Q: MacBook Pro constantly losing wireless connectivity

I started encountering the same connectivity drop problem but only about a couple

of months ago. Before that, (on a Mac Book Pro running Snow Leopard), I had no

issues.

The symptom was that I would have to manually connect to one of my routers. It

asked for the WPA password, and I gave it. And then, after a minute or so, the

network connection via AirPlay would drop, and I would have to go back and manually

re-connect. It was an impossible situation.

I tried (about 30 minutes ago) going with one of the suggestions in the group -- which

was to log into my Cisco router and then under the 2.4GHz speed setting, specify

"802.11G only". Before, it was set at "Mixed (G and N)". While I find it peculiar that

I have only recently encountered this issue (suggesting that it is related to an Apple

update), so far I am finding that the suggested solution does fix the problem.

If it helps the Apple devs listening to this thread, it is worthwhile noting that the

Apple iPhones and iPads had no problems negotiating with the Mixed (G/N) router

configuration. I never noted a drop on those devices---only on the Mac Book Pro.

I found the solution. I enter my router settings and in firewall options turned off ( unchecked ) IP Flood Detection . Really tried with it or without it and that seems to be the problem. I hope that this post will be seen by APPLE and will be fixxed in another update so i don't have to turn that off. Hope it's nothing dangerous turning it off.

The solution from the above poster worked for me as well (12 hours so far). Give it a try.

I've been through it all in relation to this problem. Apple has even considered shipping me a new Macbook if we don't find a solution soon.

I've mentioned before, as a debug step try taking your MBP to an Apple Store and use their wireless for a while.

If you have no issues, it implies a potential router firmware issue.

If the Wi-Fi drops at the Apple Store, it implies an issue with your system.

Nevermind. I spoke too soon (again) as I lost connectivity last night.

Calling Apple for the seventh time.

I also commented that my problem had been solved by changing

the router from "Mixed mode (G/N)" to G only; however, I spoke

too soon as the mac book pro airplay started to go in and out,

unlike the other wireless devices.

What I ended up doing was to update to the latest firmware for

the router (it is a Cisco WRT610N) and upgrade the mac os x

to Lion from Snow Leopard.So far, so good, but I'll report back if

this doesn't work.

As pointed out by another poster, it is important to check the wifi

at other locations to rule out the home router (or the rest of the

complicated chain---drop line to the house or apt, line inside,

cable modem, router, switch...).

With all due respect, none of those other components affect the wifi authentication process. The problem should be either the access point/router or the mac.

Ours still drops out with no explanation but reconnects manually ok now with no "invalid password" error. Progress of a sort. Interestingly, for the first time ever, my windows7 laptop started to lose connection yesterday so I'm now trying a different router - will report back!

I had success by aiming the router's antennae towards the moon on the 28th of each month.  About as useful as all of the solutions in this thread.  Lisa anybody from Apple going to address this problem?

I know it's frustrating having connection errors, I have also wondered about apples commitment to its customers, but getting cynical is not helping anyone.

There are some working solutions, but that depends on the issue. I still have perfect wifi connection on my MBP and have not experienced a single connection problem in months, so I would say that it works, just not for your problem. I guess this is why apple has not addressed the problem either, because it is not ONE problem, the connection issues spans 3 generations of OS X and only affects selected people, I don't deny many people, but not all. So how do you fix a problem if there is no unifying basis for the issues?

I still claim that there is something wrong with either the software or much less likely hardware on my MBP, but for now it is working, I can promise you that!

Have a nice weekend!

I have read through a TON of the replies and I have THE SAME issue. My connectivity to the internet comes and goes with my MBP, purchased May 2011, running OSX Lion. We have the Airport Extreme and Airport Express Routers, we have had both since June 2011.
I am going to guess and say it was an update that came through that messed up my connectivity. This is the FIRST time I have had these issues and they have been going on for about a week now.

The ONLY thing that works for me, is to go into System Preferences and turn off wi-fi, then turn it back on. Everything goes back to normal...but then 20 mins. goes by and we are back where we started

This is beyond frustrating!  After 8 calls to Linksys and not ONE but TWO separate Linksys routers, I think the problem I am having is because I upgraded to Snow Leopard.  I was running 10.4.3 and the connectivity was never lost.  Once I upgraded to Snow Leopard, everything took a dump.

I find that I have to go under the system preferences/network each time and go thru a series of steps for the MBP to acknowledge my router.  The Airport indicator shows full connectivity, but the MBP won't connect with the router.  So I have to renew the DNS Lease, try switching locations, and a couple other things to finally wake it up.

Does anyone know for sure if this is a bug in Snow Leopard?  I am wondering if I am going to have the same issues if I purchase another router.  This is a royal drag.

It's almost as if the MBP is losing the information on the Network LOCATION more than anything else. 

Assuming you have the appropriate hardware, you can upgrade to OS X Lion and get the latest version of the same problem.  I've tried every reasonable fix posted in the last 1000+ posts including aiming the antennae and now read this discussion for the humor of watching my fellow Mac enthusiasts trying to turn lead into gold.  Considering that I am using a Time Capsule, this shouldn't be happening at all.  I find Apple's silence to be deafening which is unusual for a company with the outstanding customer service I have experienced since my first 128k Mac in 1984. Carry on, please!

William, I am not sure how you come to this black and white conclusion but it is completely false.  All that implies is that the specific configuration used at the apple stores does not cause an issue with the operating system and wifi connection, which is what would be expected.  The operating system should allow for recognition of more than that configuration, don't you think? 

I started having this mysterious issue about 3 months ago, both with my MacBook Pro and my daughters MacBook Air - after years of having a MacBook Pro and at least 6 months with my new Rogers router.  How does this just start happening?  The only changes have been updates to the operating system....

When I upgraded to 10.7.2 Lion I started having the connectivity problem, no matter if I am home, in a hotel at home or in an other public Wifi hotspot. I just recently invested in this Mac Probook because I hated the long PC start up time. Just had convinced my "die-hard" PC wife going the way of MacOS and now after the upgrade she picks up Mac Pro and waits and waits and waits 1.5-2 minutes before Internet comes back. Not good. This is a bug and seems that Apple is not responding with a fix. I really don't relish having to try the tricks other posters suggest. Shouldn't need to be done in this day and age. I'll wait for a little while but if Apple is not responsive will soon convert back tp PC if not resolved. Instant on needs to come back. Does anyone know if I can I back grade to an earlier version when I didn't have this problem?

tbanderob wrote:

 

William, I am not sure how you come to this black and white conclusion but it is completely false.  All that implies is that the specific configuration used at the apple stores does not cause an issue with the operating system and wifi connection, which is what would be expected.  The operating system should allow for recognition of more than that configuration, don't you think?

Reread my post - I didn't say it was black and white, but rather that it's a good way to determine whether it's your hardware at fault, as if you experience the issue on the Apple Store network, it's probably not a driver/configuation issue but rather a possible hardware problem with your machine.

Not black and white at all.