Airport problem

My iMac + Macbook using Leopard work sporadically, as does our iBook using Tiger. All up the creek using Apple extreme base station (the new type) - I thought it was Leopard by itself but now I know that isn't true - but I think it's Leopard that might be messing up the system as that's where the airport settings are. This is way beyond frustrating.

Since my last post I have installed Tiger on an external firewire drive. When I boot to the Tiger disk... BOOM! Network & internet are back to normal!

So... definitely a Leopard problem, not a router / setting prob.

Jeff

I wasn't sure which thread to post this in, there are several threads for the same problem.

I've been having the same problem as everyone else here. I am pretty disappointed that Apple has not made a statement on this problem. I am sure Apple are working on it, but until they explain the situation, it seems from the length of this thread that a number of us may be wasting a considerable amount of time trying to understand it or find workarounds.

To be explicit, the problem I have been experiencing is a very slow connection and constant disconnections, whenever the wireless signal is anything less than perfect. The Airport icon almost always indicates "four bars", even when I know the signal is weak. In Leopard, it is possible to check the signal strength (RSSI) by option-clicking the Airport icon. I lost the notes I made, but I seem to remember starting to see some problems at around -70 dB, and very severe problems by -90 dB. On some days I would get problems even when the signal appeared quite strong.

I have observed that the problem is extremely easy to trigger when "stressing" the wireless connection, eg when downloading something. I used speedtest.net to test this. If I remember correctly, at around -80 dB it would only get a few percent though the download test before the Airport connection failed.

A symptom of the problem is that the MacBook never automatically re-establishes the connection, even if I move to an area with a very strong signal.

This evening I realised I was losing my patience. I backed up all my data and reinstalled Leopard from scratch (erase and install, 10.5.0). I could tell immediately that the problem was exactly the same.

So, my solution, and the reason I'm posting now, was to reinstall Tiger. Fortunately I have the Tiger (10.4.9) discs as I bought my MacBook refurbished. Airport is now working absolutely perfectly. Having never owned a Mac before, it now seems ironic that I waited for Leopard to come out before buying my MacBook. I just hope that I can successfully transfer all my data back on to the machine..... that will have to wait until tomorrow.

I've been reading this thread with interest and hope.

I recently bought a brand new MacMini, MacBook and iPod touch. The new computers came with leopard pre-installed. With the macmini as my airport basestation i can connect using my new laptop but it rarely opens a page first time. I have to keep clicking refresh until eventually the page loads - when it kicks in it loads super quick. My mates laptop with Tiger works fine. The ipod touch cannot connect to the wireless network but does everywhere else.
So I've spent hundreds and hundreds of pounds on new apple kit straight out of the box and none of it works properly - the one thing that apple stress makes their products great.

As for support? I would need to individually send of all the kit for testing!! - when I know that from the above each bit can work normally.
Disgraceful really, with over 30 THOUSAND hits to prove it.
I'm now gonna hunt out some old tiger disks but seriously what a load of hassle and time wasted and not even a 'we're working on it hold tight'
Gutted

Have recently stumbled onto something that may work for some. I had been having the same problem, which started, BEFORE Leopard in my case, ( I think 10.4.10 or 0.4.9). I have a bunch of locations on my laptop and just happened to select the wrong one, but which also used wi-fi access. Suddenly, my trouble-some connection fired up. Ever since then, if I cannot establish the "correct" location, I switch to the "incorrect" one, establish a connection, then switch back and the connection then seems flawless.
Worth a try?

Have had my new macbook pro for about a month now. Performed a fresh install of Leopard the day that I got the computer. From that day forward, I have experienced constant fluctuations in signal strength with airport. One minute a page will load up, the next minute the page doesn't load. Status goes from connected to scanning constantly.

When checking airport status in signal icon on desktop, each time it reads: Airport - Scanning. Airport cannot seem to maintain a connection for more than a few minutes at a time.

My linksys router has WPA encryption.

