E5-521 wireless does not see 5 Ghz network from router but sees the 2.4 Ghz, how to config or fix ?

Hi
I have a E5-521 Acer that came new with windows 8.1
My question is as to wireless, which is Broadcom.
Laptop has no problem connecting to my wireless router in 2.4 Ghz mode but laptop cannot see also the 5 Ghz side only connects with the lower speed but that shows when connected
to only have 72 Mb/s bandwidth when the Netgear 4300 allows up to 300 Mbs and that is laptop is only about 25 feet from router

Each 2.4 or 5 Ghz has its own SSID, but when on this laptop and clicking to see networks to select or config to, the 5 Ghz network is not seen when the slower 2.4 G does
and can connect to
I have other types of laptops that on same network connects to the 5 Ghz side so something is not right in the config for this laptop

What has to be set/configured for this latptop to see and connect to 5 Ghz ?
and where do I find the config area to make this work ?

Thanks

Accepted answers

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brummyfan2

Hi,
Go to Device manager, expand Network adapters, highlight and right click your WiFi card, select Properties and go to Advanced tab, click Preferred band and select 5GHz in the dropdown menu.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/n7/gia2cdos76pg.jpg

teamzr1

Thanks for the reply but this E5-521-24PQ uses Broadcom wireless and that parameter does not exist.

brummyfan2

Hi,
What is the model of your Broadcom card?

teamzr1

Via the device manager and looking network adapters it only says Broadcom 802.11n
driver is 6.30.223.234. Date 2/24/2014

The support section here as to downloads of software updates only shows the version above so I do not know if maybe other updates are around
Not connecting to 5 Ghz wireless is one thing but even connecting to 2.4 Ghz the adapter shows speed of only 72 Mbps yet signal strength shows strong and
when other laptop brands connecting to same Netgear router at speeds of 130 to 300 Mpbs

Lower speed 2.4 Ghz is on channel 11 and 5 Ghz is on channel 44 of wireless router and other laptops have no issue with that

brummyfan2

Hi,
OK, go to Advanced tab and click Wireless mode and check the options you have with the dropdown arrow, if you have a/g/n or a/g/n/ac, select either of them and see whether it enables 5GHz.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/pn/5klyqwdgkjkm.jpg

teamzr1

The Broadcom WIFI does not have the same parameters as what you show but the 1 it has shows what types of wireless it supprts
as seen is for 802.11N and as seen connects to the lower 2.4 Ghz network and even then 15 feet from wireless router is only 72 Mbps
and as mentioned it does not see the 5 Ghz network of same wireless Netgear router as again other laptops I have see and connect to
faster 5 Ghz SSID network
72 Mbps is far slower then other of my laptops that can can connect to the lower 2.4 Ghz uswing 802.11N at 300 Mbp/s then this crappy
onboard Broadcom wireless.

There has to be someone at ACER ( they will not help me) or someone to know if this is to support 5 Ghz, if so how to config for it or
knows where a newer then 2014 updated software is

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/ek/gpzctjk3nj27.jpg

brummyfan2

Hi,
I don't think your card supports 5GHz, 11b/g modes only support 2.4GHz.
https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/computer-not-see-5ghz-wifi-sees-2-4ghz-windows/

teamzr1

Thanks, that at least says it does NOT support 5 Ghz but
This ACER does show 802.11n 802.11g and 802.11b network modes, it means the computer has 2.4GHz network capability only
Really sucks to buy a new ACER laptop that is only 2 1/2 years old and it not supporting normal bandwidth speeds or 5 Ghz

That does not answer why it will only connect to 2.4 Ghz at only 72 Mbps when all other my laptops connect up to 300 Mpbs

Anyone have idea then as how to solve that, way to slow to move any amount of data at that slow speed

Thanks

brummyfan2

Have you tried the driver version 7.35.267.0 from Acer support site? If not, try installing the driver.
https://www.acer.com/ac/en/GB/content/support-product/5401?b=1