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How To: Build your own "Real" Airport Card

I'm about to build a few of these cards, and one is for an older system. Anyone know if it works with 10.5.8?

I don't have a 10.5 Leopard CustoMac, so I can't speak from 100% sure experience, but I'd assume that a BCM94321MC or BCM94322MC will work in a Leopard CM. I surmise this on my Mac Pro which can boot from 10.5.8, and it having an Apple AirPort Extreme 802.11n wi-fi card part#MB988Z/A in its factory Airport slot. The Apple wi-fi card is based on the BCM9432x cards.
Please report on how you do.
 
I got my parts for about $13 from ebay. It's is instantly recognized by my legacy system, but reception is not that good.
 
I got my parts for about $13 from ebay. It's is instantly recognized by my legacy system, but reception is not that good.
How far is your CustoMac from your router access point?
Mine is 70 feet through several walls, so I set the tower atop a file cabinet, and added this magnet-mount antenna above the box. This increased signal strength to be more than adequate.

There are other more sizable antenna options: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0V9-0005-00002
The above antennas have SMA connectors, so be sure your eBay PCIe jacks are SMA.
 
Hey Everyone, long time reader first time poster. I was wondering if anyone had any experience or could help me out with this networking issue.

I just completed my first build and install and it went off mostly without a hitch, I based it on Tonymacs's Haswell mATX GA-Z87MX-D3H, (however I opted for the i5 4670k and I'm using a Asus GTX660), and I followed the instructions in his post to get everything working.

The thing that I have a few questions about is the "Airport" Card that I built, it's recognized as follows in System Information.

Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0x8E)
Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.100.22)
Locale: FCC
Country Code: X0
Supported PHY Modes: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Supported Channels: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165
AirDrop: Supported


And was built using these 2 parts.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/170963186824?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/190875910739?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

However I seem to be having 2 sets of problems.

1. The card will almost always refuse to connect to the 802.11n network that I have in my house. On top of that it also reports only 1/2 signal strength as opposed to my 802.11b/g network. Most of the time it refuses the password. However when it does connect it is running at about 1/2 speed of my 802.11b/g network. The machine dual boots windows, which also automatically recognized the card, however seems to have the same issue with the N network. I have another computer also running Windows 7 which I connected the card to, and it has the same signal issues with the N network, yet seemed to join it just fine.

Part of me thinks that this may be a power issue and that it's not getting enough for the N radio to pick up the signal reliably. However I can't be sure and really don't have a way to test that (that I know of)

My internet is slow enough that my download speeds are saturated either way, however for accessing files on my NAS as well as sharing with other computer I would much rather have it working on the N network if possible.

2. While connected to the 802.11b/g (and I assume the same would be for the 802.11n) I seem to occasionally loose network connectivity. OS X continues to report a good connection to the network and valid IP. However no data up or down is being transmitted. Turning Wifi off and on in the menu bar seems to get around it. But it happens at random times so it's been hard to track down in the logs what's been happening.

Bios is running the latest version, and OS X is currently 10.9.2.

Anyone else with any smiler issues or who can point me in the right direction?
 
I recieved all parts today and build the card.
It works ok, but is really slow (tops out at 2,5mbps... up and down...)
The reception bars are all filled up.

Does someone know how to solve this problem? I had the TPlink before, without speed problems but with the disconnection problem :(

I used the BCM94322MC.

Tnx!
 
Has anyone got a brcm94321mp working properly in 10.9.2? I have one in my CustoMac Mini 2011 that worked flawlessly in 10.6/10.7, then I took the leap to Mavericks and it does not work properly.

I noticed that when I first install the 10.9 it works, I can connect to my home server, but it quickly fails and has a tough time ever connecting again.

I tried a lot of kext tricks, I put Snow Leopard io80211family.kext in, no avail. I tried numerous hacked kexts that are supposed to enable the 4xxx series... Nothing works. I followed the advice of this very thread years ago when I put together my "airport" card. Wish I could use it now that I am in Mavericks. Any ideas?
 
I built my own real airport card using a half mini pcie to mini pcie adapter since my only pcie slot was used for a sata pcie controller. I used a broadcom mini pcie card you can get from amazon or from ebay. It is the same vendor (jhe technology). I was convinced by the positive comments from buyers from amazon.com.
It works OOB, airport extreme, airdrop, location services, everything works, and it is very fast (I have a real macbook pro i can compare with).
 
I was wondering if anyone could help me with a nightmare is chasing me since I made a real airport card a year ago.

The problem is that every time I move the antennas the speed changes and also it does not go any faster than 15MB sometimes it goes down to 0.2 or so when I get 85MB in my real iMac.

I am desperate guys would you have any idea why this is happening. It happens in Mountain Lion and Windows 7 too.
 
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 are two different solutions for this problem:

1. PCI-E x1 slot extension cable (when PCI-E x1 slot is blocked or covered by Video Card): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GWM6C8Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
or
2. Adapter designed to work in any slot:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.0.0.M8souu&id=38195333521
http://www.potatao.com/index.php?p=item&id=38195333521&vendorId=wdxxfu

This adapter has Apple branded 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.googleusercontent....130cef&usg=ALkJrhhqO-vXXSIBT88p-GiatCp_1O22Xw

If you don't speak Chinese and want to buy it, search for TAOBAO purchasing agent or use Potatao: http://www.potatao.com/index.php?p=item&id=38195333521&vendorId=wdxxfu

If you intend to use Mini or Half Mini PCI-E port for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth:
http://www.tonymacx86.com/network/104850-guide-airport-pcie-half-mini-v2.html
http://www.tonymacx86.com/network/1...apple-mini-cards-pcie-mini-pcie-adapters.html
http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/to...-macbook-air-owner-wanted/page-4#entry2095983
 
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.
Wi-fi and Bluetooth work like a charm.
You can purchase it for $50 using BHINER (TAOBAO agent): http://www.bhiner.com/index.php?mod...&id=38195333521&search_eng.x=0&search_eng.y=0

They managed Bluetooth part of the card to work by connecting it to internal USB header with separate cable. USB connection on this adapter is for Bluetooth Data and Power. They are using voltage converter to change USB 5V to Bluetooth 3V.


Price just went up to $70, anybody have experience with one of these?
 
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