Q: WiFi Issues With MacBook Air

No, this update does not help - this update included so Wifi-Fix. It is only for thunderbolt, lion-recovery, ...

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.

I have learned over the years that Apple has a issue with WiFi. Not sure if its inherent to the OS, hardware or firmware. But its frustrating to say the least.

Similar problem with Internet connection on public networks.

My MBA (bought in 2011) connects to Starbucks network, but does not establish the Internet connection; however it used to work in the same coffee shop a month ago! Tried everything suggested above, still cannot connect in this particular place. Moreover, when I use my iPhone in the same place - it works with no hiccups: connects, logs in, instant fast Internet.

At home I have no probs connecting to my wireless router with MBA, but public networks are like a gamble..

Booked a one to one session.

Apple please do something about this!

I have done further testing on this. Running Lion 10.7.2 on a MBA (July 2011). Besides disabling bluetooth, I found another trick that seems to work. I have a dual band n-router (Netgear WNDR3700 operating with two different antennas at 2.4 and 5GHz). The issues with WiFi upon resuming are only present when I use the 2.4GHz band, which can only be solved by disabling bluetooth. If instead I use the 5GHz n-band, than everything works fine, WITH bluetooth enabled. I also tested this on the campus I work, which uses 5GHz, and it works there too.

So there might be some interference between WiFi (at 2.4GHz) and BT, since they both share similar frequencies. Hardware issues?

It's good that you're doing some troubleshooting, but if you read back through this lengthy thread, you'll see that everything you just mentioned has been documented, tried, etc. 

Personally, my Wifi problems are now down to being most atrocious when operating the machine in clamshell mode, hooked via a third-party (as Apple doesn't license this tech) HDMI adapter and using Apple Bluetooth periperhals (Magic Trackpad and Keyboard).

I'd be interested in hearing from people who operate an Air in clamshell mode, and whether or not you have this problem and if problems tend to increase in this mode.

#MBAWiFiFAIL

Well, I actually read back this thread, and I have actually not read what I see, otherwise I would have followed those suggestions. I see people have issues with 5GHz as well as 2.4GHz. Whatever, that's beside the point. There is obviously an issue which is all that really matters.

For me, before 10.7.2 both didn't work, with 10.7.2 at least 5GHz works. That's for me.

I use it in clamshell mode (via DisplayPort, and magic mouse and keyboard) with about the same issues. 

i'm also experiencing an unpleasant WIFI issue, but it's a little bit different from above cases.

I think it's DNS-related... If i put under DNS tab in my Airport >myWIFI-station > Advanced > DNS

any DNS server address instead of leaving this field  unfilled, i can't surf anymore but i'm still connected to the wifiStation.

Here is my connection details:

- IPv4 > dhcp (192.168.1.x)

- DNS > i use opendns.com instead of my ISP dns (isp dns point to 192.168.1.1 - gateway address)

- Encryption > WPA2 AES (i tried also with WPA2 TKIP - same result)

- WifiStation and MBA are in a short range (2-3 meters)

The only working solution for me is leaving DNS unfilled and using ISP default, but in my case

my isp dns service is very poor.

I tried to fix this issue, deleting all previous network configuration (i upgraded from snow leopard),

resetting SMC and some other exps, but i didn't found nothing useful.

I tried also to switch to Ethernet and in this case all works perfect (with a custom dns,very fast).

In the same location , no problem at all for my iPhone,iPad, and an iMac with wifi.

I can reproduce his "bug" at will. Turn bluetooth on, close lid (or let the Air go to sleep) = drooped connection. Everytime. I"ve considered taking it back to Apple.

In clam shell mode it's just terrible when using bluetooth devices. So the ONLY solution for me is to turn of bluetooth. That means, no using an external monitor, keyboard or mouse (all Apple devices, by the way) with the machine.