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

[crjackson2134]

It is a very straightforward upgrade to install the MVC kit. I had some problems only because I didn't heed the suggestion of using a magnetic screwdriver. If I take off all the time spent recovering the dropped screw, upgrade took about 15 min.

I had no problems with connecting the antenna wires at all. I used a lighted magnifying glass and went slowly. It's a very slick solution and I'm glad I made the decision.

 

[ibarnett]

I have just combined the MVC kit with this solution for antenna:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/904437/
Now everything works a treat!

 

[128keaton]

Does anyone know where I can find just the convert card?

 

[kwarwick43]

Does anyone know where I can find just the convert card?

OSXWifi sells the adapter card separately.

http://www.osxwifi.com/apple-wifi-bluetooth-4-0-card-to-minipcie-adapter-for-pc-hackintosh-laptop

 

[Stratus Fear]

I ordered the miniPCIe adapter and BCM94360CD from osxwifi and it does work in a mid-2007 iMac. Handoff works, Continuity seems like it should work once either iOS 8 or Yosemite gets another update (DP6 + beta 5 problem).

Two problems:

1) The single mounting post for the miniPCIe card is on the wrong side in the motherboard. I didn't realize this before ordering. Osxwifi appears to have a card with a mounting hole on the appropriate side, but then the wireless adapter mounts in the opposite direction, such that the antenna wires would then be too short. I have the card held in place with packing tape as a temporary solution until I figure out something more permanent.

2) The fourth antenna. I forgot to order one, but you'd need to find somewhere to put it. It might be mountable behind the LCD, but I haven't even gotten that far yet. As I recall from when I installed an SSD and fixed my optical drive, there are areas of foil shielding on the rear inside of the whole iMac enclosure. You can probably cut some away (so that it doesn't shield the antenna) and mount the antenna with adhesive to the back of the case on the inside. The 802.11ac does work just fine with 2 antennas for wifi, and runs in 2x2 mode (867mbps) instead of 3x3 (1.3gbps).

Edit: As noted, wrong thread. Although leaving this here in case anyone finds it useful.

 

[brand]

I ordered the miniPCIe adapter and BCM94360CD from osxwifi and it does work in a mid-2007 iMac. Handoff works, Continuity seems like it should work once either iOS 8 or Yosemite gets another update (DP6 + beta 5 problem).

Two problems:

1) The single mounting post for the miniPCIe card is on the wrong side in the motherboard. I didn't realize this before ordering. Osxwifi appears to have a card with a mounting hole on the appropriate side, but then the wireless adapter mounts in the opposite direction, such that the antenna wires would then be too short. I have the card held in place with packing tape as a temporary solution until I figure out something more permanent.

2) The fourth antenna. I forgot to order one, but you'd need to find somewhere to put it. It might be mountable behind the LCD, but I haven't even gotten that far yet. As I recall from when I installed an SSD and fixed my optical drive, there are areas of foil shielding on the rear inside of the whole iMac enclosure. You can probably cut some away (so that it doesn't shield the antenna) and mount the antenna with adhesive to the back of the case on the inside. The 802.11ac does work just fine with 2 antennas for wifi, and runs in 2x2 mode (867mbps) instead of 3x3 (1.3gbps).

iMac ≠ Mac Pro

 

[Stratus Fear]

iMac ≠ Mac Pro

Yeah, I posted in the wrong thread. I'm subscribed to several of these.

 

[stevenz]

Got the OSXWiFi adapter+card combo, and other than the fact that the included instructions are essentially useless (Step 1 -> Step 2 -> Step 6, no explanation of what the extra screws are for and no instructions for the USB wire beyond "Don't use it unless required" (!?) - which I apparently didn't need anyway).

Installation wasn't too painful, I've got huge hands but I'm used to fixing tiny things so the connectors weren't too big a deal.

Removed the existing Apple bluetooth board and reused the antenna from that on J3 of the Broadcom card.

My Windows 8.1 bootcamp picked up the 11ac immediately, can see the Bluetooth but no driver found, haven't tried very hard yet however.

OS X picked up the 802.11ac and the Bluetooth straight away. Haven't put 10.10 onto it yet but the same hardware info is showing up as per those who have so I have no reason to expect it not to work as expected.

So, looks like a good solution. The old 2008MP lives to fight another day. (Now, if my GTX680 ever turns up...)

 

[Angelus]

I need some help to complete my install of the OSXWIFI solution.
They sent the card, adapter and the previously mentioned usb data cable which will plug into the outside of the computer.

I wish to have an internal solution and was following the opening post when I hit a stumbling block.

