What wifi card can I use?

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jimr1354

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I have a Dell xps m1210 laptop with an
Intel 3945abg wifi card. I bought an Intel 4965agn dual band mini PCIe card. It will connect to 2.4 but not to 5.0. I have tried everything but it wont. This model laptop is supposed to be capable for running dual band. I upgraded to windows 10 and even found the driver for it, but every time I install the driver, it says it installed but it doesn't. I checked device manager and it doesn't show a dual band card installed. It just says 4965AGN
Do I have the correct card or do I need something else? Will a Broadcom9432 work?.
 
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Solandri

Solandri

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What is the 5 GHz network you are trying to connect to? Most 5 GHz networks today are 802.11ac, which that card does not support (ac networks are 5 GHz-only). Most modern routers will also support 802.11n on 5 GHz, which that card does support. But 802.11n can be implemented on both 2.4 or 5 GHz. It's possible that 802.11n has been limited to 2.4 GHz on the router, or the router's implementation of n is incompatible with the WiFi card's implementation. 802.11b and g are 2.4 GHz-only. 802.11a is 5 GHz, but most modern routers don't support it (it's been deprecated in favor of ac).
 
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jimr1354

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jimr1354

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OK. I have a Netgear WNDR3400 dual band router I checked the setup and its set for2.4GHZ and 5.0GHZ and the connection speed is set for the highest. The Dell XPS M1210 had and Intel WM3945ABG MOW1 wifi card in it and I replaced it with the Intel 4965AGN MM1 wifi card. I checked it again today and it doesn't even connect with 802.11N! Its connecting with 802.11G at 2.4GHz. I even wiped the HHD and reloaded Win7 and ran a driver update program. Found a driver for Win7. When I go into Driver Manager and check the network adapter, it shows the 4965AGN but it isn't listed as a dual band. I think the wifi card is BAD. When connected, the speed is about 12-13 then it jumps up to 130MBPS, stays there for a bit and then drops down again. I am looking at it right now and it dropped down to 6MBPS.
Can I use like a Broadcom card made for a Dell? Seems like some years ago I had another laptop and an Intel card and it did the same thing. Dell doesn't show anything on their site and wants to CHARGE you for any info. Right next to the wifi slot is a slot that says WWAN. Under the battery is a slot for something else, I believe for Bluetooth. Nothing in them. Should work without the bluertooth hooked up.
 
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Solandri

Solandri

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If it's mini PCIe and has drivers available, it should work. It's no different from plugging in a PCIe card into a desktop. Just make sure the antenna leads will fit - the really early WiFi cards seem to have used a different size button for plugging them into the card. (In all likelihood, you're gonna have to buy the card and try it out, and return it if it doesn't work or fit.)

The WWAN slot is for a cellular wireless card (although it's also mini PCIe, so in theory you should be able to plug any mini PCIe device into it - there are adapters which let you plug in an external PCIe x4 graphics card into that slot).

Bluetooth is normally built into the WiFi card. Though I think you are right that really old laptops had a separate slot for a Bluetooth card. I vaguely recall something like that.
 
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jimr1354

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UPDATE! I went online on Ebay and bought a dual band card by Broadcom. Works like a charm. When I checked to see how its connected, it shows two bands like its supposed to. 2.4GHz connects at 130mbps on 802.11N. That other card is going back to the seller. Thanks for all the responses that I have received!
 
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