MacBook Pro constantly losing wireless connectivity

Just adding yet another user plagued by the wireless connectivity issues.

I am new user to Apple computers (if you don't count some casual use of Apple II's in the late 70's, and Mac's in the early 90's), and must say for the most part am very happy with my MacBook Pro and Mac OS X (10.5.4). However this wireless connectivity issues has been a big problem for me for the less than 3 weeks I've had this system. I've been searching far and wide for some help to no avail, this extensive discussion appears to be the most detailed although with no clear root cause identified.

I have tried many (not all) of the the suggestions I have found here, but no clear solution has come to the top. For me wireless connectivity is a intermittent, when it works it appears to work well but at other times it is almost unusable. I need to have access primarily at home and at work, and both locations have issues. Yes I do have some control over the home environment but like many other posters my home network works very well for many other systems and devices.

Apple clearly needs to acknowledge there is an issue and get working on root cause analysis and provide a solution to their customers. There may be some workarounds that may work for some people in certain situations but a real solution is what is needed. Come-on Steve, acknowledge the issues and let your customers know you care about them and are working on trying to fix it. Most of us will understand that this may be a tough problem to solve, and may cause us and your stockholders some short term grief but in the long run it is the right thing to do for all.

Just adding yet another user plagued by the wireless connectivity issues.

I am new user to Apple computers (if you don't count some casual use of Apple II's in the late 70's, and Mac's in the early 90's), and must say for the most part am very happy with my MacBook Pro and Mac OS X (10.5.4). However this wireless connectivity issues has been a big problem for me for the less than 3 weeks I've had this system. I've been searching far and wide for some help to no avail, this extensive discussion appears to be the most detailed although with no clear root cause identified.

I have tried many (not all) of the the suggestions I have found here, but no clear solution has come to the top. For me wireless connectivity is a intermittent, when it works it appears to work well but at other times it is almost unusable. I need to have access primarily at home and at work, and both locations have issues. Yes I do have some control over the home environment but like many other posters my home network works very well for many other systems and devices.

Apple clearly needs to acknowledge there is an issue and get working on root cause analysis and provide a solution to their customers. There may be some workarounds that may work for some people in certain situations but a real solution is what is needed. Come-on Steve, acknowledge the issues and let your customers know you care about them and are working on trying to fix it. Most of us will understand that this may be a tough problem to solve, and may cause us and your stockholders some short term grief but in the long run it is the right thing to do for all.

Ah a key point to all this I think is the WPA protection. Why do I say this well it may be not just a issue with the MacBook Pro. I have a 2.2MHz MBP Mac OS X 10.5.4 and it has had this problem from the start on and off. I have a Air Port express wireless connection so we are talking Apple to Apple connections. Now most of my connection issues are when the MBP is ideal it will lose connection.
But I thought this was a MacBook pro only issue since my daughter's MacBook works fine. But...

I was at my sisters the other day and I went to connect to her wireless network and noticed she was running a open network with no WPA password I asked her why. (she has a sony and a Dell laptop)
She said she could not get a reliable connection her laptops kept losing the connection and she got tired of having to reconnect but once she started running without WPA no problems and guess what my MBP worked great on her network as well no drops not one all day.

Now I am not going to open my network, WPA should work but It is not just a issue with OSX other computers running Windows also have issues with WPA wireless networks it would seem. I know many here have said that their windows computers connect fine (or MBP running windows in bootcamp) and it was just the MBP running OSX that had the problem but my sister does not even own a Mac and she got so frustrated she decided to run her wireless open with no WPA protection.

Now I am just guessing here but it may be that the MBP and the two window laptops my sister has have the same wireless hardware (since Apple switched to intel they use a lot of PC parts) so they have the same issues with wireless networks. But the MacBook and older G4 apple laptops used different wireless hardware and do not have the problem.
It could also be a combination of things the hardware and the wireless software.
under the hood apple could use WPA code that is shared by the Wintel laptops but it may not be on all windows installs so the MBP running windows in bootcamp may not have a problem but a wintel laptop (like my sister's sony) might.

It is a hard problem to pin point but I think it is in the WPA networking code. And it may be a bug that is not completely Apple's fault they may be running in to a bug in WPA it self. And it could be one of those problems that is not a issue with all network hardware or client software but is there none the less.

I am just guessing but my network does work great when I turn off WPA but to run it that way all the time is not a option I am willing to except so I hope Apple finds a solution to this soon.

I have tested this quite carefully myself and unfortunately it has nothing to do with the WPA protocol. Turning off WPA and either leaving the network open or turn on MAC filtering will give you a short relief. In my case the network would be okay for a couple of hours, but then after a while it would be back to square one....

My gut feeling is that this is a firmware issue - so Apple - get on with it and get this one fixed! It is embarrassing that a £2000 Laptop can't even connect to a wireless network.....!!

Im finding Safari really tedious with this bug, Firefox 3 seems more stable. Its now my default browser.
On my 5th MBP btw, all others had same issues, 2 with build quality problems.

Does anyone have any news from Apple on this issue. I've tried everything I can find on this discussion board. Still dropping connection and killing the wireless on my D-link DIR-655 for all other things connected. 10.5.4 MBP 2.33 all updates via safe boot.

I agree with u 100%.

