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Enabling continuity on older macs with usb ble

B

bairdamien

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 18, 2014
10
0
allright, so I have both a Mac Pro 5,1 and a rMBP. I've physically unplugged the internal bt, and am using a usb with BLE support. As we know, this currently does not work.

Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: Yes
Continuity Supported: No
AirDrop Supported: No

Been tracing, and you can look in /private/var/log/wirelessproxd.log for the continuity logs. These are generated by /usr/sbin/wirelessproxd
Been running sys call traces and disassembler on it, haven't found any logic to it that would enable/disable based on model or anything else.

The other piece of the puzzle that I'm currently seeing is in IdentityServices
/System/Library/IdentityServices/ServiceDefinitions


I'm thinking that my next step is to figure out how to get a hackintosh boot loader to work on my iMac and report that it's a much newer machine, and see if that simply bypasses the check.
 
bairdamien said:
allright, so I have both a Mac Pro 5,1 and a rMBP. I've physically unplugged the internal bt, and am using a usb with BLE support. As we know, this currently does not work.

Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: Yes
Continuity Supported: No
AirDrop Supported: No

Been tracing, and you can look in /private/var/log/wirelessproxd.log for the continuity logs. These are generated by /usr/sbin/wirelessproxd
Been running sys call traces and disassembler on it, haven't found any logic to it that would enable/disable based on model or anything else.

The other piece of the puzzle that I'm currently seeing is in IdentityServices
/System/Library/IdentityServices/ServiceDefinitions


I'm thinking that my next step is to figure out how to get a hackintosh boot loader to work on my iMac and report that it's a much newer machine, and see if that simply bypasses the check.
Click to expand...

If you want to be adventurous I have a theory that may work and I posted but got no responses thus far:

Pull the airport/bluetooth card from your mac book(should be easy and its 4.0le) then pull the BT and airport card from your pro. Switch them, plug your bluetooth/airport card into the old airport card and connect the wires.

IDK if it works but its worth a shot. the drivers are already there.
 
bairdamien said:
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Retina+Display+Mid+2012+Teardown/9462

step 11. the cards are totally different. That's not going to fly.

I don't think it would be locked away inside a driver.

plus I can't find any reference to continuity in the kexts.
Click to expand...
Ive seen the teardown, they both use a mini pci to connect though, Im just saying it could work. If it does then that means older macs just need a $15 part to fix this giant issue.

I have every screwdriver in my kit except the size to open my air or I would give it a go. And I really wouldn't say totally different but then again I cant tell the without trying.

2hj4IKDTAFEZnmbl.medium

661-4058.jpg
 
bairdamien said:
Not in a 12 core MacPro5,1 at least.
Click to expand...
Yeah thats the bluetooth, unplug that take out the airport card(thats in there mini PCI) then plug in the MBPs combo(bluetooth + Airport) card into that Mini PCI slot. The new card should run both threw the miniPCI slot.
See the mpci slot that the airport card goes to?
MVYFKlctSiRhmagd.medium
 
Sounds like the card won't work for bluetooth in the slot, just wifi, there may be some luck with the taobao pcie adapter card they're talking about http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/289922-anyone-got-any-pci-e-bcm4360-wifi-ac-card-going-new-macbook-air-owner-wanted/
 
ordered the taobao adapter. Struggled through the chinese with web debugger and google translate.
 
What does the adapter do exactly? I haven't been able to find a good description just pictures of different adapters
 
Its an adapter that converts the proprietary apple connector to a pcie card, runs antennas out the back, and gives you a usb port to plug in the bluetooth on the card to the mac. Not ideal, trying to get some details from netkas on his adapter convertor. That thing is beautiful in comparison.
 
bairdamien said:
Its an adapter that converts the proprietary apple connector to a pcie card, runs antennas out the back, and gives you a usb port to plug in the bluetooth on the card to the mac. Not ideal, trying to get some details from netkas on his adapter convertor. That thing is beautiful in comparison.
Click to expand...
so it uses the mini pci cards and turns it into a PCIE card?
 
