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- HP Community
- Notebooks
- Notebook Wireless and Networking
- wifi card upgrade

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11-19-2020 12:08 PM
Am i able to remove the wifi card and replace with a better one,? Never done much with laptops etc only pc machines where its easy to replace things.
So this is listed as a notebook, HP Pervilion 17 x032na
Says it has a realtec RTL8723BE 802.11 bgn adaptor, i read thst the bgn means 2.4g wifi only
Need a abgn?
Well it would be great if i could un screw the card and fit a dual band card, 5g wifi is very fast over 1gb local network on old sony laptop, phones, and pc i built. But very slow on 2.4g because the router (asus rtac86u) is providing a much faster local network.
Ive only ever replaced the hard drive on my sony with a ssd drive, just 2 screws.
So is there much work involved, ive also read it needs 2 antenna connections, could i not fit another antenna?
Any help, thanks
John
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Accepted Solutions
11-19-2020 12:49 PM
Hi, John:
There is one dual band AC wifi card with bluetooth that works with one antenna cable and that is this one...
Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11 ac 1x1 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter (MU-MIMO supported) HP part # L17365-005.
You can find this model on eBay, or Ali Express,
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=L17365-005&_sacat=0&_sop=15
The card will have the same throughput as the RTL8723BE on the 2.4 GHz wifi band, but on the 5.0 GHz wifi band, it will have a max throughput of 433 MBPS when you have an AC router with an excellent wifi signal strength.
Below is the link to the service manual, where you can find the wifi card removal and replacement procedure.
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05122688
Here is a service video on how to remove and replace a M.2 wifi card such as your notebook has on a different model HP PC.
The steps to replace yours (other than opening up the case) would be the same...Your wifi card may not have a plastic covering.
11-19-2020 12:49 PM
Hi, John:
There is one dual band AC wifi card with bluetooth that works with one antenna cable and that is this one...
Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11 ac 1x1 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter (MU-MIMO supported) HP part # L17365-005.
You can find this model on eBay, or Ali Express,
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=L17365-005&_sacat=0&_sop=15
The card will have the same throughput as the RTL8723BE on the 2.4 GHz wifi band, but on the 5.0 GHz wifi band, it will have a max throughput of 433 MBPS when you have an AC router with an excellent wifi signal strength.
Below is the link to the service manual, where you can find the wifi card removal and replacement procedure.
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05122688
Here is a service video on how to remove and replace a M.2 wifi card such as your notebook has on a different model HP PC.
The steps to replace yours (other than opening up the case) would be the same...Your wifi card may not have a plastic covering.
11-19-2020 02:03 PM
Yikes thanks for the fast and very informative reply. Just need to get the xyl tk agree yo let me do it, it is hers ha ha
She plays a lot of games and it would make a big diffrence, router 1 (out of 4) for pcs etc is 3 foot away, so good signal, but she sometimes brings it upstairs thats when things slow down, so need to switch to another router upstairs, all except media router 3 use VPN
So ill get right too it, big thanks
Btw. You dont know if the HP pavilion 15 cs3009na has both bands?
HP says it does, but it be good to get a second confirmation, my Sony is getting very old, so treating myself for a new laptop. I mostly need fast local network for transfering media to some NAS drives, HP dont sell them anymore. Im in England btw, but change ebay.com to ebay.co.uk usually displays same model.
Thanks again, built many pcs but had nothing to do with laptops etc.
Cheers
11-19-2020 02:23 PM
You're very welcome.
Yes, the HP Pavilion 15 cs3009na has the same model dual band AC wifi card that I recommended you install in the 17-X032NA.
11-20-2020 07:38 AM
Hi:
If you are referring to the 17" model, that has the current top of the line AX wifi adapter.
You need to have an AX router to benefit from the up to 2.4 GHz WIFI throughput this card provides, and you need to be paying for 2.4 GHz internet download speeds.
11-20-2020 08:14 AM
Dont need that speed, i have 2g local, only phones ever reach that speed. Both Samsung s20p, pc does, but no laptops get anywhere near. The graphics card is better than the basic intel. And will help with media conversion, but the 5g band is the more important upgrade i need. So update old hp, then buy this new hp for me, or give the new one to xyl and ill have her old one to upgrade card. 300 would be a big improvement on what the sony does, anything faster a bonus
Else long leads everywhere
4 routets, all same make, asus eith merlin firmwear
router 1, my pc, laptops, phones
router 2, mefia only, tv, blursy, nas streams
router 3 and 4, smart home, philips hue bulbs, wifi sockets etc.
all connected to 200mb vm modem fiber
So only laptops are a problem, takes forever to transfer a media file from sony to one of the NAS drives downstairs
i make a decision, then friend says oh i have the nect one up ha ha, he dont know if it has 5g
Thanks. John
Best wait for bf sales