MP 1,1-5,1 802.11ac, BT 4.0, Continuity, and Handoff Working on Mac Pro 2010

[latndude]

Where too get the small plastic connector that fits in the logic board ?

received it today, pretty fast delivery

very handy, they made the custom USB signal cable for the adapter and the connector to the 4,1 logic board USB signal connector , just fit and and work ! you no need to modify the connector form original bluetooth card at your 4,1/5,1, only thing is those antenna connectors are quite small , have to very carefully connect them, small hand guy like me is ok

I have the card , the adapter , the extra antenna extender , but Im missing the small plastic adapter that fits into the motherboard, does any one know where to get one ? what kind are they and I want to keep the original wire and card ( bluetooth) just in case , thanks

 

[todesto]

I have the card , the adapter , the extra antenna extender , but Im missing the small plastic adapter that fits into the motherboard, does any one know where to get one ? what kind are they and I want to keep the original wire and card ( bluetooth) just in case , thanks

I tried to save the original connector but just couldn't locate that from anywhere. So I just followed the instruction from post #1, ending up cutting two wire and soldered usb power cable.

You are not going to go back to original anyway (why would you?) , so I say just mod it.

 

[waimtrp]

I have the card , the adapter , the extra antenna extender , but Im missing the small plastic adapter that fits into the motherboard, does any one know where to get one ? what kind are they and I want to keep the original wire and card ( bluetooth) just in case , thanks

Yeah, it's very hard to find that connector with wires , so I just order the whole kit that contain everything you need, and I want to keep the original Bluetooth and connector too, just incase I may mess up the original one ( cos it's very small) when modify it, then I cannot going back.. this is the worst case I think

So why border to modify yourself if someone provide the whole kit for you

 

[Tyrelius]

Sorry I didn't get back with you. It's gone from Amazon.com. I tried to find it too and met with negative results. I'll dig through my stockpile in a few minutes and see what I can find.

Okay, on closer examination, it has 2 internal USB headers (like on a motherboard) and you will have to get the appropriate connectors/wires. It's actually designed to drive the front USB ports of a PC case, but you can adapt that.

EDIT: Here is the Amazon Listing for the ORICO PFU3-2O2i

Here is another one on eBay ORICO-PFU3-2O2i

Here's a newegg review. Contrary to what the reviewer says, it doesn't need any additional power, but it does have a connector for it if you want additional power. I'm looking around for a U.S seller right now.

It appears that THIS SELLER has them in stock. I added one to the shopping cart and it said it's $19.60.

Out of curiosity, does this card happen to suffer from the power reset issue that I have been reading about on most USB 3.0 cards? Like when the Mac goes to sleep, the card looses power, so any devices plugged into it will essentially be disconnected, causing an unsafe eject message if you have a storage device plugged in?

 

[crjackson2134]

Out of curiosity, does this card happen to suffer from the power reset issue that I have been reading about on most USB 3.0 cards? Like when the Mac goes to sleep, the card looses power, so any devices plugged into it will essentially be disconnected, causing an unsafe eject message if you have a storage device plugged in?

While that's an inaccurate description, yes. All USB3 adapters can exibit this trait (including USB3 that is built into the computer). This is the wrong thread for this discussion. So I won't post further here on the subject.

 

[rk25123]

See http://www.osxwifi.com/

or... http://www.ebay.com/itm/251754210499

Much obliged!

 

[VAGDesign]

Today I've received those 2 items I bought from eBay a month ago:

NEW Mini PCI-E Adapter for BCM94360CD/BCM94331CD
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390968179409 US $13.99

Apple Broadcom BCM94360CD 802.11ac mini WLAN+Bluetooth 4.0 Wireless card
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191029765954 US $23.99

Installed on my Mac Pro 1,1 (upgraded to 2,1). The Mac had original Apple Airport and Bluetooth cards installed on it. I've removed the Airport Antennas and connected them to new card 1 and 2 positions and the Bluetooth antenna to 3rd position of the new card. (as you see the card from the antenna connectors face, WiFi to J2 and J3, Bluetooth to J1)
Everything works fine!

The adapter includes 2 cables (as pictured on eBay's item description) in case you need them for Mac Pro 3,1 or newer model.

No reason to install a 4th antenna, the reception is great and everything works out of the box.

