Dual Band Wireless 7260AC or 7260AN - What are the differences?

[PN_A]

I'm buying a new laptop and I have the option of getting the 7260AC card or the 7260AN card. My primary network is 802.11N, but I want to be ready for AC since I might upgrade it. Is the AC one backwards compatible with G and N? Does the AN one not work with AC? Both are listed at the same price, which confuses me more. Both have Bluetooth 4.0.

Thanks,

P

[tvete]

AC is backwards compatible with A/B/G/N so no worries. Get the 7260AC and enjoy 866.7 Mbps connection on a line of sight with 802.11ac AP scenario.

[PN_A]

The what's the AN version? Does the "A" in that also mean AC? Or does it just mean A through N and A through C? Most cards are just called "N." They're the same price, which is confusing.

[tvete]

A = 802.11a while N = 802.11n

AC = 802.11ac; it's one word unlike AN where it's separate acronym.

FYI, there's also a 2.4 GHz band only version called BN where B = 802.11b and N = 802.11n. Notice that there's no A on it which should tell you that there's no 5 GHz band for that version.

[PN_A]

OK, so the AC will give me A/B/G/N/AC at both 5GHz and 2.4Ghz, while the AN will only give me A/B/G/N at 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz. I'll get the AC one! Thanks! It's odd that they're the same price...

[tvete]

Well, all of them are the same chips. It's just that the AN and the BN are firmware limited to disable one of the radios and 802.11ac

I wonder how many people would sue if their 802.11ac equipped devices aren't backwards compatible and as such won't work with non-ac routers lol. Anyways that's the point of having backwards compatibility

[AQues]

Not entirely related to your sbject.

Could you please tell me what operating system are you ging to use?

Because I'm experiencing an issue that I can't find a way to solve it:

Unable to connect to WPA2-PSK on Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit on device Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 802.11ac, Dual Band, 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0.

Link:

[Jose_H_Intel1]

7260HMW AN (HMC) or 7260NGW AN (M.2) refers to the https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/wireless-products/dual-band-wireless-n-7260-bluetooth-brief.html Intel® Dual Band Wireless-N 7260 with Bluetooth*.

https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/wireless-products/wireless-product-selection-guide.html Intel® Wireless Products