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MP 1,1-5,1 Using a USB Bluetooth dongle with MacPro5,1 and Big Sur

star-affinity

star-affinity

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Nov 14, 2007
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I have some trouble using my USB dongle for Bluetooth 4.0 since the older built-in Bluetooth is taking precedence.

It is possible to change the Bluetooth module being used via an old Apple developer tool called ”Bluetooth Explorer.app”, but this doesn't stick between restarts – things get reverted back to the built-in Bluetooth.

I've also tried this command in the Terminal (I have SIP disabled):

Code: 
sudo nvram bluetoothHostControllerSwitchBehavior=always

But it doesn't seem to work since a restart reverts me back to the built-in Bluetooth again.
I also have trouble getting the USB Bluetooth dongle back in action after a sleep and wake of the computer.

Any ideas?

Maybe ditch the USB dongle get one of those ”WiFi 802.11ac Bluetooth 4.2 Adapters” and replace the internal stuff of the MacPro5,1.

🤔
 
Macschrauber said:
just pull the little cable on your Backplane going from Backplane to Bluetooth.

You need to pull the cpu board to get access. This is easy and reversible, have it done on my 5.1 as well, no issues.

(not the antenna, lol)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion! :)

I was thinking what would happen if I disabled the internal Bluetooth and only used the USB dongle. But would it work after a wake from sleep? That worries me a bit.
 
I have it that way since a few years, USB Bluetooth dongle in the USB Keyboard, internal bluetooth unplugged.

I use it for the magic mouse 2, no sleep or installation problems.
 
The black cable here, is that enough? The Golden one to the right is the antenna, right?

64683F69-989D-4735-9DBD-AF35A536D2E5.jpeg


Edit:

Did it and yes, it worked!
Now there's no confusion when waking up the computer from sleep – the USB Bluetooth 4.0 dongle is still kicking!

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
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star-affinity said:
I have some trouble using my USB dongle for Bluetooth 4.0 since the older built-in Bluetooth is taking precedence.

It is possible to change the Bluetooth module being used via an old Apple developer tool called ”Bluetooth Explorer.app”, but this doesn't stick between restarts – things get reverted back to the built-in Bluetooth.

I've also tried this command in the Terminal (I have SIP disabled):

Code: 
sudo nvram bluetoothHostControllerSwitchBehavior=always

But it doesn't seem to work since a restart reverts me back to the built-in Bluetooth again.
I also have trouble getting the USB Bluetooth dongle back in action after a sleep and wake of the computer.

Any ideas?

Maybe ditch the USB dongle get one of those ”WiFi 802.11ac Bluetooth 4.2 Adapters” and replace the internal stuff of the MacPro5,1.

🤔
Click to expand...
may I ask which Bluetooth USB dongle you are using ? I was looking for a Bluetooth USB dongle compatible with MacOS High sierra en higher.
 
drw026 said:
may I ask which Bluetooth USB dongle you are using ? I was looking for a Bluetooth USB dongle compatible with MacOS High sierra en higher.
Click to expand...
I'm using this one:

Welcome to logilink.org

Welcome to logilink.org
www.logilink.org

In System Report it shows under USB as ”CSR8510 A10” and the Vendor ID shows as ”0x0a12 (Cambridge Silicon Radio Ltd.)”
 
ferranrobuste said:
Hello,

Does Airdrop work with this Bluetooth USB dongle? Do you know if it would work with Big Sur?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Hi!

I'm not sure as I don't have working Wi-Fi in my Mac Pro. But I think AirDrop ”does its thing” with Bluetooth 4.0 or later. But Wi-Fi also needed of course.
 
Hold on don't tell me a Bluetooth dongle works?

