MP 6,1 Mac Pro 2013 - Airport WiFi / Bluetooth LE 4.2 card upgrade

[rybak17]

Hi

What is the best Airport card to buy to get Bluetooth LE 4.2? I saw that something like this exists but I can't find the part model. Mac Pro 2013 6,1 - Cylinder

Please help

 

[tsialex]

There is an iMac AirPort Extreme BCM943602CDP that has the exact same specs/antennas as the 2013 Mac Pro BCM94360CD AirPort Extreme, just with the improved BT 4.2 controller, but I don't remember reading about anyone doing this replacement as the size of the card is different, the BCM943602CDP is longer and maybe will be a very tight fit or even won't fit at all.

BCM943602CDP is commonly used as an upgrade to MacPro5,1, since the older model does not have any size constrains.

 

[MacNB2]

I have fitted BCM943602CDP. Works great and no problem with size:

I even added a USB 2.0 hub in-between this card and the MacPro's logic board USB connector (documented link in my Signature) that avoids any issues with Big Sur & Monterey (and will definitely be needed in the future if I install Ventura).

 

[tsialex]

I have fitted BCM943602CDP. Works great and no problem with size:

View attachment 2203683

I even added a USB 2.0 hub in-between this card and the MacPro's logic board USB connector (documented link in my Signature) that avoids any issues with Big Sur & Monterey (and will definitely be needed in the future if I install Ventura).

Did you even noticed that the OP have a late-2013 Mac Pro and not an early-2009 to mid-2012 Mac Pro?

 

[MacNB2]

Did you noticed that the OP have a late-2013 Mac Pro and not an early-2009 to mid-2012 Mac Pro?

🤦‍♂️ Sorry ...no I did not read correctly. I really need to get some spectacles 😬

 

[rybak17]

I bought this module but unfortunately it is too long :/

 

[avro707]

Hi

What is the best Airport card to buy to get Bluetooth LE 4.2? I saw that something like this exists but I can't find the part model. Mac Pro 2013 6,1 - Cylinder

Please help

I don’t remember even seeing the card when I upgraded my 6,1 Mac Pro to a 2.7ghz 12 core CPU.

I will look again though when I get time.

Mac Pro Late 2013 AirPort Card Replacement

Use this guide to replace the AirPort card in your Mac Pro Late 2013.

www.ifixit.com

It doesn’t look terrible to do, just a matter to find a card that will fit.

 

[tsialex]

I bought this module but unfortunately it is too long :/

Did you tried to install it? I assumed from the start that would be a too tight fit or wouldn't even fit.

 

[rybak17]

Yes. Doesn't fit

 

[AleksASKO]

Hello!
I’ve got shorter version of BCM943602CDP. It fits mac pro 6,1 almost perfectly. Wifi works out of the box in Monterey, but there is no bluetooth. The only way to enable bluetooth is with OpenCore. But it is detected as THIRD_PARTY_DONGLE. And I can’t connect more than 4 devices, bluetooth just turs off. There is no bluetooth on startup, so need to connect keyboard via usb to hold Option on boot chime for boot picker to load. And I can’t find a driver in win 11 bootcamp, so no bluetooth in windows too.
Maybe someone can assist me with usb port mapping? I think this is the only way to make it work.