I know this is a FreeBSD Forum, but this is the Off Topic Area and while I use a mac nearly exclusively for my personal workstation, FreeBSD is my server choice.
So, this topic was very poorly documented on the internet in general and someone needs to make credible information searchable on the internet.
I have often asked myself what is apple doing to these new retina macs that come out as they didn't seem any different than mine. I don't know all the differences but I was not happy to discover my mac didn't support the super fast wifi speeds now available over 802.11 ac.
In early 2013 mac and prior they only supported n speed.
At the store I was told everything in the retina was soldered in. Happily it turns out this in not entirely the case.
The internal wifi adapter along with what looks like an m2 ssd card are in fact removable.
How awesome, so when my hard disk performance deteriorates, I don't have to throw out my mac and buy a new one
Party !!!
On to Business...
You need to look up your exact mac model.
Notes here is the card I purchased from Broadcom:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PDN4H9E?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00
So, this topic was very poorly documented on the internet in general and someone needs to make credible information searchable on the internet.
I have often asked myself what is apple doing to these new retina macs that come out as they didn't seem any different than mine. I don't know all the differences but I was not happy to discover my mac didn't support the super fast wifi speeds now available over 802.11 ac.
In early 2013 mac and prior they only supported n speed.
At the store I was told everything in the retina was soldered in. Happily it turns out this in not entirely the case.
The internal wifi adapter along with what looks like an m2 ssd card are in fact removable.
How awesome, so when my hard disk performance deteriorates, I don't have to throw out my mac and buy a new one
Party !!!On to Business...
You need to look up your exact mac model.
- Click on about this mac
- Click on system report
- Click on Hardware
- Look up Model Identifier
- You will need this to ensure the wifi card you buy will fit your chassis.
- Mine was a MacBookPro10,1
- Amazon stock the wifi card and there is a big range in price.
- I bought mine for 30 dollars while other charged as much as 80 dollars for the same one.
- You basically need something along the lines of Bcm94360csax
- Make sure you research which card you need for 802.11 ac
- The card on amazon should list compatible chassis
- Once you get the right card you are ready for some surgery
- The things you need to work with are small, very very small.
- I needed a magnifying glass a bright led work light and needle
- You will need some special torx bits to remove the cover and the card.
- The screws also are super small and probably easily damaged
- So be careful !
- The bottom cover comes of with a T 1.5 torx bit
- The card comes out with a T 5 torx bit
- You need a very small plastic pry bar to pop off the 3 antenna wires attached to the card
- If you damage these you not be able to get them back on and will be in some trouble
- So after you pop off the 3 wired, remove the one screw holding the card in and carefully lift it up slightly and remove it.
- There is some non conductive gum on the bottom of the card.
- The new card should have some new gum already on it.
- If it doesn't remove the gum and apply it to the bottom of your new card
- Install the new card
- Put the screw back in and again be careful not to over tighten it, its small and doesn't need much torque.
- Unless your vision is excellent along with great lighting you will benefit from some electronic magnifying glasses with a led light on them to install the antenna wires
- The attaching ends are basically a doughnut with s very small pin in the center.
- Inspect the plugs on the end of each cable and clean up with a needle if necessary so you can get the plugs back on the new card.
- Make sure the wire plugs are perpendicular to the card ports, line them up and gently snap them down on to the plug
- You should hear a metallic snap noise when it seats down.
- Dont force this or you will damage the plug and not get it attached again.
- Patience and gentleness is very key here.
- Once you have this done, not might be a good time to blow the dust out of the 2 cooling fans, the intake and output air ports.
- If you use compressed air, be carefully as there are many small plugs on the main board, along with other important item you could blow away.
- Get the cover seated back in and snapped into place and careful start but not tighten all the screws, to make sure everything lines up.
- Then carefully tighten each screw while taking care not to strip them.
- You should be done.
- Power up your mac
- Go back to about my mac
- Click on system report
- Click on wifi
- You should now see 802.11 ac as an available connection speed
Notes here is the card I purchased from Broadcom:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PDN4H9E?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00
