Need for Antenna(s) on Intel AC-8260 WiFi Card?

[wellywoodifhecud]

Hi Folks,

I have a Dell Optiplex 7040 Micro form compuer I purchased. It did not come with a factory installed WiFi Network Card.

Dell recommends using the Intel AC-8260 Wireless Card, it is a Dual Band Card. I intend to purchase this card.

My Optiplex has no existing internal Antenna but does have a hole for SMA antenna on the back.

Q1) Do I need 2 Antenna's (SMA or Internal) attached to both connector of the WiFi card to utilise the Dual Band Wifi network? That is, will I be able to use Dual Band with only 1 antenna?

Q2) If I decided to connect with Internal IPEX MHF4 antenna's (using both - as they seem to be sold in pairs), where would be the best place within the computer's Chassis / Case to place the Antenna's?

I'm new to this Higher Level of I.T. and would really appreciate any help from folks who understand this level of detail.

Thank you in advance

Cheers

 

[bill001g]

It is not the dual band that needs 2 antenna, the card can only run 1 at a time and it will use the same antenna. The reason you want 2 antenna is because the newer forms of wireless transmit multiple overlapping signals. In this case 2 but some can use up to 4 and need 4 antenna.

At first I though you were asking about a laptop since that is normally where a card like this is used. In addition you never want to mount antenna INSIDE a desktop case. It works in a laptop because they put them behind the screen and it is all plastic. Your metal desktop case will block all the signals.

So the easiest option is a USB based wireless adapter that you can place away from the computer using a USB extension cable. Next would be PCI based cards. These normally have external antenna but they sit very close to the back of your computer. They do make antenna extension kits to move the antenna to the top of the machine. Then if you still want to use that board you need 2 small cables to convert from the connector the board takes to the ones the antenna users. You then need antenna and short cables so you can mount them. They do make mounting brackets that fit in a slot but it will be simpler to just tape the antenna to the side of the case....of course only the bottom of the antenna leave the rest stick above to not block the signals.

Be very sure your motherboard actually takes that card it is not really common since it is really designed to go into a laptop.

 

[wellywoodifhecud]

It is not the dual band that needs 2 antenna, the card can only run 1 at a time and it will use the same antenna. The reason you want 2 antenna is because the newer forms of wireless transmit multiple overlapping signals. In this case 2 but some can use up to 4 and need 4 antenna.

At first I though you were asking about a laptop since that is normally where a card like this is used. In addition you never want to mount antenna INSIDE a desktop case. It works in a laptop because they put them behind the screen and it is all plastic. Your metal desktop case will block all the signals.

So the easiest option is a USB based wireless adapter that you can place away from the computer using a USB extension cable. Next would be PCI based cards. These normally have external antenna but they sit very close to the back of your computer. They do make antenna extension kits to move the antenna to the top of the machine. Then if you still want to use that board you need 2 small cables to convert from the connector the board takes to the ones the antenna users. You then need antenna and short cables so you can mount them. They do make mounting brackets that fit in a slot but it will be simpler to just tape the antenna to the side of the case....of course only the bottom of the antenna leave the rest stick above to not block the signals.

Be very sure your motherboard actually takes that card it is not really common since it is really designed to go into a laptop.

 

[wellywoodifhecud]

bill001g, Thank you very much for your advice.

From what little I know, I'd agree the most elegant solution would be a USB Wireless Adapter. Your advice is bang on, cheers. May I pick your brains a liitle further, so that I am sure of all the details?

Your right the Intel Ac-8260 is a laptop card, but this Optiplex is a Micro Form Desktop, which is why I guess they are using Laptop Components. When I spoke with Dell they said that's the card that they normally ship out with the motherboard on the computer. They told me to use the internal antenna. Which is when I thought I'd get a second opinion. Just as well, too! I've seen pictures of the optiplex 7040 Microform with what looks like a single Antenna (SMA?) attached to the rear panel. I'd hoped to attach just a single Antenna to the back of the case and connect to the Intel card that way. It probably won't provide the strongest WiFi signal but it will leave all the USB ports free and be a tad tidier. Here's my question...

