Realtek RTL8821CE constantly dropping out

[BennoMP]

I have been using my laptop for a while now, but I've always had an annoying problem on Windows, where the wireless network would fail to connect, or would disconnect constantly on the eduroam network at my college, so I would find myself hardwired a lot.

Now this time around I did not have the option to do that and I also had to use Windows for a specific application (I have never seen the issue occur on my Linux dual-boot), so I got a little mad over the fact that this network card simply functions like garbage.

I have tried the obvious, following the HP instructions, manually connecting and that kind of stuff, but it just does not work and usually requires a full power cycle to do anything again. I am using the latest drivers and all.

TL;DR this wifi chip functions like garbage and I've tried almost everything I could think of

So does someone happen to have either a driver that does work 9/10 times or should I just replace the card? And if I should replace it, does the Intel AX200 work (or maybe the 101, 201 or 203) on this system?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Unfortunately, since your notebook only comes with one Wi-Fi antenna wire, an Intel AX200 would work, but you would not have Bluetooth, and you can only use this model AX200 with this part number since you have a notebook with an AMD processor:

Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 ax 2×2 + Bluetooth 5.0 MU-MIMO M.2 2230 non-vPro with 2 antennas   HP part # L35282-005

This is the latest driver currently available for the RTL8821CE:

This driver will install 2024.10.228.1,  01/31/2023

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp144501-145000/sp144871.exe 

Below is the link to the service manual where you can find the Wi-Fi card removal and replacement procedure.

Maintenance and Service Guide (hp.com)

[BennoMP]

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@Paul_Tikkanen wrote:

Unfortunately, since your notebook only comes with one Wi-Fi antenna wire, an Intel AX200 would work, but you would not have Bluetooth

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Could you explain to me why I wouldn't have Bluetooth then? Because if the Realtek can do it through one, why can't the Intel one do it?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

The model Realtek card your notebook has is designed to have both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth work with a single antenna wire.

The Intel cards are designed where one antenna connection (main) is for the Wi-Fi, and the other is for the Bluetooth (aux).

The Intel Bluetooth device will show up in the device manager, but the signal will be so weak, it is doubtful you would be able to connect any Bluetooth device to the notebook.

[BennoMP]

I see, thanks for your help

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

BTW, the 2 Realtek AX wifi cards listed in Chapter 3 of your notebook's service manual also need 2 antenna wires for both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to work.  

[JHSD]

Hi Paul, 

I have been through 3 years worth of your posts (or more) with so many people all facing the same issue - the RTL8821ce being crap, constant up/down. I have downloaded and tried every driver link I have seen you post for another copy of the driver for people to try... from Win 10 1803, to SP95797, SP163022, SP140207 and now from this thread SP144871. 

I can't tell you how many hours I have lost trying to fix this issue - because it affects 4 laptops in our office, and they are only 2 to 3 years old. Every other laptop, cell phone, works fine with our Wifi. 

So I just downloaded and installed your SP144871 and am running a Ping test. Every other driver would fail after 5 or 6 pings, work again after 10 to 15 seconds, drop again after another 6 or 7 successful pings. 

At the moment - this one seems to be working. It just did 317 pings with 0 drops. Nothing else prior worked - they were all at least 24% to 44% dropped. Thank you for posting this, and I would say please get this right on to the HP Drives page for HP 255 G7 and any other models that use this crappy wifi chip. People will need it.