scbaschmidt
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: iMac will not establish an airport connection

I realize that there are pieces of this question all over the threads and good but I am truly at my wits end and looking for any other options. I have an iMac (2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 about 14 months old) running OS X 10.6.8 and am unable to establish an airport connection (continues to get a self-assigned IP starting with 169...) with my Fritz!Box 7300 router. I can get a connection fine with the ethernet and I currently have 2 iPad's, 2 iPhone 3GS's and a MacBook Pro all working fine off of the wireless internet, it is simply the iMac that continues to get a self assigned IP address. I have attempted every fix I can find on here and google to include deleting various files (com.apple.alf.plist, com.apple.airport.preferences.plist, networkinterfaces.plist, preferences.plist) and rebooting, deleting the keychain for the router, resetting the router at various points in the troubleshooting process, changing the router channel, re-installing OS, turning the firewall on and off and anything else I can find to no avail. I had a glimmer of hope two days ago when it connected via the airport card for about two hours and then it stopped working again. I also tried to manually enter an IP address, the router information, etc. using my MacBook settings as a template and an IP address that was in my routers range, no luck. Oh, we also took it to the Genius Bar who stated there was nothing wrong with the internet on the computer. Is there a chance my airport card just went bad? Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on May 28, 2013 2:17 PM

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scbaschmidt

Q: iMac will not establish an airport connection

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BDAqua,Helpful

    BDAqua BDAqua May 28, 2013 3:11 PM in response to scbaschmidt
    Level 10 (123,825 points)
    May 28, 2013 3:11 PM in response to scbaschmidt

    Hi, doesn't seem it'd be the Wifi card if it worked foe Apple!?

     

    When you did the Manual IP, did your MBP get kicked off?

     

    How many connections does your Router allow? Is the Router set to only allow certain HW MAC addresses?

     

    Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712

     

    10.5, 10.6, 10.7 & 10.8…

     

    System Preferences>Network, top of window>Locations>Edit Locations, little plus icon, give it a name.

     

     

    10.5.x/10.6.x/10.7.x instructions...

     

    System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.

     

    The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.

     

    If using Wifi/Airport...

     

    Instead of joining your Network from the list, click the WiFi icon at the top, and click join other network. Fill in everything as needed.

  • by scbaschmidt,

    scbaschmidt scbaschmidt May 29, 2013 1:49 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 29, 2013 1:49 PM in response to BDAqua

    Thanks for the suggestion. I gave it a shot and created the new location with no luck however the router did connect for a second and then self-assigned an IP again.

     

    The MBP did not get kicked off when I entered the manual IP, I used the router info and just assigned an IP address that was later in the sequence .1__ so as not to conflict with currently assigned or already used IP's.

     

    My router will allow up to 180 IP address ranging from ending in .20 to .200.

     

    I am willing to keep trying if anyone has any more suggestions.

     

    Thanks!

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jun 1, 2013 10:41 AM in response to scbaschmidt
    Level 10 (123,825 points)
    Jun 1, 2013 10:41 AM in response to scbaschmidt

    Only thing I can think of is one of these...

     

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/MXP3802NU2C/

     

    http://store.bearextender.com/products/bearextender-mini

  • by scbaschmidt,

    scbaschmidt scbaschmidt Jun 1, 2013 11:24 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 1, 2013 11:24 AM in response to BDAqua

    I truly wish it was a signal issue though I may buy one of those anyway. My MBP is sitting right next to the computer that won't get an IP address and has full signal. I am at a loss on this one.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jun 1, 2013 2:48 PM in response to scbaschmidt
    Level 10 (123,825 points)
    Jun 1, 2013 2:48 PM in response to scbaschmidt

    Hmmm, with the latest info, sounds like SW, but it working for Apple would negate that... I can't think what else to try.

     

    Any USB3 or Bluetooth devices close to this Mac?

  • by flaviomale,

    flaviomale flaviomale Jun 1, 2013 7:57 PM in response to scbaschmidt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 1, 2013 7:57 PM in response to scbaschmidt

    i have the same imac...im experiencing something like this, i dont know much about all those stuff you are talking of SW and entering manual ip and that stuff ... for me its like im on internet all is fine but all of the sudden im like offline without a reason but the wifi signal is full, my other devices are O.k ... then i have to turn off airport then turn it on OR select another wifi around and then selecting mine again and it works again... but it keeps kicking me out somethings like every 2 mins and somethings works fine ... by now i dont know what to do.

     

    i really need help here, did something of the things up there worked for someone ?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jun 2, 2013 12:45 PM in response to flaviomale
    Level 10 (123,825 points)
    Jun 2, 2013 12:45 PM in response to flaviomale

    Try the new location & set service order, & Join other, it's worked for many, but not all.

  • by flaviomale,

    flaviomale flaviomale Jun 3, 2013 8:09 PM in response to scbaschmidt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2013 8:09 PM in response to scbaschmidt

    didnt worked.... i create a location again... i realized i did it once but i did it again and im connected but then puff im out again, i click asistent then diagnose to see if there is problems with my network then i have like configure it again my location selecting my wifi and now says that its all fine and the connection works again for like 30 secs then im off again. i dont know it looks like when the asistent tryes to access the network all gets better for seconds but when it chills kicks me off...

     

    i realized another thing.. when its really late night and (i think) there is no internet traffic the connection is really smoth and nice and i dont get dc

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jun 3, 2013 9:56 PM in response to flaviomale
    Level 10 (123,825 points)
    Jun 3, 2013 9:56 PM in response to flaviomale

    Try changing the Channel on your Router.

  • by scbaschmidt,

    scbaschmidt scbaschmidt Jun 4, 2013 1:34 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2013 1:34 PM in response to BDAqua

    So on a tip from a friend here is what I tried tonight with success. I changed the setting on my router from 802.11n+b+g to only 802.11b+g. Is there traditionally a problem with "n" routers and iMac's that anyone knows of? Thanks for all of the input and suggestions.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jun 4, 2013 3:41 PM in response to scbaschmidt
    Level 10 (123,825 points)
    Jun 4, 2013 3:41 PM in response to scbaschmidt

    Great work, 802.11n isn't as good at passing through walls is all I'm aware of.

  • by flaviomale,

    flaviomale flaviomale Jun 7, 2013 9:22 AM in response to scbaschmidt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 7, 2013 9:22 AM in response to scbaschmidt

    TY ! I solved my problem thx to you!

  • by yigal_d,

    yigal_d yigal_d Nov 19, 2013 9:20 AM in response to scbaschmidt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 19, 2013 9:20 AM in response to scbaschmidt

    I had the exact same problem: only my iMac mid 2011 refused to connect to my Fritzbox 7360 over WiFi. Changing 802.11n+b+g to 802.11b+g (under Fritz > WLAN > Radio Channel) solved the problem.

     

    Thanks!

  • by Thomas Bauer,

    Thomas Bauer Thomas Bauer Nov 20, 2013 11:57 PM in response to scbaschmidt
    Level 3 (615 points)
    Nov 20, 2013 11:57 PM in response to scbaschmidt

    One more in the line!  same problems, my Macbook connected withoiut problems to my new Fritz!box, but the iMac ("mid-2011", 2.5 GHz intel, 10.8.5) refused to stay on: i could connect it for 5 to 20 seconds only. After restricting the WLAN standard to "802.11b+g", it seems to work.

    A big "Thankyou" to the unnamed friend of scbaschmidt !