The WiFi card has 2 connectors on it, if I connect to only one (using just one SMA Adapter type cable), then connect it to a single external attenna (attached to rear of PC case), will the PC be able to recieve both 2.4GHz & 5GHz bands?

I'm trying to future proof, so I don't need to work on this upgrade again.

Thanks for your help (and patience). Cheers Dan

 

[bill001g]

Yes it will run both 2.4 and 5g but it will not run the top speed the card can run

 

[wellywoodifhecud]

Yes it will run both 2.4 and 5g but it will not run the top speed the card can run

Right, got it. I'll buy the 2 antenna "mod kit" that's compatible with the card & I can connect the 2nd to boost signal if needed. Ask the right people the right question = BINGO.

Kia Manuia

Dan

 

[runun]

OK, so you found a solution but what exactly is the 2 antenna "mod kit" you are talking about. I just bought the Intel 8260 card for my Dell Optiplex 7040 micro and need to find the right antenna, too.

Yes it will run both 2.4 and 5g but it will not run the top speed the card can run

Right, got it. I'll buy the 2 antenna "mod kit" that's compatible with the card & I can connect the 2nd to boost signal if needed. Ask the right people the right question = BINGO.

Kia Manuia

Dan

 

[robo36]

Hello friend,
I just purchased a Dell 7040 i7-6700 te microcomputer last week without the WIFI Bluetooth card. And like you I wanted to add the 8260 m.2 card into the 7040.
I purchased the 8260 m.2 card on EBay with 2 coax wire the antennas at the end of the sub miniature Coax are very small PC boards with double stick tape for secure mounting.
I installed the 8260 card under the Hard disk drive and into the M.2 connector ran the antennas carefully inside the exterior by looping the coax shields so that the small PC board antennas with double stick tape were routed so that the they would be exposed to the front plastic section panel of the 7040. There are many plastic air holes on the front section allowing RF signals to enter into the antennas. If you look carefully at the front plastic panel, the side opposite the USB ports you can see into the 7040.
I then put the cover back on and plugged my router Ethernet cable into the 7040 Network port.
My Device driver then showed some yellow missing device drivers, I clicked on that device and updated that driver. Win 10 found the correct drivers when I clicked on find the drivers on the Internet.

After loading the correct drivers for the 8260, I removed the Ethernet rj45 connector and the 7040 automatically showed that there were WIFI internet connections available. I have a Dual Band router and connected to the 5G router.
My ISP top speed is 30 MB down and 6 up. The OOKLA speed test indicated 23MB down and 6 up. I then tested the Bluetooth section with a Bluetooth mouse and it connected up quickly, and I could get roughly 20 ft with my Bluetooth mouse.
The 8260 has been up and running for 3-4 days now and has performed perfectly.
My router is an ASUS RT-AC68U, my Win 10 is the 64 bit home version.
My next venture will be to replace the 500GB Hard disk drive with a SSD model.
Good luck with your 7040 Micro computer.
Rob

Hi Folks,

I have a Dell Optiplex 7040 Micro form compuer I purchased. It did not come with a factory installed WiFi Network Card.

Dell recommends using the Intel AC-8260 Wireless Card, it is a Dual Band Card. I intend to purchase this card.

My Optiplex has no existing internal Antenna but does have a hole for SMA antenna on the back.

Q1) Do I need 2 Antenna's (SMA or Internal) attached to both connector of the WiFi card to utilise the Dual Band Wifi network? That is, will I be able to use Dual Band with only 1 antenna?

Q2) If I decided to connect with Internal IPEX MHF4 antenna's (using both - as they seem to be sold in pairs), where would be the best place within the computer's Chassis / Case to place the Antenna's?

I'm new to this Higher Level of I.T. and would really appreciate any help from folks who understand this level of detail.

Thank you in advance

Cheers