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

[h9826790]

Can you all tell me what I actually need to make this whole thing work in my 2009 Mac Pro running El Capitan? I see links to all different kits, some with cards, some without, some with bluetooth some without. Links to cables, other cables, more cables. . . .

I have a 2009 Mac Pro running capitan, I'd like to get AC wifi and bluetooth working so I can get handoff and continuity working. Can you tell me what I need to make it work. I'd rather not spend the $100 I see on kits. But there isn't a post I've seen that sums everything up.

Sorry, I don't think there is any easy + cheap + quick solution. You can have 2, but not all 3 of them.

If you want an easy + quick solution, buy a kit that usually cost more.

If you want cheap + easy solution, spend your time to study everything and then buy the correct parts.

If you just did a quick search and buy a cheap card, most likely you end up will have some difficult time.

 

[pastrychef]

Can you all tell me what I actually need to make this whole thing work in my 2009 Mac Pro running El Capitan? I see links to all different kits, some with cards, some without, some with bluetooth some without. Links to cables, other cables, more cables. . . .

I have a 2009 Mac Pro running capitan, I'd like to get AC wifi and bluetooth working so I can get handoff and continuity working. Can you tell me what I need to make it work. I'd rather not spend the $100 I see on kits. But there isn't a post I've seen that sums everything up.

There are multiple adaptors that will work in a Mac Pro.

1. PCI-e adaptors. These, of course, will take up a PCI-e slot.
2. Mini PCI-e adaptors. These will use the slot that stock AirPort cards use. There are quite a few different versions of these from unknown manufacturers.


There are multiple ways to connect Bluetooth in Mac Pro 4,1 and 5,1.

1. Splice in to the existing cable in a Mac Pro.
2. Run a cable out to a USB port.
3. Connect to a PCI-e USB card's internal header. Of course, the USB card needs to be compatible with macOS.

 

[ridethevent]

So I need this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-PCI-E-M...604584?hash=item3abec3c6a8:g:~OIAAOSwLF1YBxa~

Where is the best deal on the actual card. For AC and bluetooth that supports handoff?

And Where do I get a cord long enough to go from the existing Bluetooth connection to the one on the card?

 

[pastrychef]

So I need this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-PCI-E-M...604584?hash=item3abec3c6a8:g:~OIAAOSwLF1YBxa~

Where is the best deal on the actual card. For AC and bluetooth that supports handoff?

And Where do I get a cord long enough to go from the existing Bluetooth connection to the one on the card?

That card can work. Just be aware that the included cable is meant to be connected to an internal USB header. If you want to connect it to the internal D+ and D-, you would need to either (1) splice in to existing cable, (2) fabricate your own cable, or (3) purchase a pre-made one.

I don't know where to find the best deal on the BCM94360CD.

 

[Artakamoose]

Since it seems that you can get the same card from Taobao, therefore I do a quick search on Taobao "ipx4 to ipx1" and have this result.

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?sp...942&pvid=e2d8e224-1f7c-406e-9d7b-a3295937d5cf

I didn't check if this cable is 100% correct. Anyway, the connector on the card is ipx4, your MacPro's antenna is ipx1. Make sure you get the correct combination.

For your case, if you can't recover the antenna (my understanding is that part of the adaptor stick to the antenna). You have few choices.

1) connect only J0 and J1, but leave J2 unconnected. J0 is for Wi-Fi, J1 is for BT. Without J2, Wi-Fi still works, but may be slower (you can still get >1000Mb/s by only running one antenna, mainly depends on signal). J1 is a must, otherwise, almost no BT connection at all.

2) get a long adaptor cable to use the native BT antenna. Or disassembly the Mac Pro, get the BT antenna out for the card.

3) get an ipx4 antenna (usually it is a ipx4 connector -> short cable -> notebook antenna)

4) get an ipx4 to SMA wire (prefer long cable), and then connect a SMA antenna on the other end. So that you can place the antenna anywhere you want, or even outside the Mac Pro case to make sure good reception.

In my own experience, use a pliers to connect the antenna is much much easier than use hand (especially with that little ipx4 - ipx1 adaptor). And use a forceps to disconnect is also easier to apply force correctly to avoid damage.

Thank you so much for the reply. I'm going to hook up J1 for now and sacrifice J2 temporarily. I'll see what I can do on the cable front and will update when I can.

 

[JedNZ]

BCM94360CD installed, connected up and working fine. Taking the cage out made it a whole lot easier to install (gave my cMP a dust and a clean while I was there), so thanks for the advice h9826790. The WiFi/BT card didn't show up on reboot, but after resetting the PRAM it eventually showed up. Not getting continuity between iPhone, iPad Air2 and my cMP, so think I'll have a think about installing CAT again.

 

[john991]

My issue is when a new update of macOS comes out I need to logout of iCloud and log back in to get safari handoff working.

I'm using the latest continuity app.

Anyone else notice this?

 

[h9826790]

My issue is when a new update of macOS comes out I need to logout of iCloud and log back in to get safari handoff working.

I'm using the latest continuity app.

Anyone else notice this?

