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Level 1

10 points

MacBook's Wireless range diminished

About two weeks ago the wireless range on my MacBook suddenly fell dramatically, so I have to be about twice as close to the router to receive signal, corresponding to a four-fold decrease in signal reception.

Let's say X is the old wireless range. When the laptop is within 1/2X, the internet works perfectly. When I am at distance X, the network doesn't appear. When I am at 3/4X and try to connect to the network, I get "Connection timeout" notices. Sometimes after I enter in my password and click "Connect," the "Network Preferences" window reloads the password prompt dialog box, with an empty password. If I turn off the AirPort and turn it back on, the network often fails to appear unless I move back to within 1/2X.

The wireless router is 3Com, with WEP encryption. I am 99% sure that the problem is with my computer, because my brother's similar black Macbook gets wireless in the old areas with no problems. I'm using 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for DNS.

I've tried: Forgetting the wireless network and then reconnecting to it, powering off and on the router, manually entering the network name and password, and none of these steps has worked. I would appreciate if you could tell me other steps I can take to troubleshoot the problem, including possibly checking for damage to the wireless antenna. Thanks very much!

White late 2008 Macbook, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jul 5, 2010 7:22 PM

110 replies

Jul 19, 2010 11:14 AM in response to blizzardkmb4

My issue didn't solve by reseting the router and updating it. And I reinstalled my OS from the zero and it didn't solve anything either.

My AirPort used to see others networks besides my home network and now my airport don't see any and to see my home network and use it, I need to stay with my MacBook very close to the router. And the others devices at home connects with no problem with my home network in anywhere at my home.

For all that, I see that my airport issue is an hardware issue, not software.

Jul 20, 2010 4:37 AM in response to blizzardkmb4

I have a 1st gen Macbook with the same problem. It's getting worse other the last month. The network I started to use last week has a WEP key And it's dramatically worse. I thought I read somewhere that it might be the cause of low transmission rates.

I'll hang on to see if there is a fix to the problem. Right now I have to write this on my iPhone!

Jul 20, 2010 3:42 PM in response to michael saggese

A temporary solution for me I found, was to leave the computer off overnight/during the day. The wireless works at full speed, like it should, for quite some time, can't give an exact estimate though.

Give it a try, see if you all get the same result, then we'll know we're having the same issue.

Dimmalo

Level 1

8 points

Jul 21, 2010 2:16 AM in response to blizzardkmb4

I am posting just to let you know that I am experiencing the same issue as yours and considering to change my airport card...

Jul 25, 2010 4:00 AM in response to Dimmalo

Hi all,

I also have this same issue — vastly diminished range of my airport card. I have to sit right next to the router to get wifi.

Hoping for a solution...

skrieger

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2010 7:52 AM in response to blizzardkmb4

Hi Everyone - just thought I'd chime in as well. I have a 2006 Macbook running OS X 10.4.11 and the wireless range is diminished with the exact same symptons as previous posts. Have their been any quick fixes yet? Did Apple make a manufacturing mistake?

blizzardkmb4 Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 26, 2010 9:03 AM in response to skrieger

I went to the Genius Bar and they told me to set a Client ID in DHCP so my router could pick up my laptop easier. That had no measurable effect. They also said to reset my router's settings from scratch - haven't tried that yet. Essentially they said the problem was with wireless routers and not with Macbooks.

Jul 26, 2010 9:26 AM in response to blizzardkmb4

I can almost guarantee it's not a problem with the routers and it's most definitely a problem with the Airport cards.

dsam7

Level 1

0 points

Jul 27, 2010 3:29 AM in response to skrieger

Further to my previous post and to confirm with others on here, mine is a Macbook '06. My other laptops have no problems connecting to my wireless router. This issue is unique to my Macbook.

jacwo

Level 1

0 points

Jul 28, 2010 8:29 AM in response to dsam7

I am having the same problem as well and yes am using a late 06 machine. No solutions from anyone yet. It's very frustrating having to sit next to the router... when it is supposed to be wireless. SIGH...

Jul 28, 2010 9:00 AM in response to dsam7

Just pitching my hat into the ring, also a first generation Intel MacBook with sudden loss of range for wireless. Three other laptops in the house (one a PC, one a MacBook Pro, and one the old Aluminum Powerbook) all have full bars. Only the 2006 MacBook acts this way. There seems to be a growing trend. Apple needs to respond with solution/help.

Jul 28, 2010 12:12 PM in response to Twentyhats

And my MacBook's AirPort started to stop sending internet signal even if it's close to the router and with full bars... The AirPort sends internet signal for a couple of minutes and then stop sending it.

It started to happen here yesterday and today happened again, but the signal decreased (just got a bar) and doesn't connect anymore even standing so close to the router (I'm just 19.69 inches - 50cm - far away from the router). Now I'm using cable to connect to the internet even standing so close to the router... :/

Really, really frustrating!

PS: I already reseted my router and updated it's firmware, reseted the SMC/PRAM, reinstalled the Snow Leopard and tried to use my Mac in other networks and none of these worked out for me.

Jul 28, 2010 12:42 PM in response to NobreAngel

I meant stop to receive internet signal.

sk8cello

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2010 6:55 PM in response to blizzardkmb4

I'm having the same problem with my 2006 Macbook and it seems to have happened in the same time period as others have described. Could this be due to a software update?

I removed my Airport card and reinstalled it to make sure it was seated correctly, but this made no difference and all appeared to be normal anyway. I have not tried making any changes to the airport antenna as this is a much bigger job.

Its unlikely that this is a router problem. What are the chances that we all have the same router or that all of our different model routers are simultaneously going bad? Pretty slim I'd say. The common connection is the Macbook.

Jul 29, 2010 7:15 PM in response to sk8cello

While I suppose it IS possible that it's from a Software Update, I find it highly unlikely due to the fact that this problem appears in any OS running on the computer (Windows, OS X, etc).

And I'd like to point out that this isn't just a MacBook problem. It's happened to my Mac mini, not my MacBook. I imagine all the 06 models of MacBooks and minis are using the same Airport card.

It definitely isn't a router problem, but I do find it odd that now that I think of it, this started happening around the time I installed 10.6.4. Perhaps it's just coincidental, but I can't imagine how it would affect hardware, operating system-wide.

MacBook's Wireless range diminished