Boughtanapplegotalemon
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Q: I have a new macbook pro w retina screen that cannot hold a wifi signal.  All trouble shooting has been done with my telco to no avail.  Would buying an airport help to keep the signal stronger?  I live 1km from a major CBD in Aust so its not remote.

I have a new macbook pro w retina screen that cannot hold a wifi signal. All trouble shooting has been done with my telco to no avail. Would buying an airport help to keep the signal stronger? I live 1km from a major CBD in Aust so its not remote.

Posted on Oct 18, 2015 11:07 PM

by Brett L,Solvedanswer
Brett L Brett L
Community Specialists
A:

Howdy Boughtanapplegotalemon,

 

I see you are a new user here at Apple Support Communities - welcome! I hope you will continue to contribute to the community with questions and answers.

 

If you are having difficulties staying connected to Wi-Fi with your MacBook Pro, I would suggest that you troubleshoot using the steps in this article - Use Wireless Diagnostics to help you resolve Wi-Fi issues on your Mac.

 

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

 

Best to you.

Posted on Oct 19, 2015 1:15 PM

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Q: I have a new macbook pro w retina screen that cannot hold a wifi signal.  All trouble shooting has been done with my telco to ... more

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  • by Boughtanapplegotalemon,

    Boughtanapplegotalemon Boughtanapplegotalemon Oct 20, 2015 4:04 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 4:04 PM in response to LaPastenague

    I've changed it on to 5G but don't know understand how to change channels - I'll see how it goes on 5G for an hour or so.  Should I send you another screen shot?

  • by Boughtanapplegotalemon,

    Boughtanapplegotalemon Boughtanapplegotalemon Oct 20, 2015 4:08 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 4:08 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Hi Bob

     

    Yes I did change to the 5G and not sure if I will buy the Airport yet.  It certainly feels like a con on the part of Apple.  They make inferior/faulty parts for their (newer) computers, refuse to acknowledge and/or help you with that then force you to buy more of their branded products just so you can use the product the way in which is it represented.  Very sleazy indeed and such a shame. 

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Oct 20, 2015 6:20 PM in response to Boughtanapplegotalemon
    Level 9 (52,937 points)
    Wireless
    Oct 20, 2015 6:20 PM in response to Boughtanapplegotalemon

    No,, it will either improve or it just will not be any improvement which points the finger at the whole router not just its wireless.

     

    These are very new on the market.. so Telstra has had almost zero experience with them.. unfortunately Telstra control the firmware to such an extent the OEM will wash their hands of all support.. it is not the first nor will be the last product touched by Telstra anti-midas touch.. all they touch turns to dust and rubble and pits and holes.

     

    Change channels is done via the gui of the modem.. not on the computer.

  • by Boughtanapplegotalemon,

    Boughtanapplegotalemon Boughtanapplegotalemon Oct 20, 2015 6:47 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 6:47 PM in response to LaPastenague

    Haha! Understand and agree re Telstra however it doesn't explain why every other device works perfectly, all day, every day, and the two brand new macbook pro's don't, even while in the same room as the older Mac's, PC's and iPad's etc.

     

    I didn't think I would ever deal with a company that had worse service, worse customer relations, worse products and more inflated prices but my latest dealings with Apple have been just that.  Arrogant, rude, self serving, non-responsive to any suggestion that there may be a problem with their devices, they have turned this once loyal customer into a disillusioned disbeliever!  Worst of all though, is this 'friendly, helpful' facade they peddle, which, nowadays simply does not exist, unless they are selling you something.  It's a sad slide of a once-innovative company.  I can't help feeling like a former Telco CEO has taken over the reigns - so similar is the experience.

     

    Unfortunately the 5G did help for ac couple of hours but then began dropping out again.   BooHoo!

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Oct 20, 2015 9:54 PM in response to Boughtanapplegotalemon
    Level 9 (52,937 points)
    Wireless
    Oct 20, 2015 9:54 PM in response to Boughtanapplegotalemon

    There is a comment here where the guy has a new new Macbook running El Capo.. and the problem is the DNS is set to google.

     

    Whereas it should pick up DNS from the router via DHCP.. it might be worth checking if DNS is set wrongly.

