Author: pinthea
Subject: DeskMini 110: M.2 WiFi + antennas - what to buy?
Posted: 11 Feb 2017 at 8:52pm
I'm still trying to figure this out myself. Apparently some Intel M.2 WiFi/BT adapters use a smaller connector than other PCIe WiFi/BT adapters. So while the antennas that stick out of your case are interchangeable (as long as they support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHZ, that is) the leads that connect them need to have the smaller connector to properly snap onto some Intel cards. Other adapters (like Broadcom chipsets) use the standard snap connectors, larger than the Intel ones.
Subject: DeskMini 110: M.2 WiFi + antennas - what to buy?
Posted: 11 Feb 2017 at 8:52pm
I'm still trying to figure this out myself. Apparently some Intel M.2 WiFi/BT adapters use a smaller connector than other PCIe WiFi/BT adapters. So while the antennas that stick out of your case are interchangeable (as long as they support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHZ, that is) the leads that connect them need to have the smaller connector to properly snap onto some Intel cards. Other adapters (like Broadcom chipsets) use the standard snap connectors, larger than the Intel ones.
That seems to be the problem folks are having -- getting the wrong size snap connectors for their M.2 WiFi card, and not ensuring that the antennas that stick out the back will work or support both 2.4 GHz AND 5 GHz. Apparently some of the ones advertised as 5 GHz are just for 2.4 GHz so your performance will suffer.
And yes, you absolutely need to have the antennas sticking out the back. Just leaving the antenna leads sitting in the case will drastically reduce your throughput and WiFi range.