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Level 1

5 points

Macbook Pro, wireless issues

Hey everyone, I've been wanting to jump onto the apple bandwagon since the release of OSX. A few weeks ago I went ahead and purchased a unibody 2.4Ghz MBP from the apple refurb store. It arrived, everything worked great.. Until now.

Tonight, I can only barely connect to my wireless network. I am using a Linksys WRT-54G with the DD-WRT firmware (wireless works fine with my netbook and iPod touch). It was working fine with my macbook and then tonight I can hardly get a connection if one at all. It will show a full strength connection, but everything is bordering on unusable.

Webpages won't load, can't even access my router's config page. I first thought it was an issue with my ISP but at the same time my macbook has the issues I can walk over to my desktop and it's connection is fine. I can't really afford to have a $1,700 machine that can't get online (unless I reboot into windows like I am now typing this).

There has to be a way to fix this, or at least narrow it down to what the problem might be.

Thanks!

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jun 2, 2009 2:17 AM

37 replies

Jul 7, 2009 4:36 PM in response to STCav

can i ask exactly how you did that? i'm not very good with this kind of stuff.

Jul 8, 2009 5:19 PM in response to Garrett-R

i shut down all of my computers and unplugged my router for about an hour and it seems to be working fine for the last few hours.

STCav

Level 2

428 points

Jul 8, 2009 11:53 PM in response to Garrett-R

You need to use the security settings in the router. Log in to its control panel and view the tab or menu that deals with SSD. On my Belkin it's a single page that shows "Channel and SSD". There is a check-box to select or not the option to "Broadcast SSD".

Hope this helps.
Stephen

STCav

Level 2

428 points

Jul 8, 2009 11:55 PM in response to Garrett-R

Good luck with that - I tried doing that overnight but it made no difference. I hope it works for you.

STCav

Level 2

428 points

Jul 11, 2009 4:48 AM in response to STCav

My problem seems to have gone away by itself!

I tried various things, including changing the Channel from 11 to 1, but each time the test failed. I then put the machine away in disgust. When I came back to it I forgot that I had left the SSID off, but the network connected anyway. It's been OK for a few days now, so I have left well alone.

The only difference between when the fault developed and now is that I have changed the broadcast channel from 11 to 1 - I don't know whether this might help others. Good luck.

Stephen

lunari Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 12, 2009 10:09 PM in response to Firniss

I am rather surprised at the number of replies to this. My MBP has been fine, then over the past few days the problem has reared it's head yet again. I am on my windows desktop for the first time in over 3 weeks due to the fact that my MBP is refusing to work online.

I hope there is a fix for this soon, way to much money for a machine with this problem. Other than the wireless and the safari crashes.. great machine 🙂

lunari Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 13, 2009 3:21 PM in response to lunari

Got it working again last night, was stable for at least 2-3 hours last night. I removed the network from my saved networks, logged into my router from my desktop. Disabled all wireless security, changed the SSID name, reconfigured the macbook for the network.. No problems since then. Will post if they pop up again.

pSitch

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2009 11:20 PM in response to lunari

I've got to say this is happening to me too! New, mid-2009, 15" MBP struggling to stay connected to the office Airport Extreme. Very frustrating. I have to turn Airport off and on for it to search for wireless networks!! My MacBook does not have an issue. Older PowerBook's stay connected. Tempted to make an appointment at the Genius.

Im almost positive there is something wrong with this release, or my particular MBP. I have not experienced such flakey connections on any other mac laptop.

Please apple address this issue.
Thanks!

Firniss

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2009 11:36 PM in response to pSitch

All problems persist still. Can't connect to LAN. I can even ping and trace the server! But via "go to server" no connections possible.
I did turn off firewall, then the other computers (parallels and Windows) where visible.
Now a new problem: can only access to computers which are directly connected to airport Extreme or Express. The others not visible. Have to change the Airports, to go to another computer.
This occurs only on MBP not on all other Macs here!!!
This MBP even hooks up on downloding updates. For example last Safari update, he was busy all night long, turning his small wheel.

Can't work seriously with this machine. Doesn't feel Apple at all !!!

Jul 14, 2009 11:28 AM in response to lunari

I've had my MBP for a week now with the same problems. It works a while then doesn't. I searched the Apple support secton and there is no reference to this. Will it simply go away if Apple ignores it.

Jul 16, 2009 1:26 AM in response to TarpAsAShack

I have similar problems, even though I have an old MBP. After booting up the wireless first works, then after a minute or so it falls down in speed and strength (less bars). What I do is restart the airport in my MBP. Sometimes I have to do that a few times. Then my wireless stays on for a longer time.

Jul 17, 2009 4:04 PM in response to lunari

I just bought one of the new Macbook Pros (15" 2.8 GHz) on Monday and I am having this same issue. My wireless connect keeps dropping, just about every few minutes it seems. The router works just fine, my roommate has an older Macbook and I have an old Toshiba that both have had no issues connecting or staying connected.

Jul 17, 2009 4:26 PM in response to lunari

When I put my new MBP next to my iMac on the desk and access the same website the download speeds are radically different

The iMac blazes ahead whilst the MBP is like a snail ...

I also have a Linksys WRT54G router that works fine with every other wirless device in the house... even through concrete walls.

Whats going on here?

Jul 21, 2009 11:06 AM in response to TarpAsAShack

It would be great for someone from apple to respond to one of these post for the wireless issue. I would just like a response that they are aware of the problem and are working on it, and have confidence that they will find a solution.

shaowoo

Level 1

0 points

Jul 22, 2009 12:57 AM in response to lunari

i also had problem with my wireless (802.11N),.. the solution in my case was changing the security to wpa2 with AES. My default security was WPA.

The moment i changed it to wpa2 the wireless speed went up..

Macbook Pro, wireless issues