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Anyone got any PCI-e BCM4360 WiFi-ac card going? (New Macbook Air owner wanted)

macbrush

By macbrush,
in LAN and Wireless

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Emilo
Emilo
Posted
Posted

We did a lot of testing and never had this problem with any motherboards. All tests was working fine. It using USB 2.0 Data lines.

 

In my tests with USB used only for Bluetooth Data, it worked properly on older P45 and X58 motherboards, but I could not get it to work on newer GA-Z87MX-D3H.

 

Did you test it on Gigabyte Z87/H87 series motherboards?

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osxwifi
osxwifi
Posted
Posted

In my tests with USB used only for Bluetooth Data, it worked properly on older P45 and X58 motherboards, but I could not get it to work on newer GA-Z87MX-D3H.

 

Did you test it on Gigabyte Z87/H87 series motherboards?

 

Yes we did tests on Z87: GA-Z87X-UD4H, GA-Z87X-UD5 and some ASUS all did well...

we did not test GA-Z87MX-D3H but would like to do if I can find...

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mr. west
mr. west
Posted
Posted
Replaced my 5th Gen Airport Extreme router with a Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 router (model R7000). 

 

Popped an ASUS PCE-AC68 in yesterday on Mavericks.  

 

It works OOB, recognized as a Third party card.  To get it recognized as Airport Extrem.  I had to hex edit /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AirPortBrcm4360.kext/Contents/MacOS/AirPortBrcm4360

 

and change 

 

30 6B 10 00 00 75 0D

 

to

 

30 6B 10 00 00 90 90

 

As others recommended in various posts.

 

 

In Network Utility, it recognizes the card as 600mbps (over 450 before).  However, in System Info -> Wifi, we see:

 

  Current Network Information:

 

  PHY Mode: 802.11ac

  BSSID: e4:f4:c6:05:c0:d0

  Channel: 161,-1

  Country Code: US

  Network Type: Infrastructure

  Security: WPA2 Personal

  Signal / Noise: -45 dBm / -83 dBm

  Transmit Rate: 405

  MCS Index: 7

 

Transmit rate = 405, which is the same as I get on my other hack with an N card (this is still higher than I got on the old router as the new router is faster).

 

In each case the router is only about 15 feet from the computer, so I don't think it's a signal issue.

 

 

In comparison, on my Macbook Pro Retina I get transmit rates up to 1035 (usually at 878 however).  Which is terrific.

 

Either way, my actual transfer rates are about the same when moving big files around.

 

Anyone have any tips on getting it to recognize at 1300mbps?  Or, more importantly, register a higher transfer rate?

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xelanaiznac
xelanaiznac
Posted
Posted

Most Chinese adapters don’t work properly on many motherboards, because they have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth powered from PCI-E rail, using USB connection for Bluetooth Data only (two wires), so you will have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth working but not both at the same time. To have both working at the same time on all motherboards you must power Bluetooth part from alternative 3V power source.

 

Here is TAOBAO link for those who want native Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth 4.0/LE: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.0.0.M8souu&id=38195333521

This PCI-E adapter is using Broadcom BCM94360CD card found in iMac 2013.
 Both Wi-fi and Bluetooth work like a charm.


They managed Bluetooth part of the card to work properly by providing four wires connection to USB port for Data and Power.

To get correct 3.3V Bluetooth voltage from 5V USB port they have integrated AMS1117 step down voltage converter.

USB cable comes with adapter and could be plugged to internal USB header or external USB port.

 

If you don't speak Chinese and want to buy it, search for  TAOBAO purchasing agent. There are dozens of them.

does it work on a real mac pro?

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Emilo
Emilo
Posted
Posted

does it work on a real mac pro?

 

I had no chance to test it in MacPro, but it should work fine.

At the beginning I purchased the same adapter as yours for testing on different PC motherboards and in several cases experienced the same behavior as you did on real MacPro.

After trying all available PCI-E power pins to power Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in any combination I came to the conclusion that on some motherboards I can only get both to work by powering Bluetooth from outside PCI-E rail.

Then started to search for such an adapter and found this one:  http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.0.0.M8souu&id=38195333521

This adapter has Bluetooth powered from USB port and works fine with all motherboards that original one wouldn't work with.

