Jump to content

Inventory of supported/unsupported wireless cards #2, Sierra -> Ventura & beyond


Hervé

Recommended Posts

  • Administrators

Last update: 13 Nov 2023

This 2nd inventory comes to complement our original one created back in 2013 which is now restricted to cover wireless cards under Snow Leopard 10.6 to El Capitan 10.11. This new list will provide the equivalent for macOS versions (Sierra 10.12 and later) given that it's getting complicated to keep everything under a single text table and Apple has been increasingly dropping support for wireless cards since the introduction of macOS Sierra in 2016. 

I invite everyone to bring his/her own contribution and it'll be added to the list. This post will be updated as contributions come along in order to keep the list under control. Hardware specifications can be verified here: https://wikidevi.wi-cat.ru.

 

A few OS X/macOS-related wireless cards buying guides also exist where summarised chipset support is available. Please use your preferred search engine to look these up, we won't provide links since this would infringe our own posted rules.


Note:

  1. OOB = Out of the Box
  2. /!\ Sierra 10.12 dropped support for old Broadcom BCM431x and BCM4321 cards. There is no workaround, they have to be replaced. /!\

  3. /!\ Mojave 10.14 dropped support for Atheros cards. The workaround is to install the Atheros40 kext from an earlier release like High Sierra 10.13.6, i.e. copy to /L/E + repair permissions + rebuild cache. /!\

  4. /!\ Catalina 10.15 no longer supports injection or caching of High Sierra's AirPortAtheros40 kext. Instead, install High Sierra's IO80211Family kext, i.e. copy to /L/E + repair permissions + rebuild cache (leaving /S/L/E untouched) or, if that does not work, replace Catalina's IO80211Family kext in /S/L/E by High Sierra's. /!\

  5. /!\ Catalina 10.15 dropped support for BCM4322 (14e4:432b). AirPortBrcm4331 plugin kext of IO80211Family kext was abandoned. This affects cards such as DW1510. Workaround is to simply install Mojave's (or High Sierra's) IO80211Family kext, i.e. copy to /L/E + repair permissions + rebuild cache (leaving /S/L/E untouched) or, if that does not work, replace Catalina's IO80211Family kext in /S/L/E by Mojave's (or High Sierra's) but this will need to be done again after each update because vanilla kexts will be re-installed. /!\

  6. /!\ Intel wireless: some recent models may now enjoy support thanks to development detailed on OpenIntelWireless Github repo.

  7. /!\ Big Sur dropped support for BCM4331 (14e4:4331) and BCM43224 (14e4:4353). A patched version of Catalina's IO80211Family kext may be used as workaround (only AirPort4360 PlugIn is retained). Kext can then be called from OC config by setting minimum kernel to version 20. See here for details. /!\

  8. /!\ Atheros cards previously supported in High Sierra and earlier (eg: AR928x, AR9380) can be supported under Big Sur with a patched version of High Sierra's IO80211Family kext . Kext can then be called from OC config by setting minimum kernel to version 18. See here for details. /!\

  9. /!\ Monterey 12.x does not support patches/workarounds for dropped cards such as Atheros or Broadcom BCM4322. Same for Broadcom BCM4331 or BCM43324. Such cards have to be replaced by models supported in Monterey.

  10. /!\ Sonoma drops all official support for Broadcom "legacy" cards that were natively supported up to Ventura (chipsets BCM4350, BCM4360, BCM43602). OCLP patcher is now required for all non-Intel wireless cards that were previously supported.

 


Unsupported:
Vendor  Model       Format    Ven-Dev    Chip       Rate     Si HS Mj Ca BS Mt Vt OOB  Kext/comment

Intel    -             -               -        -              -        -  -   -  -   -  -   -   N    See here

 

Atheros  AR5BXB6       Mini PCIe   168c-001c   AR5424       A/B/G       N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -

 

AzureWave AW-CB161H    ½Min PCIe   10ec-8821   RTL8821AE    A/B/G/N/AC  N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -

 

AzureWave AW-CB209NF   NGFF/M.2    10ec-8821   RTL8821AE    A/B/G/N/AC  N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -

AzureWave AW-CB210NF   NGFF/M.2    14e4-43ec   BCM4356      A/B/G/N/AC  N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -

AzureWave AW-NB155NF   NGFF/M.2    14e4-4365   BCM43142       B/G/N     N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -

 

