Bluetooth 4.0 Dongle for Coninuity...

[DerMario]

Is it possible to add an usb dongle for older macs (BT2.1) and get it supported by Yosemite?

 

[MacrumoursUser]

Is it possible to add an usb dongle for older macs (BT2.1) and get it supported by Yosemite?

There is only one way to find out.

 

[ominx]

I'm using one on my late 2008 MacBook that has BT 2 built-in. Unfortunately neither Handoff or Continuity are working. However it's too soon to conclude it's the dongle's fault as plenty of users with built-in BT 4.0 are also saying these features are unreliable with current beta releases of iOS 8 and Yosemite 10.10.

If people are interested in also getting a BT 4 dongle, be sure to buy one with the Broadcom 20702 chipset. I've tried others and they were either unreliable or didn't work at all. This is the one I have, and besides not working with the above mentioned features, its "normal" BT capabilities are working as expected. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DDH4TYA/

 

[arn]

I'm using one on my late 2008 MacBook that has BT 2 built-in. Unfortunately neither Handoff or Continuity are working. However it's too soon to conclude it's the dongle's fault as plenty of users with built-in BT 4.0 are also saying these features are unreliable with current beta releases of iOS 8 and Yosemite 10.10.

If people are interested in also getting a BT 4 dongle, be sure to buy one with the Broadcom 20702 chipset. I've tried others and they were either unreliable or didn't work at all. This is the one I have, and besides not working with the above mentioned features, its "normal" BT capabilities are working as expected. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DDH4TYA/

That one specifically says it won't work for Mac.

arn

 

[ecschwarz]

That one specifically says it won't work for Mac.

arn

The funny thing about the Amazon page is that they have it sticking out of a rMBP in one of the pictures, but I also see the "Does NOT support MAC OS or ARM-based Windows RT" disclaimer...

 

[ominx]

That one specifically says it won't work for Mac.

arn

Don't trust that description. I have read way too many threads that discuss what Bluetooth chips will work with Macs. I promise you that the Broadcom dongle I linked will definitely work. Apple even added the specific vendor and product IDs for the radio to the Bluetooth plist. Avoid any dongle that uses the Cambridge Silicon Radio... Designated as CSR.

 

[fishkorp]

This dongle works on my older MBP: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007GFX0PY/

I haven't tried Continuity/Handoff in Yosemite, but it works for apps like Knock to Unlock and Notifyr in Mavericks (on my "unsupported" MBP)

 

[6836838]

This dongle works on my older MBP: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007GFX0PY/

I haven't tried Continuity/Handoff in Yosemite, but it works for apps like Knock to Unlock and Notifyr in Mavericks (on my "unsupported" MBP)

I'm also using this dongle on my late 2010 MBP. It's working when I switch over to it using the Bluetooth Explorer tool, but I can't get Handover to do anything, although I did get a note saying that my iPad Air had been detected for Handoff after updating to DP2 and iOS8 beta2. Absolutely nothing - I guess Apple are explicitly checking for the version of Mac, rather than BT4 capability. I'm not surprised. I'm hoping for a hack once the os's are released to prod.

 

[Yakibomb]

Would be nice if this worked. Great for expanding the functionality of old workstations

 

[kuwxman]

I'm also using this dongle on my late 2010 MBP. It's working when I switch over to it using the Bluetooth Explorer tool, but I can't get Handover to do anything, although I did get a note saying that my iPad Air had been detected for Handoff after updating to DP2 and iOS8 beta2. Absolutely nothing - I guess Apple are explicitly checking for the version of Mac, rather than BT4 capability. I'm not surprised. I'm hoping for a hack once the os's are released to prod.

I'm sure someone will figure out a way just as they did getting Boot Camp 5 to install on 'unsupported' Macs for that sweet, sweet Windows 8 support. 😀