Can You Upgrade Airport to AC and Bluetooth to 4.0 on 2011 17" Macbook Pro

[ZombiePhysicist]

Hi All:

I'm hoping you guys can help me find the parts/cards to upgrade my Late 2011 (8,3), 2.5GHz quad core MacBook Pro's 802.11n based Airport to 802.11ac and its bluetooth to a 4.0 module. I would like to do this for both continuity and speed reasons; I bought a module from macvidcards.com for my MacPro and I loved it, because it was just plug/play and no kext updates or anything.

Do similar Airport AC/Bluetooth 4.0 upgrade parts exist that could work to upgrade my 2011 MacBook Pro (8,3)? Can anyone point out what part(s) I might need?



Some search results I found here on bluetooth (But it wasn't clear to me what bluetooth part ended up being the 'blessed' part, and it was only for bluetooth and didn't see if their was a similar part for WiFi):
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ort-handoff-continuity.1747240/#post-19303801

Some search results on Airport wifi upgrade, but again, which parts actually would work with the 17" Macbook pro 8,3:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macbook-pro-802-11ac-upgrade.1521466/page-8#post-20825372

This seems to be a part that could work:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PDN4H9E?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

But I'm very confused if either of those will work/fit my model?





Thanks so much for any pointers/help

 

[JTToft]

I'll repost my response from the other thread:

You need an AirPort card with part number BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX. That will give you BT 4.0, but not 802.11ac. For that, the uCard4 discussed in this thread is the only option, but it doesn't really seem to be an option based on satinsilverem2's experiences in that same thread.

Look on Ebay and AliExpress for the CAX card.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

I'll repost my response from the other thread:

You need an AirPort card with part number BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX. That will give you BT 4.0, but not 802.11ac. For that, the uCard4 discussed in this thread is the only option, but it doesn't really seem to be an option based on satinsilverem2's experiences in that same thread.

Look on Ebay and AliExpress for the CAX card.

So thanks for the uCard pointer. I think I'm willing to take a chance on this. Looks like satinsilverem2 didnt go through with the purchase. However, looking on the site for the uCard, should I be getting the ucard2 and not the 4 for the 17" Macbook pro?

Ucard4
Upgrade 2011-2012 15" MacBook Pro's and 13" 2011-12 non Retina MBP to fastest 802.11ac WiFi and BlueTooth 4.0 LE

Ucard2
The ucard2 add's 802.11ac and BT 4.0 LE to MacBook Pro 2009 and 2010 13" as well as 2008 and 2009 15", MBP 2009, 2010 and 2011 17" MBP's

Seems like they need CD patch, which makes me nervous. I wish it was plug and play.

 

[JTToft]

So thanks for the uCard pointer. I think I'm willing to take a chance on this. Looks like satinsilverem2 didnt go through with the purchase. However, looking on the site for the uCard, should I be getting the ucard2 and not the 4 for the 17" Macbook pro?

- Seems like it from the description. Though form my experience with 17" (none personal, only through here), they use the same as 13" and 15" from 2011.

The whole business about this company is just dodgy to me...

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

- Seems like it from the description. Though form my experience with 17" (none personal, only through here), they use the same as 13" and 15" from 2011.

The whole business about this company is just dodgy to me...

Well I guess I'll be the guinea pig for the forum. Let's see how it works out.

 

[PariSean]

Well I guess I'll be the guinea pig for the forum. Let's see how it works out.

So, did it work? Was looking for the same thing on my end, in order to activate the Auto Unlock with the apple watch for my 2011 MBP, which apparently needs this wifi/BT configuration

 

[tabormeister]

Well I guess I'll be the guinea pig for the forum. Let's see how it works out.

Any dice?

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

Any dice?

They never shipped it to me. Seems like it was/is vaporware.

 

[tabormeister]

They never shipped it to me. Seems like it was/is vaporware.

lame sauce. Did you order from here? http://www.welovemacs.com/ucard4.html

 

[Macbookprodude]

lame sauce. Did you order from here? http://www.welovemacs.com/ucard4.html

That place is a rip off.. just for that little card 150.00 ??? i COULD get it on eBay for a lot less.

 

[tabormeister]

That place is a rip off.. just for that little card 150.00 ??? i COULD get it on eBay for a lot less.

If only it existed the guy that was making an adapter didn't realize there were adapters for the antenna - tried to get in touch with him, does anybody know troop231's contact info?