HP Pavilion 14-ab166us Network Card and Antenna Upgrade

[@Musings-From-Mike]

Wow, this has been archived on KZbin for 8 years now. Good thing I found it as I was going crazy trying to take the back off of an HP Pavilion 14. There sure are a bunch of hidden screws! About my only criticism is that the video did not conclude with the re-installation of the cover. But I'm sure I can get it back on now that I know how to take it off.

[@virathiyam5401]

Well done .. liked.. I have detached the flat metal wifi antenna from my HP laptop. If I wind the antenna with some tiny copper coils before putting it back, would it make any difference in the signal reception??

[@mirage711]

I just want to say thank you. You are a lifesaver I couldn't get this thing open for the life of me and with your video it made it simple again thank you

[@ericspaeth74]

Fantastic tutorial, which I used to learn how to open up the case and get access to the RAM for replacing them. Useful for more than replacing the network card and antenna. Thank you!

[@virathiyam5401]

Do you mean that we are not supposed to put the wifi antenna behind the metallic foil to prevent signal loss?

[@amathis7292]

Thank you so much, you saved me so much time and the breaking of my laptop.

[@techtube3831]

You're very welcome, glad it helped. Thanks for watching!

[@mrjonnyjones]

Thanks so much for making this video. My Mum had terrible Wifi for years with her HP 15-ab051na. I did some research and ended up buying an Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 3165 Card (3165NGW). The laptop was made in 2015 so there's no 'whitelist' blocking the card, and I managed to source the dual antennas designed for 15" HP laptops on eBay here in the UK. I used your video a few times, especially when taking the plastic bezel off the screen - the only difference being some adhesive strips at the base of the screen, so was a little harder to remove the bezel but it did come off. The laptop now has very fast Wifi and am going to be replacing the hard drive with a Samsung SSD. Huge thanks again! 🙏

[@techtube3831]

You are very welcome, glad that it helped. Thanks for watching!

[@us24679]

my antenna wire split in half is there any way to fix that or do I need to replace it? also can you use any antenna or is it a certain model?

[@johnbalderas1989]

Hey man I used the same card for the same laptop Hp 14-ab166us and it doesn't work at all. I installed the drivers from the Intel website but for some reason it doesn't even recognize its installed. Even when I go to scan for hardware changes it doesnt even recognize that the old card is missing.

[@charleshines6155]

I have a laptop I might upgrade that way. There are wireless AC mini PCIe cards. Just search a little a verify the specs because there are a lot of N cards. If I search enough I might find wireless AX but if it is like the routers the prices still have to eventually come down some.

[@christopherhammond3664]

Is there anything different about a 5GHz antenna vs a 2.4? I recently upgraded the memory in my hp laptop (this chassis, different model), and my WiFi reception went to sh*t. Cracked everything open again, unplugged & reseated the antenna and things seemed to be better. I'm wondering if there was some kind of damage to my antenna. So, watching your video, I thought "Why not upgrade to a dual band card?". The cards are very inexpensive, nowadays. Thanks for the video. It's something that definitely helped! Would love your input on the antennae. Thanks so much.

[@ash_ish]

Thnks for the video today i have to change my fan and having same model really help.. Look like changing fan is super easy...

[@techtube3831]

Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!

[@drholmes1003]

Isn't KZbin wonderful? After buying a new laptop I thought I'd challenge myself with upgrading my old laptop to make it run smooth with zero computer background, and voila! There is even a video on how to upgrade a thing I only just realised needed upgrading. Excellent video by the way! What antennas and where did you buy them from?

[@LoneWolf0568]

I have an HP Envy 700-50. I bought an HP N12075 NIC to install in it. I see how it plugs into the interface slot but there is a 2nd plug on the back of the card that has 9 pins in a semi L pattern. What hooks to that one?

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

are the two antennae the same, or are they different for each frequency?

[@techtube3831]

They are the same. Thanks for watching!

[@soggiebunz120]

I’m assuming this would also allow Bluetooth... right?

[@phildavey2707]

HI great video. I've got a hp pavilion ts 15 notebook and have intermittent problems with the wifi keep disconnecting. its also only 2.4ghz. going to follow your guide and replace the card and antennas can you let me know if i need the larger card as described in the video

[@techtube3831]

If you can give me the exact model # I will be able to help you better. It should be located under the battery.

[@ChargedCMOS]

is it mandatory that I install the second antenna right above the screen? Can't I just put it somewhere else? Asking because I just can't find that information anywhere on the web. Thank you in advance!

[@techtube3831]

Not mandatory I guess. Just try to get it as high as you can so you can get the best signal reception.

[@masreyalap]

Thanks for the video, can you please tell me where did you order it from exactly I mean give me a link where I can order mine. Thanks

[@phillykeith]

How do you get the keyboard out to swap? I'm having trouble removing the original.