Don't know what else to do but hopefully wait on an official response from Apple on these issues. From the look of things on this board, it appears there are significant number of others out there experiencing these symptoms.

I hope it is addressed as soon as possible.

I am having the same problem. I have a macbook pro and ever since I downloaded Leopard, my airport is mostly grayed out and constantly scanning. If I click on it, it will say "airport on" but I have to do that every time I want a new page. If I check my network diagnostic, it says my airport is fine. Can anyone help with this problem. Obviously I am not the only one having this problem.

and speaking of OFFICIAL RESPONSE (2 or 3 replies up ) ...

Those of you that have been Apple Customers for awhile; Is there ever any sort of "official response" on their website or elsewhere?

When a new update becomes available do we just read thru the " latest fixes " somewhere to see if a particular issue like the one expressed in this thread with Apple and Wireless connectivity has been addressed?

thanks,
tob

I've been having the same problems, blah blah blah everyone else has. Macbook 2.0 ghz, 2 gig ram core 2 duo. I fresh installed Leopard and did NOT install any updates. As far as I can tell I have a strong connection to both my G network at work and my N network at home. However, the issue of coming back online after a sleep cycle still is present.

Hey guys... Still having the same wifi dropout issues that I had a month ago when I installed Leopard and the subsequent Leopard update... Contrary to popular belief, every "fix" that has been posted here does not work... And this wifi dropout/scanning issue doesn't just affect particular users of one particular machine (as the very first posts mentioned on here) I have a late 2006 MacBook running 2 gigs of ram, 160 gig HD 2 ghz that is having the very same issues... Which leads me to believe it's the Leopard OS causing these problems. People who did any type of installation (upgrade, erase, archive, etc) are all having the same issues.. NO FIX YET... Over 30,000 views on this issue and still no response... Tried all the macfixit article "fixes" for this and it only worked for a day... Again, this is intermittent, sometimes the signal is fine, next day or later on same day it just drops dead... I'm right in front of my router!

APPLE, WHERE ARE YOU WHEN WE NEED YOU? PLEASE ADDRESS OUR ISSUES. WE NEED SOMETHING, ANYTHING, TO LET US KNOW YOU ARE LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE AND FOR US TO BE PATIENT (WHICH WE HAVE BEEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME)... WHERE'S "TOP USER DUANE"... CAN ANYONE OUT THERE HELP?!

-B-

briboli wrote:
.. Contrary to popular belief, every "fix" that has been posted here does not work...

I beg to differ. The "fix" I have used has worked flawlessly for me for about a week. Perhaps it is unique to where I work.

Obviously, your "fix" was a special case on your own computer... believe me, I even tried YOUR fix and that didn't work... I don't have multiple connections, just one... Anyway, thank you for posting that because maybe it'll help someone else... Meanwhile, we have thousands of users who still need an official word from Apple and a proper fix...

Thanks
B

briboli wrote:
Obviously, your "fix" was a special case on your own computer...

That might well be. Sorry to hear it did not help you. May I suggest one try...good as any other I guess.
Set up a "bogus" location that uses the same settings as where you are. Reboot to your current location, then switch locations using the "Apple" locations settings. If you do connect, then switch back to your current location. That is exactly what I am doing which works.

Good luck.

my work around was similar and 3 weeks on is still ok.

create a new location - don't give it any settings, switch to that location

delete the location called 'automatic'

rename your new location as 'automatic'

restart

I'm maybe lucky, but it worked for me on a MacBook pro. 2.16ghz 2gig ram 80gig HD 10.5.1

I don't really agree that ALL are having the same issues. I have posted before and my configs are in some fo those posts. I too was pulling my hair (what little I have left) out and tried everything posted here. I am not sure what solved my problem but the last few things I did all involved actually powering down and bringing components back up Many times. That said, I've been stable, fast and satisfied for over a month. I really empathize with everyone but my own issues have gone away. I too would like some response from Apple.
Jody McCann