I tried this years ago with no luck and ended up getting a bluetooth card from china and adding an arial mod, trouble is the module they sent wasn't the right one, it looks right but doesn't fully support Bluetooth handoff, it works but not airdrop handoff etc so I gave up, I ended up thinking I'd need to get the right module.
Off to look for the dongle :)

Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: Yes
Handoff Supported: No
Instant Hot Spot Supported: No
Manufacturer: Broadcom
Transport: USB
Chipset: 20702B0
Firmware Version: v150 c9316
Bluetooth Power: On
Discoverable: Off
Connectable: Yes
Auto Seek Pointing: On
Remote wake: Off
Vendor ID: 0x05AC
Product ID: 0x828B
 
Boomish69 said:
Hold on don't tell me a Bluetooth dongle works?
Click to expand...
You mean work with AirDrop? I have no idea.

I don't remember ever using AirDrop on my MacPro5,1. But I'm guessing it might work if the Bluetooth dongle supports Bluetooth 4.0 (or is 4.1 required?) or newer and if there's working Wi-Fi present – not sure if it has to be ac (Wi-Fi 5) or if there's a specific requirement there. But maybe there's more to it?
 
Be careful with the USB dongles on BS and later. If you want BS to perform without freeze you have to hook it to a USB 3 hub or to an Apple USB keyboard:
Product ID: 0x1006
Vendor ID: 0x05ac (Apple Inc.)
Or Later.
Better yet upgrade your wifi to iMac's 27 2015 wifi/bluetooth card (Product ID: 0x1006 Vendor ID: 0x05ac)
Bear in mind the cMP ethernet does not work yet in Monterey.
 
Interesting, the ”CSR8510 A10” (Cambridge Silicon Radio Ltd.)” I've been using just fine with Big Sure stopped working now when I updated from Big Sur 11.4 to 11.5. Worked fine just before that update and is also fine in Windows, so it serems it's something with the 11.5 update that made it stop working – now when in Big Sur my MacPro5,1 thinks I have no Bluetooth hardware installed. :(

@startergo
Be careful with the USB dongles on BS and later. If you want BS to perform without freeze you have to hook it to a USB 3 hub or to an Apple USB keyboard:
Click to expand...
It has been working fine for me connected directly to one of the USB 2.0 ports on the back of the MacPro5,1. Up until Big Sur 11.5 that is. Any idea what's going on? I take it Apple changed something Bluetooth wise?
 
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I have the same Dongle, but take care of the firmware version.

Got another one of this kind with the "wrong" firmware what I did not get to work even in Mojave.


This is the working one:
Code: 
CSR8510 A10:

  Product ID:    0x0001
  Vendor ID:    0x0a12  (Cambridge Silicon Radio Ltd.)
  Version:    88.91

this is the one on my main workhorse, working in 11.5 but as @startergo said, it is plugged in an Apple USB Keyboard (Hub).
 
Macschrauber said:
I have the same Dongle, but take care of the firmware version.

Got another one of this kind with the "wrong" firmware what I did not get to work even in Mojave.


This is the working one:
Code: 
CSR8510 A10:

  Product ID:    0x0001
  Vendor ID:    0x0a12  (Cambridge Silicon Radio Ltd.)
  Version:    88.91

this is the one on my main workhorse, working in 11.5 but as @startergo said, it is plugged in an Apple USB Keyboard (Hub).
Click to expand...
I have the same version on mine, but no go. :(

I even tried to attach an Apple keyboard with an USB hub (I mostly use the newer Magic Keyboard wirelessy) to the computer but that didn't help. Not sure what's going on since you say it works fine for you on Big Sur 11.5.

What's even stranger is that I tried to connect another Bluetooth module that I have (Sandberg – different chipset I think) and first that worked but after a restart that too is back to not being recognized, i.e. no Bluetooth hardware detected.
 
Last edited:
star-affinity said:
I have the same version on mine, but no go. :(

I even tried to attach an Apple keyboard with an USB hub (I mostly use the newer Magic Keyboard wirelessy) to the computer but that didn't help. Not sure what's going on since you say it works fine for you on Big Sur 11.5.