     

    Problems with my Macbook connecting to work wireless

     

    Did you laptop you bought come with El Capo.. or did you upgrade install it after you got it..??

     

    It matters because upgrade installs IMHO never work 100% and wireless has been poor on the last few upgrades until people clean installed after it.

  • by Boughtanapplegotalemon,

    Boughtanapplegotalemon Boughtanapplegotalemon Oct 20, 2015 10:18 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 10:18 PM in response to LaPastenague

    Not sure what El Capo is but I have done a complete system sweep and reinstall as part of the trouble shooting.  I've looked to see if I have El Capo (and didn't know) but nothing is showing up.  Not sure how to check if the DNS is set to google or not.  I'm not that tech savvy I'm afraid!

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Oct 20, 2015 10:30 PM in response to Boughtanapplegotalemon
    Level 9 (52,937 points)
    Wireless
    Oct 20, 2015 10:30 PM in response to Boughtanapplegotalemon

    El Capo = El Capitan OS..

     

    If you reinstalled did you do it clean.. ie from a USB stick or over the top of the existing OS??

     

    You find out settings by opening preferences .. network section.

     

    Click on advanced.

     

    Screen Shot 2015-10-21 at 4.23.51 PM.png

     

    Go to the DNS tab.

     

    Screen Shot 2015-10-21 at 4.24.16 PM.png

     

    Make sure your DNS servers here are the same as in the other devices that do work.. if not set them manually.. press the - at the bottom and remove all the existing DNS and then click the + to add fixed DNS.. but this is usually not a good idea if you want to use the laptop on other connections. e.g.. when you travel.

  • by Boughtanapplegotalemon,

    Boughtanapplegotalemon Boughtanapplegotalemon Oct 20, 2015 10:27 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 10:27 PM in response to LaPastenague

    It came with yosemite and I installed it using My Passport over that. 

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Oct 20, 2015 10:39 PM in response to Boughtanapplegotalemon
    Level 9 (52,937 points)
    Wireless
    Oct 20, 2015 10:39 PM in response to Boughtanapplegotalemon

    Upgrade install can cause all kinds of issues.. You need to follow the instructions for clean install.. but you should do a full backup first as this will mess up anything you now have loaded on the Laptop.. this is where taking it back to apple they can do the clean install for you.

     

    http://macs.about.com/od/OSXElCapitan/ss/How-to-Perform-a-Clean-Install-of-OS-X- El-Capitan-on-Your-Mac.htm

     

    It might not fix it but it has a lot more chance of working than anything else I can think of.

     

    It tends to be better to wait and see how a new OS is going. Whether it be Mac or Windows or iOS or android.. if you want a trouble free life.. stick to what works.. and leave the upgrades to the bleeding edge people.. think Norman Gunston.. the little Aussie bleeder.. there is always blood on the first people to use a new OS.. it is never without injury.

     

    You can try an NVRAM reset first.. and SMC .. but I am not sure it will help.

     

    How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by Boughtanapplegotalemon,

    Boughtanapplegotalemon Boughtanapplegotalemon Oct 20, 2015 10:45 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 10:45 PM in response to LaPastenague

    I only have my mobile here ATM which works perfectly with the wifi and the DNS is the same on both. 

  • by Boughtanapplegotalemon,

    Boughtanapplegotalemon Boughtanapplegotalemon Oct 20, 2015 11:04 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 11:04 PM in response to LaPastenague

    Once I read this I remembered I did this clean and reinstall guided by an Apple Tech.  Apple also did the changeover from my old laptop to this one using MY Passport.  I don't think repeating it will help? 

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Oct 21, 2015 2:48 PM in response to Boughtanapplegotalemon
    Level 9 (52,937 points)
    Wireless
    Oct 21, 2015 2:48 PM in response to Boughtanapplegotalemon

    Ok.. that is about all I can suggest..

     

    You don't need to spend heaps.. buy a Gen5 AE from ebay to test if that is the problem. If it still has issues with the AE.. then you can go back to Apple and say it doesn't work with apple wireless.. and that is much more convincing to them that there is an issue.

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