MacBook Pro 802.11ac upgrade

[satinsilverem2]

I contacted the company and had a reply within a day. The blokey I was speaking to was quite friendly and seemed fairly switched on - was very confident in the product. I asked him why there appears to be no reviews on the card and he said it's because it's a new product.

I'm contemplating making the purchase as I can do it through PayPal with my credit card so if there was an issue I would be backed but the aspect that puts me off is investing more in my laptop when new MacBooks are just around the corner.

I still think its vaporware because I too called them and thats exactly what they told me too that its a new product and production is taking a while to ramp up. This "product" has been on the market for a year now and I dont know of anyone that has actually gotten one in their hands. let alone reviewed it. The articles that are out now are just showing a picture and what the card aims to do but doesn't actually review the card. If you want to give it a try with pay pal thats probably the best deicision. I used pay pal with mine and after almost a month of nothing including not even removing the funds from my account, I just cancelled. It even took them almost a week and a half for them to acknowledge my cancellation. I was really excited for this card because my MacBook pro is the last N device that I have on my network and was looking forward to faster speeds and possibly Auto Unlock. If you do end up purchasing it keep us informed because if they do end up shipping them I will more than likely attempt to purchase it again.

 

[LewisChapman]

I still think its vaporware because I too called them and thats exactly what they told me too that its a new product and production is taking a while to ramp up. This "product" has been on the market for a year now and I dont know of anyone that has actually gotten one in their hands. let alone reviewed it. The articles that are out now are just showing a picture and what the card aims to do but doesn't actually review the card. If you want to give it a try with pay pal thats probably the best deicision. I used pay pal with mine and after almost a month of nothing including not even removing the funds from my account, I just cancelled. It even took them almost a week and a half for them to acknowledge my cancellation. I was really excited for this card because my MacBook pro is the last N device that I have on my network and was looking forward to faster speeds and possibly Auto Unlock. If you do end up purchasing it keep us informed because if they do end up shipping them I will more than likely attempt to purchase it again.

I will do, thanks for the reply. I don't understand the point in producing the documentation and web page for the product when it doesn't exist though, crazy to me!

 

[IngmarStein]

With Auto Unlock requiring 802.11ac, I expect many more people looking for a WiFi upgrade for their old MacBook Pros. I also contacted Quickertek regarding uCard 4 and they told me about a new batch available in 4 weeks. I've passed on this as I think it's priced way too high (more than 10 % of the price of a new 13" MacBook Pro).
Does anyone know what Broadcom chip they're using so that we can have a look at Asian suppliers of a similar part?

 

[fozz3d]

I upgraded my early 2013 rMBP to 802.11ac, I purchased a Broadcom Airport card BCM94360CSAX from eBay.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/281521702713

Very good price, ships from HK, make sure you follow the iFixit guide, very easy, done it in 10 mins.

Now I can unlock my Mac with my Apple Watch.

Gotta thank you guys on here, wouldn't have known about the possibility of upgrading to 802.11ac

 

[IngmarStein]

Yep, it's easy for Retina MBPs… not so much for the Unibody models

 

[JTToft]

With Auto Unlock requiring 802.11ac, I expect many more people looking for a WiFi upgrade for their old MacBook Pros. I also contacted Quickertek regarding uCard 4 and they told me about a new batch available in 4 weeks. I've passed on this as I think it's priced way too high (more than 10 % of the price of a new 13" MacBook Pro).
Does anyone know what Broadcom chip they're using so that we can have a look at Asian suppliers of a similar part?

- Based on their track record, I'm guessing they're using a special sort of Broadcom chip made from fairy dust.

 

[IngmarStein]

Oooh, fairy dust! This is why they "are selling more than [they] can make" (quote customer representative).
I asked them about the purpose of the patch software they mention on the product page and if the card requires patching the OS. It seems like they don't know for sure: "May be necessary on some older Mac’s but not on the one below" (MBP Mid 2012).

Any alternatives?

 

[JTToft]

Oooh, fairy dust! This is why they "are selling more than [they] can make" (quote customer representative).
I asked them about the purpose of the patch software they mention on the product page and if the card requires patching the OS. It seems like they don't know for sure: "May be necessary on some older Mac’s but not on the one below" (MBP Mid 2012).

Any alternatives?

- Not that I know of, no. But the Quickertek stuff (and the manner of their communication) seems a little too boohockey-ish for my tastes.

 

[JaySoul]

Reading through this thread is truly awesome.

Part of the reason I love this website/forum so much.

 

[SuprUsrStan]

I purchased an 2013 ac card for my mid 2012 rMBP, BCM94360CSAX card from Ebay, but the actual card model number doesn't have the AX. I fired up the connection and it appears to work but it tops out at only 867mbps rather than the 1.3gbps. Is this because the 2013 MacBook pro's only good for dual stream AC or is one of the three antennas not working properly or is this just the way it should be?

 

[MacKeeper28]

Does anyone have any updates on the status of the uCard4 or any alternatives? It sure seems like this is the only solution out there and that makes it look kind of fishy...

 

[moconn]

Does anyone have any updates on the status of the uCard4 or any alternatives? It sure seems like this is the only solution out there and that makes it look kind of fishy...

What about this?

http://www.osxwifi.com/apple-broadc...-with-adapter-for-macpro-2009-and-macpro-2010

Would it work?

 

[MacKeeper28]

What about this?

http://www.osxwifi.com/apple-broadc...-with-adapter-for-macpro-2009-and-macpro-2010

Would it work?

