Suddenly Macbook Wifi has got weaker and dropping out...

Mine is just over 3 years old as well. Probably just a coincidence, but don't give up yet on the MacBook, there has to be a common problem for all of us! COME ON APPLE TECHS!

This just in from Apple:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL878

(Applies to 2007 and 2008 models.)

Bark!

This is for macs already running 10.5.8. I've been afraid to upgrade given what the last upgrade did to my wireless. The problem should be solved without having to upgrade to a new release version.

Hi folks,
Apparently the issue Apple recently solved (after a 10.5.8 update messed up AirPort connectivity on MacBooks and MacBooks Pro) does not address all occurances of this case. I read on different forums that being on battery power or hooked on to the power grid makes a difference on the AirPort connection speed.

However, in my case the choice of power supply doesn't make any difference. My MacBook (Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GHz) hasn't been showing the network performance since I've updated to 10.5.8 (really, but really slow connection). The patch at hand rules me out, since my MacBook "doesn't meet the hardware requirements" for this solution. Conclusion, the problem is larger that this recent patch can solve.

My AirPort details (on the MacBook) are firmware 1.4.16.2, Locale: Worldwide 2. Works with an AirPort Extreme and a AirPort Expresse (through WDS). This configuration seems to work just fine since AirTunes is working properly and I can connect my iPhone to the WiFi without any problems.

Still, I'm stuck with the lousy AirPort performance on my MacBook. Searched different forums, Apple related websites and various blogs, but haven't encountered any issue similar to mine.

Can anybody help, please!?

Cheers,
Olaf

I have the same problem on a Macbook Core Duo 1,83 Ghz (white).

- it suddenly started about 4 months ago
- airport works only when staying close to the router, but sometimes it works further away for short times, then drops out
- bars in the menu move up and down randomly, no effect on speed
- speed moves up and down randomly too, sometimes it's blazing fast, but this has become rare

"This is for macs already running 10.5.8. I've been afraid to upgrade given what the last upgrade did to my wireless. The problem should be solved without having to upgrade to a new release version."

From a software design perspective, sometimes it is simply not possible to solve one problem w/o being at a minimum software revision. Some solutions/patches are called "rollups" or similar, which simply means all required prerequisite updates are included...

As far as the latest patch for Airport MacBooks ( http://support.apple.com/kb/DL878 ?), I downloaded it through System update and the narcolepsy continues on my daughter's MacBook... 😟

This patch is not available for me either seeing that I am running 10.4.11, and I still have the same problems that the MacBooks running .5.8 are having. This patch I'm assuming was designed to confront an issue with the update of 10.5.8 but being that me and other users are not in the .5 realm at all, and we maintain the internet issue, I think that it was some other underlying factor that is not the operating system version. Perhaps a different update that both 4.11 users and 5.8 users had to install? Perhaps something else.

On another note, has anyone with 5.8 installed the patch mentioned in the previous posts with a success story of the wireless connection being fixed back to standard connection?

I am also on 10.4.11

any new news?

I bought my Macbook yesterday, I'm already experiencing this problem, my messengers bottom out, my Gmail notifier ceases to work. I'm changing over from a PC and its terrible to think that I'm having to put up with a technical problem already that seems to have existed for so long.

If I call apple, will they do anything? or shall I just take it back and begrudgingly buy a PC laptop instead?

I am SO glad there are other people with this problem. I have a Macbook running 4.11, from Summer of 2006, and this started back in May for me as well. I attributed it to the actual ISP, but I moved to one place in Mexico (and assumed it was the block walls, even though my parents' PC was picking up the signal just fine), and now have moved to a new place in Mexico. We just got internet today and it's the same deal - unless i'm standing 5 feet from the base station (which is in a roommate's room, unfortunately), I can't get a signal.

So I have 4.11, it's a 2006 model. WHAT CAN I DO!? This is ridiculous. I can't get on the internet! This is not okay.

Please. Let's. This requires something. After working just fine for nearly 3 years, the ability to connect to the internet shouldn't just GO AWAY. Usability matters to Apple, right?

Having the same problem here. I have a white first gen MacBook (June 2006) and this problem has been here for about 4 to 6 months (i guess). It's just really bad reception, i can't make anything else out of this 😟 In the room with the router i can surf the web at full speed, downloading up to 650kb/sec. While downloading a file, i move my macbook from the router room to JUST ONE ROOM further (my room) and the speed drops like crazy. I'm seriously not kidding: ONE STEP in my room (or other rooms for that matter) and i stop surfing.

Apple, is not being able to load a textual page in 10 minutes considered to be a problem?! I'm sick of this! All other laptops in this house pick up the signal from over 50 meters from my house, on the street!

I made an earlier suggestion, which Apple decided not to include in the thread. Yet, I'm rewording. Is it possible that the affected users air the matter collectively so that it can be effectively addressed by Apple?

Update:

Definitely MacBook Airport card problem! I ran a speedtest with my iPhone outside my house with only 1 bar wifi signal and i managed to get 560kb/sec (which is about 85% of my max speed). But my macbook can't even surf when it's maybe 5 meters away from the router?

Please, someone mail this topic to Steve Jobs!

Message was edited by: Fliz