Q: MacBook Pro constantly losing wireless connectivity

I have a 2008 model and for the first 3 months it was fine, but for the past few months I have been experiencing the problems described here. I have had my card replaced, tried all the resets and changing my router security/bgn mode, and nothing has worked. Since there are multiple reports here of getting cards replaced multiple times and eventually working, I was thinking it might be a good idea to see if get my whole computer replaced, instead of going through a loop of replacing the card at the apple store. I am also having trackpad/keyboard freezing issues (not software related, ive done a full OS reinstall) and have a few dead pixels. With enough pushing over the phone, could this be enough to get a new machine, or would it even be worth it?
Thanks

oh man... 33 pages of people with the same problems on their MBP? This has got to have their attention...

Consider this post another bitter "ME TOO".

I wanted to post back and give an update on what has been happening with me. I changed my router to only G and made the other changes that were listed here. Also called support with no luck there at all. Have not replaced any of my system hardware as I don't think this is a hardware issue.

I've only gotten kicked off my network a couple times in the last few weeks. It still happens but seems more likely when I have my iPhone sitting close to my computer and receive a call. This doesn't do it every time but the 4 or 5 times it has happened it was always what appeared to do it.

On average, the only time I've noticed the problem was after a reboot last week I must have gotten kicked off 20 times even without the phone close by, but after that day everything has settled back in and haven't been off in over a week.

There is still a problem with this computer as my wife's ibook never has problems and seems to pickup wireless access points much much better than my more expensive MBP.

I'll continue to post back if I figure anything else out. Oh, and I've not done anything with the Real player and everything still seems to be working ok for the most part. If it was that program causing the problem I'd expect it to be more consistent at kicking me off.

glenn

I'm checking into the forum after not having posted for months. After, at that time, several rants at Apple, I am now embarrassed to say that the problem related to airport connection appears to have been due to my internet service provider (German Telekom), not Apple. Since that problem was corrected last week-end, I have no wireless connection issues with my Macbook Pro. (Knock on wood.) We'll see how it goes, but for now things are fine.

Still, this does seem to be a widespread problem, although not universal. Last week at a business meeting, I met two people with MacBook Pro's, both of whom have had no problems and are perfectly happy with their Macs.

I realize this isn't helpful for those who do, and it is still no excuse for Apple's remaining remarkably silent on this problem.

I feel a bit guilty that for me the issue now seems to be solved. Famous last words. For all I know I'll be back here crying out for help again in a week or two.

I've had somewhat similar problems with a MBP I just bought used. Connected fine for the first 20 mins I had it, but then wireless bombed out in the middle of a software update. After that, it would connect to any new open wireless network for about 20 mins no problem, but would not connect to any network it had seen before UNLESS it was within about 6' of the router (Airport Express base station or DLink Wireless of unknown model number). After going through every possible software/firmware fix I could find on this post and others scattered around the net (for Airport Express Base Station and MBP), including full clean install of OSX and even opening the computer to reseat the Airport Extreme Card, I finally purchased a used Airport Extreme card that came out of a 13.3" Macbook (NOT Pro) computer on ebay (card reads AR5BXB6), popped it in, and am happy to say that I have had no problems connecting to any wireless network. No dropouts, good signal strength, good speed. In fact, my MBP now sees wireless networks that my roommates Powerbook G4 can't find. Is it possible there was just a bad batch of Airport Extreme cards that got loaded into MBP's? Has anyone else tried using the Airport Extreme card out of a Macbook to see if this solves the problem? Apple - any thoughts here? This seems to be a pretty large problem at this point, which is (if anything) growing in size.

The AR5BXB6 is the 802.11b/g card that shipped pre-802.11n, so you won't be able to connect to an n-only network or at 5GHz. But it seems to have a good connection reliability track record.

CStable, what airport card did you replace? What did you take out of the MB Pro? Maybe the previous owner of your new-used 1.8GHz MB Pro "upgraded" the card before you got it.

Airport issue as well... I have full bars on the airport indicator, and no internet signal. If I do get the airport connected, it's disconnected within 5 minutes. It has nothing to do with the router, because every computer (thats 5 computers) in the house can connect to the internet at the same time that mine is dropped. I've heard it was a recent update that cause this, but I don't really know how to "down"date

I am going to make this as short as I can, but also try to help everyone experiencing airport issues on their macbook pro similar to mine.

For almost 3 months, I had NO wireless connection on my macbook pro, UNLESS i was less than 5 feet from my wireless router. At first I thought it was my router (netgear wpn542v2) and tried 2 others. That did not help. I tried different settings, read internet forums and tried every fix i read about. I even reformatted and installed OS 10.4.11.