 

If you don't want to take any risk with $50 Taobao adapter which I recommended, there is more elegant solution for real MacPro (QuickerTek mCard for $149):  http://www.quickertek.com/wifi.html

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Badeendje
Badeendje
Posted
Posted

does it work on a real mac pro?

 

 

As you can read I tested it out before, at least the one from taobao and it worked perfectly.

However I still have another mac pro 2010 which I want to go this way (perfect guide btw):

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1748061

 

Basically with this adapter, either from taobao or osxwifi, you reroute the USB data pins to the old bluetooth module and it gets the current from the mini pci-e slot.

In fact I liked this guide so much I bought another one just to try on my mac pro :P.

On the positive side it has become 60 USD cheaper from over a year ago when I ordered it from taobao, and right now I wish I bought the new one from osxwifi; it looks a bit nicer and more compact.

 

Valuewise it's not to bad really I think and it makes a great addition to any mac pro / itx build or regular hackintosh.

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rayap
rayap
Posted
Posted (edited)

Works perfectly when fully up. Problems are not powered up on warm start following shutdown, ok on cold start. Also not up on wake from sleep, need restart. Presently testing on a DS4P board.

 

Edit: Problem overcome in PCI-E x4 slot.

Edited by rayap
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Verkut
Verkut
Posted
Posted

Hey guys I have the same problem. 
I'm using GA-Z77X-UP5-TH motherboard, BCM94360CD and adapter on PCI-E X1 slot. It connects to the USB (two wires that go to data pins)

 

I have Bluetooth working, but WiFi fails. The strange thing that it was working for a minute or so and then stopped.

 

Are there any solutions?

 

I'm on Yosemite 10.0.1 (it was the same with 10.10)

 

I tried resetting caches, updating Yosemite, putting the card to a different X1 slot - it's all the same. Bluetooth is ON, WiFi is OFF

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oSxFr33k
oSxFr33k
Posted
Posted

I bought this and WIFI works OOTB but bluetooth is unknown device? Z77 chipset, Quo Motherboard.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-BCM94360CD-80211ac-Wifi-Bluetooth-40-Card-for-2013-21527-iMac-/111382033777

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231370068228?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

BCM20702A0:

 

  Product ID: 0x22be

  Vendor ID: 0x0a5c  (Broadcom Corp.)

  Version: 1.12

  Serial Number: 000000000000

  Speed: Up to 12 Mb/sec

  Manufacturer: Broadcom Corp

  Location ID: 0x1d170000 / 3

  Current Available (mA): 500

  Current Required (mA): Unknown (Device has not been configured)

  Built-In: Yes

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oSxFr33k
oSxFr33k
Posted
Posted

The PCI adapter works just fine.  The Wifi on this BCM card works fine, OOTB.   The bluetooth does not.  Its product ID is not genuine Apple and no matter what I modify in the plist file it does not enable it.  EmlyDInesh's BT driver does not work on it either.  I wish I knew this before I bought the card now I have to struggle with this guy from china to refund me.  In the meantime I am looking for a combo BCM for around that same price that is Genuine.   GOod luck!!    :)

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Merlin Magician
Merlin Magician
Posted
Posted

For those who are trying to use PCI-E Wi-Fi/Bluetooth adapter card in x2, x4, x8, x16 slot:

 

Some motherboards refuse to work with PCI-E adapters that have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth powered from PCI-E port other then x1 port.

If installed in x2, x4, x8, x16 ports you will have either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth working but not both at the same time.

There is two solutions for this problem:

 

1.Slot extension cable: http://www.amazon.co....?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2.Adapter designed to work in any slot: http://item.taobao.c....id=38195333521

This adapter is using Broadcom BCM94360CD card found in iMac 2013.


Both Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth 4.0/LE work like a charm.


They managed the card to work properly in any slot by providing four wire connection to USB port for Bluetooth Data and Power.

To get correct 3.3V Bluetooth voltage from 5V USB port they have integrated AMS1117 step down voltage converter: http://translate.goo...=item564f130cef

If you don't speak Chinese and want to buy it, search for TAOBAO purchasing agent.

Hello,

 

please kindly explain me te solution with the extender cable. I already have the bcm94360 card and the adapter. I luckily have the problem that only BT part is working as I got only two PCIe x16 slots...

