The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Can I upgrade from Atheros AR9285 to AR9380?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by bluSCALE4, Nov 12, 2011.

  1. bluSCALE4

    bluSCALE4 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I recently purchased the N900 so I wouldn't have to make holes all over the apartment for ethernet cables but it turned out my laptop with wireless N doesn't support the 5Ghz range (AR9285). It's a 2 antenna (stream), half height, 1397 card. I'd like to change the card.

    I was thinking of upgrading it with this:
    Dell WLAN 1510 (802.11 a/b/g/n) - Half Height - Mini-Card - Kit

    It seems to be a 2 stream card like the AR9285, so I'm guessing it only goes 300Mbps which I'd be happy with.

    If I wanted to stick with Atheros, the AR9380 would require another stream (antenna). I honestly don't know how antenna's work but I do have an extra antenna I can throw in.

    I've that adding a different wireless card may not work because of BIOS configuration which are difficult to correct. Does anyone here have experience doing this? Would really hate to have wasted money on an unnecessary router.

    Here's a link to the Atheros cards:
    http://www.qca.qualcomm.com/technology/technology.php?nav1=47&product=91
     
    bluSCALE4, Nov 12, 2011
    #1
  2. saturnotaku

    saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,879
    Messages:
    8,926
    Likes Received:
    4,705
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Your ability to change the wireless card is going to depend on what notebook you have, as manufacturers can whitelist the BIOS to only accept certain adapters.
     
    saturnotaku, Nov 12, 2011
    #2
  3. too456

    too456 Resident Angry Bird

    Reputations:
    572
    Messages:
    836
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Only HP, IBM and Lenovo use whitelists as far as I know, but there are people who sell cards on eBay that are whitelisted so it should not be a problem.
     
    too456, Nov 12, 2011
    #3
  4. bluSCALE4

    bluSCALE4 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I was able to install a new wireless card and also another antenna. It works but for whatever reason though I connect at the full 450Mb, it only transfers at 160Mb. Frustrating to say the least...
     
    bluSCALE4, Dec 1, 2011
    #4
  5. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

    Reputations:
    7,588
    Messages:
    10,023
    Likes Received:
    1,077
    Trophy Points:
    581
    You will never get 450Mbps, there is overhead to account for. 160Mbps of actual throughput is excellent.
     
    tijo, Dec 1, 2011
    #5