Spectrum replace router and modem, now Ethernet cable doesn’t seem to connect. My Mac is 2010, running High Sierra, Ethernet card is BCM 5701. WiFi is broken. Thanks! I think I may have to type in Terminal, which fills me with trepidation. Can someone help? I’m a senior citizen and cannot get to Apple store currently.
MacBook Pro 13″, 10.13
I’m unsure whether your Mac Wi-Fi was previously known broken and you were using wired Ethernet, or if your Wi-Fi was working and in use up until the Spectrum router replacement and is now not working.
Ethernet cables can and do fail, and can become disconnected. That’s usually a comparatively easy swap to check that, replacing with a known-good Cat 5a or Cat 6 Ethernet patch cable.
Wi-Fi and not Ethernet wired usage would be fairly typical, though that often also depends on where the computer and the Spectrum boxes are located.
BCM5701 is a gigabit Ethernet interface.
Your Mac running High Sierra can connect to most any recent Wi-Fi network, including those networks using WPA2 networks and WPA2/WPA3 transitional security networks.
High Sierra cannot connect to WPA3 networks, but that’s not going to be required by Spectrum for a residential subscriber.
Ethernet cables can be damaged, as can Ethernet ports.
Replacing a cable is easy, and a reasonable test.
Repairing an Ethernet port on a ~decade old and probably vintage Mac probably isn’t worth the cost.
Have you tried enabling the Wi-Fi on your Mac recently, and connecting using the network name (SSID) and password Spectrum provided.
Hi voxpopuval,
Thank you for posting in the Apple Support Communities. We understand your MacBook Pro is unable to connect to your network.
From what you've shared, it sounds like your internet service provider has replaced your equipment.
Are you able to connect other devices to your network?
Have you tested for connectivity using a different Ethernet cable?
Do you receive an error message when attempting to connect to your network?
The more information you're able to share with us, the better equipped the community will be to assist you. You may also wish to review the information and steps we've linked below.
Cheers!
I’d usually suggest Diagnostics (Hardware Test, here), but you may not be able to easily get to those.
Here’s what tests run on older Macs: How to use Apple Hardware Test on your Mac - Apple Support
FWIW, I’d have a look at an iMac and an iPad Pro too, as alternatives to a replacement MacBook or MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. Not that the MacBooks are at all bad or problematic, but rather have a careful look at your own usage patterns, and at Apple pricing for the options,
In addition to the above: If your Mac doesn't connect to the Internet over Wi-Fi - Apple Support
My WiFi was already broken and I cannot connect with personal hot spot as my 2010 Mac does not have that software. The most recent OSX it supports is High Sierra; I am in a tiny apartment so the modem and router are near my laptop, so it may be the cord. Could the Ethernet port be broken? My laptop uses an Ethernet card, maybe it’s out of date?
My iPhone’s WiFi works, perhaps I need a different cord.
Unsolved, WiFi hardware is not recognize, says not installed, though worked for several years. Yes, the logs say something like failure. I appreciate your help, thanks.
Tried, time to buy a new laptop. Thanks.
Doesn’t recognize WiFi hardware, when I receive a new cable, I will test it. I appreciate your time. Thanks!
Thanks for all the support!
Ethernet doesn’t work.AppleBCM5701, version 10.3.1Can someone help me? Please?