No, that one is for the Mac Pro, the one I'm looking for looks like this https://www.ifixit.com/MacBook-Part...arly-2011-Airport-Bluetooth-Board/IF161-083-2

 

[HAL2010]

I'm confused. I would like to upgrade my non retina MBP 15 inch to AC. Is that possible?

 

[XStylus]

I still think its vaporware because I too called them and thats exactly what they told me too that its a new product and production is taking a while to ramp up. This "product" has been on the market for a year now and I dont know of anyone that has actually gotten one in their hands. let alone reviewed it.

I ordered a ucard4 one back in late 2015. Still have yet to receive it. Did you receive yours, or even get so much as a status update?

 

[satinsilverem2]

I ordered a ucard4 one back in late 2015. Still have yet to receive it. Did you receive yours, or even get so much as a status update?

No I canceled the order as I got tired of waiting. Not even a cancellation email. I think the product was just an idea that wasn't able to actually be made. I just gave up and bought a new MacBook Pro and haven't looked back since.

 

[LewisChapman]

No I canceled the order as I got tired of waiting. Not even a cancellation email. I think the product was just an idea that wasn't able to actually be made. I just gave up and bought a new MacBook Pro and haven't looked back since.

Was there any transfer of money? Is anything on that website real do you think?

 

[Anonymous Freak]

I purchased an 2013 ac card for my mid 2012 rMBP, BCM94360CSAX card from Ebay, but the actual card model number doesn't have the AX. I fired up the connection and it appears to work but it tops out at only 867mbps rather than the 1.3gbps. Is this because the 2013 MacBook pro's only good for dual stream AC or is one of the three antennas not working properly or is this just the way it should be?

View attachment 675513 View attachment 675514

Late reply, but my 2012 rMBP gets full 1300 Mbps. Mine doesn't say "AX" on the actual card, either. What base station do you have? Maybe your base station doesn't support it.

Also, make sure all three antenna wires are fully connected. If only two are properly connected, it can only do 867.

 

[satinsilverem2]

Was there any transfer of money? Is anything on that website real do you think?

No never transferred any money. I don't know of any of their products that actually got out into the wild. I do remember seeing something about a year ago on their Facebook page about them having production difficulties. After not hearing anything I ended up just buying a CAX card from Ifixit so I could get all of the handoff features. AC wasn't as important as I dock my machine most of the time and its connected over ethernet.

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

Can I just double check this is the right card for my early 2013 rMBP 15"

 

[Applelad]

Just stumbled across this thread and very interesting.

I've a macbook pro 17" late 2011 and it's perfect apart from not having ac wifi. Back in July 2017 I ordered the uCard 4 from Quickerteck and paid for it using paypal (after an email exchange with a Rick from Quickerteck who said he was using the exact same laptop and had had the card inside working fine so I was full of confidence). After waiting and waiting for delivery - like a couple of months (I live in the UK so expected it to take a bit of time) - I contacted them and they just said 'we are just waiting for a new batch to be made'. F@£!£R@Qing hell, so why didn't you tell me that when I placed the order!! Anyway, they gave me a refund but what were they playing at - I just don't understand them because apart from this episode they seem a legit company who have been running for quite a few years.

Anyway anyway, can anyone recommend a usb adapter that I can use to get ac wifi for my 17" 2011 macbook pro (taking into account that it is only USB2?)

 

[LewisChapman]

Just stumbled across this thread and very interesting.

I've a macbook pro 17" late 2011 and it's perfect apart from not having ac wifi. Back in July 2017 I ordered the uCard 4 from Quickerteck and paid for it using paypal (after an email exchange with a Rick from Quickerteck who said he was using the exact same laptop and had had the card inside working fine so I was full of confidence). After waiting and waiting for delivery - like a couple of months (I live in the UK so expected it to take a bit of time) - I contacted them and they just said 'we are just waiting for a new batch to be made'. F@£!£R@Qing hell, so why didn't you tell me that when I placed the order!! Anyway, they gave me a refund but what were they playing at - I just don't understand them because apart from this episode they seem a legit company who have been running for quite a few years.

Anyway anyway, can anyone recommend a usb adapter that I can use to get ac wifi for my 17" 2011 macbook pro (taking into account that it is only USB2?)

I’m yet to hear from anyone who actually received one.

What makes you think it’s a legit company? Have you purchased anything else from them before?

 

[Applelad]

Well, firstly they did get back to me and refunded my money. And secondly, I've been receiving their marking emails for years (I think I enquired about another of their products years ago) and they don't feel like a company on the scam - nothing much changes apart from a newish product every 6 months or so. I don't know, scam companies tend to not keep marketing under the same brand for years (unless they are called Mackeeper of course!!)

 

[LewisChapman]

Well, firstly they did get back to me and refunded my money. And secondly, I've been receiving their marking emails for years (I think I enquired about another of their products years ago) and they don't feel like a company on the scam - nothing much changes apart from a newish product every 6 months or so. I don't know, scam companies tend to not keep marketing under the same brand for years (unless they are called Mackeeper of course!!)

Ah I get what you mean. Still, it’s weird how their products just don’t ever make it off the shelf!

 

[mentaluproar]

The qcard is a legit product. They are made on an as-needed basis though as they are a niche product so delays are common. I had to wait for mine. Aside from introducing a pause on boot or wake, its worked fine for me.