Q: MacBook Pro constantly losing wireless connectivity

or you all could just easily create a new location so that MBP uses a fresh set of parameters.

1) open NETWORK settings under SYSTEM PREFERENCES

2) click on the LOCATION drop menu and click EDIT LOCATIONS

3) enter a new name for the new location by clicking +, enter any name

it should work now.

Nope, still loses IP when using WPA2 (AES) in B+G+N mode. Have to downgrade router settings to B+G again.

A FIX! A FIX! A FIX! Hi, I've been having this problem for what seems like forever. I finally seem to have fixed it.

Here's what worked for me: System Preferences >Network>Advanced>Airport> minus out every network except your home network from preferred networks> click OK > click Apply (don't forget this step). This solved my problem instantly after YEARS of dropping, which only got worse and worse (as I added networks to the list inadvertantly by using the laptop on various wifi networks).

I guess OSX slips airport into lowgear to save battery life, but it should seemlessly pick it back up with no interruption (which clearly it doesn't). The problem starts when it tries all of your "preferred" networks one by one. They become "preferred" automatically when you connect to them. Seriously, this simple fix was life changing!!! Maybe isn't everyone's issue, but hope it helps some of you! Now about those hours of my life wasted rebooting my modem and my laptop.....

Another me too...I got my wife a MB Pro recently and we are also facing the same problem - the laptop connects to our home wireless network but within 5 minutes, the internet stops working though the signal strength appears strong. Usually, we turn the wifi off and then turn it back again but then the internet connection is good just for another 5-10 minutes before the same problem crops up. Its frustrating, and not a very appealing interaction with our first macbook.

Pmaccarone, you suggest changing the router settings to 802.11g only. Could you elaborate further how to do that? I couldnt find any buttons on the router so is it something I can do through the Mac?

Would really appreciate a reply.

Thanks!

To change your router setting, do this from your home.

1. in your browser, type in 192.168.1.1 (most likely address. if nothing pops up, google your router's model number and try to find the manual for it)
2. look for WiFi mode, change it to suggested setting.

For my router, I also set it to restart at 4am automatically every morning. That seems to help a lot to resolve this signal dropping issue.

Prako wrote:

 

Another me too...I got my wife a MB Pro recently and we are also facing the same problem - the laptop connects to our home wireless network but within 5 minutes, the internet stops working though the signal strength appears strong. Usually, we turn the wifi off and then turn it back again but then the internet connection is good just for another 5-10 minutes before the same problem crops up. Its frustrating, and not a very appealing interaction with our first macbook.

Note despite protestations to the contrary, this type of thing is often due to a router firmware issue.

There have been numerous reports of similar behavior with various third party routers and Windows systems.

Here's one example.

William Kucharski wrote:

 

type of thing is often due to a router firmware issue.

"Hello, Mr Hotel Manager? Hi, it's me… Yes, your only Mac-using guest. I have a little problem… Yes, that's it, I can't stay connected to your wireless… Well, you know, it's often due to a router firmware issue. So would you be so kind as to troubleshoot your router's firmware… Yes, that's it, and update it too, maybe… Yes, I know all your other guests use PCs and they can connect and stay connected without any problems… Yes, I know I'm the only Mac user and I'm also the only one who has a problem… But, you know, it's not the Mac, it's often due to a router firmware issue, so… Hello?… Hello?… Hello?!!"

Awsome reply

Brilliant post

You took the words right out of my mouth! My mixed network could resemble a typical hotel network (or any other mixed network for that matter). My routers firmware is up to date. Still only the MacBook has connectivity issues. None of the Android and Windows devices show any problems. It would be prudent to have a workable escape from the client's (in this case MacBook) side. Or better yet, have the client’s software work around the issue without the user knowing there was an issue in the first place. Although it seems very unlikely to me, if it actually is a router issue, my Android an Windows devices can handle this issue without me noticing it while the MacBook gets all bent out of shape! If it is a problem with Mac’s software it is just a problem with Mac’s software. Either  way says something about the quality of the product.