Its about the time for Apple start see this as REAL problem and starting doing sth, after all we desearve an explanation!

Still having this problem. Submitting feedback to Apple now on this issue.

( http://www.apple.com/feedback/)

I can not wait to get rid of this problem.

As a switcher, I too was incredibly frustrated with my first Mac which I bought a month ago - a top of the line 4GB 2.6G 17" LED MacBook Pro.
Constantly lost connections in the first 2 weeks, finally took it into my dealer.
They said it worked fine in their shop but would replace the AirPort card under warranty "just to be sure". Now the wireless works great - just like on my Windows computer.

Now I have another problem where sometimes I can move the mouse around but clicking has no effect and I have to reboot the computer.. but I guess that's another thread.

I must say I thought I was making a wise move to switch for the less problematic world of the Mac.
Based on my experience as a recent switcher, I'm thinking that is all marketing and the reality distortion field.
Microsoft is looking for how to combat those Mac ads - I think Apple is giving them their answer right here.

I also just submitted this message to www.apple.com/feedback/:

Surely you have seen the literally hundreds of posts on the forum from people, like me, whose Mac Book Pros have no, or only, sporadic wireless internet connection ("Macbook pro constantly losing wireless connectivity.") And have seen how angry people are that you have apparently been so silent on this issue. Until this problem is fixed -- and I'm hoping this contact with you will lead to a solution -- I am telling everyone I know about this problem and advising them not to purchase a Mac. I have been a committed Mac user for several years now, and a purchaser of many other products from Apple. But since this appalling lack of customer service, support and responsiveness regarding this connectivity problem, my commitment and belief in Apple has been sorely shaken. Hoping you can help me solve this problem finally now and reestablish my faith in your brand. Otherwise I can't in good conscience imagine purchasing a Mac computer in future.

And here is the fairly irritating, "your call is important to us" + busy signal, automated answer I received:

Dear Customer:

Thank you for your feedback regarding the MacBook Pro. We cannot respond to you personally, but please know that your message has been received and will be reviewed by the MacBook Pro Feedback Team. If we need to follow up with you on your ideas for improving the MacBook Pro, we will contact you directly.

We appreciate your assistance in making the MacBook Pro a great computer.

MacBook Pro Feedback Team
Apple

Bla, bla, bla -- do they honestly think this sort of answer will suffice in the age of the digitally connected, vocal, empowered consumer?

Pippilotte,
I feel your pain...but you must realize that "they" don't care...or this would be fixed by now. We have been living with this pain since 10.5.2..."they" have now released 10.5.3 and 10.5.4 and still no pain relief. I have called AppleCare and I have taken my MBP into to the "Genius" (who replaced the AP antennae)...I still must connect to the internet via an ethernet cable for reliable connectivity (AP Grapher shows, at best, a 61% connection with the AP). Over all sales and profit at Apple are too good and this little "issue" only affects the Mac Book Pro line. How much hype do you read about the MBP? It's all the iPhone these days (which I refuse to buy simply because of Apple's refusal to even acknowledge the connectivity problem with the MBP). Good luck. Perhaps your strong EU consumer protection laws can get the rest of the world some pain relief.

I'm so glad these forums are here, because I am realizing that some issues I'm having with my new MacBook Pro are not isolated to just me! I am also having wireless connection problems, and I see that this topic is 17 pages long and goes back to January. Come on, Apple---we're almost finished with July and you haven't fixed this yet??????

I upgraded to this computer from my iBook G4, and I NEVER had wireless internet issues with that computer. They definitely have a bug somewhere---I hope they fix it because this is getting to be very annoying!

Apple we need solutions soon!! >_<'

Hi folks,

Like everyone else here I am suffering with my MacBook Pro and its Wi/Fi connection. I have it connected to a Time Capsule. I know it has nothing to do with the Capsule, as all other Macs in the house and iPhones are working spot on. Plus I have even tried changing the TC to my old Linksys Router and still the same problem with the networking dropping off often.

From time to time the connection holds for an hour or two. Then in other cases it just will not stay connected. This really bothers me a lot, because it is clear from this thread alone, that the problem has been apparent for months and it is happening all over in varied conditions. Plus Apple knows all about this and can't be bothered to place any importance on this problem, and why should they after all our machines have been paid for. The only concern Apple has is selling more iPhones and the Mobile.Me service.

However, if us loyal fans of Apple stop pretending they care, and treat them like any other manufacture. Making a lot of noise throughout the internet and in the media I bet our problem gets a green light. Tell everyone thinking of buying a MacBook Pro to wait, and ensure we no longer act like fans. Instead we our disatisified customers and demand to be heard by Apple support.

I for one intend to post comments on every forum available, plus I will be emailing Apple on a daily basis. If there is no solution coming then that leaves only this option.

Come on Apple do the right thing and admit there is a software problem and provide the solution now! Otherwise there could be a lot more bad press floating around the net, that wil make the Mobile.Me debacle look like a bump on the road.

Apple act now! Again do the right thing!

Derek

My solution was to re-install the system - using Archive keeps all programs and settings. The machine has been unusable since new (5 weeks ago), but since reinstalling 10.5.2 off the discs, it has worked normally with no slow-downs. Upgraded to 10.5.4 and still works fine.

I suspect the system was delivered with a corrupted installation of 10.5.2.