blizzardkmb4

Q: MacBook's Wireless range diminished

About two weeks ago the wireless range on my MacBook suddenly fell dramatically, so I have to be about twice as close to the router to receive signal, corresponding to a four-fold decrease in signal reception.

Let's say X is the old wireless range. When the laptop is within 1/2X, the internet works perfectly. When I am at distance X, the network doesn't appear. When I am at 3/4X and try to connect to the network, I get "Connection timeout" notices. Sometimes after I enter in my password and click "Connect," the "Network Preferences" window reloads the password prompt dialog box, with an empty password. If I turn off the AirPort and turn it back on, the network often fails to appear unless I move back to within 1/2X.

The wireless router is 3Com, with WEP encryption. I am 99% sure that the problem is with my computer, because my brother's similar black Macbook gets wireless in the old areas with no problems. I'm using 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for DNS.

I've tried: Forgetting the wireless network and then reconnecting to it, powering off and on the router, manually entering the network name and password, and none of these steps has worked. I would appreciate if you could tell me other steps I can take to troubleshoot the problem, including possibly checking for damage to the wireless antenna. Thanks very much!

White late 2008 Macbook, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jul 5, 2010 7:22 PM

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Q: MacBook's Wireless range diminished

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  • by SHBshbshb,

    SHBshbshb SHBshbshb Oct 3, 2010 5:48 AM in response to Side_Step_Society
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2010 5:48 AM in response to Side_Step_Society
    SOLVED!!!

    One hour, new Airport Card, directions from iFixit.

    My 2006 MacBook Intel Duo Core running 10.5.8 was having serious wireless issues. Signal was GREATLY diminished and was happening on all wireless networks . . home, work, friends . . Had to sit in the same room as the router to use laptop.

    I'm writing this post sitting in a room where my MacBook did not work just yesterday. No signal at all. Now I have all four bars, strong signal.

    Well worth it to just replace the Airport Card.
  • by Side_Step_Society,

    Side_Step_Society Side_Step_Society Oct 3, 2010 6:39 PM in response to SHBshbshb
    Level 2 (434 points)
    Apple Music
    Oct 3, 2010 6:39 PM in response to SHBshbshb
    Great to hear! Can I ask where you purchased the new Airport card from? Looking for one myself.
  • by SHBshbshb,

    SHBshbshb SHBshbshb Oct 5, 2010 2:22 AM in response to Side_Step_Society
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 5, 2010 2:22 AM in response to Side_Step_Society
    I just purchased it directly from iFixit. I paid more than other places, but with their website I'm confident I truly have the correct part. You can select your model of Mac, then the project you want to do, and it brings you to the directions complete with a parts list. Click on the part and add it to your cart. I did not want to get the wrong card and have to deal with returns, etc. So, I probably paid a premium but worth it to me.

    What a relief to have it working again. Good luck!
  • by Spiffus,

    Spiffus Spiffus Oct 19, 2010 9:25 AM in response to Side_Step_Society
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 19, 2010 9:25 AM in response to Side_Step_Society
    Replacing the Airport Card in my MacBook Pro fixed the problem!

    After a failed part shipped and went back, I found the exact same model number for sale on eBay for $6.75 + $2.00 shipping. As soon as I installed it and booted up, the connection hit and hasn't failed since. I bought it from Laptop Aid, but there are many other eBay vendors as well.

    Good luck to everyone!
  • by mindmeltdown,

    mindmeltdown mindmeltdown Oct 22, 2010 2:51 AM in response to blizzardkmb4
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 22, 2010 2:51 AM in response to blizzardkmb4
    I replaced my airport card with one I purchased from iFixit and followed the provided online directions. I even opted for the upgrade to "n" from "g." I am happy to say that replacing the card fixed the problem!!! At least... for the past six hours.

    That said, the parts available from iFixit are a lot pricier compared to those on ebay or even the usb solution used by others in the post. I chose the iFixit parts because I wanted a part that works or at least was guaranteed to work.
  • by MarkPBG,

    MarkPBG MarkPBG Nov 11, 2010 9:01 PM in response to blizzardkmb4
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 11, 2010 9:01 PM in response to blizzardkmb4
    I just started checking into this problem with my macbook after suffering for years with diminishing wireless performance. My wifi didn't just drop out, it's been steadily declining over the last two years. I use iStumbler to monitor wifi networks and noticed that I started with over 90% signal strength from a distance of over 80 feet from the router (in the corner of our yard, outside) and it has steadily dropped to where i can't even get over 40% signal strength with the laptop right next to the router. (My connection to the internet "drops out" at between 40% and 60% signal strength, depending on environmental factors) I thought it was a router problem so I picked up a few over the years on sale (I now have 4). My iPhone can connect from 3 houses down the street. My laptop won't connect to my router(s) or my friends routers or at work, but my iPhone can without problem. Process of elimination makes me positive my macbook is the problem.

    I'll be ordering the new wireless card next week as I see it's worked for so many. iFixit instructions make it look as easy as the hard drive swap, just a few more screws and a few more minutes.
    Thanks for this thread and all the helpful answers pointing me to a solution. I don't know why I waited so long to fix it, life just got in the way.
  • by MarkPBG,

    MarkPBG MarkPBG Nov 12, 2010 6:30 PM in response to MarkPBG
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2010 6:30 PM in response to MarkPBG
    Update. Just to test out the theory, I went down to the local big box store and got a USB-WiFi adapter for under $10 and can now get online wirelessly from two houses down the street. I think for me at least, this confirms that the Airport Extreme card is indeed, dead.
  • by Julian G,

    Julian G Julian G Nov 25, 2010 8:16 AM in response to blizzardkmb4
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 25, 2010 8:16 AM in response to blizzardkmb4
    Here yet somebody else with the same problem. Or actually, it's my mother. She's always been able to access the time capsule's network with her macbook if her macbook was in the office while the time capsule is in the living room, about 10 meters apart. Now since about a week she can only access the network if the macbook is in the living room as well.

