I recently started playing around with one of those RFDuino’s. These are microchips with BLE built-in and with the Arduino framework built around it. It’s easy to connect them to a iOS device, but if you want to connect them directly to your Mac, it’s a little bit harder.
One of the things you’ll need, is BLE support on your Mac. One way to check this is issuing the following command:
system_profiler -detailLevel full SPBluetoothDataType | grep "LMP Version"
If you see a response like
LMP Version: 0x6
Then you’re in luck, if you see a lower value, like
LMP Version: 0x4
Then you need to buy a BLE Dongle, like me. I bought a LM506 Bluetooth 4.0 adapter from LM Technologies, which actually has the Broadcom BCM20702A0 chip inside it. On Mavericks, this chip should work ‘out of the box’, but it didn’t😦
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You’ll have to select which Bluetooth chip you want to use. The built-in one or the external. You can’t use both. To do this you have to download the Hardware IO Tools for Xcode from the Apple Developers site (just search for it). Then, run Bluetooth Explorer. Choose ‘HCI Controller Selector’ from the tools menu.

Select your BLE chip and press activate!

If you’re using a Bluetooth mouse, you will have to re-pair your mouse again.
So that’s it. Now I can start using those RFDuino’s with my Mac🙂
what do you think the chance that a Mac with one of those will be able to use Handoff in Yosemite?
My thoughts exactly
Same hope for my iMac2011 to use HandOff. Anyone tried this yet?
Same here. Waiting….
no dongles enable handoff sorry, only option is to update the wifi/bluetooth card
can that be done?
The host controller selector will not allow me to activate the broadcom device. I should note that I am using Yosemite. Is there any way around this?
The same, even choosing ‘activate’ doesn’t make it active
same problem here, it jump always on the built-in controller… any work around?
Works great, but how can I make this controller selection permanent? I just want my 2010 Mac Mini to always use the 4.0 dongle…
Thank’s a million, now my Apple Wireless keyboard and Magic Trackpad don’t disconnect from mac mini 2011 anymore. I’m using USB Bluetooth TRUST 18187, 3Mbps, v4.0.
Thank you!
I bought a USB dongle with chip “Cambridge Silicon Radio”. And it works perfect with my Bluetooth headphones with microphone.
But my MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) say “Compatible with Handoff: No”
Thanks for a helpful post. I was able to use this procedure to get a iogear Bluetooth 4.0 USB Micro Adapter (Model GBU521) to work on my 2008 Imac.
My Bluetooth mouse worked immediately.
I had to go to the devices menu, select “Low Energy Devices”, and then hit “Start Scanning” to get the adapter to see my Korg microKEY 2 AIR keyboard. Once selected, it worked great!
Just picked up an SMK-Link BT 4.0 “Nano Dongle” (LE + EDR) Model VP6495 from Fry’s + a USB extender cable, used the re-assignment tip above, running like a charm. I’ve got a Varidesk, and the steel frame (albeit awesome construction!) was interfering with the BT signal to my MacPro sitting on the back corner of my desk for both my Kanex keyboard and Magic Mouse.
Thank you for this – it helped me a lot. I got a dongle with the BCM20702 Chipset and it was a super easy install. Works like a charm. Cheers.
http://www.elftronix.com/installing-macos-compatible-bluetooth-usb-dongle/