[@phildavey2707]

The model is Hp pavilion Ts 15-n263sa

[@techtube3831]

Ok, thx. I'll send you a link for the right card. If there are already 2 antenna there is no need to replace them. in this video the only reason that I am changing the antenna is because the 14 only came with one, yours should already have two.

[@MrRhino12667]

Where did you get your replacement antennas.

[@techtube3831]

www.ebay.com/itm/2-x-80cm-31-4-IPEX-MHF4-Antenna-2-4-5Ghz-for-Intel-8260-BCM94352Z-NGFF-M-2-Wifi-/262482480719?hash=item3d1d2cce4f These are longer than the ones that I got, would have gotten these had they been available at the time. Should make routing easier. Thanks for watching!

[@techtube3831]

Unfortunately (according to the service manual) you can only upgrade to a dual band card if your model has an Intel processor. My only suggestion at this point would be to get a better 1x1 card. Here is a link to a bgn Bluetooth combo card: www.ebay.com/itm/690020-001-Ralink-RT3290LE-802-11b-g-n-1-1-WiFi-and-Bluetooth-/151722482751?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368 I could not find any antennas that fit this card anywhere online (the plugs are smaller on the card used in this video). I probably have a set laying around somewhere that I can sell you that will fit this card. Also, here is a video of a pavilion 15ts being taken apart. It appears to be closer to your model as the two come apart differently: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anOwcolojJ5mpJY Good luck with everything, hope this helps and thanks for watching!And P.S If you follow the other video please use a plastic pry tool and NOT a pocket knife when prying at the laptop!

[@1g0r0]

hm, I successfully update Realtek card with 7265ngw on my 15-ab101 with A4

[@thenawin007]

cant we put the other antenna in the base rather than on screen? in my laptop there is lot of vacant space beside motherboard and the antenna chip can be placed their.. bt wonder if it works. mine is plastic body laptop.

[@v1sav1s24]

Is there a reason why you can't reuse the single antenna (and add a 2nd) as opposed to removing it?

[@1g0r0]

I replaced Realtek wifi with Intel 7265ngw, and now I have a conflict between wifi and my Bluetooth mouse. When wifi working - mouse has some gaps. Wifi and bluetooth use 2.4Ghz

[@lazytitan292]

Hi. My laptop is a hp pavilion 15z, model number #1GK61AV_1. Is it safe for me to change the network card?

[@matts7612]

Hey @TechTube did you have to buy a hp part? as im tryinto upgrade a mate pavilion same age... thanks.

[@techtube3831]

The network card that I used here is an Intel 7265ngw wireless ac that I purchased on Amazon. Hope this helps, thanks for watching!

[@matts7612]

@@techtube3831 thanks mate, did you have to upgrade the bios? Any issues with 'white listing' ? I've ordered 3 different cards just to cover my ass, and be antennas too. One card is as you have, plus an 8625 and a 9620 I believe.. I've had success with cards in older dells, never tried doing an HP. And yes, good video, very helpful. Wish more folks did a disassembly with an explanation as opposed to crazy music.. 👍

[@techtube3831]

@@matts7612 No, didn't need to do anything in the bios and no whitelist issues, pretty much just plug and play. Good luck with it, and I totally agree about the music!

[@matts7612]

@@techtube3831 good man.. thanks bro. 😁👍

[@matts7612]

@TechTube it's in there buddy.... Working off one antenna just now... I ordered the wrong bloody ones! But the card works fine... Thanks for the assist. 👍😁

[@satrawhm]

my laptop has 1*1 network card(RTL8723BE) and only one antenna, can I put 2*2 if so what card you recommend? my processor is intel i7 its hp Pavilion 15-au101nx thanks in advance

[@techtube3831]

Hassan Alsatrawi Your best option is to use the one that I use here in the video. Thanks for watching!

[@satrawhm]

thank you I ordered Intel 8260AC NGW 8260NGW 2x2, kinda confused which antenna will fit with it

[@xamineh]

I have the exact same question..

[@ferrarienzost]

Is their a huge difference in performance with 16g of ram and a ssd.

[@techtube3831]

HUGE!

[@techsavvy3753]

don't have wifi whitelist?

[@computerrebooter]

As far as I know that is no longer an issue.

[@techsavvy3753]

thanks :) gonna replace my wifi card for hackintosh.

[@THEMADPROFdj]

I have a Pavilion dv5-2045dx, and i found out the hard way when replacing the WiFi card...F@#$%ng Whitelist!

[@phildavey2707]

Hi the hp spec says it only has a 1/1 card in it.

[@techtube3831]

Ok. AMD or Intel processor?

[@phildavey2707]

+TechTube amd

[@ferrarienzost]

how much RAM did you buy.

[@techtube3831]

16 GB. which is the max for this model. I always buy Crucial memory.

[@nageshk1985]

nice video..

[@arthurmackeith2090]

Thank you

[@nicholaswildethethird]

Casair is so crappy i dont NEED to replace the card. But its broken so DONGLE TIME