dantart
Level 1 (1 points)

Q: Macbook Pro Late 2013 network (WiFi and ethernet) issues

I must admin first, that I've read this complete articles before asking here:

 

- 2013 MacBook Air WiFi Problems (high latency, dropped connections) [Updated]

   http://www.midwesternmac.com/blogs/jeff-geerling/2013-macbook-air-wifi-problems

 

- New Macbook Air - wifi connectivity problems (the 141 pages all of them)

   https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5100655

 

- How-to Fix OS X 10.9 Mavericks – Wi-Fi Issues

   http://howtoapple.com/mavericks-wifi-issues-fix/

 

- Late 2013 Macbook Pro Retina 13'' Wifi Issues (the 44 pages all of them)

   https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5535320?start=630&tstart=0

 

- And some other pages looking for "macbook pro late 2013 network issues"

   https://www.google.es/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=macbook+pro+late+2013+networ k+issues

 

I have my "old" 2008 Macbook Pro, and I've bought a new one (late 2013 version). I've experienced serious network issues, not only WiFi as everybody is claiming on the Internet, but also ethernet network issues, and I'd like to share here my benchmarcks.

 

I've tried everything described in those articles and others I found, as to:

 

- clean PRAM

- reset SMC

- delete System Configuration folder (bluetooth and/or wifi and/or complete folder)

- upgrade to 10.9.3

- change order (to put Wifi first) in network preferences locations

- disable iCloud completely

- disable "Wake for Wi-Fi network access" in Energy Saver

- disable bluetooth

- create a little script to ping every 0.2 the router

  - reinstall everything (fresh install 10.9)

 

All tests were done in a clean environtment (just the current testing device connected to the network), and even reseting router in each test. My network is a 100Mb fiber optic. (I performed other tests in 3 other 100Mb networks and in a 50Mb network, and results are the same). I also did tests with a Windows 7, and Windows 8 laptops and have no problems at all (obviously).

 

I did all tests with http://testvelocidad.eu, a page when you can check network speed.

 

 

TESTS WITH MACBOOK PRO 2008

 

Ethernet. Speed shown in tests (in Mbps): 74, 79, 71, 82, 74, 81, 89, 70, 25, 76, 81, 83, 77, 79  (average  74.3, top of 89!)

Wifi. Speed shown in tests (in Mbps): 45, 48, 50, 44, 41, 47, 39, 45, 43, 36, 41, 42, 49, 50  (average 44.2, top of 50!)

 

NOTES:

- This Macbook connects to my WiFi with 802.11n

- Bluetooth does not affect the tests at all

- The graph grows normally and test is running well

 

TESTS WITH NEW MACBOOK PRO LATE 2013

 

Bluetooth OFF

 

Ethernet. Speed shown in tests (in Mbps): 43, 45, 42, 40, 40, 30, 35, 44, 37, 35, 39, 48, 37, 36  (average 39.3) << SLOW !!  Top 48

Wifi. Speed shown in tests (in Mbps): 24, 23, 18, 21, 24, 25, 22, 23, 20, 24, 19, 23, 21, 20 (average 21.9)  << SLOW !!  Top 25

 

NOTES:

- New Macbook connects to my WiFi with 802.11g, impossible to get a "n" connection even touching everything in router. I had an option to just connect to "n" networks, and then WiFi does not even recognize my network.

- I tried with DHCP, and static IP (both in WiFI and ethernet tests)

- I tried changing the MTU manually to 1453 as some forums said (in WiFi test) (https://www.google.es/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=macbook+wifi+issues+change+m tu+manually)

- It's curious when running the test (both in WiFI and ethernet tests), the graph is growing and after 4/5 seconds, it shows flat line for the rest of the 10 seconds test, never grows again (http://cl.ly/image/1w473J0L0J2I)

 

Bluetooth ON

 

Ethernet. Speed shown in tests (in Mbps): 41, 45, 40, 39, 47, 46, 46, 43, 42, 41, 46, 47, 49, 47, 42, 44  (average 44) << SLOW AGAIN !!  Top 49

Wifi. Speed shown in tests (in Mbps): 3, 5, 4, 3, 2, 4, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3 (average 3.3)  << DRAMATICALLY SLOW !!   Top 5

 

NOTES:

- It's curious when running some of the tests, that after 2 seconds, the graph is frozen, does not move at all for 3/4 seconds and then the test finishes suddenly, it seems the network hangouts for a while!

