Wifi/BT Solution for MSI B550M Mortar Max Wifi?

[alliance]

Hi,

I've just installed Sequoia, but I'm not sure what to do about the on-board Wifi/BT?

Motherboard in question:

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B550M-MORTAR-MAX-WIFI/Specification

AMD Wi-fi 6E

• The Wireless module is pre-installed in the M.2 (Key-E) slot
• Supports MU-MIMO TX/RX
• Supports 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz bandwidth in 2.4GHz/ 5GHz or 6GHz bands
• Supports 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac/ ax
• Supports Bluetooth® 5.2

Device manager states that it's a RZ608 Wif-Fi 6E 80MHz and RZ608 Bluetooth. I believe that's a MT7921?

Is there a solution for this, or do I need to buy a natively supported PCI-E card for the 2nd slot?

Any suggests of which card if so, or if the on-board can be used?

I'm hoping @Edhawk @Shaneee may know

 

[Edhawk]

The AMD WiFi 6e is likely to be a rebranded MediaTek WiFi/BT card, which currently lacks support. You would be able to see which card is being used by checking Device Manager in Windows or a network settings on a Linux Live USB.

Until you confirm the exact make and model of the card we won’t be able to help.

 

[alliance]

The AMD WiFi 6e is likely to be a rebranded MediaTek WiFi/BT card, which currently lacks support. You would be able to see which card is being used by checking Device Manager in Windows or a network settings on a Linux Live USB.

Until you confirm the exact make and model of the card we won’t be able to help.

Device manager states that it's a RZ608 Wif-Fi 6E 80MHz and RZ608 Bluetooth. I believe that means it's a MT7921, which isn't supported for BT or Wifi, correct?

If it won't work, is there any natively supported PCI-E cards you'd recommend for Sequoia/Tahoe @Edhawk @Shaneee

 

[Edhawk]

Correct.

Although there is a chance that a similar MediaTek WiFi/BT card (MT7922) will have support in a future version of Tahoe, when Apple release their new ‘less expensive’ MacBook, which is due for release later this month.

Sequoia supports the old Apple Broadcom WiFi/ BT cards when using OCLP. But until a new release of OCLP is available for Tahoe only the Bluetooth works natively.

There are some work arounds for getting compatible Intel WiFi and Bluetooth devices working in Tahoe. Itlwm.kext & the Heliport app work as expected in Sequoia. But using an Intel card means you don’t have access to the full range of Apple Continuity, Handoff, AirDrop or iPhone features.

 

[alliance]

Correct.

Although there is a chance that a similar MediaTek WiFi/BT card (MT7922) will have support in a future version of Tahoe, when Apple release their new ‘less expensive’ MacBook, which is due for release later this month.

Sequoia supports the old Apple Broadcom WiFi/ BT cards when using OCLP. But until a new release of OCLP is available for Tahoe only the Bluetooth works natively.

There are some work arounds for getting compatible Intel WiFi and Bluetooth devices working in Tahoe. Itlwm.kext & the Heliport app work as expected in Sequoia. But using an Intel card means you don’t have access to the full range of Apple Continuity, Handoff, AirDrop or iPhone features.

I don't like the OCLP method.

What cards BT/Wifi PCI-E cards work with Sequoia and Tahoe, ideally Tahoe, but I'll settle for Sequoia; please give me some makes/models/links

I don't use any of the Apple continuity stuff, so that's not an issue for me, I just need BT/Wifi working, I'm happy to use HeliPort and ITLWM again if needed.

Isn't there a decent Fenvi PCI-E card that everyone uses? I've no idea what it's called however

 

[Edhawk]

The Fenvi Broadcom based WiFi/BT card requires OCLP. It is the Fenvi T919, which uses the naive Apple Broadcom BCM94360CD chip.

There isn’t a newer Broadcom WiFi/BT card used by Apple in their most recent systems available from third-party retailers that work in macOS. That is why so many people switched to the Intel WiFi/BT cards when Sonoma was released.

If you don’t use the Apple features then an Intel AX201NGW, AX210NGW or similar card would work in both OS’s, but Tahoe requires a slightly different setup compared with Sequoia. However, this setup for Tahoe is known to cause issues with Ethernet ports not working.