Dell     DW1390        Mini PCIe   14e4-4311   BCM4311        B/G       N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -
Dell     DW1395        Mini PCIe   14e4-4315   BCM4312        B/G       N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -
Dell     DW1490        Mini PCIe   14e4-4312   BCM4311      A/B/G       N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -
Dell     DW1505        Mini PCIe   14e4-4328   BCM4321      A/B/G/N     N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -

Dell     DW1397        ½Min PCIe   14e4-4315   BCM4312        B/G       N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    (=DW1395)
Dell     DW1501        ½Min PCIe   14e4-4727   BCM4313      A/B/G/N     N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -
Dell     DW1503        ½Min PCIe   14e4-4727   BCM4313      A/B/G/N     N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -
Dell     DW1504        ½Min PCIe   14e4-4727   BCM4313        B/G/N     N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -
Dell     DW1530        ½Min PCIe   14e4-4359   BCM43228     A/B/G/N     N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -
Dell     DW1540        ½Min PCIe   14e4-4359   BCM43228     A/B/G/N     N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -
Dell     DW1701        ½Min PCIe   14e4-4727   BCM4313        B/G/N     N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -
Dell     DW1704        ½Min PCIe   14e4-4365   BCM43142       B/G/N     N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -

 

Dell     DW1810        NGFF/M.2    168c:0042   QCA9377      A/B/G/N/AC  N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    (=QCNFA435)

Dell     DW1820        NGFF/M.2    168c:003e   QCA6174A     A/B/G/N/AC  N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    (=QCNFA344A)

 

Qualcomm QCNFA435      NGFF/M.2    168c-0042   QCA9377      A/B/G/N/AC  N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -

Qualcomm QCNFA344A     NGFF/M.2    168c-003e   QCA6174A     A/B/G/N/AC  N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -

 

Ralink   RT5390        ½Min PCIe   1814-539b    RT5390        B/G/N     N  N   N  N   N  N   N   -    -


Supported:
Vendor  Model       Format    Ven-Dev    Chip       Rate     Si HS Mj Ca BS Mt Vt OOB  Kext/comment
Intel    -             -               -        -              -        -  -   -  -   -  -   -   N    See here

 

Atheros  AR5B91        Mini PCIe   168c-002a   AR9281         B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   Y    * See above for Mojave
Atheros  AR5BXB72      Mini PCIe   168c-0024   AR5418/5133  A/B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   N    patch Atheros40
Atheros  AR5BXB92      Mini PCIe   168c-002a   AR9280       A/B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   Y    -
Atheros  AR5BXB112     Mini PCIe   168c-0030   AR9380       A/B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   Y    -
Atheros  AR5B22        Mini PCIe   168c-0034   AR94621       A/B/G/N     Y  ?   *  *   ?  N   N   N    FW + Atheros40 patch

Atheros  AR5B93        ½Min PCIe   168c-002a   AR9283         B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   Y    -
Atheros  AR5B95        ½Min PCIe   168c-002b   AR9285         B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   N    DSDT/Atheros40 patch
Atheros  AR5B97        ½Min PCIe   168c-002e   AR9287         B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   N    DSDT/Atheros40 patch
Atheros  AR5B195       ½Min PCIe   168c-002b   AR9285         B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   N    (=AR5B95+BT3.0)
Atheros  AR5B197       ½Min PCIe   168c-002e   AR9287         B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   N    (=AR5B97+BT3.0)
Atheros  AR5BHB92      ½Min PCIe   168c-002a   AR9280       A/B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   Y    -
Atheros  AR5BHB112     ½Min PCIe   168c-0030   AR9380       A/B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   Y    -
Atheros  AR5B125       ½Min PCIe   168c-0032   AR94851         B/G/N     Y  ?   *  *   ?  N   N   N    FW + Atheros40 patch
Atheros  AR5B225       ½Min PCIe   168c-0032   AR94851         B/G/N     Y  ?   *  *   ?  N   N   N    FW + Atheros40 patch

AzureWave AW-NB037H    ½Min PCIe   168c-002b   AR9285         B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   N    (=AR5B195)
AzureWave AW-NB048H    ½Min PCIe   168c-002b   AR9285         B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   N    (=AR5B195)
AzureWave AW-NB290H    ½Min PCIe   14e4-4357   BCM43225       B/G/N     Y  Y   Y  Y   Y  Y   Y   N    DSDT/kext patch
AzureWave AW-CE123H    ½Min PCIe   14e4-43b1   BCM4352      A/B/G/N/AC  Y  Y   Y  Y   Y  Y   Y   N    DSDT/kext patch

