ffredburger

Q: MacBook Pro constantly losing wireless connectivity

Hi folks,

Well, I read a ton of posts regarding MacBook Pro wireless networking issues before buying a wireless router last month, and now it's "me too."

Our iBook has no problems whatsoever with dropped connections, but the MBP loses access every few minutes or so. I usually follow a sequence of "Turn AirPort Off"/"Turn Airport On" to cycle the connection, and sometimes this works. It's an almost constant problem. This is a standard configuration MBP.

The router happens to be a D-Link DIR-615, but I've seen enough posts about problems with the Airport Express and MacBook Pros to know it's not the router that's the problem--it's the MacBook Pro (I notice a few similar posts even on the first page of this forum).

Dear Apple: what are you doing about this issue?

Has anyone else somehow resolved this problem? If there was only a couple of posts about this issue, then it might be written off as problems with a specific router, or specific users. But when there's a ton of messages all complaining about the same problem, then it's more likely a significant defect that needs to be fixed by the manufacturer, and won't be fixed by standard troubleshooting procedures of the mundane kind (Tech Support Theater: "Is your router turned on?").

Dear Apple: where are you?

MBP, Mac OS X (10.4.11), non

Posted on Jan 20, 2008 8:45 AM

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Q: MacBook Pro constantly losing wireless connectivity

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  • by Jodice,

    Jodice Jodice Mar 18, 2008 10:22 AM in response to jimix
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 18, 2008 10:22 AM in response to jimix
    I just got Fios the other day. How do you turn off the wireless on the router and will this mess up the other computers on the network? One more thing everyone losing the wireless conenction I lose the network too. I have to rebote the computer and re install the network that I use to connected the to the internet with. Jodie
  • by shahirah,

    shahirah shahirah Mar 18, 2008 10:46 AM in response to Jerry Jividen1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 18, 2008 10:46 AM in response to Jerry Jividen1
    I followed Jerry's instructions word for word and each step closely... and it worked! Jerry you are a LIFESAVER. I was about to throw out my MacBook and my sanity until i saw your post. Everyone, you have to try Jerry's suggestion step by step. Thanks again man! Muchos Gracias
  • by SlippySlope,

    SlippySlope SlippySlope Mar 18, 2008 10:53 AM in response to Jerry Jividen1
    Level 1 (54 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 18, 2008 10:53 AM in response to Jerry Jividen1
    Yes, actually (as you probably know) the removal of the battery and power supply and holding down the power button resets the PMU - or, as it called with the Intel Mac's, the System Management Controller (SMC) - see http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303319

    It looked like it was holding the connection last night at home (I'm at the office and have the ethernet plugged in now - perhaps I'll get brave and 'break' the connection and try the Wi-Fi - but at the office with a non-Apple wireless router, I notice that the 'connected time bar' doesn't display so it is harder to determine if the connection is breaking).

    So, fingers crossed - perhaps you have found the solution. Too bad the AppleCare and the 'Genius' couldn't have shared this with me (us).
  • by giantreign,

    giantreign giantreign Mar 18, 2008 12:03 PM in response to SlippySlope
    Level 1 (13 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 18, 2008 12:03 PM in response to SlippySlope
    resetting the wotsits with Jerrys instructions have not worked here

    quite enjoying the speed of my radical wired ethernet connection now though!
  • by SlippySlope,

    SlippySlope SlippySlope Mar 18, 2008 8:00 PM in response to SlippySlope
    Level 1 (54 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 18, 2008 8:00 PM in response to SlippySlope
    Post: SMC and PRAM reset. I just wanted update my posting of last night and report that while I worked most of my day at the office connected via ethernet, I finally found the courage towards the end of the day to switch over to the wireless and seemed to stay connected. In fact, I used www.speedtest.net and got very good speed tests download 2656 kb/s and upload 1369 kb/s on my office T-1.

    I'm now home and connected via my APEBSg. It appears as if it still holding the connection (i.e., not dropping - although the connection time bar does 'freeze' for like 10 sec periods and then start clicking off the seconds and then freeze for a few seconds, etc.) I just did another speed test and got rather different results with my AT&T DSL of download 1794 kb/s and upload 70 kb/s.

    I just switched back to the ethernet connection directly to the APEBSg and the speed test gave these results were dramatically different download 5982 kb/s and upload 403 kb/s. Since both are going through the same WestTel modem and APEBSg, I can only conclude that there is a speed issue with either the MBP Airport firmware or software. Something is choking down the speed with the wireless. [perhaps I should just be pleased that it is not dropping the connection any longer - but, then again this is the MacBook "PRO", which I assume is intended for more demanding applications and uses - perhaps even 'professional'.] Again, since Apple chooses to remain silent on this whole issue, I can remain disappointed.
  • by calebk,

    calebk calebk Mar 19, 2008 9:10 AM in response to Jodice
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2008 9:10 AM in response to Jodice
    I hate to say it but it seems as consumers, the only way we're "fighting" with Apple here is complaining on this forum. I have this impression that Apple doesn't give a hoot about it, considering the total lack of response or least bit of acknowledgement from them that they're working on something.

    I mean what the fish man?! Spending S$3.4k on a MacBook Pro (that's supposedly a professional portable powerhouse, but right now, professional my butt) that cannot access MY OWN BLOODY HOME WI-FI?!

    Ever since the **** 10.5.2 patch, the problem has become so bad that even reboots don't work any more. Resetting the SMC did nothing for me.

