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    Is this wlan card backward compatible with the Inspiron N5010??

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by MuteMath, Oct 10, 2016.

  1. MuteMath

    MuteMath Notebook Enthusiast

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    MuteMath, Oct 10, 2016
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  2. OverTallman

    OverTallman Notebook Evangelist

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    It should work, Dell doesn't put the whitelist BS on their laptops like Lenovo, HP and Panasonic did, so it theoretically accepts any non-whitelisted half height PCI-e wireless card. However... you can easily make the Bluetooth module work in Win 10.

    The Inspiron N5010 usually comes with Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth module (unless it has been replaced, of course), which has a Broadcom chip. You can use the Bluetooth driver provided by Broadcom itself. I've retrofitted my Latitude E5510 with Dell Wireless 375 and used Broadcom's driver in Win 10 since Dell's driver refused to install, so far no problem at all.

    Otherwise you can take a look on this thread in M$ Community if you aren't comfortable with Broadcom's driver.

    Last thing, if possible at your budget (eBay maybe?), try getting a better Intel 7260 instead, avoid those with SPS or FRU printed on the labels as those are the whitelisted version made for HP and Lenovo.
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2016
    OverTallman, Oct 10, 2016
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  3. MuteMath

    MuteMath Notebook Enthusiast

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    Awesome! You've given me so much more great info than I expected.

    Ok so... the Dell 375 Bluetooth module that you retrofitted in your Latitude, is it the Intel 7260? I found a few 7260 Intel wlan cards at eBay. I'm going to to install the Broadcom driver to see if it works.
     
    MuteMath, Oct 11, 2016
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  4. OverTallman

    OverTallman Notebook Evangelist

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    Actually Dell Wireless 375 is just a Bluetooth module, same as your Dell Wireless 365, so it's not related to wireless card at all. My Latitude uses Dell Wireless 1490 wireless card, which is also a Broadcom card.

    Intel 7260 is a Wifi/Bluetooth combo card like the 6230 you've listed (which I have in my AM1-based HTPC), in fact the former is the successor to the latter.

    You can put up the listing here so I can check if it's the non-whitelisted version.
     
    OverTallman, Oct 11, 2016
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  5. MuteMath

    MuteMath Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ok here are two ebay listings that I found for the intel 7260 wlan card linked below. What do you think?

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/331595982431?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/182285744637?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
     
    MuteMath, Oct 13, 2016
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  6. OverTallman

    OverTallman Notebook Evangelist

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    Both of them have SPS code printed on the label, perhaps they're the HP whitelisted version.

    However I've found a few other 7260HMW offerings, but you'll have to wait for it.

    This has Dell part number, definitely will work:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/intel-dual-...761476?hash=item3f31761384:g:5K0AAOSwAKxWZ72x

    These don't have any SPS or FRU so SHOULD work:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/7260-AC-802...520724?hash=item4af5820c94:g:-sYAAOSwmLlX2Xht
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-7...762664?hash=item2367a59ea8:g:cjcAAOSwOyJX5RSV
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Offer-7...971800?hash=item2edae58a18:g:VW8AAOSwKIpV~b7B
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/802-11ac-Bl...819248?hash=item2c92584470:g:o7QAAOSwOVpXXT7Q
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-7260-...777774?hash=item3aa684176e:g:NOAAAOSw9r1V-ZKf

    But if you're fine with 300Mbps speed, then 7260HMW-AN (which is half as cheap) will be fine.
    More info here: http://www.legitreviews.com/intel-7260hmwg-802-11ac-versus-intel-7260hmw-bn-802-11n_135541
     
    OverTallman, Oct 13, 2016
    #6