I keep updating to the latest beta, no problem so far. Only one occasion that I can't get Handoff work properly (the dock can see the app suggestion, but only open a blank page when I click it), end up it's not the Mac's problem, I fix it by reboot the iPhone.

 

[nopster]

Anyone have tried to install mac os x 10.2.2 update? Seems that Apple repaired a bug on SIP, I was wondering that Activation Tool still working.

 

[pastrychef]

I'm on 10.12.2 on a hackintosh. My BCM94360CS continues to work as it always has.

 

[h9826790]

Anyone have tried to install mac os x 10.2.2 update? Seems that Apple repaired a bug on SIP, I was wondering that Activation Tool still working.

I think that SIP bug is about for the nMBP, but not any Mac Pro.

Anyway, my 4,1 with the BCM943602CS also works fine with the latest Sierra.

 

[nopster]

I think that SIP bug is about for the nMBP, but not any Mac Pro.

Anyway, my 4,1 with the BCM943602CS also works fine with the latest Sierra.

Thanks, I'll try.
[doublepost=1481740368][/doublepost]I just updated, but bluetooth is not working anymore. Just tried to delete plist file in preferences and resetting SMC.

Bluetooth is not working.

 

[h9826790]

Thanks, I'll try.
[doublepost=1481740368][/doublepost]I just updated, but bluetooth is not working anymore. Just tried to delete plist file in preferences and resetting SMC.

Bluetooth is not working.

Which card you have?

 

[nopster]

Which card you have?

this one:
http://www.ebay.nl/itm/232050266521...3&cp=1&sojTags=bu=bu&clk_rvr_id=1139976888549

 

[JoSch]

In a 3,1 case there should be a BT and three Wifi antennas. Or are all cables only there, if Wifi and BT were installed before?
I can only find the BT antenna that was used with the BT card. Wifi wasn't installed originally.

 

[h9826790]

In a 3,1 case there should be a BT and three Wifi antennas. Or are all cables only there, if Wifi and BT were installed before?
I can only find the BT antenna that was used with the BT card. Wifi wasn't installed originally.

Not sure, but for your info.

I bought my 4,1 without Wi-Fi directly from Apple. So, no Wi-Fi card, but the antennas are there.

 

[pastrychef]

As far as I know, the antennas should be there whether your Mac Pro shipped with a wifi card or not.

 

[JoSch]

Thanks for the info, so I have to go fishing ;-)
Anyone has infos where the antennas should run?

 

[nopster]

Thanks, I'll try.
[doublepost=1481740368][/doublepost]I just updated, but bluetooth is not working anymore. Just tried to delete plist file in preferences and resetting SMC.

Bluetooth is not working.

Just disabled SIP, rebooted, re-enabled it and Bluetooth magically worked.
Maybe 10.2.2 updated SIP for every Mac, not MBP only.

 

[bookemdano]

When you guys who have gotten this working run CAT, what is the output when you choose 1 to enable?

Mine (on 12.12.2) just says "OS X reports continuity as active. No changes were applied." (and yes I disabled SIP first).

which makes me think it's not actually making any changes. None of the extra features are actually working. So I was just curious if that's the same output everyone else is seeing too.

 

[todesto]

Ever since I got Sierra, I can't get handoff to work anymore. When I have safari open, I was able to see safari icon on my phone or vice versa, but no more....Has anyone have this issue?

 

[h9826790]

Ever since I got Sierra, I can't get handoff to work anymore. When I have safari open, I was able to see safari icon on my phone or vice versa, but no more....Has anyone have this issue?

I used a USB BT 4.0 dongle before I upgrade my Wi-Fi + BT card. And right after the upgrade, the BT 4.2 card works, but Handoff not working (same as yours, can see the icon, but click it, it will just open a blank page and eventually fail). However, after a simple BT module reset (Option + Shift + single click BT icon on the menu bar -> debug -> reset the BT module), everything work flawlessly again.

Also, you may try to reboot your iPhone as well, that's not necessary the Mac's problem.

 

[Socket]

Any help please? All worked fine in Elcap, now i update to sierra and handoff is not supported! I try continuity activation tool and it generate this: NOT OK. No active AirPort card was detected. Continuity will not work. Aborting.

I haven't airport, so i don't know how can i resolve this...any suggestion please?
Merry Christmas to all!

 

[todesto]

Any help please? All worked fine in Elcap, now i update to sierra and handoff is not supported! I try continuity activation tool and it generate this: NOT OK. No active AirPort card was detected. Continuity will not work. Aborting.

I haven't airport, so i don't know how can i resolve this...any suggestion please?
Merry Christmas to all!

I am with you. Ever since I got Sierra running, handoff, continuity doesn't work. Waiting for solution.

 

[todesto]

I have a feeling my system is screwed up somewhere. I tried to run CAT (even though I know I don't need this get continuty) and I get verifying SIP NOT OK.
So I am trying to boot into recovery mode to disable csrutil but I can't even enter recovery mode. CMD+R or CMD+option+R doesn't work.

I have my system running fusion drive. Does that have to do anything not being able to enter recovery mode?