AzureWave AW-CB160H    ½Min PCIe   14e4-43a0   BCM4360      A/B/G/N/AC  Y  Y   Y  Y   Y  Y   Y   Y    -

Dell     DW1502        ½Min PCIe   168c-002b   AR9285         B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   N    (=AR5B95)
Dell     DW1506        ½Min PCIe   168c-0032   AR94851         B/G/N      Y  ?   *  *   ?  N   N   N    (=AR5B125)
Dell     DW1510        ½Min PCIe   14e4-432b   BCM4322      A/B/G/N     Y  Y   Y  *   *  N   N   Y    -
Dell     DW1515        
½Min PCIe   168C-002a   AR9280       A/B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   Y    (=Atheros xB92)
Dell     DW15202       ½Min PCIe   14e4-4353   BCM43224     A/B/G/N      Y  Y   Y  Y   *  *   *   Y/N   MBA5,2/Brcm4360 patch
Dell     DW1550        ½Min PCIe   14e4-43b1   BCM4352      A/B/G/N/AC  Y  Y   Y  Y   Y  Y   ?   N    DSDT/kext patch
Dell     DW1601        ½Min PCIe   168c-0034   AR94621       A/B/G/N/AD  Y  Y   *  *   ?  N   N   N    (=AR5B22)
Dell     DW1702        ½Min PCIe   168c-002b   AR9285         B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  N   N   N    (=AR5B195)
Dell     DW1703        ½Min PCIe   168c-0032   AR94851         B/G/N      Y  Y   *  *   ?  N   N   N    (=AR5B225)
Dell     DW1705        ½Min PCIe   168c-0036   AR95651         B/G/N      Y  Y   *  *   ?  N   N   N    FW + Atheros40 patch

Dell     DW1560        NGFF/M.2    14e4-43b1   BCM4352      A/B/G/N/AC  Y  Y   Y  Y   Y  Y   ?   N    DSDT/kext patch
Dell     DW1707        NGFF/M.2    168c:0036   AR95651         B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   ?  N   N   N    FW + Atheros40 patch 
Dell     DW1802        NGFF/M.2    168c-0034   AR94621       A/B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   ?  N   N   N    (=AR5B22)
Dell     DW1820A3      NGFF/M.2    14e4-43a3   BCM43503      A/B/G/N/AC  Y  Y   Y  Y    *  *    *   N    DSDT patch/injection

Dell     DW1830        NGFF/M.2    14e4-43ba   BCM43602     A/B/G/N/AC  Y  Y   Y  Y   Y  Y   Y   Y    -

 

Fenvi    BCM94360NG    NGFF/M.2    14e4-43a0   BCM4360      A/B/G/N/AC  Y  Y   Y  Y   Y  Y   Y   Y    -


Asus     USB-N10       USB 2.0     0b05-1786   RTL8188SU      B/G/N     ?  ?   ?  ?   ?  ?   ?   N    RealTek's v2.0.1
Asus     USB-AC51      USB 2.0     0b05-17d1   MT7610U      A/B/G/N/AC  ?  ?   ?  ?   ?  ?   ?   N    Asus's driver
CSL      Nano V.2      USB 2.0     0bda-8176   RTL8188CUS     B/G/N     Y  Y   Y  Y   Y  Y   ?   N    ?
D-Link   DWA-121 A1    USB 2.0     2001-3308   RTL8188CUS     B/G/N     Y  Y   Y  Y   Y  Y   ?   N    ?
Lafalink LF-D10 Nano   USB 2.0     148f-7601   MT7601         B/G/N     Y  Y   Y  Y   ?  ?   ?   N    Ralink's v4.2.9.10/RT2870 Driver
Lafalink LF-D12 Nano   USB 2.0     148f-5370   RT5370         B/G/N     ?  ?   ?  ?   ?  ?   ?   N    Ralink's v4.2.9.2
NetGear  WNA3100M      USB 2.0     0846-F001   RTL8192CU      B/G/N     ?  ?   ?  ?   ?  ?   ?   N    Realtek's v2.0.1
On-Nwrks N300          USB 2.0     0846-F001   RTL8192CU      B/G/N     ?  ?   ?  ?   ?  ?   ?   N    Realtek's v2.0.1
Tenda    W522U         USB 2.0     148f-3572   RT3572       A/B/G/N     Y  Y   ?  ?   ?  ?   ?   N    TP-Link/Ralink
TP-Link  TL-WN725N v2  USB 2.0     0bda-8179   RTL8188EUS     B/G/N     Y  Y   Y  ?   ?  ?   ?   N    TP-Link's driver

