Q: Realplayer Download Agent kills Macbook to AE

Oh man. When you know what you are looking for it's easy eh!! I've just wasted FOUR days (and nights) trying to resolve an issue that looked like it was DHCP related on my new routers. A Google search showed that there were indeed lots of DHCP issues with Billion routers. However, no matter what I did, when I was connected to the internet, and I subsequently connected another wireless device, i.e. PSP or iPod Touch. I would lose my connection on the MBP. A PS3 or Xbox 360, connected by wire to the router wouldn't affect it, it was only the other wireless devices. I've tried EVERYTHING. And then tonight, I happened to look at the Console, and noticed a lot of messages re-ip addresses from Real Player Download Agent. A quick disable, and sure enough, everything is rosy!!

FOUR DAYS WASTED for a small program running in the background that I didn't even know was there.... grrrrrrr!! Not happy with RealNetworks' shonky software!!

THANK YOU so much for this. I've been having a similar problem... I just installed Real Player with RDA last night, and a day later not only was it killing network connections between computers, but I could only access the internet from my other laptop (the one without Real installed). But ethernet was fine, just like you describe. So now RDA is disabled and all is well.

If I hadn't stumbled across this thread, there's no telling how long it would have taken for the penny to drop. Phew. Thanks again. I was about ready to lose it. And sadly there must be thousands of poor Mac users out there losing their minds as I type this. I can't believe Real put this junk out.

I would just like to add that I discovered this bug with Real Player too. At first it appears as though the airport card is failing. The connection will dip out and eventually no packets will be sent or received (I couldn't ping a single device in my network from the laptop). I initially thought the failed airport connection might also be related to the 10.5.5 update, but it's not.

Basically, when Real Player Downloader is set up a login item, it totally kills the wireless network connection, and not just for that user but for any other user that logs in to the machine. The connection is only restored after the laptop is rebooted. But until Real Player Downloader is removed from the login items of that user the problem will persist.

Beware the download agent. You will be prompted to install it as a login item when you first run RealPlayer (v11). Don't do it!!!

-George

argh - this problem was KILLING me for the past several days. apple care just talked me through it and i have uninstalled both RDA and realplayer itself. realplayer has lost credibility with me now. thank god i've got the problem solved though - was very annoying.

Wow. I am so glad to finally be rid of this problem. As one said above, it's easy to find the answer once you know what you're looking for. I'm running the most recent generation of white Macbook connected to an Airport Express with WPA/WPA2 security. Every time I've needed wireless on my Macbook, I've been plagued with dropping internet connections even though the network was connected strongly. Constantly having to toggle on/off airport or switch networks was getting to be a royal pain. Real Player Downloader 11 definitely has an issue with it that needs to be resolved. Take it off your login items and restart if you are having similar issues.