After dealing with applecare for approximately 2 hours, they decided it was my router. I knew very well it wasn't, because my computer would not pick up an internet signal anywhere I go. whatever.

I took my computer into an applestore, where it did not pick up an internet signal. They replaced the Airport wireless antennae. Computer worked for about 30 minutes, then back to no wireless signal. Called applecare, talked to a network guy for another 2-3 hours, he tells me its interference and my router.

Take the computer BACK to the applestore that is an hour and a half away, and there is still no wireless. They send it off a second time. I recieved the computer an hour ago and I still have internet! Here is what they replaced:

603-8214 PURCH ASSEM,US,FRED,M35A
865-0224 RBR,F T LATE MOD CUST INSTALL, 12"
678-0525F DA PSEC UJ-857 9.5MM 4X SUPERDRIVE HAE4
632-0500 ODD, FLEX ASSY,MACBOOKPRO

so replacing these parts, (not sure what they are other than the superdrive) fixed my issue. Apparently I wouldn't have ever fixed it without sending it in, and luckily I had applecare. I hope this helps you, I had been fighting this problem for almost three months. Let me know if anyone has had apple fix their computer too!

I have been having the same issue on my MBP since I got it in March. The other computers (PC and Windows laptop) have no such issues. I have tried a number of things in this forum--some worked temporarily, some not at all, none "fixed" it. I've been to the Genius Bar, had my MBP replaced once, got a new Airport Extreme, etc etc etc like the rest of you.

My question is, does Apple know about this (the "geniuses" and tech support claim to never have heard of the problem), and if so, when are they going to A. acknowledge it and B. make it right!?

Same problem here. Brand new MBP that is Out of the box. No signal, yet my Powerbook G4 and my iphones and my G4 all get wireless from my DLink and Fios Actiontec Routers with absolutely no problem. Tried Everything to get it working with no luck. Going to the apple store tomorrow to let them tell me nothing is wrong...

I may print this out and bring it with me as an arguing point. We'll see

Hey Apple.. 489 replies.. 7600+ views... think maybe something is wrong?

Dave

Well, after a bit more testing I can duplicate my issue over and over. If I take my iPhone into the other room and away from my computer, I don't have any problems with connections. I get connected with full strength signal and everything works fine.

If I go get my iPhone and set it on my desk, I have about a 50% chance that it kicks me off the network and my MBP goes searching for the network.

If I pickup my iPhone and place a call or a call comes in, then I have about a 95% chance of getting kicked off the network.

telling it to stop the airport and then restarting it in the top menu bar immediately gets things working again.

Haven't tested with other phones to see if it's just the iphone or if its the wireless signal somehow interfering with the MBP but its definitely a major part of my problem.

I'll update again if I discover anything else.

glenn

I have a Netgear and set it up to g only. Since then my MBP is working ok. But I have another problem. I have an Airport Extreme at work and it isn't working ok with my MBP (only in leopard). When I start my MBP in bootcamp with XP SP2 I don't have this problem... I my case I think the problem is Mac OS Leopard

I just got my MBP back after 3 weeks at an authorised servicer, and the problem is still not fixed.

Like everyone else, I went through the song and dance with apple support - trying a whole bunch of things that clearly weren't going to resolve the problem, culminating in an erase and reinstall...I think they make you do this, not because they think its going to fix anything, but because they want you to erase your own data, so that they're not liable if anything goes wrong "with the lid open".

Anyway, the engineer at the servicer tried a bunch of things also, replacing the airport card, hard disk and screen (antena) at apple's - still, problem not resolved.

Anyway, when I spoke to him yesterday, he said basically this was a very common problem, which apple knew about (although everyone at at support denies it), and its to do with the firmware for the airport card - until apple fix this, people will continue to have the problem.

Just got my MBP back and reinstalling my backup....what as waste of time - I wish apple would just acknowledge the problem, and get on with fixing it!

Not to get people's hopes up prematurely, but supposedly AirPort is something that they're working on in the 10.5.5 update. Not sure if it's the connectivity glitch, but considering that they had an order of Macs suspended by the NYC Dept. of Education earlier in the year over the wireless issue, I'd think this is an issue they're taking seriously.

http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?t=90636
http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86285

According to the first article, AirPort is one of the components (along with graphics drivers, iCal, iChat, screen sharing, and Time Machine) that still need further testing. So they may not have it completely licked yet.

I have no idea if I'm affected... I use DSL. =P

I'm going to buy a Dell >_<'

*_Apple we need solutions now, not in 10 years!!_*