AustinBike

Q: 2014 Mini (10.10.2) 2.4GHz wifi will not connect, 5GHz fine

I have a new mini (december) that is running 10.10.2.

 

For months the wifi seemed to be fine (I was hard wired most of the time).  But the other day I started having wireless issues.

 

I also have a MacBook air and multiple routers throughout the house.

 

On my MacBook Air (and all of the other clients in the house), every access point is visible, 2.4GHz and 5GHz.  I can connect to any of them without any problem.  So I am 99.9% sure that the issue is not in my router or in my network.


The Mini cannot connect to the 2.4GHz router sitting 6" away.  The Macbook Air can access it fine. All devices can see it and connect with no issue.  The mini, however, cannot.  I have a router in the living room, 2.4 and 5GHz.  Every device can connect to either band, no issues.  The mini can connect to the 5GHz from across the house.  No issue.  It, however, CANNOT attach to the 2.4GHz, just like it cannot attach to the 2.4GHz sitting next to it.

 

I replaced the office router with another 2.4GHz router, again sitting 6" from the mini.  Every device in the house can see it and connect, the mini cannot.

 

I have done every bit of trouble shooting and keep coming back to the fact that the mini cannot connect to any 2.4GHz.

 

I check for visible wifi:  The mini see 3 total (all in my house) the Macbook sees 10, the 3 in my house and 7 nearby.

 

I have set static IPs, changed channels and done just about anything and still, the 5.8GHz works fine across the house, the 2.4GHz keeps getting "connection timeout" errors and can't even connect, sitting only 6" away.  I have shut down and removed a USB 3 drive and that has made no difference (the drive was always there, even when it was working.)

 

Just about anything that you can recommend on the router side (including swapping them out) has not worked, this is a mini hardware issue.

 

Any ideas?

Posted on Feb 13, 2015 12:23 PM

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Q: 2014 Mini (10.10.2) 2.4GHz wifi will not connect, 5GHz fine

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  • Helpful answers

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Feb 13, 2015 12:37 PM in response to AustinBike
    Level 9 (58,875 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Feb 13, 2015 12:37 PM in response to AustinBike

    It isn't likely a hardware problem with the MM. I got that all other devices connect however that does not mean the router isn't the issue. I would recommend first checking to see if it has the most up-to-date firmware and then resetting it. After doing so, please retest.

  • by AustinBike,

    AustinBike AustinBike Feb 13, 2015 12:41 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Feb 13, 2015 12:41 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    Latest firmware, has been completely reset at least 20 times in the troubleshooting.  And this is the same with multiple 2.4GHz routers, 5GHz are fine.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Feb 13, 2015 12:57 PM in response to AustinBike
    Level 10 (189,800 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 13, 2015 12:57 PM in response to AustinBike

    Likely due to interference. The 2.4 GHz band is very crowded. there are only three channels available.

    To test that turn off all but one 2.4 GHz router

  • by AustinBike,

    AustinBike AustinBike Feb 13, 2015 12:58 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Feb 13, 2015 12:58 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    Also, isn't it telling that it only sees 2.4GHz in my house and my macbook can see close to a dozen 2.4GHz devices that are outside my house?  If I had to guess, it sounds like an antenna problem.

  • by AustinBike,

    AustinBike AustinBike Feb 13, 2015 1:00 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Feb 13, 2015 1:00 PM in response to lllaass

    Not interference. I changed and checked all the channels.

     

    Every device can connect on any of the channels.  The mini can connect on none of the channels, sitting 6" away.

     

    The mini could connect to 2.4GHz before 10.10.2.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Feb 13, 2015 1:22 PM in response to AustinBike
    Level 10 (189,800 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 13, 2015 1:22 PM in response to AustinBike

    Live with it or:

    - Reinstall Yosemite

    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH18872

    - Make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store.

      Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

  • by AustinBike,

    AustinBike AustinBike Feb 17, 2015 10:36 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Feb 17, 2015 10:36 AM in response to lllaass

    Several hours of calls with apple has confirmed that it is in fact the mini and not the network.

     

    Those are my only two choices, neither of which is a very good option.  I have never had a windows system have a network problem that could only be fixed with an OS reinstall.  Wow.  Major disappointment with apple at this point.

  • by tonyberinsonaust,

    tonyberinsonaust tonyberinsonaust Feb 25, 2015 6:26 AM in response to AustinBike
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2015 6:26 AM in response to AustinBike

    I have the exact problem. I have already reinstalled MacOS 10.2.2 and it hasn't made a scrap of difference.

     

    I suggest its a problem with the OS..

     

    We need to raise this apple..

     

    How do I do that?

  • by tonyberinsonaust,

    tonyberinsonaust tonyberinsonaust Feb 25, 2015 7:42 PM in response to AustinBike
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2015 7:42 PM in response to AustinBike

    Bloody Legend - I had a USB Hub sitting on top of my Mac Mini - on the top left - and soon as I moved it to another location on the desk - everything started working again.

     

    Bloody USB 3 - It clearly protected the antenna on the MacMini and stopped the connection to the Wireless Networks.

     

    thank you so much for your help.

  • by AustinBike,

    AustinBike AustinBike Feb 26, 2015 4:11 AM in response to tonyberinsonaust
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Feb 26, 2015 4:11 AM in response to tonyberinsonaust

    Apple deleted my original message.

     

    Yes, USB 3.0 was the problem. I won't elaborate.

  • by Alexas1128,

    Alexas1128 Alexas1128 Mar 2, 2016 9:42 PM in response to AustinBike
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 2, 2016 9:42 PM in response to AustinBike

    Just had the same issue. Actually this is the only thread where some info can be found. The USB 3.0 Hub was the issue.

  • by lbarbjr,

    lbarbjr lbarbjr Mar 6, 2016 3:43 PM in response to AustinBike
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 6, 2016 3:43 PM in response to AustinBike

    I have been having the same problem.  I bought my Mac Mini a year ago, but only began having the WiFi problem a few weeks ago.  I have a small Seagate external USB hard drive sitting on top of the Mac Mini at the back in the center.  After reading the posts in this thread, I moved it toward the right side near the front.  Before I did that, it could see my wireless router and my printer.  Now it can also see two of my neighbors routers.  It could see those in the past, as well as others from time to time.  I don't know if this will clear up the problem for good, but that seems to confirm what you guys are saying about interference.  But it had been sitting there all along.  So, is this the antenna failing, or is it due to the OS?

  • by fleahead,

    fleahead fleahead Oct 2, 2016 8:19 AM in response to tonyberinsonaust
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 2, 2016 8:19 AM in response to tonyberinsonaust

    Exactly the same scenario I had with my MacBook Pro. I could connect to 5G but not 2.4. I had a HDD velcro'd to the lid as well a hub. I read your post and removed both of them and now 2.4 connects.