coachhomer

Q: Can I improve the wifi strength of the wifi card in the macpro?

I have a wireless router that all of my devices connect to just fine but my macpro has a very weak signal strength and it is only 25 feet away from the router and it is in a line of sight.  Is there a way to boost the wifi signal strength on the macpro?  Is there a better internal wireless card I could install?

 

thanks,

 

C

Posted on Jul 12, 2011 12:48 PM

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Q: Can I improve the wifi strength of the wifi card in the macpro?

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  • by sig,

    sig sig Jul 12, 2011 5:38 PM in response to coachhomer
    Level 8 (35,798 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 12, 2011 5:38 PM in response to coachhomer

    Mac Pro or MacBook Pro?

  • by K T,

    K T K T Jul 12, 2011 5:53 PM in response to coachhomer
    Level 7 (23,844 points)
    Publishing
    Jul 12, 2011 5:53 PM in response to coachhomer

    Typically, if that signal is valid, the first thing to do is reduce other signals in the local environment.

     

    That said, you can also buy a low cost dual antenna wireless router and add it to the mix

  • by sig,

    sig sig Jul 13, 2011 4:08 AM in response to K T
    Level 8 (35,798 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 13, 2011 4:08 AM in response to K T

    I was thinking a better router. 25 feet, direct line of site. Should be a great signal. However, what the signal looks like is not necessarily an indication of a good solid connection. Use:

    http://www.speedtest.net/

  • by coachhomer,

    coachhomer coachhomer Jul 13, 2011 6:24 AM in response to sig
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 13, 2011 6:24 AM in response to sig

    The signal strength is definitely terrible.  To answer the other post, it is a mac pro.  I am operating at a download speed of 30 mbs on my laptop and the mac pro is at 1.5 mbs.  I had been using the honeywell wireless extender through the dc of my house, but the airport base station seemed to interfere with the proprietary wireless router that my ips provided.  The mac pro should have a better signal strength.  I have iphones, ipads, and imac, and they all have good signal from various places within the house. 

     

    thanks,

     

    C

  • by dfocke,

    dfocke dfocke Feb 8, 2012 11:26 AM in response to coachhomer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 8, 2012 11:26 AM in response to coachhomer

    My Wifi speed drops from 20M to 1.5M when I close the lid to use external monitor.  Apple support says it be because of the position of the antenna in the lid, but it is an inconvenience.   Any device to add to Mac Book as external antenna?

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Feb 8, 2012 11:39 AM in response to dfocke
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Feb 8, 2012 11:39 AM in response to dfocke

    There was a post somewhere and wondering if the Mac Pro case blocked or interferred with signal and strength. Also, just left a long (one of the longest threads) about MacBook Air and wifi issues and dropping... on the newest models and 10.7.3 no less which a friend just bought.

     

    I'd look into PCIe wifi or USB dongle.

     

    Also, I wasn't satisfied and when I switched from ADSL to cable and I used that as an excuse to get a new and higher quality router that does a better stronger signal (but nowhere near 20 ft coverage, and Netgear Wifi Extended didn't help all that much). I would have liked to use wired connection to the Extender and see how that works (running cat6 through wall or across the basement).

     

    Different vendors, different compatibility, which is why I have stuck with an all-one vendor setup (Netgear).

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Feb 8, 2012 1:55 PM in response to coachhomer
    Level 9 (61,185 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 8, 2012 1:55 PM in response to coachhomer

    If you are 25 feet away, and line of sight, consider running an Ethernet cable. The speeds will be much better. Most Wireless Routers have an extra port or two for just this purpose.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Feb 8, 2012 1:57 PM in response to dfocke
    Level 9 (61,185 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 8, 2012 1:57 PM in response to dfocke

    dfocke-

     

    Mac OS X is very flexible in its treatment of display options. There is no need to close the lid to use a second display. The antenna is in the display surround, so yes, that will kill your wireless performance.

  • by dfocke,

    dfocke dfocke Feb 8, 2012 2:07 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 8, 2012 2:07 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Thanks.   How do I kill my notebook display without shutting the lid?