TP-Link  TL-WN723N v3  USB 2.0     0bda-8179   RTL8188EUS     B/G/N     Y  Y   Y  ?   ?  ?   ?   N    TP-Link's driver

TP-Link  TL-WN823N v1  USB 2.0     0bda-8178   RTL8192CU      B/G/N     Y  Y   Y  ?   ?  ?   ?   N    TP-Link's driver

TP-Link  TL-WN823N v2  USB 2.0     2357-0109   RTL8192EU      B/G/N     Y  Y   Y  ?   ?  ?   ?   N    TP-Link's driver

TP-Link  TL-WN823N v3  USB 2.0     ????-????   ????           B/G/N     Y  Y   Y  Y   ?  ?   ?   N    TP-Link's driver

Asus     USB-AC56      USB 3.0     0b05-17d2   RTL8812AU    A/B/G/N/AC  ?  ?   ?  ?   ?  ?   ?   N    Asus's driver

Asus     PCE-AC66      PCIe x1     14e4-43a0   BCM4360      A/B/G/N/AC  Y  Y   Y  Y   Y  Y   Y   Y    -
Asus     PCE-AC68      PCIe x1     14e4-43a0   BCM4360      A/B/G/N/AC  Y  Y   Y  Y   Y  Y   Y   Y    -
TP-Link  TL-WN781ND v1 PCIe x1     168c-002b   AR9285         B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  *   *   N    DSDT/Atheros40 patch

TP-Link  TL-WDN4800    PCIe x1     168c-0030   AR9380       A/B/G/N     Y  Y   *  *   *  *   *   Y    -

TP-Link  Archer T9E    PCIe x1     14e4-43a0   BCM4360      A/B/G/N/AC  Y  Y   Y  Y   Y  Y   Y   Y    -


NB: Patching means adding the PCI ids of the listed card to the Info.plist file found inside the listed kext. In rare cases, binary patching may also be necessary.
 
For some cards, DSDT Patching can be a suitable and permanent alternative to kext patching (no need to repatch a kext after OS X updates and upgrades or new installations). For instance, in the case of the Atheros AR5B95 card (chip AR9285 168c,2b), adding compatibility with a chip known to be supported OOB such as AR9380 168c,30 or AR9280 168,2a (as found in the vanilla Atheros40 kext) in a _DSM method for the identified DSDT device does the trick once and for all since it'll make the OS load the associated kext:

 

                Device (<YourDevice>)   // Identified wireless device through IORegistryExplorer (usually: ARPT)
                {
                    ...
                    ...
                    ...
                    Method (_DSM, 4, NotSerialized)    // Device Specific Method for the wireless card
                    {
                        Store (Package ()
                        {
                            "model", 
                            Buffer (0x1E)
                            {
                                "Atheros AR5B95 b/g/n Wireless"
                            }, 
                            "device_type", 
                            Buffer (0x08)
                            {
                                "AirPort"
                            }, 
                            "built-in", 
                            Buffer (One)
                            {
                                0x00
                            }, 
                            "name", 
                            Buffer (0x10)
                            {
                                "AirPort Extreme"
                            }, 
                            "AAPL,slot-name", 
                            Buffer (0x09)
                            {
                                "Internal"
                            }, 
                            "compatible",      // Declares compatibility with a device
                            Buffer (0x0B)
                            {
                                "pci168c,30"   // PCI id of device supported OOB
                            }
                        }, Local0)
                        DTGP (Arg0, Arg1, Arg2, Arg3, RefOf (Local0))
                        Return (Local0)
                    }
                }

`
In the same respect, in the case of the Broadcom BCM4322x cards (e.g.: chip BCM43225 14e4,4357) or BCM4352 cards (14e4,43b1), adding compatibility with a chip known to be supported OOB such as BCM94360 14e4,43ba or 14e4,43a0 (as found in the vanilla AirPortBrcm4360 kext or AirPortBrcmNIC) in a _DSM method for the identified DSDT device does the trick once and for all since it'll make the OS load the associated kext:

