MP 1,1-5,1 Accidently bought BCM94360CSAX

[darthgeekonius]

I accidentally bought BCM94360CSAX thinking it was BCM94331CD only to realize when I went to install it in my 4.1 that it was too small. Is there an adapter I can buy or should I just start over? I'm trying to get the best card my Mac can handle. I have successfully gotten Catalina to install and work with my old card BCM94322MC. However, I want to hopefully increase the range and speed of the wifi adapter. What do I need to buy specifically to accomplish this?

Thanks

 

[Ludacrisvp]

If it was me I’d get the right card.
I’m not sure that antenna adapter cables will be easy to find. If you want you could run new antennas instead with the right sized connectors.

 

[darthgeekonius]

If it was me I’d get the right card.
I’m not sure that antenna adapter cables will be easy to find. If you want you could run new antennas instead with the right sized connectors.

Yeah I was thinking it's in my best interest just to get the right card/setup.

 

[Borowski]

Yes, possible. You need the same adapter-board as for the BCM94331CD, but also adapters for the antenna-plugs. The card has smaller jacks.

 

[dlwg]

Yes, possible. You need the same adapter-board as for the BCM94331CD, but also adapters for the antenna-plugs. The card has smaller jacks.

Do you need Wi-Fi or you also need Bluetooth enabled through this card? It is not as easy as getting the card converter, as you also need a USB cable that would go from your old Bluetooth card slot down to the new card...

Anyway, Google for "IPEX 4 To IPEX 1 UFL Female Connector" and get 3 of these, if you just need the right antenna converters.

 

[Borowski]

To my knowledge, it works the same way as the BCM94331CD: You have to connect a cable to the original BT-connector, it uses USB-protocol (no USB-plug).

No BT antenna needed, one of wifi-antennas shares bt/wifi. So bt-antenna is obsolete in this case.

 

[dlwg]

It is a USB plug, but not a classical one of course. This is the cable and it needs to be soldered to the adapter (2 data lines):

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Apple-Ma...a-cables-BCM94360CD-3-5-inch-9cm/133016588171

You can use the 3 original Wi-Fi antennas, yes.

 

[JedNZ]

Or otherwise known as the JST GH 1.25mm 4-pin.

 

[darthgeekonius]

I've decided not to jump through hoops on this one. I just got a wifi extender with Ethernet and connected the Mac to that. I'll never get the speed of my router/modem 1Gbps I'm barely getting 100mbps, but it's better than the 20mbps I was getting through wifi alone. I know the card wasn't the only bottleneck and have since upgraded to a mesh system (awesome) but the extender/ethernet combo is much faster than wifi alone and that I know has to be because of the card. Right now, I'm debating even keeping my Mac Pro and just getting a current Macbook Pro and eGPU case. That or sell a kidney and save for the new cheese grater when that's available. Thanks all

 

[Valdaquendë]

Actually, the JST GH is not the correct connector, though it is similar enough to fit. The BlueTooth header on the backplanes of classic 4,1 and 5,1 Mac Pros is a Molex PicoBlade 4-circuit, 1.25mm pitch header. If you are upgrading to a BCM94360CD or similar WiFi/BT card on your cMP, a perfect cable (black wires, 12" long with the appropriate PicoBlade connector) can be obtained from Digi-Key (Part # WM15259-ND) for about $3.61 as of this writing. The Molex part number for this cable is: 0151340403

 

[cdf]

a perfect cable (black wires, 12" long with the appropriate PicoBlade connector)

Almost perfect

802.11ac, BT 4.0 and Continuity & Handoff are working on Mac Pro 2010 (Keep Updating)

A follow-up on the bluetooth header connector: I can confirm that it's a perfect match. I'm using it with my hub assembly. The connector seems readily available only in white. While absolutely unnecessary, but satisfying for cMP purists, the connector can be made to exactly match the original...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Valdaquendë]

Way cool, cdf! I had carefully painted black nail polish on the housing; I also tried felt-tip marker. I wasn't entirely happy with the nail polish; it's too heavy and not abrasion resistant. And marking pen was too light and not penetrative. This looks a LOT better!! Thanks!

Of course, I don't want to waste the rest of the bottle. I'll have to think of some other things I can dye black ... this may take me into goth territory ...