Yes, you can employ various Wi-Fi antenna designs on the same Wi-Fi card.
Yes, you can employ various Wi-Fi antenna designs on the same Wi-Fi card.
The damaged cable caused a worse signal, but you can still try other antenna types with your laptop's Wi-Fi card. Since you don't have the exact model, research common compatible options for your device.
Antennas function without power when properly matched to their frequency range and connected correctly. For instance, use a Wi-Fi antenna with an SMA connector if your card has one. Laptops present unique challenges since the antenna wire passes through the hinge and around the screen, often resting on a compact internal component. Finding suitable replacements can be tough; in such cases, a USB Wi-Fi adapter might be necessary. Edited February 19, 2022 by Needfuldoer
As long as the antenna fits inside the laptop's chassis and stays in the same spot, it should function. Soldering failed because the wire isn't a single conductor—it's a coaxial cable wrapped inside another. Splicing them together creates a short circuit at the end of the antenna, resulting in an extremely weak signal. In the worst scenario, you might need to use a U.FL to RP-SMA adapter cable, drill a safe hole in the chassis, and insert the external connection through it. This allows you to attach an external antenna to the laptop using any threaded antenna you prefer.