[QUESTION] How to use USB bluetooth dongle instead of built-in one?

[hdamico]

Hello! As you may know, the bluetooth works really bad, so I am trying to replace the built-in bluetooth with an USB bluetooth dongle, but I am not sure where should I start, I found this repo, followed the steps but it's not working, I am guessing that I need to disable the built-in one first, but I don't know how. Does someone make it work?

The steps that I followed:

• Downloaded the last release.
• Copied BrcmBluetoothInjector.kext, BrcmFirmwareRepo.kext, BrcmPatchRAM3.kext and BrcmNonPatchRAM2.kext (this last one just in case) and pasted on /Library/Extensions.

[profzei]

Hi @hdamico

• If you want to disable internal Bluetooth you may try this: I made it for another user but never had feedback...
• As a second step, then you need to check if your external Bluetooth dongle is compatible with the repo you found...
• As a last step you need to be very sure whether it is appropriate to put kexts on /Library/Extensions or in /EFI/OC/Kexts folder

[hdamico]

The approach for disabling the bluetooth works, but my dongle is not working yet, I saw from a subreddit that my dongle should work with the injector, so I am not sure what to do.

[profzei]

• Try to add the following code in your config.plist immediately after the (end of the) call for SMCProcessor (and before the call for WhateverGreen) in Kernel -> Add section:

  <dict>
  <key>Arch</key>
  <string>x86_64</string>
  <key>BundlePath</key>
  <string>BrcmFirmwareData.kext</string>
  <key>Comment</key>
  <string>Bluetooth dongle Firmware</string>
  <key>Enabled</key>
  <true/>
  <key>ExecutablePath</key>
  <string>Contents/MacOS/BrcmFirmwareData</string>
  <key>MaxKernel</key>
  <string></string>
  <key>MinKernel</key>
  <string></string>
  <key>PlistPath</key>
  <string>Contents/Info.plist</string>
  </dict>
  <dict>
  <key>Arch</key>
  <string>x86_64</string>
  <key>BundlePath</key>
  <string>BrcmBluetoothInjector.kext</string>
  <key>Comment</key>
  <string>Bluetooth dongle Injector</string>
  <key>Enabled</key>
  <true/>
  <key>ExecutablePath</key>
  <string></string>
  <key>MaxKernel</key>
  <string></string>
  <key>MinKernel</key>
  <string></string>
  <key>PlistPath</key>
  <string>Contents/Info.plist</string>
  </dict>
  <dict>
  <key>Arch</key>
  <string>x86_64</string>
  <key>BundlePath</key>
  <string>BrcmPatchRAM3.kext</string>
  <key>Comment</key>
  <string>Bluetooth dongle Patch</string>
  <key>Enabled</key>
  <true/>
  <key>ExecutablePath</key>
  <string>Contents/MacOS/BrcmPatchRAM3</string>
  <key>MaxKernel</key>
  <string></string>
  <key>MinKernel</key>
  <string></string>
  <key>PlistPath</key>
  <string>Contents/Info.plist</string>
  </dict>

• (Cross your fingers and ) Reboot your device!

[hdamico]

Alright! Now is working, I deleted all the kexts from /Library/Extensions and put BrcmFirmwareData.kext, BrcmBluetoothInjector.kext and BrcmPatchRAM3.kext on /EFI/OC/Kexts.

So, the steps are:

• Disable built-in bluetooth by doing this.
• Edit /EFI/OC/config.plist and add these new lines.
• Download the lastest release from here.
• Extract and copy BrcmFirmwareData.kext, BrcmBluetoothInjector.kext and BrcmPatchRAM3.kext and paste them on /EFI/OC/Kexts.
• Done!

Thanks @profzei you are awesome!!

[samwzlim]

@hdamico Hope you don't mind me asking, but which bluetooth usb dongle did you use in particular? I'm also thinking of purchasing one, as the experience with built-in bluetooth is far from great.

Other than that, does using a Broadcom bluetooth dongle provide more continuity services (e.g. airdrop, apple watch unlock)? Looking forward to hearing from you!

[hdamico]

@samwzlim sure! I bought this dongle, it does not provide much improvment but at least it solved my problem of my bluetooth peripherals getting random disconnections. So, in my opinion if you are hoping to get a better experience with apple services, this won't change much.

[samwzlim]

@samwzlim sure! I bought this dongle, it does not provide much improvment but at least it solved my problem of my bluetooth peripherals getting random disconnections. So, in my opinion if you are hoping to get a better experience with apple services, this won't change much.

Oh I see, thanks! I see you got the one with the BCM20702 chip inside. I'm trying to find that exact model, but unfortunately, it isn't sold in my country. The only one I can get my hands on is the CSR8510 A10 chip. Have you had any experience with this specific model, by any chance? Based on my research, it's either hit or miss with this dongle.