Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: Yes
Continuity Supported: Yes
AirDrop Supported: Yes
Airdrop works only with older macs, no option to change. This might be a software block of sorts.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
2011 MacBook Pros can support Handoff/Continuity
- Thread starter abcdefg12345
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: Yes
Continuity Supported: Yes
AirDrop Supported: Yes
Airdrop works only with older macs, no option to change. This might be a software block of sorts.
I have been trying to decipher what is going on:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1750024/
I'm pretty sure that Airdrop requires a newer WiFi card of the 94360 family. But I have been trying to find out if Continuity and Handoff work with BT 4.0 but without AC.
I need to get iOS 8 on something newer than my 4S, but I have been trying to get folks to post in that thread to figure out where and for what we need BT 4.0 or WiFi AC or both
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1750024/
I'm pretty sure that Airdrop requires a newer WiFi card of the 94360 family. But I have been trying to find out if Continuity and Handoff work with BT 4.0 but without AC.
I need to get iOS 8 on something newer than my 4S, but I have been trying to get folks to post in that thread to figure out where and for what we need BT 4.0 or WiFi AC or both
I had come across this post..
"Originally Posted by VanillaCrackerC View Post
You need to know which kext wifi uses, it can be done in terminal
Code:
kextstat | grep AirPort
AppleAirPortBrcm43224.kext = not work
AirPortBrcm4331.kext = not work
AirPortBrcm4360.kext = work!
AirPortAtheros40.kext = not work"
Odd thing is before doing the clean install I added the new card and ran the command in terminal.
And had the 4431 and the 4460 show up as active.
After the clean install it is now only the 4431.
Installed DP3 and have the new card from os-store.com installed.
Now Handoff is gone. Not mentioned in System Profiler and the option to turn on/off in System Preferences -> General is gone...
Thank's Apple...
Now Handoff is gone. Not mentioned in System Profiler and the option to turn on/off in System Preferences -> General is gone...
Thank's Apple...
Code:
Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: Yes
Manufacturer: Broadcom
Transport: USB
Chipset: 20702A3
Firmware Version: v142 c5696
Code:
en1:
Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0xF5)
Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.100.24)
Code:
$ kextstat | grep AirPort
49 0 0xffffff7f81773000 0x5df000 0x5df000 com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4360 (900.14.2) <48 47 46 12 7 6 5 4 3 1>
53 0 0xffffff7f81dc4000 0x1f3000 0x1f3000 com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331 (800.20.24) <48 46 12 7 5 4 3 1>After a reboot i noticed that the com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4360 no longer displays in the kextstat command.
Maybe they took the device id out of the kext then?
EDIT: Just checked, the device id is still in there. Not sure why it wouldn't be working then.
Same for me.
On 10.9, it also just displays the Brcm4331.
Funny thing: I just checked my work MBPR (Late 2012) under Mavericks, it also just shows Brcm4331 (Seems like identical AirPort/Bluetooth chipset combination as MBP Mid 2012). Would that mean, that even the first-gen Retina MBPs won't be able to use Handoff? (I'm not able to install 10.10 here so I can't check it out).
This would really be a bad move by Apple...
//Edit
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/19330544/ seems to confirm that it is working on Mid 2012 devices. So it's probably just Apple checking the device and excluding devices which would have sufficient technical requirements.
Last edited:
The MacBook Pro Mid 2012 (non-retina) has a Bluetooth 4 chipset.
So does my Early 2011 after installing the AirPort card from an 2012 model. However, no Handoff support with DP3. (System Profiler shows Bluetooth LE/4.0 support).
2012 card with BT 4 support inside 2012 MBP -> working
2012 card with BT 4 support inside 2011 MBP -> not working
//Edit:
There seems to be a difference in the Wi-Fi Firmware version:
OS-Store upgrade: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.100.24)
MBP Mid 2012: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (7.15.101.2.2)
And the MBP Mid 2012 loads the Brcm4360 .kext instead of the Brcm4331.
Would perhaps be interesting to compare the OS-Store part with an genuine Apple part regarding the Wi-Fi chipset.
Last edited:
Can someone please try this IO80211family.kext?
http://d-h.st/2eZ
I have no way to test this because I don't have the new card. Remember to back up your original IO80211family.kext first...
First enable loading of unsigned kexts:
Unzip the kext, copy it into /System/Library/Extensions and make sure it replaces the original.
Then set permissions:
Clear the kext cache:
I don't want to share what I changed right now, but if you look in the 4360 kext it's pretty obvious... If you want to know just PM me. I'm just thinking Apple is likely keeping an eye on this thread so I don't want to share it yet, especially if it works.
Let me know if this works! Note that if you don't add kext-dev-mode=1 it will refuse to even attempt loading the kext and you will have no Wi-Fi, and if you don't clear kext caches it will still use the original kext. So make sure you do both of those steps!
http://d-h.st/2eZ
I have no way to test this because I don't have the new card. Remember to back up your original IO80211family.kext first...
First enable loading of unsigned kexts:
Code:
sudo nvram boot-args="kext-dev-mode=1"Then set permissions:
Code:
sudo chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
Code:
sudo chmod -R 644 /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
Code:
sudo kextcache -system-prelinked-kernel
Code:
sudo kextcache -system-cachesI don't want to share what I changed right now, but if you look in the 4360 kext it's pretty obvious... If you want to know just PM me. I'm just thinking Apple is likely keeping an eye on this thread so I don't want to share it yet, especially if it works.
Let me know if this works! Note that if you don't add kext-dev-mode=1 it will refuse to even attempt loading the kext and you will have no Wi-Fi, and if you don't clear kext caches it will still use the original kext. So make sure you do both of those steps!
Last edited:
This does bring the option back up under System Preferences/General.
And kextstat | grep AirPort shows...
52 0 0xffffff7f81742000 0x5df000 0x5df000 com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4360 (900.14.2) <51 47 46 12 7 6 5 4 3 1>
Now System Report/Bluetooth it hasn't seemed to been changed at all.
----------
Can confirm that Handoff is now working. Thank you very much
Mine is a early MBP 2011, with a card from a mid 2012. With the file above it works. It does require BTLE 4 to function.
Usb options not sure about, was more focused on internal solutions.
Where did you find the card? can you link? how hard is it to install and set the file?
Osstore on eBay is who I got it from. Once get home should be able to find link, if they still have them. A post on the forum here might of cleaned them out.
As long as you are tech savy as far as hardware upgrades, it's easy. Think all of about 10 minutes to do.
I can't find the link. It seems all the ones linked are the same ones that are in the MBP. I have a late 2011 does that matter?
I can't get it work too. Today I just get the BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX from my supplier. Before the upgrade I can't use Knock app to unlock my MBP 15" late 2011 to work but now .. it works flawlessly.
I've follow above mentioned steps but it doesn't change anything. Do you have any other option or any special instruction or steps need to be done?
kextstat | grep AirPort
48 0 0xffffff7f8170f000 0x1f3000 0x1f3000 com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331 (800.20.24) <47 46 12 7 5 4 3 1>
Please advice.
I've follow above mentioned steps but it doesn't change anything. Do you have any other option or any special instruction or steps need to be done?
kextstat | grep AirPort
48 0 0xffffff7f8170f000 0x1f3000 0x1f3000 com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331 (800.20.24) <47 46 12 7 5 4 3 1>
Please advice.
Last edited: