Ralink WIFI combo card SOLUTION hp ProBook 4530s

EDIT: The purchased wifi cards no longer require this hack, as the DSDTs available through the Pro Book installer allow the wireless cards to be used for both wifi and bluetooth. Please note that as with the standard atheros probook models, bluetooth on the purchased cards is no longer functional after sleep.

Text below is left for history sake.


For anyone who has a non Atheros wifi bluetooth combo card in their pro book, you are able to purchase one from ebay or similar. I can confirm that the AR5B195 from eBay works 100% for wifi and bluetooth in windows, Wifi with below kexts in lion, bluetooth requires the bluetooth fix as in blueking pack. I'll explain my process.

The card was shipped from Hong Kong, so I think the region info on the card was not compatible OOTB. After placing the device ID in the vanilla IO80211Family.kext (pci168c,2b), the wireless card was recognised by the system on reboot and it also found wireless networks. The card however did not connect past the router to the ISP (those steps were red/yellow in diagnostics).

Verbose booting showed that lion was having issues recognising the locale, and I had a hunch that was the issue. There was a method to change the region data on the card itself, however they did not work for me - possibly because they were written for the non combo card.

A user called andyvand on the infinitemac forum created a "nub" which temporarily changes the region IDs on a per session basis. Installing this nub in /S/L/E alongside the modified vanilla IO80211Family.kext results in flawless wifi on reboot. andyvand is ok with sharing his work as stated in his original post.

Hope this helps someone in the unfortunate position of having a non atheros wifi/bluetooth card probook.

To sum up -

1. Purchase an Atheros branded combo card from (or wherever you find it) http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/150647070680 ... 2344wt_807. make sure you ask for an Atheros Branded AR5B195, part number 593127 - 001. HP bios locks non compatible and non HP approved cards. This card is for HP.

2. Install the combo card into your probook, and then log into lion to install both of the kexts attached to /S/L/E using kext utility (drag them on top of the kext utility app).

3. In your windows partition (if applicable) run the HP Driver CD. It should automatically recognise the atheros card and install the required drivers.

4. That's basically it. You're more than welcome to try it without the nub to see if it works for you, this could be different on a card by card basis.

That's sounds like "premium" version of our card with on-chip firmware instead software load solution.

I have a questions though:

1. Can you post vendor and device id's from System Profiler?
2. Is physical board layout the same for both?
3. Atheros Bluetooth is known for having problems if Apple's Magic Trackpad or Mouse is attached. Do you have one of these?

Thanks.

If bluetooth works, I'm almost tempted to buy one just for that.

blueking said:

If bluetooth works, I'm almost tempted to buy one just for that.

Click to expand...

$21 on ebay shipping included, ain't bad price. I might get one too.
I was tempted to buy Intel 6230 dual band combo however it is blacklisted by HP.

Sorry guys, I should clarify.

wifi and bluetooth works 100% in windows. Lion requires the bluetooth fix to get it going and wifi needs the kexts in the above post.

I've amended the post to reflect this.

can't seem to find the device ID in system profiler.

So it works about the same as the one we have now?

@bigdonkey

1. Can you post vendor and device id's from System Profiler?
Can't seem to find them

2. Is physical board layout the same for both?
If you are referring to ralink vs atheros then there are some differences. I'm not sure what you would call it, but the ralink has the raised boxed off part on both sides, whereas the atheros card only on one.
3. Atheros Bluetooth is known

for having problems if Apple's Magic Trackpad or Mouse is attached. Do you have one of these?
No don't have these. don't really use bluetooth anyway.

yes I think it works the same as you have. However considering that ralink doesn't work at all, it's a great option for those with ralink.

blueking said:

If bluetooth works, I'm almost tempted to buy one just for that.

Click to expand...

Why? what's wrong with the bluetooth you have? i've sent things to and from my android phone with no quibbles

For the sake of it working after sleep. But turns out this is no different.