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Feb 8, 2012 2:12 PM in response to coachhomer
    Level 9 (61,185 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 8, 2012 2:12 PM in response to coachhomer

    An additonal Wireless base station can interfere with your existing Network -- or it can be a tremendous booster. It all depends on having then set up so that they have the same Network name and same broadcast channel. This is hard to set up without looking at what channel the main Router is using, and properly configuring the relay or remote base station to only bridge, not act as a full-blown Router. A "stumbler" program can be very helpful as well.

     

    Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring a Wireless Distribution System (802.11b/g)

     

    One other issue is the antenna wires inside your Mac Pro. They may not be securely attached to the wirelss card. Some users have reported that a different selection of two of the three provided wires gave better reception.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Feb 8, 2012 2:30 PM in response to dfocke
    Level 9 (61,185 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 8, 2012 2:30 PM in response to dfocke

    There are two options for using a second display. The first is called Mirroring. Its disadvantage is that the resolutions available for the second display must also be possible for the built-in display. The picture is replicated, which can be a distraction.

     

    The second option is activated when Mirroring is unchecked. It is called "Extended Desktop". The pixels of the second display are used to extend the built-in display along an edge you can specify in the

    |  Arrange  |  pane that appears when this option is active. The external display can be specified anywhere (up down left right) from the built-in. The mouse moves freely across the boundary between the displays, and windows can be dragged and dropped on either display or split across them.

     

    The tiny MenuBar can also be moved to the external display to designate it as Primary (when present). This would allow you to ignore the built-in whenever you choose. If the external is present the important stuff will be there, and the built-in will just show a copy of the desktop background.

     

    My son used his in a slightly different way. He put the external up on about four-inch blocks, then opened his MacBook below it. He then used both screens at one to have lots of windows open.

  • by Diablito Ricci,

    Diablito Ricci Diablito Ricci Oct 1, 2013 10:10 AM in response to coachhomer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 1, 2013 10:10 AM in response to coachhomer

    It is absolutely a problem with the MacBook Pro's antenna. I also have a MacBook 6,1, an iPad 1st gen, iPhone 5 and an iMac 27" - all of which read the 30mb down wireless signal from the Airport Extreme no problem. It's ONLY my MacBook Pro 6,2 i7 that receives at 3mb down (all tested through www.speedtest.net).

     

    I did more testing and found that the MacBook Pro by itself has poor reception (18 mb down, about half speed). What makes it really bad is when you connect an external monitor (3mb down), even when the top is open.

     

    It's not what is the problem (it's the internal antenna), but what new internal or external antenna has anyone found to replace the stock internal antenna?

  • by Diablito Ricci,

    Diablito Ricci Diablito Ricci Nov 25, 2013 8:05 AM in response to coachhomer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 25, 2013 8:05 AM in response to coachhomer

    SOLUTION FOUND to MacBook Pro poor Wi-Fi wireless signal.

     

    First, let's talk about the actual problem: too much signal noise. There is a hidden app in OSX called "Wi-Fi Diagnostics" This will tell you everything you need to know why your Wi-Fi is not working!

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5606

    HINT: It is included in 10.7, just look for it.

     

    The solution!

    Turn off your wi-fi and run your internet through your home's electrical wires. Power-line adapters are devices that turn a home's electrical wiring into network cables for a computer network.
    http://reviews.cnet.com/2733-3243_7-568-8.html

     

    I purchased TP-LINK TL-PA511 and for the first time I'm downloading with ALL my internet speed (30mb down / 5mb up) tested via www.speedtest.net. I'M SOOOOO HAPPY!!!!

    http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-PA511-Powerline-Starter-Kit/dp/B0081FLFQE/ref=s r_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385395374&sr=8-1&keywords=TP-LINK+TL-PA511

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Nov 25, 2013 8:13 AM in response to Diablito Ricci
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Nov 25, 2013 8:13 AM in response to Diablito Ricci

    They don't have a MacBook Pro, better to just  post there.

     

    > To answer the other post, it is a mac pro.

     

    Had to really be looking to uncover year old thread.

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