You mean that using PCIe x1 extender cable in x16 slot will do the trick?

 

Or do I have any other solution without ordering other adapter?

 

Thanks and Regards

m.

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oSxFr33k
oSxFr33k
Posted
Posted

Followup post from #61

 

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/289922-anyone-got-any-pci-e-bcm4360-wifi-ac-card-going-new-macbook-air-owner-wanted/?p=2088414

 

The other 5 BCM cards I ordered from ebay, Novoshopping worked 100%, Wireless and Bluetooth.  The ones he sent this time were genuine apple.  The one single order I placed prior to the 5 I ordered was fake and told him to cancel the order for the 5 which was too late.  He assured me the ones he was sending would work and they do.   If you do plan on ordering them please make sure you message him to make sure they are genuine.

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shoarthing
shoarthing
Posted
Posted

For those who are trying to use PCI-E Wi-Fi/Bluetooth adapter card in x2, x4, x8, x16 slot:

 

Some motherboards refuse to work with PCI-E adapters that have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth powered from PCI-E port other then x1 port.

If installed in x2, x4, x8, x16 ports you will have either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth working but not both at the same time.

There is two solutions for this problem:

 

1.Slot extension cable: http://www.amazon.co....?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2.Adapter designed to work in any slot: http://item.taobao.c....id=38195333521

 

This adapter is using Broadcom BCM94360CD card found in iMac 2013.


Both Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth 4.0/LE work like a charm.


They managed the card to work properly in any slot by providing four wire connection to USB port for Bluetooth Data and Power.

To get correct 3.3V Bluetooth voltage from 5V USB port they have integrated AMS1117 step down voltage converter: http://translate.goo...=item564f130cef

If you don't speak Chinese and want to buy it, search for TAOBAO purchasing agent.

 . . .  would like to report the above wdxxfu studio adapter/card from taobao works OOTB, hassle-free, & without any configuration issues in a [physical] 16x, [logical] 4x slot.

 

WiFi

 

post-103618-0-66851400-1417860769_thumb.png

 

Bluetooth

 

post-103618-0-95252000-1417860833_thumb.png

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shoarthing
shoarthing
Posted
Posted

Just a clarification please. Adapter is Mini PCI-E to PCI-E? I ask because i have a native Mini PCI-E port on my motherboard that i could use. 

 

(no adapter no bluetooth i believe, but i have a gmyle model)

Hi - the freely available mini-pcie adaptors need to be hacked to enable bluetooth function: see http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/303098-help-with-bcm94360cd-adapter-please/?do=findComment&comment=2091752

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shoarthing
shoarthing
Posted
Posted
No, that adapts a Broadcom BCM943xx to PCIe and will only work in a PCIe 1x slot - the USB cable appears to carry only two lines. To adapt the BCM943xx to mini-PCIe (as you say you wish to do) you need something like the card I linked to above, hacked to carry USB power, plus data + & -
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shoarthing
shoarthing
Posted
Posted

Hi - you use a taobao purchasing agent. Even then it's still a hassle. Prices on taobao are in yuan (Chinese currency).

 

I used forestgle: http://www.forestgle.com/

 

Their English was about as good as yours; I would use them again - they were honest and fairly quick - but not with any expectation of dealing with a native English speaker, or of Euro norms of courtesy.

 

There are French taobao agents: (example *not* tested or recommended)

 

http://www.taobaofrench.com/

 

There's a thread here discussing such agents:

 

http://www.bonjourchine.com/threads/agent-francais-taobao-serieux.94841/

 

You need to be totally sure what you are buying is what you want: the adapter I bought comes complete with a BCM94360CD, and adapts this into a full-size PCIe slot, of 1x or more lanes. It comes with 4x aerials, and a USB 4-wire cable to connect to a (standard) motherboard header. It gives full WiFi to ac, plus full bluetooth 4.0/LE functionality. I've forgotten what it cost exactly (I'm on holiday in Cannes) but it ended up at more than 60 Euros delivered by air mail (insured).

 

If you want to adapt a BCM943xx card to mini-PCIe, you need a different adapter, and AFAIK will need to hack it to get bluetooth working.

 

Please report back when/if you buy the adapter you decide you want.

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