 

 

Summarizing questions happening JUST IN NEW MACBOOK PRO:

 

- Why Bluetooth is affecting drastically the WiFi performance ?  (from average to 25 to 5)

 

- Why even turning off Bluetooth I can't get the same network Wifi speed as old laptop does ?   (from average to 44 to 21)

 

- Why I can't get the same network ethernet speed as old laptop does ?   (from average to 74 to 44)

 

- Why can't Ethernet connection can't get more than 45/50 Mbps in all cases ?

 

- Why can't I connect to 802.11n networks (more people happening, http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/131455/why-doesnt-my-macbook-pro-retina -connect-to-802-11n) ?

 

I know I can change the laptop for other new (store staff told me so, and I have Apple Care too), but I think this will happen again, since it's a hardware/software issue from Apple.

 

Thank you for any help

Posted on May 25, 2014 12:33 AM

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dantart

Q: Macbook Pro Late 2013 network (WiFi and ethernet) issues

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  • by dantart,

    dantart dantart May 25, 2014 6:57 AM in response to dantart
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 25, 2014 6:57 AM in response to dantart

    I have to clarify that all things happening with this late 2013 Macbook Pro, didn't and do NOT happen with the MacBook Pro of 2008.

     

    So it's no about asking for "new features", but having working at least the ones I have with the grand-grand-father of this laptop.

  • by dantart,

    dantart dantart May 25, 2014 12:18 PM in response to dantart
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 25, 2014 12:18 PM in response to dantart

    I have slightly better results when changing bluetooth driver, but far from normal.

     

    Also I wonder the common point ethernet and wifi share, since it's not a WiFi problem but a network problem itself ... hardware ? software ? both ?

  • by Spy_Break_de,

    Spy_Break_de Spy_Break_de May 25, 2014 1:02 PM in response to dantart
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 25, 2014 1:02 PM in response to dantart

    Ethernet? I tried a USB-Ethernet-Adapter the other day and performance felt ok (didn't measure, but big files were copied quickly).

     

    I also think it's a driver issue because I can connect to some 802.11n networks, but it's rare. One theory is that n doesn't work at 2.4 GHz.


  • by dantart,

    dantart dantart May 26, 2014 3:18 AM in response to dantart
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 26, 2014 3:18 AM in response to dantart

    I've went to the store, and they opened a NEW Macbook Pro to test it.

     

    It happens THE SAME.

     

    C'mon! I can't believe it ... Did nobody notice this before ?

     

    WIFI TEST:

    We did same Wifi test (close to router) and:

    - With my old MacBook Pro 2008, I got 50Mbits

    - With the new one, and the other new one opened, we got about 15/20 Mbits

     

    ETHERNET TEST:

    We did the same ethernet test connected to a 100Mbits network with the same cable:

    - With my old MacBook Pro 2008, I got 102Mbits (in all tests, no exception)

    - With the new one, and the other new one opened, we got about 50/60 Mbits

     

    The most amazing thing is that nobody reported this !!!

    Or maybe it's a wrong shipment from Apple ...

  • by Spy_Break_de,

    Spy_Break_de Spy_Break_de May 26, 2014 4:17 AM in response to dantart
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 26, 2014 4:17 AM in response to dantart

    I guess nobody noticed because for surfing the Internet it's fast enough.

  • by dantart,

    dantart dantart May 26, 2014 4:23 AM in response to Spy_Break_de
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 26, 2014 4:23 AM in response to Spy_Break_de

    That's EXACTLY what I'm afraid of

     

    But some people (as me) works with big amounts of data, and 50Mbits is not enough (that's because I paid a 100Mbits at home and office).

