Upgrade Realtek RTL8723BE 802.11BGN with AC Wi-Fi card

[DutchmaninBCN]

My HP Laptop (HP15-AY102NS https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05305291) is equiped with a Realtek RTL8723BE 802.11BGN PCIE  and I would like to upgrade this with an AC compattible and, if possible dual band, Wi-FI card.

One of the cards I found that looks compatible is the Intel AC 8265

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/94150/intel-dual-band-wireless-ac-8265.html 

Or the older version Intel AC 7265

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/83635/intel-dual-band-wireless-ac-7265.html

In case these cards are not suitable, I would very much appreciate suggestions which cards will do the trick.

Thank you very much in advance!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Neither card you referenced will work because they both require two antenna cables be connected to them and your notebook only has one.

Adding a second antenna cable would involve an extensive amount of disassembly work to properly route it.

The only suggestion I can offer would be to see if this wifi card works...It was engineered to work with one antenna cable.

RTL8821CE 802.11 ac 1x1 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter (MU-MIMO supported)   HP Part # L17365-005.

The only place I have been able to find them is on eBay. They are not too expensive.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=L17365-005&_sop=15

That card has been on back order on the HP parts store for months now.

The absolute maximum throughput your current wifi adapter has is 72 MBPS on the 2.4 GHz wifi band.

That would be with an excellent wifi signal.

With the adapter I suggested, the performance would be the same as you are getting now on the 2.4 GHz wifi band.

But on the 5.0 GHz band, the 8821CE has a maximum throughput of 433 MBPS with an excellent wifi signal.

[DutchmaninBCN]

Dear Paul,

Thank you very much for your quick reply and your suggestion. 

Unfortunately I do not have good experiences with Realtek Wi-Fi cards, so if I can avoid this brand, I will. 

If this is the best or only option, I will go ahead and order it ofcourse. 

In the HP service guide for my laptop it shows the Intel AC 3165 (https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/89450/intel-dual-band-wireless-ac-3165.html) and  the Intel AC 3168 (https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/94854/intel-dual-band-wireless-ac-3168.html) as spare parts. Both of these cards are also easily available here in Spain. Do you think I can consider one of these?

Thank you so much for your advice!

Serge

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome, Serge.

Both of those model wifi cards will require two antenna cables be attached to them in order to work correctly.

For example...with the 3168 AC, if you connect the one antenna your notebook has to the main antenna terminal on the wifi card, the wifi will work fine, but the bluetooth will not work at all.

If you connect the antenna cable to the 3168's auxiliary terminal, the bluetooth will work fine, but the wifi will not work at all.

If you are willing to sacrifice Bluetooth, then you can install one of those cards.

[DutchmaninBCN]

Thanks Paul! 

When I checked the intel website, it mentioned 1 antenna so I thought it would be ok. Even though I rarely use the bluetooth, I would hate giving it up. Going to look for the Realtek card you recommended earlier first thing tomorrow.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime, Serge.

Glad to have been of assistance.

1 x 1 does not mean the # of antennas the notebook has attached to the card.

1 x 1 is the number of data streams up and down the wifi card can handle.

There are many 1 x 1 wifi cards that have two antenna cables connected to them.

Within the last few years, manufacturers have been designing 1 x 1 cards to work with only one antenna cable.

Recently Intel even has come out with one (the 9461AC), but it won't work in your model notebook.

I think that will only work in notebooks with 8th and 9th gen core processors.

Realtek is the only manufacturer that I know of with its 8821CE card that will work on older notebooks that use the newer M.2 slots.

The 2 x 2 cards can handle double the data streams up or down than the 1 x 1 cards do, such as the Intel 7265 AC card, but they also require two antennas.

Here are the links to the latest W10 wifi and bluetooth drivers for the 8821CE...

2024.0.6.104 Feb 25, 2019

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp95001-95500/sp95141.exe

1.6.1015.3 Dec 11, 2018

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp93001-93500/sp93262.exe

I will agree with you that the Realtek cards are not the best, but other than taking your whole notebook apart to run the second antenna to fit the much better Intel cards, you will have to settle for one.

[DutchmaninBCN]

Dear Paul,

I have just installed the Realtek Wi-Fi card and it works perfectly. Thanks again!

Have a wonderful day,

Serge

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime, Serge.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Thanks for letting us know that the RTL8821CE card worked for you.

You have a great day too, and enjoy the faster wifi speeds.

Paul