iM 4,1-14,4 iMac (late 2007 to mid 2011) 802.11ac + BT 4.0 internal upgrade

[KennyW]

Another tip for those who wish to utelize their miniPCIe port for something else: is the use of mSATA possible to expand your SSD storage? I saw this and thought about completely removing wifi to replace the slot with an SSD upgrade.

I don’t want to remove the superdrive, I love using cd’s. But I never use continuity and carplay that much on a 27” desktop. The only downside is the loss of airplay video (not audio, the old wifixcard works for itunes) which you don’t have too right now, but the features are not what make this upgrade worthwhile to me.

USB3 was also achieved this way, to just use the PCIe for something usefull daily

Yes, one can utilize the mPCIe port for something else, including mSATA.

I have split the mPCIe port into two to support USB3 while preserving the existing Wifi/BT module in my iMac 2010.
My modding is described here:

USB 3 + Wifi ac + BT4.2 for iMac 27" mid 2010

There has been a thread on USB 3 for iMac 2009 and one on USB 3 for iMac 2011. The miniPCIe slot for wifi/BT is utilised to provide USB 3 connection at the expense of wifi and BT, which have to be changed to external dongles. Thus, I explore a similar idea from those threads to install USB 3 in...

forums.macrumors.com

Unlike the iMac 2011 which has a thunderbolt port for connection to Thunderbolt dock for USB3 and other functions, my iMac 2010 is lacking such high speed port apart from FW800 which is still much slower than USB3. The USB3 has many more uses than file backup, and is even bootable under OCLP !

However, the internal DVD drive has to be sacrificed for the space to hold the PCIe USB3 card, but I have an external Superdrive that serves the purpose of DVD/CD access and even DVD booting.

 

[dorninko]

What is suspicious is that the card works in an MBAir, but not in the iMac. You should probably inspect the contacts on the adapter board and the slot contacts on the iMac logic board.

(That said, those used upgrade cards can be faulty. Quite often the BT module is 'unreliable' or - as it happened to me in one case - plain dead.)

just an update: the adapter card was faulty. I bought another one now Wifi and BT work fine.

 

[Psychoakustik]

... In case you have already a patch installation you need to re-install on top of the existing installation (keeps user data) and disable the legacy wifi patch in the patcher settings either before creating the patched USB installer or during the post install patching session...

Mojave and Catalina (using the dosdude1 patcher)

You need to reinstall Mojave or Catalina (when having installed a metal GPU) and uncheck the legacy wifi patch (needed for the original Atheros wifi card, only) during the post installation patching of the @dosdude1 patchers.

I have a MacBookPro8,1 and a BCM943602CS, which seem to be working well, although I have no additional features in dosdude1 Catalina. I have not yet found a simple way to remove the Legacy WiFi Patch on my existing installation. The post #1 instructions (0. Preamble and 3. macOS Modifications) to reinstall dosdude1 Catalina did not work for me. In the dosdude1 Catalina Tutorial video,

he explains that at least some of the post install patches are installed automatically during the initial Catalina (19H2) patcher installation, before the reboot and post install patching session occurs. I found the Legacy WiFi Patch was installed by default on my machine, even before I ran the first post install patching session. The Legacy WiFi Patch was also there after I ran a software update to 19H1922, although I deselected it in this post install patching session as well. I suspect I should either create a custom patched USB installer for dosdude1 Catalina or install OCLP with Big Sur. Any suggestions?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I have a MacBookPro8,1 and a BCM943602CS, which seem to be working well, although I have no additional features in dosdude1 Catalina. I have not yet found a simple way to remove the Legacy WiFi Patch on my existing installation. The post #1 instructions (0. Preamble and 3. macOS Modifications) to reinstall dosdude1 Catalina did not work for me. In the dosdude1 Catalina Tutorial video,

he explains that at least some of the post install patches are installed automatically during the initial Catalina (19H2) patcher installation, before the reboot and post install patching session occurs. I found the Legacy WiFi Patch was installed by default on my machine, even before I ran the first post install patching session. The Legacy WiFi Patch was also there after I ran a software update to 19H1922, although I deselected it in this post install patching session as well. I suspect I should either create a custom patched USB installer for dosdude1 Catalina or install OCLP with Big Sur. Any suggestions?

Off topic here (iMac), but take a look here.

 

[Psychoakustik]

Off topic here (iMac), but take a look here.

Thank you @Ausdauersportler! I appreciate your post. I will give this a shot.

 

[Manu182]

Has someone a working link for FPC connector spacing of 1.0 MM 6 p plating lie connector FFC flexible ribbon cable socket 6 p needle seat?