     

    We are not talking about satellite or special bandwidth ... 100Mbits is quite normal nowadays.

     

    The thing, as you said, is that this laptops are used by people that does not need more than 20 Mbits to surf Internet and play Youtube videos and see cats.

     

    But all of this "sad" conclusion does not solve an Apple problem.

     

    They can not sell a Macbook Pro of 2014, and gives you LESS features than a MacBook Pro of 2008.

     

    Wouldn't you expect at least the same (or better normally) features when you but iPhone 5 comparing to the iPhone 4 ?

     

    This has to be solved yes or yes ... they have downgrade bandwidth features drastically.

     

    I don't know where to contact or to say this.

  • by dantart,

    dantart dantart May 26, 2014 5:50 AM in response to Spy_Break_de
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 26, 2014 5:50 AM in response to Spy_Break_de

    Anyway... People don't need Retina 2880px resolution to surf Internet  and it has and it works...

     

    I'm just "claiming" the specs it has (it should has)

  • by Spy_Break_de,

    Spy_Break_de Spy_Break_de May 27, 2014 4:07 AM in response to dantart
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 27, 2014 4:07 AM in response to dantart

    What did the guy at the AppleStore tell you? Did you try to contact Apple support?

  • by dantart,

    dantart dantart May 27, 2014 4:13 AM in response to Spy_Break_de
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 27, 2014 4:13 AM in response to Spy_Break_de

    They avoid any responsability ...

    They sold a new MacBook Pro with features BELOW a nother Macbook Pro 6 years before.

     

    And the officially named "Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter", is not Gibabit ... it does not support more than 60/70 Mbits.

  • by Spy_Break_de,

    Spy_Break_de Spy_Break_de May 27, 2014 8:08 AM in response to dantart
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 27, 2014 8:08 AM in response to dantart

    Have you tested performance with something like iperf3 or just copying files around?

  • by dbc0308,

    dbc0308 dbc0308 Sep 4, 2014 4:53 AM in response to dantart
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 4, 2014 4:53 AM in response to dantart

    Hi! Did you guys come to a solution? I have the exact same problem with the high-end mid 2014 MBPr. I'm on the phone with apple support right now.

  • by dbc0308,

    dbc0308 dbc0308 Sep 4, 2014 4:55 AM in response to dbc0308
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 4, 2014 4:55 AM in response to dbc0308

    Just to add, I was able to get 802.11n network when I created a home network over my old MBP 2008 (guess we have the same situation dantart). The new MBPr connected with n-network. Crazy...

  • by dbc0308,

    dbc0308 dbc0308 Sep 4, 2014 1:16 PM in response to dbc0308
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 4, 2014 1:16 PM in response to dbc0308

    After an hour and a half with apple support we reached a conclusion that it might be a problem with my home router (netgear CG3100). I did iphone tethering and home network on the old MBP and when i connected with the new MBPr the 802.11n was activated, on both occasions. Next up is testing with other routers to see if this is a persistent problem or just at home.

     

    2 things come to my mind:

    - Why does a brand new laptop have problem connecting with 802.11n when an old one does it without a flawlessly?

    - Is this problem only between this particular router or does it affect a wider range?

     

    Hope this helps someone stuck with this issue.

  • by RobinD61,

    RobinD61 RobinD61 Oct 1, 2014 1:14 PM in response to dbc0308
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 1, 2014 1:14 PM in response to dbc0308

    My wife just got a MBPr 13" (mid-2014) and there are wifi issues !

    Yesterday, she tried to copy some big files to our NAS and it was extremely slow.

    So I checked the TX rate and it was varying from 11Mbits to even 1Mbits !! and she was like 2 meters away from the routeur ! (Cisco e4200).

     

    While with my MBP 2010 I was connected at 150 Mbps ! (2,4ghz network).

     

    Today, after a reboot, the speed seems "better" : 44-56mbits but I saw that her mode PHY is 802.11g while I am connected as 802.11n on the exactly same network !!

    What is wrong ?!

     

    I was thinking about buying a new MBPr 15" for myself, but this issue is a blocker for me...

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