makbook air is not detecting the Wi-Fi

Dear Wintech,

I'm not expert of Mac (also I use them from 1999) and less about wi fi (I'm learning now with MBA one month old, never used wi fi before) but I'm interested to this subject, as appear to be a very common issue in this MBA forum. You can look at Air Port forum where meny experts explain about wi fi, but it seems special differents issue in MBA (or its usage?) as the same wi fi line works in other mac but not in MBA. In Air Port forum, the answears good for other mac, seem don't work in MBA as well
So I hope in this forum will speak expert of Air Port AND MBA, to simplify our wi fi life.
In my little research in this forum, I learned the wi fi connection dipends from meny particulars, so, to help experts to come in, they need maybe much more information about your configuration, as our generic questions (air port doesn't work) is not clear.

Waiting experts and waiting more information from you, to begin, I'll try to help you giving a generic answear:

- reading similar posts in this forum, look for interference that appear the most common problem with MBA more than othe PC or mac (the MBA wi fi device is more sensible?)

- take a photo snap shot of the screen, of your actual device regulation (enter in router settings)

- put off other computers, light on only MBA and try to create a new connection by it.

- enter in router regulation and catch a screen photo of this new settings, to see the differences between before and after settings.

My idea is that most routers, when start, authomatically look for best set of connection depending from the line, ISP and computers connected. They look for feedback pings between PC and the broadband, and stops when the line is on. My idea is that, when you connect by only MBA, the router settings authomatically set for the best, but if you restart the router without MBA, maybe the regulation is changed to connect better the other computer.
My idea is that MBA Air Port is more sensible than other (all the MBA is set to wi fi life, so maybe Apple built it with high power wi fi, too high?) If interference are the most important issue about MBA than other computers, it will possible in the future have a regulation of MBA wi fi sensibility?)

I'm very interested to know wich difference in router settings are so important for our MBA, so it don't work on wi fi lines good for the most computer in the same line.

For monitoring interference, a little help is to dowload iStrumbler
http://www.istumbler.net (only to see other wi fi lines around you, but not interference from house devices).

Are you using Air Port device? did you create a new connection as a bridge between your router and mac or a new connection at all? the wi fi line use encription that doesn't work with MBA, diferent from othe PC or mac? etc. etc.
let us know.

Another common issue reported in this forum, is that in MBA, often you have to manually choose your connection from air port menu bar at top.

fernando

I've just found this address:

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/DesigningAirPort_Networks10.5-Windows.pdf

where Apple explain how to configure Air Port connection. I didn't know it, as Air Port user guide wasn't so clear. Excuse me to all the experts, but maybe someone of us (like me) need the basic knowledge of air port lines, and maybe Air Port card (like in MBA) are different from other, so windows wi fi experts too, may find difficulties?

thank you for the question that obbligate me to find answears.

fernando

I think - not an expert - but I think there is a bug in OSX 15.5.x that sometimes prevents the laptop from using the password from a keychain to connect to a hidden network. I have had this "bug" on four different laptops on my home LAN.

Here is how I convince the laptops to remember the password (and to connect effortlessly):

1.) Run Software Update and install the most recent Airport updates, and restart the computer.

2.) Open System Preferences -> Network
3.) Turn OFF the airport.
4.) Click on the Airport and Advanced then Delete the hidden network from the list.
5.) If you have an Airport Only location or Home location, delete it.
6.) Turn ON the Airport
7.) Click on Assist Me .... then Assistant.
8.) Follow the steps to create a new location - Call it _Airport Only_ - and click on Other Network.
9.) Configure the new location to connect to your hidden home network.
10.) Make SURE that you see the popup that allows Network to see the Keychain and Click on ALWAYS ALLOW. (If you do not see the keychain popup and click on Always Allow, this process will not solve your problem. Go back and repeat the steps until you get the Keychain permission popup, even if you have to turn off the Airport and reboot.
11.) Before you close the Network window, make sure you Click on APPLY.
12.) Optional: Go back into System Preferences -> Network, select the Airport Only location and delete the USB, Ethernet, and any other connections leaving only the Airport.

This has worked for me on four different laptops including a Titanium running 10.4.9 and three Intel based laptops running 10.5.x. If I don't see the keychain permissions popup and click on Always Allow, the problem will come back. Go figure.

BTW, I have had to repeat the process each time I change any settings on the Airport base station.

Good luck. Let me know if it works for you. (jk)