Does an M.2 Wifi card (Intel Killer WiFi 6E AX1690i) need an external antenna? - eviltoast

I need to add Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity to my PC which is built on an ASROCK Phantom Gaming D5 mobo. Before buying I checked on this resource from ASROCK website and the adapter is meant to be fully compatible and a specification of a 2T2R antenna is matching it (which I until now assumed would be an internal feature.

I installed the adapter and the latest drivers and the device is recognized as both a Bluetooth device and a Wi-Fi adapter, but:

  • Wi-Fi, although technically working (on 802.11ac) is extremely sluggish, de facto unusable.
  • Bluetooth is not recognizing any devices when in discovery.

The Motherboard Manual (page 11) states that there are 3 x Antenna Mounting Points on the Rear panel, which I think I have identified as 3 holes to be punched out from the panel, but then I would not know how to proceed.

Would the installation of an external set of antennas likely solve the problem? If so, how do I choose one and how do I install it?

  • darganon@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I’m not an expert on radio waves, but yes antennas help. Even on a laptop there routed around the screen inside the case.