WiFi Issues With MacBook Air

Thanks for the publicity Stephen!

The next Macbook problem that could use some attention is the complete freeze on wake, which I also have. The two combined have seriously affected the usability of my computer.

Remember to hit Twitter with a shorter version of your complaint, and the hashtags #mbawififail, #apple and anything else you can think of. It's the only way to get some attention that can bring actual pressure, and not just the echo chamber effect of us telling each other how much these problems suck - and boy, do they ever.

Stephen,

Thanks for covering this issue with your story! Hopefully, the additional publicity will speed up a solution.

BTW, based on the feedback in this forum even though I still have the issue, I am able to get around it by either toggling Bluetooth for my wireless keyboard and Magic Trackpad -OR- by toggling my WiFi connection.

The issue does persist but either of these remedies does fix the issue for a while.

I also just started noticing on my MBA and ATD that I have to shut down and reboot as the screen does lock or go dark on its own. This has only happened a couple of times, but is becoming more of a concern to me.

Same here.

If I use the Apple magic mouse and the bluetooth keyboard the prefered network will not be found after the sleep mode.

So I delete the magic mouse and the bluetooth keyboard from the bluetooth configuration, and now wifi works.

But this can't be the only solution, this should be a tempory fix.

I'm using the brandnew MacBook Air (2011, 13", i5, 256GB SSD) - it is very annonying that this new machine has problems with the bluetooth and wifi-function (= basic functions).

I was hoping that 10.7.2. would fix this - but unfortunately I'm still waiting that it get fixed.

Now, the new MacBook Air is almost 3 months on the marked - and the problem isn't solved.

Please Apple, solve this problem!

I have the same issue. After resuming from sleep and bluetooth is ON, my WiFi connection is dropped. I need to keep trying several times to specify the WIFi before it works.

If bluetooth is off, WiFi works perfectly and resumes quickly with no issues. I would keep BT off, but besides being a feature I bought the computer with (and so I expect it to work), I have bluetooth keyboard and magic mouse.

I therefore add my voice in asking Apple to please fix this once for all.

P.S. I tried everything else, resetting SMC, removing wifi certificates, removing WIfi connections. Nothing worked other than, again, turning off BT.

Yep - turn off Bluetooth and wifi connects straightaway from standby. Simple as that. So is there a hardware issue with antennas (Antennagate 2?). It's a shame as I've bought more Apple hardware in the form of the magic mouse and bluetooth keyboard.

Grr!

Thanks for covering the isue. I am writing this on my iPad 1 while my new Macbook Air sits idle, unable to connect to the same public wifi network! Disgusting to have my fancy new machine twiddling its electronic thumbs for something as basic as a wifi connection.

Dave W.

greensboro nc

There is a new update for MacBook Pro and Air owners out there related to Thunderbolt issues "MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 2.2".

Anyone download and install yet? Results?

Apple issues updates fixing iPhoto, QuickTime, Lion Recovery and Thunderbolt Mac issues

http://9to5mac.com/2011/10/27/apple-issues-updates-fixing-iphoto-quicktime-lion- recovery-and-thunderbolt-mac-issues/#idc-container

Regards,

Craig Schnur

Helena, Montana

Yes, turning off bluetooth works for me.

I don't think it is an hardware issue, because my old macbook white (2007) has the same problem.

I have updated from 10.6.8 to Lion - and now this old macbook has the same issue (after standby no automatically connection of WiFi).

So it seems, that Lion causes the problem.

For the moment the solution of turning bluetooth off works for me.

If I have to use the Magic Mouse and the BT-keyboard, I turn wifi on.

Strangly, if I have turnded on both devices (BT Mouse and Keyboard), the automatically connection of Wifi after standby works.

But If I turn both devices off, and I keep bluetooth on the MacBook Air switched on, resuming to the WiFi-netwoirk does not work.

I also have to add, that you can check if WiFi works.

You can start the MacBook Air, and after start-procedure the login-screen of Lion appears.

So, and if WiFi doesn't work properly, the Wifi-Symbol (AirPort-Symbol) is idle (light-grey).

But if I turn bluetooth off, and start the MacBook Air again, I have full-WLan already if the login-screen appears (symbol of airport is black and bold).

And I have also already access to the WiFi-netzwork, of I have bluetooth turned on, and I use the magic-Mouse and the keyboard. But if I use only the magic-mouse, I have Wifi-trouble, too.

But this is only a temporary solution - Apple has to fix it - Lion is now 3 months on the market, such problems on new machines are not acceptable.

From a quick examination of what is included in this firmware update it does not appear to offer any changes on the networking side. I am installing now though. I just experienced one of the rare failures to reconnect to my primary home WiFi since 10.7.2. It is odd how the problem is so intermittent for me now.

