Dropping N Network after 10.5.2

I've been using 5Ghz with wide channels flawlessly for over 6 months. I've never had an issue with a dropout or any disruption with regards to data transfers. MacBook Pro Santa Rosa 2.4Gzhz Atheros chipset

I suspect the problem is not an issue with the Atheros chipset. The Broadcom chips seem more troublesome.

I completely agree, and I hope it's something apple can get their hands around and not just chalk it up to poorly produced hardware.

dbboston,
You seem to have hit the nail on the head!
With wide channels turned-off I get no spontaneous network drops!

Of course I lose half my bandwidth 😟
but until Apple fix 10.5.2, it's a good workaround.

Disappointingly, I noticed that in the forthcoming 10.5.3 update, there's no mention of an Airport fix.

Hello. I posted this problem in a 10.4 forum, but wanted to put it here as well, as it includes a 10.5 computer and I feel that that might be where the problem is. My daughter recently bought a Macbook, and since bringing it home we have been experiencing a strange wireless/internet problem. There are four computers in our home: 3 macs one PC, we will all be online just fine, then suddenly not be connected. It's not like a dropped signal, the router is still available, we can still use iChat and regular AOL but cannot get to the internet using Firefox, Safari or Explorer. When I do a power cycle on modem/router, it fixes it - for all computers, until it happens again, usually a few hours later.

I have had suggestions for problems when browsing or loading a page gets screwy, but that is not really my issue. Does this happen to anyone else? I contacted the router support (Belkin) but didn't really receive much support, checked firmware updates etc. I suppose it could be a modem issue - but not sure. Lately there is no wired computer to the modem, we're all using wireless, and was fine until the Macbook - coincidence?? I will probably call Apple next, because she has the warranty and we might get some help that way. Next week my daughter will be out of town for a week and I can see if the problem stops for awhile - but in the meantime, any suggestions?

Thanks again for your help.
Bob

ibook g4 Mac OS X (10.4.10) Cable/Belkin router/a G4, G3, and a Dell Inspiron

Good to hear it's working for someone else... Meant to get back to the thread earlier but I've now gone all week with no drops after killing wide channels. No problems whatsoever. Sweet, except for as you mentioned Glyn, it's a workaround.

Hopefully the apple elves are listening in and can get something thrown into 10.5.3 at the last minute for us.

I can't say I'm having dropouts on my 'N' network since upgrading to 10.5.2 (am using an updated firmware though), but I will say that the network performance has reduced significantly since upgrading (2nd day of ownership). If you alt-click the wireless symbol on the taskbar (sorry haven't got used to the apple terms yet) my link can only get to 130Mbps max. I reported this to Apple they claim this is "Real World Speed" this is despite my other three Windows XP Tablets hitting the 300Mbps on the same router and the MBA operating at 238Mbps pre 10.5.2. Details are as follows;
AirPort Card Information:

Wireless Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0x8B)
Wireless Card Locale: Worldwide
Wireless Card Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (4.170.46.5)

Still hoping that someone might have some ideas about my previous post - with the macbook and three other computers that are unable to access the net (iChat and regular AOL still work) until I do a power cycle...anyway, two times I've had this message appear on my screen...both times when I've been away from the computer:

IP CONFIGURATION
192.168.2.4 in use by 00:1e:c2:aa:3d:ab, DHCP Server 192.168.2.1

Any ideas what this means and why??
Thanks.
Bob

bwal60,
It's not exactly the same problem.

But, it sounds to me like a DNS issue.
Try manually entering the DNS settings of your ISP into your AEBS.

bwal60 wrote:

IP CONFIGURATION
192.168.2.4 in use by 00:1e:c2:aa:3d:ab, DHCP Server 192.168.2.1

Any ideas what this means and why??

It means that your DHCP server (the Belkin router at 192.168.2.1) has allocated an IP address (192.168.2.4) to a machine with a Media Access Control (MAC) address of 00:1e:c2:aa:3d:ab.

The likely problem here is that the router is protesting that 192.168.2.4 is already in use, when another computer wants it to be allocated. You can check the MAC address of the MacBook by going to Network Utility and selecting Network Interface (en1). If it matches the address above, then there is probably a configuration problem somewhere among the computers or router.

Holy crap I've got a lot to learn!! Thank you for that answer...my daughter is going to be out of town for a week, so if all the funkyness stops while she's gone, I'll know her Macbook is the issue for sure. So, if I go to the Macbook Network Utility and find that the interface number matches (2.1 or 2.4?) do I then need to change the numbers in the Macbook to something else or in the router? Do I need to do the same thing with the other computers in the house? They were all playing well together in the same network before the new baby came home...Since I'm obviously a novice at network stuff, is this something I should sort out with Apple or Belkin? Or am I grown up enough to do it myself??

Thanks for your help.
Bob

Only one way to learn... DIY!!!! 😉

Network Utility will have an item called "Hardware Address" in the format of 00:xy:22:c2:00:d9 . If this matches the address in the error message, you have probably found the machine that is at the centre of that problem.

If this is so - how to fix? Best bet would be to select "System Preferences..." from the Apple menu, and then click on "Network". Then click on "Advanced..." followed by "TCP/IP". After all that clicking, you can then just look to see if it says something like "Configure IPv4: Using DHCP". If not, select "Using DHCP", click ok, then Apply, then pray.

Thanks! I've been given a reprieve since my daughter just left for a week, so I will save the instructions for when she gets back...and I can avoid learning something new for a week! It's been a little un-nerving seeing all the problems with 10.5.2 and connection issues...

I'll respond in a week, but thanks again!
Bob

Hey---hopefully someone will catch this old post...

My daughter has been out of town for a week, and we've had no dropped access since the Macbook has been gone. So it appears that it is the culprit. So, I should follow your advice from previous email - or does knowing that it is the Macbook change anything in the picture??

Thanks.
Bob

G'day Bob,

I came across someone with a similar issue to you - who has managed to find a solution! (It is probably too late for you now, but - what the heck..)

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=7387791#7387791

This guys network was crashing because the iMac had Internet Connection Sharing enabled. (System Preferences -> Sharing -> Internet Sharing). Once he disabled that, everything started to work.

Cheers,

Rodney