So, bottom line is: It's nice to have professional solutions from some users here, but in case you're sure of what you're doing, make a research and save much money to grab yourself a bergain from various eBay sellers. Takes a while for the items to arrive (in my case adapter came in 15 days and card in 30) but if you're patient, you win

I hope this helps some of you who might think an investment on this Yosemite feature don't worth $100+.

Take care.

 

[VAGDesign]

The only "patch" you need for Continuity on your old Mac Pro is this patch:
https://github.com/dokterdok/Continuity-Activation-Tool/

Patches some kexts and whitelists your board ID, so after logout and logon on iCloud, your iOS devices can use your old Mac with this feature

More info on this post here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1807990/

Handoff works out of the box, this only needed for Continuity for 10.10 and iOS 8 devices.

 

[todesto]

The only "patch" you need for Continuity on your old Mac Pro is this patch:
https://github.com/dokterdok/Continuity-Activation-Tool/

Patches some kexts and whitelists your board ID, so after logout and logon on iCloud, your iOS devices can use your old Mac with this feature

More info on this post here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1807990/

Handoff works out of the box, this only needed for Continuity for 10.10 and iOS 8 devices.

You are misleading users. Why do you need this patch after installing the kit? Main reason getting 94360CD card is not to fiddle with such patch. Mine works OOTB after installing the kit. didn't need the patch.

Those patches are for who has BT card that supports it but OS X didn't let it so that it can bypass it.

 

[VAGDesign]

Hello, I see you got a Mac Pro 5,1. On the older machines Mac Pro 1,1 and 2,1 seems to be needed to patch the whitelist file.
Logical, cause the motherboard IDs are different. So, after the patch, Continuity works like a charm

 

[MacVidCards]

Hello, I see you got a Mac Pro 5,1. On the older machines Mac Pro 1,1 and 2,1 seems to be needed to patch the whitelist file.
Logical, cause the motherboard IDs are different. So, after the patch, Continuity works like a charm

You are misinterpreting & confusing cause and effect

If you use the latest hardware, no need for patching on any Mac Pro.

It is only on the iMacs and MBP where changing hardware is either very difficult or impossible that using patched files is needed

 

[VAGDesign]

You are misinterpreting & confusing cause and effect

If you use the latest hardware, no need for patching on any Mac Pro.

It is only on the iMacs and MBP where changing hardware is either very difficult or impossible that using patched files is needed

Seems to be the latest hardware, I've run the patch and suggested to put in whitelist the computer model or ID. I didn't got a screenshot of it before the steps required (reboot and logout/login to iCloud).

Maybe if I've logout/login to my iCloud account on the Mac to be fine too without any patch... probably.

 

[Ludacrisvp]

If you get the real Apple card you don't have to modify anything at all software wise.

 

[VAGDesign]

You're right.
Uninstalled the patch and restored the original kexts.
Everything works fine

 

[lapeno]

Did the replacement card work? I'm seeing a similar issue, where it can't see the wifi but sees a bluetooth card under usb devices but doesn't recognise it as a bluetooth card.

Hello

I also have the same problem.

I have bought 1 adapter and 2 wifi cards on ebay but none of them are detected (wifi : no hardware installed)

Thank you for the help!

 

[latndude]

Bluetooth reception extremely weak

Although I had everything in place and it did work , the bluetooth reception was weak to say the least , I keep loosing connection every time I would just move the mouse or the trackpad , so I decided to leave the new Airport card and the adapter in place and placed back the bluetooth original card. Until and when I decide if I really can't leave without these features I will not do anything more. I had purchased all the necessary things including and extender for the BT antenna , but unfortunately was a no go . I have a Mac Pro 4.1 Nehalem 2009 .

 

[todesto]

Although I had everything in place and it did work , the bluetooth reception was weak to say the least , I keep loosing connection every time I would just move the mouse or the trackpad , so I decided to leave the new Airport card and the adapter in place and placed back the bluetooth original card.

did you use bluetooth extender cable like this?

if you did, I would check if the connectors are fit in correctly. Those ends are so small, sometime you won't have clean contact even if you feel like you did.

 

[latndude]

did you use bluetooth extender cable like this?
Image

if you did, I would check if the connectors are fit in correctly. Those ends are so small, sometime you won't have clean contact even if you feel like you did.