The card they provided has labelling for which cable is USB data positive/negative but I don't know which wire in the opening post is USB data positive/negative. Point B in the opening post states connect A to A and B to B. Can you clarify which one is USB positive/negative? Until I know, I can't go ahead and join my wires to connect to the OEM internal connector.

Cheers

 

[MacVidCards]

I need some help to complete my install of the OSXWIFI solution.
They sent the card, adapter and the previously mentioned usb data cable which will plug into the outside of the computer.

I wish to have an internal solution and was following the opening post when I hit a stumbling block.

The card they provided has labelling for which cable is USB data positive/negative but I don't know which wire in the opening post is USB data positive/negative. Point B in the opening post states connect A to A and B to B. Can you clarify which one is USB positive/negative? Until I know, I can't go ahead and join my wires to connect to the OEM internal connector.

Cheers

This is why we are proud to offer the only fully internal, invisible solution.

They seem like decent guys, I'm sure they'll explain how to connect if you ask them.

As an additional hint, have a look at the OPs posts.

 

[Angelus]

This is why we are proud to offer the only fully internal, invisible solution.

They seem like decent guys, I'm sure they'll explain how to connect if you ask them.

As an additional hint, have a look at the OPs posts.

Telling me to do what I already did was not helpful to be honest. And giving a hint? I have already combed through the opening post and found no clear statement correlating wire A and B to the positive/negative USB. I appreciate that you have a competing product but a hint? Are you for real? How does that help? It would have been more helpful if you hadn't replied.

Anyway, rant over. It's sorted. I couldn't find any reference on google so with my chances at 50:50, I went ahead and picked one. It's worked. I'm happy.
For anyone else who has the same issue, I'll post up a photo of the wire arrangement later so that you can perform your own internal install.

 

[MacVidCards]

Telling me to do what I already did was not helpful to be honest. And giving a hint? I have already combed through the opening post and found no clear statement correlating wire A and B to the positive/negative USB. I appreciate that you have a competing product but a hint? Are you for real? How does that help? It would have been more helpful if you hadn't replied.

Anyway, rant over. It's sorted. I couldn't find any reference on google so with my chances at 50:50, I went ahead and picked one. It's worked. I'm happy.
For anyone else who has the same issue, I'll post up a photo of the wire arrangement later so that you can perform your own internal install.

Ouch !!

Wrong side of the bed?

I meant that if using an internal only connection, everything you need to fashion a cable is in OP posts. I thought that you were trying to engineer something like that.

Sorry if you misunderstood.

 

[rhett7660]

A 2010 MBP, shouldn't but can

Had to turn off and turn on BT to get USB dongle to override the internal, but it did

We will be offering this setup shortly, very similar to the USB offering from China but assembled in California.

Will work in any Mac that can run Yosemite

Awesome~!

 

[Angelus]

Ouch !!

Wrong side of the bed?

I meant that if using an internal only connection, everything you need to fashion a cable is in OP posts. I thought that you were trying to engineer something like that.

Sorry if you misunderstood.

Apologies, for earlier. I could have chosen my words more carefully.

That being said, I'm aware that the OP goes to great lengths to explain how to fashion a cable etc. The one thing that is omitted from that guide however is which wire is assigned USB data +/-. If you read the OP you can see he talks of wire A and B etc but doesn't specify which one is positive or negative. That was my question this morning.

The OSX Wifi card marks the connectors on the card as +/- but there is no corresponding mark on the Mac Pro back board to aid with assembling your own internal cable. So when I read your post I took umbrage. Mea culpa!

 

[X-X]

Standard USB configuration is...

1. RED = 5 volts + (often marked with a little arrow)
2. WHITE = Data +
3. GREEN = Data -
4. BLACK = Ground -

EDIT: But I guess Apple is NOT doing it that way on the Bluetooth connector.

 

[MacVidCards]

I don't think the original post is correct regarding the pins of the USB cable.

Standard USB configuration is...

1. RED = 5 volts + (often marked with a little arrow)
2. WHITE = Data +
3. GREEN = Data -
4. BLACK = Ground -

If you look at the motherboard of the Mac Pro, the first pin has a little arrow, which means that
this should be "5 Volts +".

Which means the correct pins should actually be the middle ones (second + and third -) unless Apple is intentionally doing this wrong. Why would they do that?

Also you can clearly see the third and fourth pin marked as minus on the motherboard.

Image

Dangerous advice

Have you hooked one up?

I've made more than 20, unless 20 people are having a group hallucination....

 

[X-X]

I've made more than 20....

Well, then which pins are Data Plus and Data Minus?

 

[Angelus]

Dangerous advice

Have you hooked one up?