I have no issues using OCLP in Sequoia. I probably have 20 x systems that are using OCLP. While I have a few systems that run Tahoe alongside Sequoia, Sonoma and Ventura I don’t use that OS much, as I do use the Apple WiFi & BT features.

In fact I have removed all bar one of the Intel cards I bought, and replaced them with the older native Broadcom cards, including a number of Fenvi T919 PCIe adapters.

 

[alliance]

The Fenvi Broadcom based WiFi/BT card requires OCLP. It is the Fenvi T919, which uses the naive Apple Broadcom BCM94360CD chip.

There isn’t a newer Broadcom WiFi/BT card used by Apple in their most recent systems available from third-party retailers that work in macOS. That is why so many people switched to the Intel WiFi/BT cards when Sonoma was released.

If you don’t use the Apple features then an Intel AX201NGW, AX210NGW or similar card would work in both OS’s, but Tahoe requires a slightly different setup compared with Sequoia. However, this setup for Tahoe is known to cause issues with Ethernet ports not working.

I have no issues using OCLP in Sequoia. I probably have 20 x systems that are using OCLP. While I have a few systems that run Tahoe alongside Sequoia, Sonoma and Ventura I don’t use that OS much, as I do use the Apple WiFi & BT features.

In fact I have removed all bar one of the Intel cards I bought, and replaced them with the older native Broadcom cards, including a number of Fenvi T919 PCIe adapters.

I don't use Ethernet, and havent in 16 years.
I've no ability to use it due to where the PC is.
So it's disabled on all of my motherboards.

Which is the better Intel card to go for?

Can I simply install HeliPort and ITLWM, and it'll work in Sequoia?
If so what about Tahoe?

Please say they don't require that fix by Chris?

 

[Edhawk]

AX210NGW is the better choice. But to be honest there isn’t much difference between the two I mentioned.

These cards can be bought from Amazon and eBay. They are available as M.2, as a direct replacement for your existing card, or pre-mounted on a PCIe card with antenna that require a spare PCIe slot and USB2 header on the motherboard for the Bluetooth module.

These WiFi 6e cards are only good if your router or AP are capable of working at the same speed, otherwise they might disappoint.

As with any WiFi/BT card signal strength is subject to local conditions and the placement of the PC case, distance to the router etc. So it might be worth looking in to an external antenna kit that puts the aerials up on your desk, rather than under a desk at the back of the case.

 

[alliance]

AX210NGW is the better choice. But to be honest there isn’t much difference between the two I mentioned.

These cards can be bought from Amazon and eBay. They are available as M.2, as a direct replacement for your existing card, or pre-mounted on a PCIe card with antenna that require a spare PCIe slot and USB2 header on the motherboard for the Bluetooth module.

These WiFi 6e cards are only good if your router or AP are capable of working at the same speed, otherwise they might disappoint.

As with any WiFi/BT card signal strength is subject to local conditions and the placement of the PC case, distance to the router etc. So it might be worth looking in to an external antenna kit that puts the aerials up on your desk, rather than under a desk at the back of the case.

Thanks.
So, does the AX210NGW work by 'just' installing Heliport with ITLWM in the kexts folder, along with the usual Bluetoolfixup etc?

I believe I 'only' have WIfi6 anyway, so as long as I can still use my full 60MB connection and achieve 7.7MB/S downloading, I'm happy

 

[Edhawk]

Yes, that is still the process for the Intel Bluetooth in Sequoia.
Along with adding the Bluetooth NVRAM Add/Delete entries to the config.plist

The Intel WiFi may require some additional tinkering in Tahoe.
Disabling AppleVTD springs to mind, but that may be an Intel specific issue.
Enabling DisableIoMapper in your config.plist might be necessary, but again that may also be an Intel fix.

 

[alliance]

Yes, that is still the process for the Intel Bluetooth in Sequoia.
Along with adding the Bluetooth NVRAM Add/Delete entries to the config.plist

The Intel WiFi may require some additional tinkering in Tahoe.
Disabling AppleVTD springs to mind, but that may be an Intel specific issue.
Enabling DisableIoMapper in your config.plist might be necessary, but again that may also be an Intel fix.

Thanks