Yes , I had them fitting very well , at both ends , on the card I used the one mark as "J3" and then on the other side where the original BT antenna is fed from I made sure they snapped together , not sure why the reception was so poor ... the antenna extender is quite long and I just rolled it up and clipped it where the plastic clip is on the side where the original BT cards sits ... oh well it was a good try , also I noticed that only Airdrop was working , neither HANDOFF or CONTINUITY were working , interesting ..., wondering if changing the order of the small antennas order in the card might make any difference, I just followed what other users have posted, but maybe instead of connecting to J3 the BT should go to J1? , thanks for the reply

 

[RiccardoP]

I followed Ludacrisvp's guide from post #286 (https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/20273458/) and ordered an adapter and a BCM94360CD WIFI/Bluetooth card from the same amazon sellers as he recommended.

Both card and adapter arrived in just over a week, and installation was fiddly but no major issues.

I have 2008 3.1 octo-core Mac Pro, and it never had bluetooth or WIFI before. There was a group of 3 cables labeled 1, 2, 3, and a single longer cable that I assumed to be the bluetooth cable (even though there was no BT sticker on it). I attached this longer bluetooth cable to the J3 connector on the card, and attached the other cables in order of length so that the longest cable could reach the furthest connector when the card was installed (connectors facing down).

After multiple reboot attempts, I see the bluetooth adapater, but no WIFI.

I have read on this thread that loosening the retaining screw and just wiggling the card around could help, but no matter what I try, bluetooth always shows up fine in the System Report, but when I click WIFI, it only ever shows a short list of Software versions.

Is there some specific order needed for the 1,2,3 cables on the card? Is there any other step I'm missing?

Thanks!

I also have this issue. BT ok but no WiFi on MacPro late 3.1 and this card adapter combo: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Broa...rd-for-Apple-with-Mini-PCI-E/32256494722.html

Any suggestion? Thank you.

 

[todesto]

I also have this issue. BT ok but no WiFi on MacPro late 3.1 and this card adapter combo: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Broa...rd-for-Apple-with-Mini-PCI-E/32256494722.html

Any suggestion? Thank you.

I believe you have defective 94360CD card.

 

[VAGDesign]

I think you need this type of adapter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390968179409
As you can see, it has a cable for Mac Pro 3,1 and up for USB power from external source.

As I've read before, only Mac Pro 1,1 and 2,1 have USB power integrated into the WiFi Card connection.

That means, you need to plug the extra cable to a USB power source.

Maybe this is your problem guys...

I hope this helps.

 

[Ludacrisvp]

I think you need this type of adapter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390968179409
As you can see, it has a cable for Mac Pro 3,1 and up for USB power from external source.

As I've read before, only Mac Pro 1,1 and 2,1 have USB power integrated into the WiFi Card connection.

That means, you need to plug the extra cable to a USB power source.

Maybe this is your problem guys...

I hope this helps.

No!
The 3,1 does NOT need this kind of adapter.

You likely got a knockoff version of the card that is only partially functional and / or the adapter card you got didn't have the USB portion wired.

 

[VAGDesign]

No!
The 3,1 does NOT need this kind of adapter.

You likely got a knockoff version of the card that is only partially functional and / or the adapter card you got didn't have the USB portion wired.

The card and adapter I got works like a charm (see the links from a previous reply), I own a Mac Pro 1,1. I know it has a USB power connection on the port and I don't need any of the cables that are included on the package.

The seller includes them in case you have a Mac Pro 3,1 or above.

 

[Ludacrisvp]

The card and adapter I got works like a charm (see the links from a previous reply), I own a Mac Pro 1,1. I know it has a USB power connection on the port and I don't need any of the cables that are included on the package.

The seller includes them in case you have a Mac Pro 3,1 or above.

Apparently your ability to read and comprehend is lacking.

The 3,1 does not, I repeat does not need to have any extra connection or power from a USB port.

I have a 3,1 and I have continuity and handoff support.

Here is a photo of it installed in my 3,1... the only wires connected to it are the 4 antenna wires.

Feel free to re-read post #286:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/20273458/

 

[VAGDesign]

Apparently your ability to read and comprehend is lacking.

The 3,1 does not, I repeat does not need to have any extra connection or power from a USB port.

I have a 3,1 and I have continuity and handoff support.

Here is a photo of it installed in my 3,1... the only wires connected to it are the 4 antenna wires.

Image
Feel free to re-read post #286:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/20273458/

You are right, I meant 4,1 and 5,1. As you have confirmed, 3,1 has USB power on the WiFi port. Sorry for the confusion.