 

[iLazarus]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I am still confused about the FPC connector in step 2?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

• When buying this PCIe Board, where does the FPC connector go? Is it the white one in post #565 in a different version?? Cause it looks different from the original in this post where the black one is actually used...
• Then, here its not used at all - the colors of the cables soldered to the PCI board are different from the cable/plug in his hand... how is it not the same cable??
• Also here, he's not using the connector but a different plug then BT/SD?

Seems like there is not "the one way" to do it?​

So in principle, the steps of the DIY method would be:

1. glue the FPC connector to the PCIe Board
2. solder 3 cables from PCI Board (D+, D-, 3.3V) to the FPC connector
3. plug in the wifi card to the PCI Board
4. connect either the BT or SD Card cable?
5. plug the whole module into the imac

If so, is there a post or guide on how to do this specific step of choosing a FPC connector?

 

[hchen42]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I am still confused about the FPC connector in step 2?

• When buying this PCIe Board, where does the FPC connector go? Is it the white one in post #565 in a different version?? Cause it looks different from the original in this post where the black one is actually used...
• Then, here its not used at all - the colors of the cables soldered to the PCI board are different from the cable/plug in his hand... how is it not the same cable??
• Also here, he's not using the connector but a different plug then BT/SD?

​

I followed post #533. The FPC connector connects to the cable that connect to the bluetooth module in a 2011 iMac 21.5". The connector allows you to connect back to the original bluetooth module if you desire. #533 basically cut the cable to the bluetooth module. I recommend the method in post #533. I tried to solder wires to the fps connector, and it's nearly impossible. The pins are TINY on the FPC connector. I got it to work after over an hour of solder attempts. A few days later, the bluetooth stopped working. Seems somehow the solder points touched each other. I got fed up. Cut the cable, solder the wires accordingly. Haven't had any problem the past couple of weeks. In addition, I noticed the FPC connector cost almost as much as replacement cable on eBay.

 

[kocoman]

does anyone have the pinout of the 6+12 card ? thx

 

[splifingate]

does anyone have the pinout of the 6+12 card ? thx

Attached is a pdf and png (in case the pdf doesn't upload) of both the mPci-E and 12+6 pin-outs.

 

[madvinegar]

Hi guys. I kindly ask for your help in the following.
As I said some posts back, I purchased a BCM943602CS card in order to replace the OEM one in my 12.1 iMac.
I received the card, I received the adapter, I also received the MHF4 to UFL cables.
So I installed all of them, I spliced the red and black cable on the adapter, and booted up the iMac.
I reinstalled OCPL and reverted back the legacy wifi patches as they are no longer needed.

The wifi is working. The Bluetooth is working however:

1. The Bluetooth is like it is still in 2.0 mode. I cannot connect any modern devices as it does not find them. I can only connect the apple keyboard and apple mouse but no any modern mouse (fyi BCM943602CS is BT 4.0).
2. In system settings it is shown as my BT is "third party dongle", and "discoverable" is disabled.
3. In Hackintool it is shown like it is BT 2.0 and firmware not loaded.
4. Lastly, every time I boot into the iMAc I get a message like the iMac was not shutdown correctly (even if it was shutdown perfectly correctly).

Any thoughts please...? I know I am missing something. Is like the old BT module is still in operation? Have I connected the three antenna correctly? I connected them in the exact same place as the original card. (since both the original card and BCM943602CS have 3 connectors).

 

[madvinegar]

Hi guys. I kindly ask for your help in the following.
As I said some posts back, I purchased a BCM943602CS card in order to replace the OEM one in my 12.1 iMac.
I received the card, I received the adapter, I also received the MHF4 to UFL cables.
So I installed all of them, I spliced the red and black cable on the adapter, and booted up the iMac.
I reinstalled OCPL and reverted back the legacy wifi patches as they are no longer needed.

The wifi is working. The Bluetooth is working however:

1. The Bluetooth is like it is still in 2.0 mode. I cannot connect any modern devices as it does not find them. I can only connect the apple keyboard and apple mouse but no any modern mouse (fyi BCM943602CS is BT 4.0).
2. In system settings it is shown as my BT is "third party dongle", and "discoverable" is disabled.
3. In Hackintool it is shown like it is BT 2.0 and firmware not loaded.
4. Lastly, every time I boot into the iMAc I get a message like the iMac was not shutdown correctly (even if it was shutdown perfectly correctly).

Any thoughts please...? I know I am missing something. Is like the old BT module is still in operation? Have I connected the three antenna correctly? I connected them in the exact same place as the original card. (since both the original card and BCM943602CS have 3 connectors).

Ok, so I did check again everything and I understand that in the iMac 2011 the wifi card is separate to the BT Card.
This is probably why I see the new BCM943602CS wifi card in settings but the iMac keeps using the old BT card.

I understand that the old BT Card is located in the upper left corner. So, what do i do with that? I completely disconnect it? If yes, should I connect somehow the Old BT antenna cable to the new wifi/BT card? I thought that by buying the BCM943602CS card I could just connect it to the three existing antenna cables (via the MHF4 to UFL cable adaptors).


