Using a USB 2.4 / 5.0 GHz WiFI Adapter Dongle on an Older Laptop

lagunasrfr · 05 Jun 2017

My laptop is older and doesn't recognize 802.11 ac (5 GHz signal). I know our router is putting out 5 GHz and 2.4 since our smartphones can join with either 2.4 or 5.0.

There are many USB dongles on the market that all work in a similar manner. You plug the USB thumb drive in your computer and load their driver software which gives you a wifi adapter that will recognize 2.4 and 5.0.

My question is: what happens to the original adapter? Does it remain on the computer in disabled mode? Is it uninstalled? Is it available if I find that the dongle doesn't work? Will I be able to uninstall/disable the dongle adapter and go back to where I was before I installed it.

Anybody have experience with these or know the answer.

Caledon Ken · 05 Jun 2017

Hi lagunasrfr

You can uninstall the adapter on most laptops, a couple of screws on the bottom. Then two wires and two screws to remove. Would have to know your device to say for sure. You can also Google. A little more complex to restore.

As well you can usually shut off wi-fi manually. Some older devices had a physical switch on front or side, newer devices have control along the F keys, maybe f11 or f12. Different icons, some look like a stick with waves on either side. Some devices disable in the BIOS. These are very easy to reset.

I have a Dell and for a while I use a dongle. I killed with switch. Eventually I replaced wi-fi card.

You will notice faster speeds with 5 but total distance from router is not as good as 2.4. You didn't mention is your 2.4 a G class device or N class device?

lagunasrfr · 05 Jun 2017

Don't know if you understand my question. There is no need to open laptop up or remove anything. This is strictly software related. Here is an example of a dongle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XRG9QDV..._t4_B01MYQW7IR
Review to see what I am talking about.

Caledon Ken · 05 Jun 2017

Yes. That is what I understood.

Guess my response could have been better. You can remove existing card if you wanted too. You can also shut off existing as I described.

Then plug in, set up and go.

lagunasrfr · 05 Jun 2017

By "shut off existing" do you mean Control Panel/System/Device Manager/Network Adapters/"Current Adapter" and then disable it, leaving it on the system?

Caledon Ken · 05 Jun 2017

By shutting off I meant finding the switch either on the front or side and sliding it to off. If you don't have a physical switch then there is a software switch within F keys and finally some devices allow you to shut off in BIOS.

Helmut · 05 Jun 2017

I use an external USB3 2.4+5GHz dual band ac standard wireless dongle. Or the internal Wireless Card , or Ethernet.

All you have to do is install the driver from the manufacturer/Windows updates. Then obviously use that one and switch off the internal one(s), F12 on mine though you could do it other ways like in the Device Manager, or Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi/Ethernet > Change adapter settings

Use the Tiles view to ID which is which and disable/enable appropriately.

Not necessary to uninstall any drivers, nor physically remove it.

lagunasrfr · 05 Jun 2017

Thanks Ken and Helmut. Forgot about F key for wifi on/off.

NavyLCDR · 06 Jun 2017

Helmut said:

I use an external USB3 2.4+5GHz dual band ac standard wireless dongle. Or the internal Wireless Card , or Ethernet.

All you have to do is install the driver from the manufacturer/Windows updates. Then obviously use that one and switch off the internal one(s), F12 on mine though you could do it other ways like in the Device Manager, or Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi/Ethernet > Change adapter settings

Use the Tiles view to ID which is which and disable/enable appropriately.

Not necessary to uninstall any drivers, nor physically remove it.

The two WiFi adapters (built-in and USB) will both be available in a drop down box in the Windows network task bar section. You just select which adapter you want to connect to which network. Agreed there is no need to uninstall or remove any hardware.

lagunasrfr · 06 Jun 2017

Thanks all. You've given me a perfect understanding of how it woks.