Recommend a wireless card replacement

james7679 · Feb 6, 2015

Hello all. I currently have a Lenovo ThinkPad, which has an Intel Wireless-N 7260 installed. I have been fighting with this thing, for months, to get a stable connection. I was told to send the laptop in for repair under warranty, but it will be less hassle and less time for me to just replace the card with a more reliable model.

I need the experts to recommend a new card for me, please.

popeye · Feb 6, 2015

Welcome to the forum!
There are new drivers dated the 3rd on the Intel site, have you tried those? https://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProdId=3713

A 20 page thread on the Intel site about that adapter: https://communities.intel.com/thread/47983?start=285&tstart=0

EDIT: Also, does the adapter you have now include your bluetooth radio? Will definitely need to know to make any recommendations.

james7679 · Feb 6, 2015

I've got the current drivers, tried previous ones as well. Tried all the different settings. These cards are known to be extremely problematic. I'm done screwing with it. I've spent months screwing with it. I'm done messing with it. I would rather spend $50 on a new card than spend another moment screwing with this one.

TBH, I'm not 100% sure whether the BT radio is built in on mine, or not. I will have to pull the cover off tonight and get the exact model number off of the card. Unfortunately, device manager, even under advanced>device ID, it only shows Intel Wireless-N 7260. The device tree isn't clear either.

popeye · Feb 6, 2015

The card will have a little silver square at the top, that is the bluetooth.

james7679 · Feb 6, 2015

Okay, I'll post back tonight, when I get home.

Thank you.

broe23 · Feb 6, 2015

Majority of the times, it is either a failing Access Point, power turned way down for the wifi signal on the Access Point, or user too far away from the Access Point. You can enter the following in a Command Window, to see what the signal quality is like for the Access Point you are trying to connect to: netsh wlan show all.

Your best bet is to do like my son and get something like the Netgear A6200 Wireless-ac USB dongle. It comes with a 1' cord with a USB jack in it, so you can use velcro to attach to the lid of the laptop, or place away from the laptop.

popeye · Feb 6, 2015

broe23 said:
Majority of the times, it is either a failing Access Point, power turned way down for the wifi signal on the Access Point, or user too far away from the Access Point. You can enter the following in a Command Window, to see what the signal quality is like for the Access Point you are trying to connect to: netsh wlan show all.

Your best bet is to do like my son and get something like the Netgear A6200 Wireless-ac USB dongle. It comes with a 1' cord with a USB jack in it, so you can use velcro to attach to the lid of the laptop, or place away from the laptop.

Valid points. I personally don't like a bunch of cables plugged into my laptop, I also use a bluetooth mouse. My combo Atheros ar5bwb222 is working very well for me over a year now. No dropouts and great speed for an N adapter but actually upgrading to an AC, the card is in the mail. I stream HD locally and really makes a difference any increase in speed.

broe23 · Feb 6, 2015

Both my son's and my laptop have the Intel Dual-Band wireless-AC 7260 mini-pci card. He had to resort to using the dongle, because of the range with the A/P's at his school in the dorm rooms is lower, due to concrete block construction.

He switches between the internal & external dongle as needed.

popeye · Feb 6, 2015

broe23 said:
Both my son's and my laptop have the Intel Dual-Band wireless-AC 7260 mini-pci card. He had to resort to using the dongle, because of the range with the A/P's at his school in the dorm rooms is lower, due to concrete block construction.

He switches between the internal & external dongle as needed.

That's understandable, sometimes no choice but to use an external adapter. I stay pretty close to my router though. Wonder how far OP is trying reach.

james7679 · Feb 6, 2015

Here is a pic of the wireless card.

I would prefer to not use a USB wireless access point. It is not much more for a new card, and I will get better results without an extra piece of equipment. I can also assure you, that this is not an inbound signal issue. This card is known for problems. The tips and tweaks work for some folks, but not for others. I have three wireless access points in my home, none of my other PC's, laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, T.V.s or phones, ever have an issue with connectivity.

I'm fairly well versed in troubleshooting and tech, in general. I used to volunteer on Sevenforums.com, back in the day, when I had more free time on my hands.

Thank you both for your input.

popeye · Feb 6, 2015

I zoomed in on the picture. Those antenna connectors appear corroded badly.

james7679 · Feb 6, 2015

popeye said:
I zoomed in on the picture. Those antenna connectors appear corroded badly.

I didn't notice that. I guess I can replace those along with the card. But it doesn't have anything to do with the signal dying. I will have great signal for about 12-15 minutes, then the signal dies for about 60 seconds. This is an endless cycle. Proset diag results in infinite ping, when the signal dies.

popeye · Feb 6, 2015

That is a full card, I'm used to the mini. Not sure about recommendations unless they make the one I referenced in other post in full size also.

popeye · Feb 6, 2015

This shows the differences. They are calling what I'm used to a PCI express micro, I've seen it called a half-mini also: A Guide to Mini-PCI Laptop Wireless Cards - Machinablog Machinablog

Yours appears to be the mini PCI.

EDIT: As I look closer, the cutouts don't look like anything I'm used to. Might be a special build for your laptop, you may be out of luck.

james7679 · Feb 6, 2015

http://www.intel.com/content/dam/ww...ct-briefs/wireless-n-7260-bluetooth-brief.pdf
According to this, it's interface is "HMC" or M.2.

popeye · Feb 6, 2015

You have the M.2 form factor, not familiar with that at all. No idea how different makes are available in that design.

EDIT: A search comes up with the 7260.

EDIT 2: The more I find the worse it gets. Seems your BIOS may have a white list of acceptable cards and no idea what they may be.

EDIT 3: Found a 7265 on Ebay, no idea if any better or compatible or on whitelist.

james7679 · Feb 11, 2015

Thanks for the extra info, Popeye. I will contact Intel and Lenovo and see what they say. I will let you know what happens.

broe23 · Feb 11, 2015

There should be no Blacklist for if you want to change the card to the Wireless-ac version of the 7260. CDW has them for around $30.

james7679 · Feb 11, 2015

broe23 said:
There should be no Blacklist for if you want to change the card to the Wireless-ac version of the 7260. CDW has them for around $30.

Are the issues not as pprevalent, with the AC version?

popeye · Feb 11, 2015

Just put one in my laptop although I have the HMM form factor. Ordered it just before you posted so you had me worried.

Been working fine with no dropouts in my case. Downloaded and installed the latest drivers even though 8.1 recognized it and installed drivers as soon as I powered up.
Can't guarantee same results in your case but my experience so far.
Can see exact model in my specs.

Recommend a wireless card replacement

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