Replaced Airport card to enable BT 4.0, now WiFi fails to connect
Hello,
Running a MacBook Pro early 2011 running Sierra 10.12.6. I recently replaced my Airport card with a part from iFixit in an effort to enable Handoff without needing an external dongle (kept breaking them). I had used the Continuity Activation Tool developed for this purpose with moderate success, as discussed in this thread: Can I Upgrade Airport card to get Bluetooth 4.0 and BLE?
I replaced my WiFi/BT card with the recommended Broadcom BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX card from iFixit. Performed installation with no problems, started up fine, but now neither WiFi and Bluetooth extremely intermittent, most often don’t work, with or without the Continuity tool activated. WiFi searches for my network but cannot connect and prompts me to perform diagnostics, but I'm using ethernet so I know network is up. (Note: WiFi dropping/failing to connect was also an issue prior to replacement.) Bluetooth often cannot connect, but works immediately with old dongle. Hardware is recognized in both cases, so I’m not getting the “hardware missing” message many do. (For what it is worth, literally while typing this, WiFi and Bluetooth began to work.)
Steps done to try to fix the issue:
- Installed beta version of Continuity Activation Tool for Sierra
- Renewed DHCP Lease (no effect, IP address, etc. not autofilled)
- Reset PRAM and SMC (multiple times)
- Uninstalled and reinstalled CAT (multiple times)
- WiFi briefly restored on restart after computer battery died, after next sleep and wakeup stopped working again
System reports below. Is this a bad card? Software incompatibility? I’d rather not continue with a consistently fragile WiFi connection just for the sake of having AirDrop, etc.. Many thanks for any help.
John
Bluetooth:
Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 5.0.5f4
Hardware, Features, and Settings:
Name: john’s MacBook Pro
Address: 5c-96-9d-98-4b-ec
Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: Yes
Handoff Supported: No
Instant Hot Spot Supported: No
Manufacturer: Broadcom
Transport: USB
Chipset: 20702A3
Firmware Version: v154 c5903
Bluetooth Power: On
Discoverable: On
Connectable: Yes
Auto Seek Pointing: On
Remote wake: Off
Vendor ID: 0x05AC
Product ID: 0x821D
HCI Version: 4.0 (0x6)
HCI Revision: 0x170F
LMP Version: 4.0 (0x6)
LMP Subversion: 0x229A
Device Type (Major): Computer
Device Type (Complete): Mac Portable
Composite Class Of Device: 0x38010C
Device Class (Major): 0x01
Device Class (Minor): 0x03
Service Class: 0x1C0
Auto Seek Keyboard: Off
WiFi:
Software Versions:
CoreWLAN: 11.0 (1200.31)
CoreWLANKit: 12.0 (1200.31)
Menu Extra: 12.0 (1200.47.1)
System Information: 12.0 (1200.3)
IO80211 Family: 12.0 (1200.12.2)
Diagnostics: 7.0 (700.5)
AirPort Utility: 6.3.7 (637.6)
Interfaces:
en1:
Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0xF5)
Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.100.26)
MAC Address: 5c:96:9d:98:4b:eb
Locale: APAC
Country Code: GB
Supported PHY Modes: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Supported Channels: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140
Wake On Wireless: Supported
AirDrop: Supported
Status: Not Associated
Es esta una buena pregunta?
Apologies for wasting anyone’s time, the issue appears to be mechanical. With the screen tilted forward, WiFi works fine; when it’s tilted back, WiFi drops. So I’m assuming that when replacing the card I disturbed some delicately balanced fraying wire that was already causing trouble but is now in worse condition. Something for others to keep in mind! Sadly, iFixit does not seem to offer just the antenna for this model.
- de jostehlin