    It's good to know about the USB solution and the iFixit solution. However, I think Apple should actually offer a replacement program.

    I also filed a report at http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbook.html .
  • by gtgtg,

    gtgtg gtgtg Dec 10, 2010 1:26 PM in response to Julian G
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 10, 2010 1:26 PM in response to Julian G
    My 2006 macbook has the same problem. And I filed a report to apple, too, but do not have the hope of getting a replacement. Last time in order to ask for a replacement for the battery (the custom service refused), I have to file bbb.
  • by michael saggese,

    michael saggese michael saggese Dec 19, 2010 10:10 AM in response to gtgtg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 19, 2010 10:10 AM in response to gtgtg
    I replaced by card with a new card i got from MacProonline for 40 bucks.

    http://www.macproonline.com/Mac-Mini-Intel/Intel-Mac-Mini-Parts/Mac-Mini-Intel-M ac-Intel/Airport-Card-for-Mac-p5636885.html

    Worked great for a month, until this morning I ran into a dropped Airport signal and couldn't get it back. I had to restart the computer to get a signal. I came here to see if anyone is having a recurring problem, or if I should suspect the new card.
  • by Side_Step_Society,

    Side_Step_Society Side_Step_Society Dec 20, 2010 12:38 PM in response to michael saggese
    Level 2 (434 points)
    Apple Music
    Dec 20, 2010 12:38 PM in response to michael saggese
    Good (and bad) to see this thread is still alive!

    To those who are just now encountering the problem, please file a report with Apple and hopefully they'll address this. I do plan on purchasing a new WiFi card as well, but this is definitely something Apple should at least acknowledge. Even if they don't necessarily replace said cards.

    Thanks to all those who have already reported this issue!

    File your feedback report here:

    http://www.apple.com/feedback/
  • by glenh2oman,

    glenh2oman glenh2oman Dec 23, 2010 9:02 AM in response to Side_Step_Society
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 23, 2010 9:02 AM in response to Side_Step_Society
    I'm glad I found this thread. I'm not sure if I have exactly the same issue as reported by so many here, but it's too similar to ignore. My 2006 black MacBook has had Airport issues for quite a while now. It'll start out fine, but then signal strength drops drastically. I've got a Netgear N router w/ WEP encryption (I'd try WPA, but with several 'vintage' iBooks and such using original AirPort Cards on the network, WPA isn't an option.) I have had no issues with the other Apple machines, so I know it's a MacBook related issue. So what's different for me?

    Well, I noticed that once the signal drops, and my internet more or less stops, if I click the Airport icon and roll over the name of my wireless network twice, it often brings the signal back. Weird, huh? I'll explain a little further. The signal drops, I click the Airport icon and roll over the network name. It never changes anything on the first try. The second time I click and roll over, it'll act like it's rescanning for networks, and many times that'll bring the connection back. Whatever web page was stuck with about an inch of blue bar loads right like it should. Why would it do this when I rollover the wireless network name? This 'fix' only lasts for about 5 min. on average, which makes Netflix and Hulu next to impossible to use without annoyance. I've run the Apple Hardware Test from the install discs for the MacBook (both quick and long version) and found nothing.

    My iBook clamshells get better internet than my MacBook... something's wrong here :-/ Any ideas about the roll over would be appreciated. I'd rather not have to buy a USB stick or anything, as my USB ports are rather crowded already.
  • by michael saggese,

    michael saggese michael saggese Dec 24, 2010 3:09 PM in response to glenh2oman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 24, 2010 3:09 PM in response to glenh2oman
    So even with a new airport card the problem has returned after a month or so. The signal drops entirely and I can't get it back. The easiest fix is to put it to sleep, even for 2 seconds, and when it wakes up the signal is strong and working perfectly, bit it will drop again in about 5 minutes.

    Another fix i found in these threads works longer but not permanent, throwing out the file: "com.apple.systempreferences.plist"

    So it looks to be a software problem after all, at least on my machine.
  • by AttitudeIsEveryThing,

    AttitudeIsEveryThing AttitudeIsEveryThing Feb 20, 2011 1:06 PM in response to blizzardkmb4
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2011 1:06 PM in response to blizzardkmb4
    I have the same problem which started just few days ago. The only changes I could remember are the airport firmware update and some raw updates. Is there a way to downgrade the airport firmware update and retry it.
  • by mspecht,

    mspecht mspecht Feb 25, 2011 2:36 PM in response to AttitudeIsEveryThing
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2011 2:36 PM in response to AttitudeIsEveryThing
    Interesting thread. Around the start of the thread my Mini decided to become very slow on the wifi network, after hours of hunting, re-installed OS, Genius visit, reset router I gave up. Not used the mini as a Media Centre since then. About 2 weeks ago my girlfriend got a brand new Air, and guess what the Air has performance issues. Got my Windows 7 Thinkpad & the Air next to each other in the same room & tried copying 5mg images from the NAS. The Air took 6-7 times as long, about the same as when we tried on the Mini.

    No solution but this confirms to me that it is an Apple issue, not my WNDR3700 or other networking device.
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