XPS 8900, 5G Connectivity

I don't know what card I have. Whatever came with the computer. I have an Arris Surfboard SBG 7580 modem/router. I know a cable would give me better speeds, but I want to use wifi to connect to the 5G network on my modem.

What WiFi card do you have?

What router do you have?

And if all possible ... a wired gigabit connection is usually faster/better.

5G cellular does not yet exist.

5Ghz network requires an 802.11 AC600 dual band adapter and Dual Band Router.

The default in most dells is 802.11  300N that is 2.4 Ghz only.

I get 5G on my phone right now. My TV is also connected to 5G via my dual band router. I am trying to figure out why my computer doesn't see the 5G network.

---

@S Rosvold wrote:

1. I don't know what card I have.

2. Whatever came with the computer.

3. I have an Arris Surfboard SBG 7580 modem/router.

4. I know a cable would give me better speeds,

5. but I want to use wifi to connect to the 5G network on my modem.

---

1. Maybe you could look in your Windows Device Manager and find-out? :Indifferent:

2. Oh, so that says nothing. How would we know?

3. Router: AC1750 2.4/5.0 GHz Dual-band Concurrent Wi-Fi Router ... so, that looks fine.

4. OK, as long as you know that. I like WiFi too, but all my desktops and home-theater is "wired". Like why not (it doesn't need to be "moved" or portable).

5. Sometimes 2.4ghz is faster because 2.4ghz has better coverage/range than 5ghz (and that affects actual connection speed).

---

@S Rosvold wrote:

I get 5G on my phone right now. 

---

Your terminology is "off base". You want 5Ghz-WiFi ... not "5G" (which is a new cellular beyond 4G-LTE). It's confusing to us when you use the wrong terms.

Sorry, I didn't realize there was another meaning for 5G. In any case, what's the answer to my problem?

---

@S Rosvold wrote:

1. It says Dell Wireless 1801 802.11bgn.

2. Is there a way to change out the wifi to get something that will connect to 5G wifi?

3. And if so, how complicated is that?

---

1. So, now that we know ... No, no 5ghz WiFi on that one. Not all WiFi-N supports 5Ghz-WiFi.

2. Yes.

https://www.dell.com/community/XPS-Desktops/XPS-8700-motherboard-Mini-PCIe-slot/m-p/6186625/highlight/true#M18655

3. Perceived complexity is based on technicians knowledge and skill-set. Maybe check YouTube for tutorial ?

Check your Dell invoice or check the Device Manager. We need to know what specific WiFi hardware was installed. As you can see below, the DW1801 was only single band.

Onboard Intel Ethernet Connection I219-V fast-ethernet controller which supports speeds of 10/100/1000 Mbps
KJTH7 DW1801 (Dell Wireless 1801) M.2, WiFi single band 2.4GHz, BT4.0, 802.11 b/g/n
6XRYC DW1560 (Dell Wireless 1560) M.2, WiFi dual band 2.4GHz/5GHz, BT4.0, 802.11 a/b/c/g/n
MHK36 Intel AC-3165 M.2, WiFi dual band 2.4GHz/5GHz, BT4.0, 802.11 a/c

Thank you. I just ordered the NET-DYN USB Wireless WiFi Adapter,AC1200 Dual Band , 5GHz and 2.4GHZ.