EDIT: Just to be clear, I tried step 9 of @Ausdauersportler post but it is not working. There is no "BlueTooth explorer" in additional tools for Xcode in the latest builds. I downloaded and tried with earlier versions, however "Bluetooth explorer" does not find any BT cards in its selector.
So how do I disable the old BT card...?

 

[The_Croupier]

I tried to solder wires to the fps connector, and it's nearly impossible. The pins are TINY on the FPC connector. I got it to work after over an hour of solder attempts. A few days later, the bluetooth stopped working. Seems somehow the solder points touched each other. I got fed up. Cut the cable, solder the wires accordingly.

What works for me is to bend the pins outward, centre pin straight and the outside pins bent away from centre. works for me. But yeah its not easy for the average user.

 

[The_Croupier]

Any thoughts please...? I know I am missing something. Is like the old BT module is still in operation? Have I connected the three antenna correctly? I connected them in the exact same place as the original card. (since both the original card and BCM943602CS have 3 connectors).

I suggest you go back and read thought this thread, your answer is everywhere, its only 29 pages.

 

[madvinegar]

I suggest you go back and read thought this thread, your answer is everywhere, its only 29 pages.

I am literally doing this since yesterday and since early morning today. 😇

To be honest I have read it many times, even before I received the necessary parts to perform the upgrade, just to be ready.

Actually on page 28, you (together with @dfranetic ) were kind enough to assist me with some clarifications that I needed (for which I really thank you by the way), and I was thinking that the summary was that I should splice together the red and black wires of the Pcie adaptor and then (using the MHF4 to UFL adapter cables) connect the three antenna wires. And that should do the trick. (with only problem that whenever I turn off the wifi, the BT would turn off too).

There was no mention that I would need to disable the old BT module (or how to do that).
So, I have been reading through the forum to see how to do that. I saw a post of @Ausdauersportler saying how to do this via firmware (bluetooth explorer), but this is no longer possible.

So I am now trying to see how to do this on a hardware level, but I don't want to mess anything irreversibly, this is why I have read the forum (but have not found a specific and clear reply for my card BCM943602CS) and now I am asking for advice.

Since you say it is there, I will read it again. But if you could point me to the right direction or give me the link of the post that answers my question, I would really appreciate it.

Many thanks.

 

[The_Croupier]

So I am now trying to see how to do this on a hardware level, but I don't want to mess anything irreversibly, this is why I have read the forum (but have not found a specific and clear reply for my card BCM943602CS) and now I am asking for advice.
Many thanks.

You need to buy a more expensive adapter board or get to soldering. Get the connector I found on Ali express, solder the D+/D- to the corresponding pins on the connector, don't worry about 3.3v as you will probably never disable wifi otherwise solder 3.3v to the corresponding connector pin, looks like your card doesn't have solder points for D+/- so you will need to solder directly to the pins on the board.
What I have done is buy the cheapest board with no D+/- or R1 and solder directly to the last 3 pins on the board, P16,17,18.
So the minimum for you board is solder to R1 and pin 16 and 17 to the surface mount connector if you want plug and play from the existing Bluetooth cable.

https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/front-jpg.514867/

https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/4-jpg.514805/

 

[madvinegar]

You need to buy a more expensive adapter board or get to soldering. Get the connector I found on Ali express, solder the D+/D- to the corresponding pins on the connector, don't worry about 3.3v as you will probably never disable wifi otherwise solder 3.3v to the corresponding connector pin, looks like your card doesn't have solder points for D+/- so you will need to solder directly to the pins on the board.
What I have done is buy the cheapest board with no D+/- or R1 and solder directly to the last 3 pins on the board, P16,17,18.
So the minimum for you board is solder to R1 and pin 16 and 17 to the surface mount connector if you want plug and play from the existing Bluetooth cable.

https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/front-jpg.514867/

https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/4-jpg.514805/

Are you sure I need a better adaptor board?
The one I have now has the D+, D- and R1.
Out of the D+ and D- come out the red and black wires. I thought that I had to splice these two together. Where do I sholder these two cables?
What happens if I completely diconnect the cable of the old BT module?

 

[The_Croupier]

Are you sure I need a better adaptor board?
The one I have now has the D+, D- and R1.
Out of the D+ and D- come out the red and black wires. I thought that I had to splice these two together. Where do I sholder these two cables?
What happens if I completely diconnect the cable of the old BT module?

Couldn’t see that in your original photos?
If you want plug and play all three cables need to go to the surface mount connector.
The Bluetooth cable needs to go to the surface mount connector I linked on page one of the thread then the R1, D+\- wires get soldered to the pins on the connector.

In my photo there a 4 pins, ignore the unused pin.
I mounted the connector to the underside of the adapter for a cleaner look and drilled a hole in the board to attach the cable to R1.