                Device (<YourDevice>)   // Identified wireless device through IORegistryExplorer (usually: ARPT)
                {
                    ...
                    ...
                    ...
                    Method (_DSM, 4, NotSerialized)    // Device Specific Method for the wireless card
                    {
                        Store (Package ()
                        {
                            "model", 
                            Buffer (0x23)
                            {
                                "AzureWare AW-NB290H b/g/n Wireless"
                            }, 
                            "device_type", 
                            Buffer (0x08)
                            {
                                "AirPort"
                            }, 
                            "built-in", 
                            Buffer (One)
                            {
                                0x00
                            }, 
                            "name", 
                            Buffer (0x10)
                            {
                                "AirPort Extreme"
                            }, 
                            "AAPL,slot-name", 
                            Buffer (0x09)
                            {
                                "Internal"
                            }, 
                            "compatible",      // Declares compatibility with a device
                            Buffer (0x0B)
                            {
                                "pci14e4,43a0" // PCI id of device supported OOB
                            }
                        }, Local0)
                        DTGP (Arg0, Arg1, Arg2, Arg3, RefOf (Local0))
                        Return (Local0)
                    }
                }

`
Broadcom BCM43224-based cards with id 14e4:4353 (e.g.: DW1520) are subject to whitelisting in AirPortBrcm4360 kext. Wireless will only work if using the SMBIOS of a supported Mac model or after binary patching the kext to inject the Mac board-id of the desired SMBIOS. See our patching guide on the matter.


________________
AR946x (168c,34), AR9485 (168c,32) and AR9565 (168c,36) work to some degree (i.e. not 100%) with alternative (re-written) Atheros40 driver as posted at InsanelyMac by Chunnann. Further patching facility posted here. These cards appear very poorly supported to plain unsupported from High Sierra. They are NOT recommended.

 
2 DW1520 (14e4,4353) is known to suffer from frequent and repeated wireless disconnections when plugged into mini PCIe-only slot and built-in Bluetooth is enabled. This may even lead to wireless turning off. This has been noticed on Dell Latitude E6x20 and E6x30. Wireless works Ok once built-in Bluetooth is disabled in BIOS or, as stated by wl_michael, if the card is fitted into combo PCIe/USB slot such as WWAN.

 

3 DW1820A and other BCM4350-based cards are supported. See our BCM4350 guide for these cards.

 

* See top of post for Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey and Ventura.

 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrators

For Catalina 10.15:

 

1/ DW1510/Broadcom BCM4322-based cards require replacing the vanilla IO80211Family kext in /S/L/E by Mojave's (or High Sierra's) version. Of course, Catalina system partition must first be mounted in RW mode to that effect (see our FAQ section for details). No need to replace IO80211FamilyV2 kext at all.

 

DW1510 802.11n 2.4/5GHz card:

DW1510_Catalina.jpg

 

DW1510_Catalina_5GHz.jpg

 

 

2/ Atheros cards require replacing the vanilla IO80211Family kext in /S/L/E by High Sierra's version. Of course, Catalina system partition must first be mounted in RW mode to that effect (see our FAQ section for details). No need to replace IO80211FamilyV2 kext at all.

 

Atheros AR5BXB92 (AR9280) 802.11n 2.4/5GHz:

AR5BXB92_Catalina_10.15.jpg

 

AR5BXB92_Catalina_5GHz.jpg

 

Atheros AR5B93 (AR9283) 802.11n 2.4GHz:

AR5B94_Catalina.jpg

 

AR5B93_Catalina_2.4GHz.jpg

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrators

Folks, these inventory threads are just that: inventories; not support threads.

 

Any subsequent post requesting support for wireless cards will either be moved to its own threads or deleted without prior notice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrators

REMINDER:

As stated here, Sonoma drops all official support for Broadcom "legacy" wireless cards previously natively supported up to Ventura, the only hardware remaining natively supported being based on Apple proprietary Broadcom SOCs that aren't available to PCs/Hackintosh platforms. The only way to obtain wireless services on older Broadcom or Atheros cards is to patch Sonoma with OCLP patcher and apply all necessary/relevant properties & kext injections. Details available here.

 

Intel cards are not impacted by this and require same 3rd party arrangement as before (ITLWM).

 

As a result, this inventory will no longer be updated past Ventura which effectively froze the situation.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
×
×
  • Create New...