Usb Airport Card For Mac
It seems that I have mixed up something totally.;) The BCM94360CS2 is only a 2x2 MIMO combo card (with only two antenna connectors) and is therefore NOT really suitable for upgrading an iMac! (It reaches max. 867Mbps WiFi speed.) In contrast, the BCM943602CS and BCM94360CSAX runs in 3x3 MIMO mode, - they will reach on the 5 GHz band up to 1.3 Gbps. However, on these card three U.FL female to MHF4 male plug antenna adapter cables (see my post) are needed. The BCM94360CD has four normal U.FL connectors, so no antenna adapters are needed. Well, on the BCM94360CD it is (strongly) recommended to install a fourth antenna. This will be a HARD task, - especially at an Unibody iMac (with aluminum backside).
Mar 10, 2009 - Older Macs may not have a slot for Apple's AirPort Card, and even if. This page covers USB, ethernet, PCI, and other WiFi hardware that is. The early PCI-based models -- the Power Mac G4 350 (PCI) and 400 (PCI)-- do not support an AirPort card. All other Power Mac G4 models support at least original AirPort (802.11b) while the 'Firewire 800' series -- the Power Mac G4 1.0. It is easy to use a USB Bluetooth dongle.
Regarding the cost, it is possible to get also at the Unibody iMac line an 802.11ac & BT4.x upgrade for approx $30. But as already mentioned, at least soldering of one cable is required. I think it was the USB power. So these crazy expensive 'upgrade kits' may be for some people a good alternative.;).
Well, I have done it, - finally!:) I have upgraded successfully a 24' iMac 7,1 and a 24' iMac 9,1 with an original 802.11ac & BT 4.0 Apple Broadcom BCM94360CSAX combo card. So far I can say the WiFi and Bluetooth functionality is working perfectly (and independently from each other) under Mac OS X and Windows 7 & 10. The original two 802.11n and the Bluetooth antennas can be reused (with adapters), - although they are of course not 802.11ac optimized.
Okay, what's needed? It seems that the situation has changed during the last months. There exists meanwhile the possibility to install an original Apple BCM94360CD, BCM94360CSAX or BCM943602CS (M.2) 802.11ac & Bluetooth combo card into an older Aluminum iMac. With that solution you will obtain at yours old iMac 802.11ac WiFi and full Bluetooth 4.x functionality. You have just to look for the right M.2 to Mini PCIe adapter. There are several sellers on ebay that offer “BCM94360CD upgrade kits”.
Because it’s an original Apple card it will work out of the box in Mac OS X, - at least in more recent versions like Mavericks and Yosemite. Under Yosemite you will also get the new Continuity & Handoff OS features. Keep in mind that with only two antennas (in 2x2 mode) you will only reach approx. 867 Mbps and not full 1.3 Gbps performance. The third antenna will be used for the new Bluetooth 4.0 function of the BCM94360CD card; - the old Bluetooth module has to be removed.
Of course you can add a fourth antenna to get the maximal (3x3) 1.3 Gbps 802.11ac performance. On an iMac computer it should be possible to install a further aerial but that may be not so easy.
The simplest 802.11ac (3x3 antenna config) upgrade can be realized with the BCM94360CSAX or BCM943602CS combo cards. They will internally shift between Bluetooth and 802.11ac. With the three available antennas of an iMac it should be possible to reach (near) 1.3 Gbps WiFi performance. 