24Golfer wrote:
Had a problem with WiFi being dropped for no reason by an older OS update, like a couple versions before.
Then it went away, and then, this week I updated to 15.6 and now the WiFi is being dropped again by my MBP out of nowhere, for no apparent reason. It would be connected one second and then it just drops it.
I have changed NOTHING in my house except for the latest OS update.
Anybody else?
Thanks
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: 15.6 update dropping WiFi. Again! Like before.
It sounds like the original problem was never fully mitigated. With each version of MacOS, the algorithms by which channels are selected for WiFi connection are tweaked and may present you with slightly different results.
You can use a program called WiFi Explorer, which was free when I downloaded it, to show what WiFi channels are active in your vicinity and which one you are using. You can use it to change how your router is presenting or utilizing different channels and different frequencies. For instance if your router is on a 2 GHz and/or 5 GHz channel that has many other neighboring networks' channels in use nearby, you can change what your router is doing to instead use a less congested channel. WiFi Explorer also shows signal strength and noise on each channel. Noise is a function of distance to the router, distance to other potentially interfering signals, and number of other potentially interfering signals. Sometimes having a channel with lower signal strength but much lower noise is better (signal/noise ratio is better).
You can also experiment with changing the location of your router and/or access points. Does the WiFi signal drop when you are right next to your access point, less than 5 feet away? I have a mesh router with three access points and together they blanket the residence with very high speeds (470 Mbps) and very even and stable signal/noise. But I can see my neighbors signals also, especially in one corner of the residence that is close to their network. Sometimes other networks will have highly amplified signals on certain channels, you will want to have your router avoid those channels. You can also experiment with use of the 2 GHz versus 5 GHz signals, 5 GHz is always better for me but it gets weaker when going through walls, etc. and drops off with distance worse than the 2 GHz signals.
In very congested areas, where many nearby WiFi networks are present, it may make sense to configure your router to use a narrower bandwidth (80 MHz versus 40 MHz versus 20 MHz). A more narrow bandwidth means slower speeds but it will be more robust against other interfering RF signals in the vicinity.
Other things can interfere with WiFi, including microwave ovens, bluetooth devices and the like. Have a careful look at your network and what is nearby.
