Chosen Solution
Can I get a link to purchase the right card for the job? Is this the right one? I’ve got a late 2009 iMac 27" running Yosemite with an Atheros version Airport card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as… Update (09/21/2016) At this point it looks like the official answer is: buy a new Mac. Sad day. If you forgot, this post addresses adding the Bluetooth 4.0 and continuity features to a late 2009 iMac that has the Atheros version. There are no good options or kits for upgrades.
OSxWiFi has such a kit using the BCM94360CD card, and yes it DOES require power. They have a special cable made using USB to do that trick. However its a little expensive at 109usd. Update (05/06/2016) It seems that in the iterations I’ve seen of these upgrades, folks splice into the Bluetooth cable to get power, D+ and D- signals. There’s a post that shows the mini PCI-e mini card adapter having wires soldered to the pins to capture power D+ and D-. There’s also a new adapter which has an internal USB cable, with power pins, and the needed connection for the card to input D+ and D-. With a pin connector at one end, raw wire at the other, which will plug into the adapter card you place the 94630 card into. Pretty slick! It makes the fix just like the OS-X WiFi product. I’ll report that after I’ve done it and have it all working. I’m also working on a mini PCI-e doubler so you can do the WiFi fix on one output and use the other end to have a SATA interface for another drive. I need to talk to an electrical engineer friend and find out it the data rate of the mini PCI-e in the late 2009 iMac will support SATA III for full speed transfers or only SATA II.
First review this: Continuity Activation Tool. As to the hardware we’ve used a Bluetooth dongle on ‘11 models which works! Update (09/21/2016) For those who want the internal hardware method here’s the needed kit: Apple WiFi + Bluetooth 4.0 card to Combo MiniPCIe Adapter for 2009, 2010 & 2011 iMac’s. I would strongly recommend first trying the USB dongle as for most it will work (a lot cheaper and less work).
Yes I’ve looked at that. But if you’ll review the graphic on the CAT page and read my equipment list, Bluetooth dongles won’t work on iMacs with Atheros Airport cards. Only replacing the Airport card will enable BLE and Continuity.
Regarding upgrading a 2011 27’ iMac for Handoff: I have used the BCM94360CD combo card to successfully upgrade my 2009 Mac Pro. Handoff works well. I have a spare one of these combo cards and mini pcie adapter. I have also ordered a BTooth antenna extension cable . What I do not know is if the combo card needs to get USB power from the old BTooth slot (after I removed the old card) via a separate connector cable. Anyone know this small but important fact. I did not want to pull the machine apart (again) until I knew if I need to source a mini pcie with USB power connectors and the cable to supply the power.
Does anyone have updated information for this? I’m looking to add Bluetooth 4 to my 2009 27" iMac. I’m not interested blazing a new trail here. I’m looking for a kit or parts list along with instructions and confirmation this will work on my iMac.
