Level 1

6 points

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

2,055 replies

limo79

Level 1

5 points

Jul 21, 2008 3:24 AM in response to Compuphonic

Ideal topic for next WWDC conference: "MBP network issue". Press welcome :]

Jul 21, 2008 4:51 AM in response to limo79

Or...ideal topic for the next American Trial Lawyers conference...;-)

JFrenzel

Level 1

2 points

Jul 21, 2008 1:23 PM in response to Community User

I have been having the same problem, just like everyone else...

It's ridiculous! I'm on my little brother's Gateway (on the same network) because I can't even look up support on my MacBook Pro due to the dodgy AirPort stuff.

It's a shame an old XP system is running faster and smoother than my beloved Mac.

APPLE, FIX THE PROBLEM!!!!

Jul 21, 2008 7:55 PM in response to scottography

I'm having the problem as well. Mine seems a bit different but is probably the same thing. I use the old airport extreme base station and accessed it beautifully with an ibook G4 (still accessing) and a G4 titanium. The new MacBook Pro worked relatively well until recently. The first thing that happened is that I can no longer access other computers on my network despite struggling with it for weeks. Now, after it goes to sleep, I lose connection to the airport and it does not even recognize my password to log back on nor does it recognize the local airport basestation as one of my favorites... so I too have to reboot. My trackpad is quirky too in that there is a delay in its reaction much of the time.

Jul 22, 2008 6:37 AM in response to ffredburger

I just wanted to add my macbook to the pile of issues. I have a 2Ghz macbook running 10.5.4, and I am also having the wireless constantly drop out. When I am at home with a solid signal, it routinely will not connect, requiring a reboot to fix the problem. I have tried everything from removing the wireless connection settings and resetting it up, to turning off the Airport and turning it back on. Even rebooting the router does not work. I know it's not a router problem because I have 4 other devices hooked up to it, both wired and wireless.

If I am at a weak connection, it drops the connection every 3 seconds. Uploading a 20kb file can take up to 10 minutes of me retrying. It is very bothersome.

The worst part is, I can reboot into Boot Camp using Windows XP on the same weak connection, and it's stable as a rock. Not too fast, but never loses the connection.

It's obviously a software issue in my book, I just wish they would resolve it. It ***** having to boot into windows while at work to look at anything.

itracy

Level 1

0 points

Jul 22, 2008 11:56 AM in response to ffredburger

I've had the same problem as all of these posts. I have an MBP with airport extreme router-everyone else on the network works fine, except for my MBP. I tried all the solutions mentioned, and this worked for me (so far). Change the router channel setting from (Auto) to a fixed channel (I used channel 3). My MBP works fine now (So far!) Good luck!

DougyMac

Level 1

0 points

Jul 23, 2008 10:01 AM in response to itracy

I had this problem for months. I must have wasted at least a weeks worth of man hours surfing forums and trying the various suggestions to fix the problem. I switched router 3 times and eventually got a pretty good setup with a Belkin Wireless-N.

Anyway, I've heard that the RealPlayer 11 issue is serious and the wirelss problem has been solved for a lot of people who have removed it.

For anyone who is having wireless problems with their MBP, please check you don't have RealPlayer 11 installed. If you have, trash it and see if your situation improves.

FenBat

Level 1

11 points

Jul 23, 2008 11:54 AM in response to ffredburger

My year-old MB Pro 17" 2.4GHz was finally REPLACED by Apple after 3 airport board replacements and one motherboard replacement after connectivity problems with 802.11n (5GHz) and Bluetooth.

Now my brand-new replacement MB Pro 17" 2.5GHz won't keep a 802.11g connection at 2.4GHz! So it's going back for an airport card replacement tomorrow.

It's interesting to note that Apple seems to have shifted BACK to the two-antenna BCM94321MC airport card, and away from the three-antenna AR5BXB72 that was used in my old MB Pro 2.4GHz. My new 2.5GHz Penryn processor MB Pro 17" is using only 2 of the three antennas and connecting to the factory installed BCM airport card. The third antenna has been taped up and lying useless next to the airport card.

