Windows 10: Dual band router, one band not recognized? by laptop??

I have a dual band (2.4 and 5 Mhz) comcast modem/router. My desktop computer, iPad an iPhone and two firesticks, all recognize the two bands and are on the 5 mHz band at all locations in the house. However, my laptop, an HP Pavillion entertainment, only recognizes the 2.4 band...the 5 band doesn't show up when selecting newtrok. How do I get it to to be on board and recognized the 5 band. Even when placed near the router, it still doesn't recognize the higher band,

:)

 

router status

STdennis----thanks for the quick reply--you were right it is a dual band router-----thanks again

 

router status

Hi Noxscash,

It is possible you have a dual band router. This means the router pushes out two signals, one in the 2.4 GHz band and one in the 5 GHz range. Usually, routers will name them the same thing. Look at your router's manual for more information on configuring this.

There's also the possibility there is someone else close by with the same router and the network names were never changed.

 

Check your specs. If your radio is only 2.4 then no way. Get adapter number and google or post.

Ken


Edit: Clarification.... if your radio only supports 2.4 you could upgrade radio so technically there is a way.

 

Hey Ken, the card in my HP dv6 laptop is a Broadband 43225 802.11b/g/n. It apparently doesn't support 5ghz, but i found this thread that appears to give an answer tot he problem...get a new card: broadcom 43225 802.11b/g/n problem - HP Support Forum - 249810, Atheros 5009. But I'd appreciate your checking the site to make sure I got it right

 

Not necessarily a disadvantage. 2.4 is more reliable and connects over greater distances than 5. Anyway, the limiting factor is usually your broadband speed, if you broadband is less than 50Mbps you're unlikely to notice any difference between 2.4 and 5.

 

Right now there is a big difference in speed between the two bands. 5Ghz is almost 3X faster. But, then again, in January our community will be switching from Comcast to Hotwire, getting fiber optics and a download speed of between 100-150Ghz. So, as it isn't critical for the portable to be at 5 Ghz, perhaps I'll just wait...

 

150gig download do you mean meg your PC couldn't use 150 gig

 

Quite right. I guess I got a little over-enthusiastic, eh?

 

I would look at what channel your 2.4 Ghz router is on and see if there is a less crowded channel available. You might have a bunch of hot spots nearby on the same channel causing interference and lower speed.

 

Yes you have to watch HP devices because at one point they would white list wireless adapter. Anything not on the whitelist would cough up a hair ball.

There are a couple of things to consider when buying wireless card. First how big is it. Older cards are full height and new cards are half height. Not a big deal because you can buy a half height adapter which fits to the half height card to make it full height. Less than $5 USD.

Next is antennas. You want one with multiple antennas to get the max speed. That said your laptop may not have the connections to support them all. First thing I would do is have a look at your existing card and how many wires are connected to, two or three.

Finally you will likely be dealing with drivers. I have an old, built for XP laptop. I installed an Intel AC7260 card. Very nice in W7 and W8.1, a real pain in the a_s in W10. It runs on one driver from Feb 2014. I just installed the Creator Update and Windows helped me by installing the latest and greatest. Connected but no Internet. Installed the old driver, everything works.

So what worked back in the good old days, like the link you sent me might be trouble in W10. Not saying you won't get it to work but .....

The easiest way upgrade is the dongle. Some are very small and very fast.

If I were you I post on the HP forum under your laptop and ask what other explorers have found that works with W10 and has the AC band. The "A" wireless network is also on 5GHz but it does not have the throughput of AC (and I was reading that one of the big vendors just released an AD router. )

 

Tell you what, Ken, I think I'm just going to sit tight as, at this stage of the game, none of this is going to change my life. But I do have to say that over the years of my getting myself and computer into trouble, I do very much enjoy the challenge (but not the frustrations) of learning something new. Unfortunately, unlike you and the many others that freely offer up their time helping folks like me, I have not developed the expertise that you guys show and thus not much help on these forums...unless I come up with problem/question whose solution will make you and those you help quite happy. Thanks everyone for your help...