Fantastic reply.

I have to say, I have been having this conenctivity problem for a year, since I bought my Macbook Pro to work on my thesis. I had not sought help from apple until recently (too busy with school and work, ironically). Phone support was useless; the tech guy was oblivious to the 88 pages of documentation in this forum, dating back to 2008. He was more concerned with getting me to pronounce "PRAM" correctly (which is what he had me reset) than actually solving my problem.

Recently, I gave up on my wireless, which works FINE with other computers (older mac and PC), and which of course has network preferences indicating that I am connected when I am not.  So I dug up my ethernet cable, thinking I would avoid the hassle of lost internet while working on my paper. Nope. I STILL lose the internet, and my computer still thinks I am connected. It took longer for the drop to happen than with wireless, but it stil happened.

I had tried many of the suggestions mentioned here, and nothing helped. Shame on Apple for not fixing this yet and having the audacity to ship out new, faulty product.

This is more a venting session than anything constructive. I am hoping the "geniuses" can replace my hard drive.

Well, I called Applecare, and it was a joke. The guy had never heard of this issue and thought I must be doing something wrong, or trying to access after I let the macbook go to sleep.

I feel like we've started going in circles here.

It has already been discussed that kimbelyj -> prefering your network OR making any adjustment and then hitting the apply button will temporarily let you connect. Don't be surprised if you loose connectivity again.

nash2k4 -> After doing some "cleaning" and creating a new location, I have stayed connected for several months. But this only works as long as I don't use the same Location at home and at the office. If I do, it all goes to s**t again. This does not solve the problem for everyone either

Pmaccarone -> Changing the router settings to 802.11g only has worked for some and failed horribly for others, this should not be a problem with more recent models either since MBP should be extremely N-compatible.

Can't even remember who of you posted, but changeing the brodcast channel from Auto, or whatever you curently have to a specific channel does not solve this problem for all. Neither does turning off IP flood detection or deselecting the "automatically connect" checkbox, or bying a new router or bying an airport extreme or express....

All of the resent "solutions" suggested over the last ~5 pages have all been suggested and tried before, over the last 83 pages. Most ofted they have failed, or only worked for a limited number of people for a limited amount of time. None of these suggestions are "new" or actually "fixes" for the various issues we are all having with our macbook pro's.

Make sure you actually check what information is avalable before you post your "solutions". If they have been suggested, tried and rejected before in this thread, maybe you should reconsider posting them as a fix?

Someone was also holding out for a Lion update to solve the problem. This issue as been around since early Snow Leopard and survived numerous bugfixes and updates, I wouldn't hold my breath for the update to fix this issue. On the other hand, apple is releasing Mountain Lion in June. So maby, just maby, if i fork over 30$ or more, the new OS will make this issue go away?

fane_j -> Big props, I love the entusiasm in this post! You are a new hero of mine!

My WiFi is actually working fairly well at the moment, but that is only because I've worked "around" the issue. The cause of the connection issues HAS NOT been solved. For me, this is a software error, clean and simple. AirPort does not handle my connections in a proper manner and drops the ball, every time.

Best of lyck to all!

I gave up and bought a time capsule. I have had it for some months now without any problems.

I'm not at all happy with this since I'm convinced it should have been resolved in the mac, and I hate that apples inability (or unwillingness?) to do so resulted in me buying another of their products

But I have tried so many things. I've tried updating, reinstalling, reinstalling without the upgrade, strange settings in both router and mac to no avail. The only thing that worked perfectly was to install windows on the mac

If having a working connection is more important to you than "what is right", I would advice you to mentally bend over and go buy an apple router. It only hurts for awhile...

I hope I'm not jinxing you, peder42, but I use a Time Capsule router and am having this problem.  Funny thing is, I've had this MacBook Pro 15" and the Time Capsule for over 3 years, and the wi-fi problem has only been happening for the last 2 or 3 months.  (It happens very sporadically, though, and usually at the worst possible time.)  And I can't necessarily blame it on Lion because I had been using Lion w/o problems for several months.