I have a new one for you guys - brand new MBA, 10.7.2, and it's generally quite good with wifi (so far), but it indeed has trouble with my router when using WPA2. When I use WPA, it's nearly flawless. Unencrypted wifi - to this point it only struggles when the signal is weak, but I only have a few data points thus far.

To clarify - "has trouble" and "struggle" specifically refers to dropping the signal after sleep and needing to either shut off wireless and turn back on or having to re-enter the passcode.

Looking forward to Apple issuing the fix for this. As others, I am convinced it's an OS issue.

Folks,

I had a 1hr appt at the Genius bar with this same issue, where if Bluetooth is on then WiFi becomes less stable, to the point of dropping packets or the entire connection to a WiFi access point at one of my offices.

my MacBook Air 11" was purchased the first week they became available, and has had the Bluetooth/Wifi bug problem since Lion 10.7.0. No amount of firmware updates, 10.7.2 combo installer or re-installer or resetting Prefs files has remedied my problem.

after 1hr at the Genuis bar (with a genius who actually has the same bug on his iMac !) and rumors of a "Logic Board replacement" fixing the problem for some user (different Apple Support forum) Apple gave me a brand new MacBook Air 11" off the shelf.

We compared EVERYTHING within the System Reports side by side-

there was no difference in the firmware, bluetooth chip versions, drivers, Wifi chips, etc.

Everything was the same.

I left the store with the brand new MBAir 11 to return to my work environment where the Bluetooth/WiFi issue occurs, restored no information from TimeMachine- and the WiFi signal degradation problem STILL happened.

Stock apple machine, OS X 10.7.2, no third party software in sight.

Apple Genius and Store have no further actions they can take. sigh.

So the obvious Bluetooth + WiFi conflict lives on, and until Apple provides some REAL driver updates or firmware for these new bluetooth/WiFi chips on modern MacBooks, we'll all just be stuck with:

Turn Off Bluetooth if you want to ensure accurate WiFi traffic and signal connections.

Wake Up and Fix This Apple!

MBA 13" no issues with wifi anywhere, till I travelled to Singapore. Used the wifi at the hotel I was staying at (without changing the settings). But when I returned to Hong Kong- couldn't get on my home wifi. After two visits to the Genius bar- hours spent reinstalling and updating firmware, trying everything suggested on this board, frustration when wifi connection works at the apple store but not at home- Apple Hong Kong decided to switch my MBA 13" for a new one (it was just inside two weeks old). Brought it home today- and once again no connection to home wi-fi. Every other device in my house seems to be able to get on wifi- my old iphone, ipad 2, samsung galaxay 2 etc. But not my brand new replacement MBA 13".

Got to say that am a new convert to mac with the purchase of my MBA- but its so frustrating that am thinking of switching back to my clunky Lenovo- which is slow to start up, ugly- but hey at least I can get online. I travel a lot for work, so having a pretty machine that doesn't get online is not an option.

Someday Apple will make a device that actually does what its meant to do rather than just look pretty- I now have an iphone that is good at everything except being a phone, an ipad2 that doesn't access flash websites (which are many in Hong Kong) and now a MBA that can't get online. Think this will be my last Apple product- given company doesn't seem to want to fix this (I gather its an old problem), why should I bother? Not convinced it should be up to the users to find a way to make things work.

It's great that turning bluetooth off works for some, however, it doesn't seem to help me.

My wife and I both bought our macbook air's last month, which came with Lion preinstalled. We have since updated to Lion 10.7.2. Bluetooth is turned off, and has always been turned off. However, when the macbook airs wake up from sleep, we find that the wifi has been disconnected, and we have to reconnect manually to the wireless network.

Sometimes it takes some time for this network to become visible, so we are able to select it. The same problem occurs when we boot up our macbook airs. The wifi doesn't connect automatically to our preferred network (we only have one preferred network), and we are forced to select the network manually.

This leads me to believe that the problem isn't caused solely by bluetooth, and there must be some other cause.

Once we are connected to the preferred wireless network, it stays connected and works great. However, there seems to be a big problem with 'auto connection' to a preferred wireless network.

We also have some windows laptops here in the house, along with anold ibook g4. All of these laptops work great autoconnecting to the wireless network.

My 2010 MBA just has a issue where it takes about 30 seconds to reconnect to my WiFi. Its definately the MBA because I was using a 2009 Aiport Extreme router and changed to a Netgear and am having the same issues. 10.7.2 did not fix my issues. Will try turning off BlueTooth. Have already tried the typical Apple solutions like creating a new network and fiddling with security settings. My question is why should we have to do this? I have a couple PC in the household that like whatever WiFi is available and never complain.Why is it that over the years I have had issues with iPod Touch, a White Macbook, a Mac Mini and now my Macbook Air. All with similar WiFi issues.