[100% Working] 12+6 Pin Apple WiFI/BT Card to M.2 NGFF Adapter! Handoff! Unlock with Watch! UEFI!

[onmybikedrunk]

So I just had to do a quick write-up on this because I've hardly seen it mentioned in the networking/WiFi threads...

On all newer boards, WiFi and Bluetooth is based off an NGFF M.2 module. We have all been struggling trying to buy used Dell/Lenovo cards off eBay from Chinese distros and it's just sucky. Patches on top of patches (which are great! No dis to the coders, you know who you are and you know we love you) and then no BT compatibility in the UEFI/Clover for things like the Force Trackpad/Smart Keyboard. Handoff only works when it wants to and maybe unilaterally. Things like unlock with the Watch can be a pain... I'll stop here. There is another reason we all want the Dell card, it's because we don't want to use a slot for a clunky x1 PCIe adapter with wires going to an on-board usb header and all that - yuck.

So there's this 6+12 pin (or Apple's proprietary WiFi/BT card slot) adapter to M.2 NGFF on eBay. I gave it a shot being that I've just purchased a Z270 ITX board and needed the x16 slot for my GPU. Well coupled with the Early 2015 MacBook Air BCM94360CS2 it works exactly like a real Mac. No extra drivers, no patches, no wires to usb headers, full AC WiFi, full handoff, airdrop, unlock and hotspot support! AND I can use my trackpad (I use a custom mechanical keyboard - Geekhack for life!) in BIOS and Clover! It uses the MacBook Air WiFi chip which is smaller than the Apple Broadcom Bcm94360cd that we're used to seeing on the older PCIe adapters. Sorry for the wordiness, I just get excited about this stuff! I hate when my Hack doesn't work like it should and in the specific WiFi/BT area of Hackintoshing, it's simple, nothing beats the real thing.

Cost: $12.68 for the adapter and $19.88 for the Apple WiFi card - awesome.

And it doesn't look awkward (as seen here in my test bench)!

 

[jaredb03]

Is there a benefit to using an m.2 opposed to a PCI-E adapter? Getting ready to order the stuff and just wondering which to get.

 

[originalmagneto]

What card do you recommend? Can you give us a link? Thanks.

 

[GhostHitWall]

Could you possibly measure the height difference between the adapter and the actual NIC for me?

I am running really tight space in my chassis, not sure if the 22*47mm adapter is gonna fit, I think I am short of 3mm to fit the entire adapter, may have to cut the adapter to length and leave the NIC unscrewed to position.

 

[onmybikedrunk]

Sorry guys, I've been a bit busy but...

Is there a benefit to using an m.2 opposed to a PCI-E adapter? Getting ready to order the stuff and just wondering which to get.

Like I mentioned in my post it depends on the motherboard. If you have a dedicated WiFi M.2 slot, why not use it? These PCIe lanes are already accounted for and USB works directly off the M.2 slot. It gets rid of the annoying cable to usb-header spec needed with the PCIe adapter.

What card do you recommend? Can you give us a link? Thanks.

This particular adapter only works with Apple's BCM94360CS2. It gets kinda confusing because from what I understand there are TWO versions of BCM94360CS2... A pre-2012 and then a 2013-2015. You want the 2013-2015 obviously, as it has AC and BT 4.0. You want to search for "A1466 BCM94360CS2". Here is the one I ordered - confirmed working.

Could you possibly measure the height difference between the adapter and the actual NIC for me?

I am running really tight space in my chassis, not sure if the 22*47mm adapter is gonna fit, I think I am short of 3mm to fit the entire adapter, may have to cut the adapter to length and leave the NIC unscrewed to position.

It rises 13mm above the edge of the shielding. The card measured 52mm total from motherboard to top of card w/ screw (the screw only adds about a mm more). Apple's cards are bigger than the standard PC WiFi NGFF card. What are you running, an S4 Mini? I have a Dan A4-SFX case on the way for this build... Pretty small.

 

[originalmagneto]

This particular adapter only works with Apple's BCM94360CS2. It gets kinda confusing because from what I understand there are TWO versions of BCM94360CS2... A pre-2012 and then a 2013-2015. You want the 2013-2015 obviously, as it has AC and BT 4.0. You want to search for "A1466 BCM94360CS2". Here is the one I ordered - confirmed working.

Ok, I ordered the adapter + the card you recommended...If this works, I'm gonna be very very happy with my Hack The only remaining annoyance would be the ****ed-up sleep

 

[GhostHitWall]

@onmybikedrunk
Thx for the measuring, I am running a Streacom FC05 alpha.(Newegg link at post above).
That sounds like it won't fit, I have about only 45mm clearance. And even slightly modding the top panel wouldn't give me enough room
Still ordered it, just wanna see how this will work in general.


I think there's also the three antenna BCM943602CS for macbook pro 13''/15'' 2015
and the two antenna BCM94360CS2 for macbook air 13'' 2013/2015
I suppose they look similar enough, and probably work.

 

[onmybikedrunk]

@GhostHitWall
Maybe you could use something like this M.2 Extender and lay it down somewhere out of the way? I'm sure the extended substrate could just be cut shorter since there's only circuitry at the slot points. EDIT: He's actually got various sizes if you scroll thru the pics... You should look into it. I love those Streacom cases (I saw the link right after I posted... derp). Obviously I dig the SFF stuff.

About the compatibility. I asked the seller what other cards these were compatible with and his response was ONLY the BCM94360CS2 - however that doesn't make too much sense to me either. Who knows... I bet it was just designed around the BCM94360CS2 and that's all that was tested.

@originalmagneto
I know I was happy! I didn't think I would have an option being mITX! You'll be happy.

 

[GhostHitWall]

@onmybikedrunk Gotcha, I hope there's more cards that we can use so we aren't tied to a 2x2 card.(Although I have only 2 antenna ports at back IO)
More options are always welcome, I will probably get a few more different cards to test them just out of curiosity, price on ebay looks cheap enough. Will report back if that ever happens.

btw, the m.2 extender linked, is a B+M key which both are used for SSDs. To be compatible with wireless NFGG m.2 slot, it must be a A or E key, I suppose A key is even more common these days due to all the Intel models.
Too bad I never saw a A/E key extender.

I have seen people hand-soldered their own extender by connecting the female side of a mini-pcie extender with the actual NIC.
Don't really know how difficult the job is or even to find a m.2 A/E key extender in the first place.

 

[jktaurus8]

Is this need any patch and all features like airdrop continuity working properly?

is this compatible http://www.ebay.com/itm/APPLE-MACBO...664704?hash=item1c67eced00:g:Z2EAAOSwvg9XTlXG