning channels (PSCs) are a group of WiFi channels that are prioritized within the 6 GHz WiFi band. Instead of scanning the entire 6 GHz spectrum for an optimal channel, 6 GHz WiFi devices scan PSCs for efficient connectivity. Setting your router, mesh system, or access point to use a PSC can improve device connectivity.
NETGEAR devices that support 6 GHz WiFi either default to PSC 37 on the 6 GHz band or automatically select a PSC band based on the network environment. You can also manually select a different PSC channel from the web interface.
If you can connect on the 6 GHz band but can't access the Internet, or if your devices experience problems discovering your 6 GHz SSID, you might want to try using a different PSC.

From the User Manual of the Nighthawk AXE7800 wifi 6e router
Note: If you are using a WiFi 6E device, use a Preferred Scanning Channel (PSC) to prevent a situation in which your device cannot find the SSID. PSCs are a group of 20MHz channels that are prioritized within the 6GHz WiFi band. Instead of scanning the entire 6 GHz spectrum for an optimal channel, WiFi 6E devices scan PSCs for efficient connectivity. The PSCs on the router are channels5,21,37(default), 53, 69, 85, 101, 117, 133, 149, 165, 181, 197, and 213. The availability of the channels depends on the region in which the router operates.

[Mtngeek1]

I have tried all the drivers that HP list for this laptop, and most of the drivers that Intel has. I found a version of the old driver that many have said works, but it loads but is disabled. I think it may be for Windows 10.

I don't find any setting in the bios. It seems to be a real barebones bios compared to others I have seen.

Thanks

[Mtngeek1]

I have an Asus RT-BE96U router and it is set for PSC auto. I have tried disabling all other bands on the router, and changing multiple settings for the 6ghz. Nothing seems to allow it to see 6ghz. I have a wifi program to show all wifi's in my area, it does not find anything on the 6ghz band. I am in a townhome and pick up multiple SSID's, but nothing at 6ghz.

Thanks for you input.