What's even stranger is that I tried to connect another Bluetooth module that I have (Sandberg – different chipset I think) and first that worked but after a restart that too is back to not being recognized, i.e. no Bluetooth hardware detected.
Click to expand...

Maybe the difference is I made a createinstallmedia clean install with OCLP 0.24 nightly
 
Bluetooth works fine for me in Big Sur 11.5.1 now after going back to OC 0.7.0 from 0.7.1 here:

forums.macrumors.com

Activate AMD hardware acceleration

I created a new "easy to install package" as per many requested (based on the official OpenCore). [The attached package updated to 0.7.9] For those who only need HWAccel, post #594 has everything you need. This new package mainly offer HWAccel + boot screen. Also, this package should work in...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com
 
I have OC 0.7.2 - can anyone confirm any issues?
Also I wonder if I could skip the removal of the connector and set the `bluetoothHostControllerSwitchBehavior=always` as a boot arg in OC?

EDIT:
Out of curiosity does continuity work with external BT dongles?

best
 
Last edited:
cuppuccino said:
I have OC 0.7.2 - can anyone confirm any issues?
Also I wonder if I could skip the removal of the connector and set the `bluetoothHostControllerSwitchBehavior=always` as a boot arg in OC?

EDIT:
Out of curiosity does continuity work with external BT dongles?

best
Click to expand...
I had that boot-args a year or two with an external USB 4 dongle and it worked not too well. Ended pulling the little connector.
 
I’m also interested in BT dongles.

I almost completed the wifi and BT card upgrade yesterday when someone decided to try and help me complete it quicker by connecting up the BT antenna cable when I walked away (and breaking the connector on it). I cannot tell you how angry I am.

I don’t suppose replacing the BT antenna inside the MP5,1 is easily done, right?

What USB dongle then is recommended for use with 11.6.1, if any?
 
avro707 said:
I’m also interested in BT dongles.

I almost completed the wifi and BT card upgrade yesterday when someone decided to try and help me complete it quicker by connecting up the BT antenna cable when I walked away (and breaking the connector on it). I cannot tell you how angry I am.

I don’t suppose replacing the BT antenna inside the MP5,1 is easily done, right?

What USB dongle then is recommended for use with 11.6.1, if any?
Click to expand...

That's a shame. Sorry for your loss.
Taking out & replacing the built-in Bluetooth antenna is not easy as it requires removing the logic board.
You can download the Technician Guide here. It's for the 2010 but same of 2009 model too and shows you how to remove/replace.

If the BT connector on your Upgrade card is OK, then you can always buy an external BT antenna and wire it to come out at one of the PCI slots.

Dongles can be a pain to use. If you just want to connect a kbd/mouse then they are ok. But if you need Handoff, etc then Apple's native cards like you had are the best.
 
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MacNB2 said:
That's a shame. Sorry for your loss.
Taking out & replacing the built-in Bluetooth antenna is not easy as it requires removing the logic board.
You can download the Technician Guide here. It's for the 2010 but same of 2009 model too and shows you how to remove/replace.

If the BT connector on your Upgrade card is OK, then you can always buy an external BT antenna and wire it to come out at one of the PCI slots.

Dongles can be a pain to use. If you just want to connect a kbd/mouse then they are ok. But if you need Handoff, etc then Apple's native cards like you had are the best.
Click to expand...
The card is all good, wifi works okay, just the BT antenna cable.

I found another 5,1 MP case with a dead logic board that does have the BT antenna - so I might grab that and see. That case is also very nice externally so it is tempting. I've got the technician guide already. I might as well just do it properly - especially if the dongles don't have all the functionality like hand-off, etc.

It's pretty hard to find all these bits and pieces locally here in Australia, everything ends up from offshore with weeks and weeks delay.

Fortunately it was the 6 core machine, not the fast one. I spent a lot of time today researching various fixes - I did consider getting an external BT antenna and putting it out through a PCI slot. I also thought about pulling apart an old dead laptop and getting the BT antenna from that but figured the case of the MP might prevent it from working well.
 
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