 

[madvinegar]

So, with your help I finally understood what needs to be done and I managed to connect the new BT card.
@The_Croupier your solution is the most clean one. However, I would have to wait again for another month to get this surface mount connector via China, so I proceeded to "skin" the two cables of the oem Bluetooth cable, and connect them to the D+ and D- of the Pcie Adaptor. In my imac 12.1 the two cables were the purple one and the white one.
I did not cut them, just "skinned" them a little and connected the black and red wires of the PCIE adaptor, so theoretically, in case I remove the red and black cables, I could re-connect the oem Bluetooth cable back to its place.

I tested airdrop and it works great. I also connected some BT 4.0 devices (like the MX Anywhere 3 for MAC mouse and an Xbox controller) and it worked great. I also tested the BT keyboard during boot and it works.

Many thanks my friend and to all of you for the assistance. I may proceed in ordering the surface mount connector, just to have a cleaner look.

 

[The_Croupier]

So, with your help I finally understood what needs to be done and I managed to connect the new BT card.
@The_Croupier your solution is the most clean one. However, I would have to wait again for another month to get this surface mount connector via China, so I proceeded to "skin" the two cables of the oem Bluetooth cable, and connect them to the D+ and D- of the Pcie Adaptor. In my imac 12.1 the two cables were the purple one and the white one.
I did not cut them, just "skinned" them a little and connected the black and red wires of the PCIE adaptor, so theoretically, in case I remove the red and black cables, I could re-connect the oem Bluetooth cable back to its place.

I tested airdrop and it works great. I also connected some BT 4.0 devices (like the MX Anywhere 3 for MAC mouse and an Xbox controller) and it worked great. I also tested the BT keyboard during boot and it works.

Many thanks my friend and to all of you for the assistance. I may proceed in ordering the surface mount connector, just to have a cleaner look.

Well done and no problems 👍🏼

 

[Marche90]

Is it possible to just upgrade the WiFi on my 12,1 iMac and leave bluetooth alone, if my interest lies in upgrading the WiFi card to a Ventura-supported one? (I know this thread's supposed to be dedicated to upgrading the bluetooth module, so sorry for that...)

Reasoning is because the plug-and-play solutions are just too expensive for me to justify, but I simply don't have the skills nor the desire to buy and use a soldering iron in order to install the DIY solutions. Also, I don't know if this is because English is not my first language, but I swear that try as I might, some terms in the guides just don't make sense to me (Am I too dumb for this thread?). Anyway, the idea is to buy the miniPCI-e Adaptor, the new WiFi card and install as-is, but I don't know if that will actually work. My chosen card would be a BCM94360CD.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Is it possible to just upgrade the WiFi on my 12,1 iMac and leave bluetooth alone, if my interest lies in upgrading the WiFi card to a Ventura-supported one? (I know this thread's supposed to be dedicated to upgrading the bluetooth module, so sorry for that...)

Reasoning is because the plug-and-play solutions are just too expensive for me to justify, but I simply don't have the skills nor the desire to buy and use a soldering iron in order to install the DIY solutions. Also, I don't know if this is because English is not my first language, but I swear that try as I might, some terms in the guides just don't make sense to me (Am I too dumb for this thread?). Anyway, the idea is to buy the miniPCI-e Adaptor, the new WiFi card and install as-is, but I don't know if that will actually work. My chosen card would be a BCM94360CD.

If you just put in a new BCM card and pull the old Atheros WiFi card you will get an WiFi upgrade without soldering. Possibly you can achieve the same much cheaper using a USB WiFi dongle? Have not tried one with Ventura, yet. But there should be some available below the 10 USD/Euro price tag.

 

[Aesthetica]

I ordered from taobao, the guy has multiple versions, works plug&play, for example in my case i could just plug in the bluetooth cable directly into the adapter, no need for cutting wires: https://world.taobao.com/item/40307425283.htm

Anyone ordered from this guy recently? Thinking again about doing this upgrade

 

[marvin_95l]

Hello, I would like to replace the wifi card in my iMac 2010 27". I also understood everything about how the installation works.
But I have a question. I have a WIFI card from a broken Macbook Pro Mid 2012 Retina and wanted to know if anyone knows if it works in a 2010 iMac. Or do I have to buy a new one ?

Model number is: BCM94331CSAX

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hello, I would like to replace the wifi card in my iMac 2010 27". I also understood everything about how the installation works.
But I have a question. I have a WIFI card from a broken Macbook Pro Mid 2012 Retina and wanted to know if anyone knows if it works in a 2010 iMac. Or do I have to buy a new one ?

Model number is: BCM94331CSAX

Will work, you need these adapter cables to convert from the smaller to the bigger antenna plugs. Check the posts about the other CS modules. All use the same type of connector.