It appears Apple is well aware of the problem and is scrambling and desperate for a solution.

Omohat

Level 1

0 points

Jul 24, 2008 2:54 PM in response to ffredburger

I'm another Macbook Pro user who was having wireless problems. Little background first. I'm running a Macbook Pro with 10.5.4. I was having problems with the Macbook Pro not being able to connec to the wireless network whenever it came out of sleep mode.

My wireless network is an Alcatel Speedtouch 780WL running in 802.11g only mode. The only solution I could come up with was deleting my wireless network from the network preferences panel each time and then turning the airport off and on again. If I did this enough times, it would eventually rejoin the wireless network, only to lose it next time it came out of sleep.

After seeing another post in this thread, I tried changing my router from automatic channel selection to a manual channel (9 in my case). I made the change this morning and so far the macbook seems to be staying on the network (plus the wireless seems a little faster as well). Maybe this might solve some people's issues.

Jul 24, 2008 5:04 PM in response to Omohat

OK ... yet another customer having issues with wireless connectivity.

Recently purchased a refurbished MacBook directly from Apple. I'm having intermittent issues keeping a signal lock to my Linksys WRT54GX2 router. I have never had any trouble with the router ( 2 PCs in the house with wireless cards work just fine.) Here are my system specs:

MacBook 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2 GB 667 Mhz DDR2 SDRAM
OS 10.5.4
Boot ROM MB41.00C1.B00
Wireless Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0x88)
Wireless Card Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (4.170.46.9)
Wireless Channel: 2

Fortunately (I think) I purchased AppleCare so I'll start by calling them. We also have a Apple Certified Repair Center in town that I may try.

The MacBook was purchased for my son going off to college. The whole campus is wireless so I hope this can get fixed VERY SOON ... hello Apple? Anybody home?

Jul 24, 2008 5:51 PM in response to Merged Content 1

MBP w/10.5.4
the wireless worked fine for a week and then it started dropping about every 10 seconds. I noticed in bootcamp that XP had no problems. I tried Vista in bootcamp and had the same problem with the signal dropping. I disabled IPv6 in Vista and it cleared up the problem.
So I went back into the Mac and disabled IPv6 everywhere I could find it and so far it has seemed to help. It's only been a day, but I thought I would throw it out there.

Jul 24, 2008 6:30 PM in response to ffredburger

I had the same problem with my MBP. Now I am on vacation in India. The hotel has Wi Fi. MBP could see the wireless network, connects and looses connectivity within seconds. Also the signal is very low. I called the Admin. Admin came with a Dell and it has Excellent wireless strength. I tried with Windows Vista (BootCamp) on the same MBP. Same issue. I noticed the same with iPhone also. Finally the admin gave me a Wireless to Ethernet adapter and I was able to connect without any issues. I wonder why Apple is so silent.

Jul 24, 2008 6:56 PM in response to whatchmadink

MBP 2.4 here, running Tiger, NOT Leopard and suffering same problems on any network I try, so this doesn't appear Leopard-related. What is now probably the widest-used application of a notebook computer and it doesn't work properly...v. poor. Anyways, good to see folks trying to sort things out-tried various things here to no real avail > I would try tweaking the settings on my Airport Base Station, but you know what...the older grey ones are no longer supported/accessible from my Intel Mac. Cheers Steve. $3000 forward, 4 steps back. What an embarrassment.

Jul 25, 2008 12:58 PM in response to ffredburger

Hi Guys,

I am not sure if you have read this article at MACNN.
http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/11/05/leopard.troubleshooting/

I have just tried it and so far it is I have to say it might have worked. Fingers crossed and all that. Can the rest of you try it and see what results you get.

Cheers

Jul 25, 2008 7:36 PM in response to Community User

Where is the solution for wireless connectivity at that link ?

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MacBook Pro constantly losing wireless connectivity