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

Auggie said:
Well, I gave up. Just not worth the effort and problems (pain) I just went through. I had to reinstall Sierra to get Bluetooth working again and I'm sick of doing that because this is the second time in two weeks I've reinstalled.

Having Handoff is just a "neat" trick to have on my 2012 Mac Pro, but I only ever used it twice on my 2012 MacBook Pro.

I got the newer Apple OEM Broadcom BCM94360CD combo WiFi/Bluetooth 4.0 card from OSXWiFi.com only for the faster 802.11ac WiFi since I don't have wired Ethernet in my apartment from where the computer is to where the cable modem is located.
Click to expand...

Did you try my way? I am pretty sure it works. Just follow the steps exactly.
but BT not showing up is kinda weird. That really should not happen.
 
todesto said:
Did you try my way? I am pretty sure it works. Just follow the steps exactly.
but BT not showing up is kinda weird. That really should not happen.
Click to expand...

Once I got BT working again, I dare not tempt danger again. As I said, I don't use Handoff; I was only interested in getting it working if it was a relatively non-destructive method, but apparently, CAT destroyed/misplaced the original driver (don't know how) and FUBAR'd my Bluetooth.

I do NOT want to have to reinstall my OS yet again over a feature I just don't use.
 
Ok success on 10.12.2. Turned SIP off. I uninstalled the previous version of CAT and restarted. Installed latest CAT (Beta). Switched off my iPhone and Watch. Rebooted cMP and switched SIP back on. Restarted my iPhone and Watch and everything is working including using my watch to log in to my cMP.
 
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itdk92 said:
But can't you activate sip again after CAT?
Click to expand...
This, from the CAT site, was enough to put me off despite one being able to re-enable SIP.

Warning
  • You should exercise caution when using the Continuity Activation Tool, as it moves around low level files and there's a possibility it could cause problems. Using this tool is at your own risk. Always use the latest version of the tool to avoid issues.
  • The tool disables the verification of original Apple drivers in order to work, which lowers the overall system security.
Knock/Finger/MacID/KeyTouch etc not working
Apps that also rely on Bluetooth 4/LE features such as Knock might not work after installing Continuity Activation Tool. Please uninstall CAT if you need such an application, as there is no known fix or workaround!
 
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Squuiid said:
This, from the CAT site, was enough to put me off despite one being able to re-enable SIP.

Warning
  • You should exercise caution when using the Continuity Activation Tool, as it moves around low level files and there's a possibility it could cause problems. Using this tool is at your own risk. Always use the latest version of the tool to avoid issues.
  • The tool disables the verification of original Apple drivers in order to work, which lowers the overall system security.
Knock/Finger/MacID/KeyTouch etc not working
Apps that also rely on Bluetooth 4/LE features such as Knock might not work after installing Continuity Activation Tool. Please uninstall CAT if you need such an application, as there is no known fix or workaround!
Click to expand...

If you have continuity and handoff working you wont need Knock. I just need to hit the space bar when my mac is asleep and my Apple Watch logs in for me. If CAT does not work for you just uninstall it because it backs up the original files on your Mac.
 
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12CoreMP said:
If you have continuity and handoff working you wont need Knock. I just need to hit the space bar when my mac is asleep and my Apple Watch logs in for me. If CAT does not work for you just uninstall it because it backs up the original files on your Mac.
Click to expand...
True. Honestly, have used CAT in the past and it worked well. This is just a personal thing, I just prefer not to modify system files.
 
So - I had Wifi AC + BT 4.0 working but i decided to try my luck with BT4.2 just for moddings'sake.

I bought a BCM943602CDP (shown in the pictures), but I simply couldn't make it work with my adapter for the BCM94360CD


Link to the card -> CARD
Link to the BCM94360CD card + adapter -> "OLD" CARD


I tried switching around the various cables but the BT simply wouldn't work ("Bluetooth not available" and not showing up in System Report)


I am returning the card and trying to find another solution for BT 4.2 (atm it has become a challenge :) )

Any ideas?
 
itdk92 said:
So - I had Wifi AC + BT 4.0 working but i decided to try my luck with BT4.2 just for moddings'sake.

I bought a BCM943602CDP (shown in the pictures), but I simply couldn't make it work with my adapter for the BCM94360CD


Link to the card -> CARD
Link to the BCM94360CD card + adapter -> "OLD" CARD


I tried switching around the various cables but the BT simply wouldn't work ("Bluetooth not available" and not showing up in System Report)


I am returning the card and trying to find another solution for BT 4.2 (atm it has become a challenge :) )

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Did wifi work when you had the BCM943602CDP in the adaptor? Did you look in the USB section of System Report to look for the Bluetooth?
 
itdk92 said:
Yes, wifi worked with all the different antennas configurations - funny

BT never worked.

I did not check under USB though? Why USB section?
Click to expand...

Bluetooth on these cards are seen as USB devices.
Screen Shot 2017-03-08 at 10.57.58 AM.png
 
Hi all

I just found this thread and was interested in upgrading my Mac Pro 4.1/5.1 but
BUT
Back about a year ago my built in Bluetooth stopped working. Does not show up any longer.
I tried replacing module on motherboard with another, still nothing.
So, my question after reading some of this thread, could a system update have made it unusable?
Never wanted to take it to have repaired or diagnosed because I had assumed that somehow motherboard repair or replacement would have been needed.

Which leads me too this

To do this upgrade to new combo card would require using the plug where current Bluetooth module is plugged in.
Which would possibly never work because of my problem, if hardware related. ????

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 11.16.38 AM.png
 

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Is it listed under USB? If you think it might be software related then spend time an install Snow Leopard in a partition and boot from that.
 
Have you tried resetting the Bluetooth module? Hold down Opt+Shift key when clicking on the Bluetooth menu icon, then Debug > Reset the Bluetooth module. Do a restart and see if that fixes things.

It might be cheaper to buy a Mac compatible USB BT 4.x dongle rather than buying the mini PCIe WiFi/BT combo card. If the BT USB backplane connector on the MoBo is faulty then getting a combo card will be a waste of money. Hence suggesting the dongle approach.

Edit: updated that you have to hold down Opt+Shift when clicking on the Bluetooth menu item (not Opt on its own as previously stated).
 
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Does the Bluetooth prefpane show up in System Preferences? If so, can you turn on (tick) Show Bluetooth in menu bar?
 
Just an update.

I tried to install two different BCM943602CDP, without success.

I have convinced myself that it's the adapter, made for the BCM94360CD which does not work properly with the card.

Wifi works fine, but bluetooth is not available, and only visible under USB in system rapport.

But here is the funny part:


Before installing the card, I had a BT4.0 card, and I succeeded in having Continuity + Apple Watch unlock, thanks to CAT.

But then, while trying to get the BT4.2 card to work, I uninstalled CAT and enabled SIP.

And then when installing the BT4.0 Card back into the mac pro, continuity AND Apple Watch unlock worked! :)
 
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