UncleSchnitty said:
so it uses the mini pci cards and turns it into a PCIE card?
Click to expand...
I cant find that exact adapter but...http://www.ebay.com/itm/M-2-NGFF-to-Mini-PCI-E-Adapter-Support-Full-Size-and-Half-Size-MPCIe-Slot-/161320350701?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item258f7133ed seems to be what they are using (not the exact adapter but same idea 1/2mpcie-full mpcie) He doesnt seem to be using the one from the Russian site (with the antennas out the back) because that would be the full pcie slot and he definitely used the mpcie.
 
The title of this thread is wrong, bairdamien should edit and correct it. Continuity is WiFi. Handoff is the big BT question.

While it looks like BT-LE will be required for Handoff if I were you guys (and I am with a Mac Pro 3,1) I would wait until Apple gets near the GM or announces it has fully implemented Handoff.
 
Julien said:
The title of this thread is wrong, bairdamien should edit and correct it. Continuity is WiFi. Handoff is the big BT question.

While it looks like BT-LE will be required for Handoff if I were you guys (and I am with a Mac Pro 3,1) I would wait until Apple gets near the GM or announces it has fully implemented Handoff.
Click to expand...
Fair enough, Handoff then. We are just trying to figure out a way around it now to stay ahead of it. If we get lucky there won't be a restriction of BT-LE on desktops, point is its just preparing. Its never a bad idea to have a backup plan;).
 
Its good to hear that the idea actually works in the end and it looks like:

Macbook Pros and iMacs will be easy (just switch with the newer 4.0LE card)

Mac Pros from 08 just need the adapter (close enough to use built in BT antenna)

Mac Pros 09+ need the adapter and need to extend the BT antenna.

This is great news, it annoys me when I can't use new features on a machine that is more than capable. Im still hoping they figure out a way to make the 4.0 LE non mandatory on desktops (since battery life isn't really a factor) but I'm not holding my breath.
 
UncleSchnitty said:
Mac Pros 09+ need the adapter and need to extend the BT antenna.
Click to expand...

Actually, the 2009 MP needs the antennae extended but also the USB run to it.

What we have figured out is that 2008 MP used Mini PcCIE spec as written, including USB connection.

At some point during design of 2009 Apple decided to go off spec and removed it.

So life much easier for 2008 MP. I would also like to point out that the nifty 2013 iMac card works perfectly in 10.8.2 or 10.8.3 (IIRC) but has no support whatsoever in 10.7 or earlier. So when you cross boot back into earlier OS, you lose all wireless. Also going into bootcamp you find that there are no Windows drivers easily found for these cards, best to get the Bootcamp ones from Apple BEFORE you boot into Windows.

A big question remains as to the iMacs and other machines that used the Mini PCIE cards from Apple. Did they have USB wired to them? How many of these machines have space to use this adapter? Will be interesting.

BTW, I have tested the externally connected USB Apple BLE and it works fine with Magic Trackpad. I was even able to put to sleep and wake back up with the trackpad. Good sign.
 
MacVidCards said:
A big question remains as to the iMacs and other machines that used the Mini PCIE cards from Apple. Did they have USB wired to them? How many of these machines have space to use this adapter? Will be interesting.
Click to expand...

The iMac7,1 (1st gen aluminum) has the USB wired. Was able to confirm with a third party miniPCIe BT+wifi combo card.
 
MacVidCards said:
Actually, the 2009 MP needs the antennae extended but also the USB run to it.

What we have figured out is that 2008 MP used Mini PcCIE spec as written, including USB connection.

At some point during design of 2009 Apple decided to go off spec and removed it.

So life much easier for 2008 MP. I would also like to point out that the nifty 2013 iMac card works perfectly in 10.8.2 or 10.8.3 (IIRC) but has no support whatsoever in 10.7 or earlier. So when you cross boot back into earlier OS, you lose all wireless. Also going into bootcamp you find that there are no Windows drivers easily found for these cards, best to get the Bootcamp ones from Apple BEFORE you boot into Windows.
Click to expand...
So in my case (an 08MP) all i need is an adapter and a broadcom wireless/bluetooth 4.0 card?
 
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