I've made more than 20, unless 20 people are having a group hallucination....

Agree with MVC here ^^^^^

I can confirm that the wiring advised by the OP is correct as I've just installed the OSX Wifi card today and DIY'ed an internal cable.
Looking at my wiring configuration. Data positive corresponds with wire "A" as seen in the OP photos and data negative corresponds with wire "B".

Wifi through to AC is working flawlessly and the Bluetooth works also. I'm currently on Mavericks and don't have Yosemite to check for Handoff/continuity but I would expect it to work as per previous posts.

On a side note, I had a lot of frustration this morning to learn that despite purchasing an additional bluetooth antenna and placing it behind the front grill, the Bluetooth signal was still terrible. I've since rearranged the antenna connector arrangement and have seen significantly better results. As per the OP photos, the order for antennas from top to bottom was 3,1,BT,2. I've rearranged them to 3,1,2,BT and now have stutter free use of my Apple mouse No more need for the Bluetooth dongle in the Apple Pro keyboard USB slot and now I have Bluetooth mouse wake from sleep back again.

 

[MacVidCards]

Well, then which pins are Data Plus and Data Minus?

Suggesting that others run 5V+ current through the data lines on their logic board is irresponsible.

If you are convinced that we are all wrong, try it yourself.

Or if someone did this and burned some traces up were you going to mail them a check for new logic board?

It's obviously figured out, no reason to re-invent the wheel.

 

[X-X]

Coming here for the sole purpose of trying to make money by selling completely overpriced wifi adapters and on top of that acting incredibly arrogant and unwilling to answer the simplest questions because it could hurt your sales, oh we don't wanna give away the big "secrets"...

Either participate or don't, OR even better MacVidCards: Go back to ebay and try to sell your $20 wifi cards for $1000 as you did.

You're a scammer.

I can only recommend osxwifi.com they're at least charging more or less fair prices.

 

[flowrider]

^^^^What are you talking about???? MVC was offering his solution for $135.00 on eBay, and was offering lower prices at his store. His store is closed now, because he's off on a weeks vacation. But, many members, myself included, here consider him a valuable member of this forum.

Lou

 

[MacVidCards]

Coming here for the sole purpose of trying to make money by selling completely overpriced wifi adapters and on top of that acting incredibly arrogant and unwilling to answer the simplest questions because it could hurt your sales, oh we don't wanna give away the big "secrets"...

Either participate or don't, OR even better MacVidCards: Go back to ebay and try to sell your $20 wifi cards for $1000 as you did.

You're a scammer.

I can only recommend osxwifi.com they're at least charging more or less fair prices.

You are being exceedingly unpleasant.

I didn't answer him because I didn't know. I just connect the wires where they go, as to which was which, I couldn't care less.

Only one person has come on here giving advice that would likely lead to a burnt out logic board, ace.

Never sold any wifi cards for $1,000. But if you search for "94360csax" you will find another parts dealer who has some Macbook cards for $929. Why? Because instead of canceling the item when he ran out he raised price to a point where there was no chance that anyone would buy them. Saves relisting fees, you owe prices when you have stock again.

And I stand by my assertion that if you follow the OP's instructions you don't have any need to know what the wires are, just don't follow the suggestions of any armchair engineers who haven't a clue, you might burn up something.

 

[stevenz]

Surely this is a forum to share information - therefore if the correct information is known, why not share it!?

Other than that, the OP does look like it provides more than enough information to ascertain the correct pinouts for that particular mainboard connector. As long as you only use the +/- 5V pins and in the correct orientation, then you should be fine, regardless of what header is used.

 

[MacVidCards]

And therein lies the issue.

They are in fact the DATA pins, not the voltage pins that you need.

The OP showed correct ones.

What I objected too was another poster who suggested trying other pins for no good reason whatsoever. His idea would have sent 5V down a Data channel, most likely burning it out.

USB has 2 sets of 2 pins. 2 are for Data, 2 are for power.

The Mini-PCIE slot provides the 3V needed by the Bluetooth, USB provides 5V, if you use it you will burn something.

The point it that original Mini PCIE spec had full set of connections, 1,1 through 3,1 Mac Pro can thus use the card as is. It was in the 4,1 Mac Pro that Apple moved off spec and removed the USB Data pins. Hence the need to connect them.

Connecting the data pins to the 5V+ power pins, as suggested by the armchair engineer would be a VERY bad idea. Instead of being graceful and saying "whoops, my mistake, bad idea, I'm sorry" he covered his embarrassment with a personal attack.

 

[X-X]

Connecting the data pins to the 5V+ power pins, as suggested by

Nobody ever suggested that and you know that, you're being ridiculous now.