    In the first place, don't we all have a right to a working machine, considering we bloody well paid for it?! Why do we have to resort to finding workarounds and self-fixes for problems that should not even be present? Having wireless access (to your own home wireless network, mind you) is not a high expectation - on the contrary, it is BASIC!

    Apple, I don't know what you are up to, and I don't know why so many of your loyal customers have ended up with what seem like lemons rather than apples. Please at least get back to us with some REAL news that you are working on a fix here. (And hopefully the fix won't be another case of 10.5.2 where the problem got worse.)
  • by calebk,

    calebk calebk Mar 19, 2008 9:12 AM in response to tripgrip
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2008 9:12 AM in response to tripgrip
    Uh, as far as I know, no Apple portable notebooks in the market now are connected to the internet when asleep.
  • by AdeleS,

    AdeleS AdeleS Mar 19, 2008 12:15 PM in response to calebk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2008 12:15 PM in response to calebk
    Well said!!!!!!! This is such a let down for me when I was so looking forward to having a top quality machine.... and I really can't believe Apple or totally ignoring this..... do they even read these forums????? Hellooooooo...........
  • by calebk,

    calebk calebk Mar 19, 2008 5:59 PM in response to AdeleS
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2008 5:59 PM in response to AdeleS
    Just to add, I have been having problems since yesterday, when I had to bring my Airport Express out to another location for wi-fi access there (needless to say, without problems. It's always the bloody HOME NETWORK ONLY).

    Since I brought it home and connected it back to the network at home (not a very complicated one), that consists of an ADSL modem, to a router with one cable going into the home PC and another into the Airport Express.

    I used to have a workaround, whereby I would plug my ethernet cable (that goes into Airport) into my MBP, check the DNS address that it gives, and copy it over to the Airport settings on my MBP. That used to work like a charm, but no longer does so. I'm at my wits end, having restarted everything (modem, router, airport) FIVE TIMES at least. I've also rebooted my MBP at least 8 times. NOTHING!

    I raised the issue of consumers having to look for workarounds. It is unnecessary as we all should have a right to working machines, considering we paid for them, not got them free. Now that workarounds don't work, WHAT NOW, APPLE? WHAT NOW? Am I to be hardwired to my internet connection via an ethernet cable at home?

    I can't do that cos the networking stuff is in the study, where my younger brother has to be studying for major exams, so that's out. So basically, aside from my powerbook, I can't access the internet wirelessly to do my work, check my mail, EVERYTHING!

    My MBP is a fast car without wheels. It can do everything blazingly fast, but can't get online, except by ethernet (that's basically like towing my fast car along with a fast tow truck).
  • by Brandon Parris,

    Brandon Parris Brandon Parris Mar 19, 2008 10:07 PM in response to ffredburger
    Level 1 (85 points)
    Mar 19, 2008 10:07 PM in response to ffredburger
    I have the same router as you. They just posted a Time Machine/Airport update 1.0. My wireless connection has been solid for over an hour now. I think we may have a fix.
  • by Brandon Parris,

    Brandon Parris Brandon Parris Mar 19, 2008 10:09 PM in response to Brandon Parris
    Level 1 (85 points)
    Mar 19, 2008 10:09 PM in response to Brandon Parris
    This is the second time I forgot to post the router. D-Link DIR-615.
  • by Houghty,

    Houghty Houghty Mar 20, 2008 4:23 AM in response to Brandon Parris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 20, 2008 4:23 AM in response to Brandon Parris
    Agree, I think this latest Airport update may have sorted it. I've been solid for an hour or so, despite my attempts to recreate the drop problems that have plagued me since getting my new MBP last week.

    I'd been pulling my hair out over this one and had done extensive troubleshooting with a variety of APs under a variety of configurations, and had concluded that this issue was an Airport compatibility issue with only certain wireless APs under MacOS.

    None of the above mentioned workarounds/fixes worked for me, and so a software update/fix was my only hope. It now looks like it has arrived, which is good timing for me since I was 2 days away from taking my MBP back for a refund.
  • by Brandon Parris,

    Brandon Parris Brandon Parris Mar 20, 2008 8:55 AM in response to Brandon Parris
    Level 1 (85 points)
    Mar 20, 2008 8:55 AM in response to Brandon Parris
    Morning update. Wireless connection is still snappy and dropout-free, but only in G and B mode. I did an experiment last night where I switched the router back to N mode, and the dropouts returned. I switched back to G only and have been dropout free ever since. It seems that with my router there is still no solution for the N setting, but G and B are both working fine.
  • by swguy,

    swguy swguy Mar 20, 2008 9:26 AM in response to ffredburger
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 20, 2008 9:26 AM in response to ffredburger
    Anyone reading this thread: check out

    http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=1437&tag=nl.e539

    and send an email to the author (David Morgenstern) by clicking on "david's bio"
  • by SlippySlope,

    SlippySlope SlippySlope Mar 20, 2008 1:32 PM in response to Houghty
    Level 1 (54 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 20, 2008 1:32 PM in response to Houghty
    As someone else mentioned, they just pushed an update. I thought the description of the update was interesting where they say "...as well as AirPort driver fixes." It's like, let's just 'slip' it in without any fanfare.

    "This update is recommended for all users and includes compatibility improvements for using Time Machine with Time Capsule, as well as AirPort driver fixes."
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