Question WI-FI adapter compatability

[Sub-arctic]

One of my laptops quit seeing available networks. "No Wi-fi networks found". I've tried numerous things to fix it, no joy so far. Device manager says the card is working, but I'm not sure I believe that. All my other devices see and connect to the network.
I think I am down to trying a new card, or getting a dongle. I would like to get the laptop working with an internal adapter.
I checked the Dell website for compatible devices. Below is what I came up with. My laptop has the first adapter listed. There are lots of Intel cards available, but the descriptions include things like NGW and NGFF. I have no idea what is compatible and what is not.
Any help would be appreciated.

• Qualcomm QCA61x4A 802.11ac Dual Band (2x2) Wireless Adapter+ Bluetooth 4.1
• Qualcomm QCA61x4A Extended Range 802.11ac MU-MINO Dual Band (2x2) Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.1 LE
• Intel Dual-Band Wireless-AC 8265 Wi-Fi + BT 4.2 Wireless Card (2x2) ( Bluetooth Optional)

 

[lantis3]

CPU and Dell model?

Maybe Wifi 6E/7 cards can work too. Disassembling laptop is not easy though.

https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Bluetooth-Tri-Band-5400Mbps-Network/dp/B09WQSNMCT
https://www.amazon.com/QFly-Wireless-Bluetooth-5800Mbps-Motherboards/dp/B0CQ7WT1QJ

NGW probably doesn't mean much. all I can find
https://www.allacronyms.com/NGW/wireless

NGFF = Next Gen Form Factor = M.2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.2

You can't buy Intel wifi cards that with part number AXnn1, like AX201 or AX411 that will require INTEL CPU with CNVi feature.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNVi

 

[dwd999]

Having used Windows for over 30 years I would not assume its a hardware issue. My first question would be when was the last complete reinstall of Windows? I would also try booting the computer from a usb with a Linux distro to see if that recognizes the wifi adapter. And I would not consider another Qualcomm adapter since the drivers are so old; at least with Intel you get more recent drivers.

 

[Sub-arctic]

CPU and Dell model?

Maybe Wifi 6E/7 cards can work too. Disassembling laptop is not easy though.

https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Bluetooth-Tri-Band-5400Mbps-Network/dp/B09WQSNMCT
https://www.amazon.com/QFly-Wireless-Bluetooth-5800Mbps-Motherboards/dp/B0CQ7WT1QJ

Physically replacing the Wifi card is easy, I just need to know what will work. I appreciate the input, but no maybe for me.

Having used Windows for over 30 years I would not assume its a hardware issue. My first question would be when was the last complete reinstall of Windows? I would also try booting the computer from a usb with a Linux distro to see if that recognizes the wifi adapter. And I would not consider another Qualcomm adapter since the drivers are so old; at least with Intel you get more recent drivers.

I won't bore you with all of the tings I tried. I tried reloading drivers, I tried resetting the laptop. Yesterday the laptop wouldn't see the network, then it did. I think I restarted the computer, I don't recall for sure. Since then it's been a hard fail. The intel cards are readily available if the NGW, NGFF things don't matter, and cheap enough I'd be willing to give it a try.

 

[Sub-arctic]

CPU and Dell model?

Maybe Wifi 6E/7 cards can work too. Disassembling laptop is not easy though.

https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Bluetooth-Tri-Band-5400Mbps-Network/dp/B09WQSNMCT
https://www.amazon.com/QFly-Wireless-Bluetooth-5800Mbps-Motherboards/dp/B0CQ7WT1QJ

NGW probably doesn't mean much. all I can find
https://www.allacronyms.com/NGW/wireless

NGFF = Next Gen Form Factor = M.2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.2

You can't buy Intel wifi cards that with part number AXnn1, like AX201 or AX411 that will require INTEL CPU with CNVi feature.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNVi

Dell Latitude 5491, CPU = Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8400H CPU @ 2500GHz

 

[lantis3]

8400H does not have CNVi feature
https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...-8400h-processor-8m-cache-up-to-4-20-ghz.html

Dell 5491 WiFi card info P.22. Wait for other members to confirm whether my list is compatible

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/latitude-14-5491-laptop_service-manual_en-us.pdf

If the 3 adapters you listed are really on the compatibility list and you don't want any risk, then just take those.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9e7qKASYDQ

 

[JohnMGotts]

Sounds like you’ve had this laptop apart already. Any chance you dislodged one of the antenna wires from the card?

 

[Sub-arctic]

8400H does not have CNVi feature
https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...-8400h-processor-8m-cache-up-to-4-20-ghz.html

Dell 5491 WiFi card info P.22. Wait for other members to confirm whether my list is compatible

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/latitude-14-5491-laptop_service-manual_en-us.pdf

If the 3 adapters you listed are really on the compatibility list and you don't want any risk, then just take those.

I bought a USB network adapter to get me going again, now I have time to order an internal adapter card and wait to get it.
Just to make sure I'm with you on this, the Intel AC 8265 should work, and I shouldn't worry about the NGW and NGFF stuff.