Perhaps I'll just ask here...
After much trawling, I've resigned myself to the fact that the bluetooth on board my mobo (GA-Z87N-WiFi) is never going to work properly. I thought I had it sussed yesterday, but today it's dead as a doorknob.
I don't really need WiFi, as I've been using homeplugs even on my Macbook for the sake of reliability. However, it might be a nice addition for future proofing.
What I figured is it would be nice to just replace the Mini-PCIe card (I think that's what it is?) in the mobo for one with functioning WiFi and BT. I see here that the best options are:
AzureWave AW-CE123H (relatively expensive, supports BT 4.0)
BCM943225 HMB/AzureWave AW-NB290H (cheaper, BT 3.0 only)
or for BT only: Dual Mode USB 4.0 Bluetooth Dongle (BCM20702 Chipset) | GMYLE
How much of a loss is BT 3.0? I don't imagine I'll ever use it for more than my mouse. My experience with BT for data is it's far more hassle than it's worth and I generally prefer USB if I have the option for speed, ease of use. Also, is there any disadvantage of the WiFi on option 2? Am I right in thinking the whole thing can be hooked up to my existing gigabyte aerial?
I assume with the dongle I'll lose a USB slot (i.e. no passthrough). Is the reception with these things OK?