New Mac Mini Wireless Internet - Slow, Disconnects frequently

HI All,

Was getting no joy with this post in another forum and wondered if anyone here might have any tips.

I have a problem that's been bugging me for a while and I can't find a fix. I have two Mac's. A Nvidia Mac Mini and a MacBook Pro. I'm also using a Billion wireless router model BiPAC 7402VGO.

I've applied all available firmware and software updates to the devices.

The problem:
I can ping the MacBook from the MacMini and on average it takes 1ms.
I can ping the router from the MacMini and on average it takes 1ms.
I can ping the router from the MacBook and on average it takes 1ms.
If I try to ping the Mac Mini from the MacBook it takes about 400ms.

This is very frustrating. I don't have a keyboard or mouse plugged into the Mini. I use it as a home media centre. I use the Teleport software to control the Mini using the keyboard and mouse on my MacBook. This network delay causes me to get a slow keyboard and mouse response on the Mini. It's very much annoying. I'm not %100 positive but I believe it started after applying the 10.05.7 update.

One thing I have found, is that if I've got steady network activity happening on the MacMini (downloading software updates etc.) then ping response time is normal. So it's like each time I initate network activity to the Mini it has to do some kind of wake up process or something.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this before? Any one have any suggestions on how to troubleshoot such an issue. I've tried using tcpdump to look at the packets but cannot see anything out of the ordinary. It's also strange that the problem only exists one way. To me this indicates that the problem is on the MacMini.

Thanks

dotcom78 wrote:
HI All,

Hi

The problem:
I can ping the MacBook from the MacMini and on average it takes 1ms.
I can ping the router from the MacMini and on average it takes 1ms.
I can ping the router from the MacBook and on average it takes 1ms.
If I try to ping the Mac Mini from the MacBook it takes about 400ms.
So it's like each time I initate network activity to the Mini it has to do some kind of wake up process or something.

I agree with this, it's the first thing i would check. Is the mini set up to sleep or "screen saver" to kick in after 5 min? If it doesn't have a screen, i would set it up to never screen save, and make sure energy saver is never too. Then test ping times again...

It's also strange that the problem only exists one way. To me this indicates that the problem is on the MacMini.

i think so too. Are the mini and macbook both using wireless?

Thanks for the reply.

The Mini is plugged into my Bravia TV. That's how I discovered the problem, trying to use Teleport ( http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/22339) between the two macs. It's powered on and I am looking at the screen when I'm doing the ping so I don't think it could be a sleep or screen saver issue.

Both Mac's are using the wireless network. I would try with an Ethernet cable but it won't reach to where it is currently.

I'm sure I never used to have this issue.

Cheers

Because the problem is your Linksys?
Seriously, doesn't everyone realize that wireless N is still in draft stage and not final so there is going to be issues mixing different brand routers with wireless N devices.
Like I said in previous post stick to slower wireless G and you'll be fine.
If you want to be guaranteed it'll work at N speeds get an Apple wireless device or do some research beforehand and make sure your wireless device is compatible.

My Linksys is only a wireless G router. It's not capable of N. So thanks for your reply, but the draft version of N won't be the problem in this case. Unless there's a way of limiting the Macbook and Mac Mini to G speeds to ensure G compatibility?

Me again,

Just to say "ditto" on the G-only, and to re-ask: can you limit the AirPort on the Mini to only 802-11 G functionality? With the G-only iMac and iBook consistently running circles around the brand-new Mini. I can't see how the problem could be anywhere but with the Mini...

The next-best workaround, I guess, would be to get a little USB Wi-Fi receiver and pull in the wireless signal that way. Anyone have suggestions for something like this? What to get or avoid? Whether any of the kind that claim to be Windows-only work with OS X/an Apple base station?

Anyone else see any improvement yet?

Same problem....

-- I also saw a big improvement in my wireless connection.
-- I also saw a big drop in speed, reliability.

i don't think there is a way to limit the mini to G speeds, but you can limit the router to only allow G connections. My linksys "wrt54g" is doing that currently.

Just to add some more 'strangeness' to the mix. After moving my mini about 4 feet AWAY from the router, i now have a stronger connection (1 more bar) and less drops.... go figure....

it makes me believe that these issues are from some kind of interference with the router/minis signal.

Reset the settings of my router and solve the problem

Add me to the list of people with troubles. I have a mac mini downstairs and my Linksys WRT310N router is upstairs. The thing about my situation that I find curious is that the mini reports a download speed of 1.5 Mb/s but an upload of 7 Mb/s. Also, I have held my iPhone next to the mini and it gets 7 Mb/s download and about 1 Mb/s upload. I have an iMac sitting next to the router upstairs and I tested its wireless speed and it gets 18 Mb/s download. I am at work right now and plan to try some of your suggestions when I get home. In the meantime I would appreciate any insight into why I might be seeing such drastic differences in different devices and why the mini can get such a high upload but such a low download speed.

Thanks!

New twist in a good way for me -- I bought my Mini with 1 GB of memory, and just last week got around to swapping that out for a full 4 GB. With the added memory my wireless problems have abated.

Still not as consistent as it was on my iMac, but overall much faster. Hope it lasts...

PS- I also had drastically better upload speeds from the very first.

Problem Solved! I changed my router's network mode to mixed b-g and am now averaging 6 Mbps during peak hours and 17 Mbps during off-peak hours. Good luck to the rest of you!

I had a similar problem that I have been trying to fix ever since I bought my mini a few weeks ago.

The problem: Slow network performance and dropped network connections.

I tried several different approach to fixing the problem:

1. Changed my router settings several times. I refused to to compromise by changing my wireless mode to mixed. I tried changing channels, reset the router several times but nothing worked.

2. I also tried using a powerlink adapter to create a physical network connection, but performance was terrible.

3. My final attempt that I implemented last night seems to be working. The 'solution' involved throwing a network extender into the mix and moving the Mini away from other electronics (AV receiver, DVD player, Sub-woofer). I am not getting a stronger signal and performance has improved dramatically. I haven't been able to fully test this setup, but I believe that it will work.

My conclusion is that the wireless reception on the Mini isn't great to begin with. I tested a MPB and Mini together and found that the MBP has way higher signal and lower noise than the Mini.

I have the same issues, if not worse. My bluetooth connection is also affected. It all was fine after a complete reinstallation, BUT only for about a day. All the clever tips don't help. In my case it has nothing to do with the router (Time Capsule) or the channel used. My MacBook and iPhone don't have any problems with the connection, it's only the MacMini.
Seems Apple has a bigger problem here they won't admit. There are numerous reports online and the tech guy at the Apple store also mentioned some issues with the network card on the new MacMinis. They're getting to big and customer support is suffering a lot. That's actually my biggest concern. My MacMini is now away for repair, a FEW WEEKS they told me. Keeping in mind you only have 12 months warranty and they then take it away for a month without replacement simply *****.
I know many people who are having more and more problems with Apple products and service, hence 2 weeks ago, after 5 years of Apple, I bought a PC.

To provide an update from my previous post, the wireless issues are back to plague me.

I will be calling Apple support this afternoon.