Q: WiFi Issues With MacBook Air

Have 2009 MBAir with same issue - going on for several months now - originally just randomly dropping from Starbucks/AT&T wifi, now can't get home wifi most of the time (no WEP or WPA).  Have not changed wifi, router, etc - iMac has no issues on same home wifi - if I connect MBAir to wired connection, no issues.  It is only MBAir and only wifi.

Sometimes connects but no internet, sometimes connects but really slow internet, sometimes sees router but won't connect, sometimes does not see router at all, sometimes connects and then drops 30 seconds later and repeats.  RIDICULOUS!!!  It is criminal that Apple, in the face with what is an OBVIOUS and PERVASIVE issue, does NOTHING.  "Oh, you have an issue with your wifi, gee we haven't heard that before. Must be your router." Pathetic.

I guess if you had 95 billion in the bank then wouuld you give a sh*t about customer's problems with crappy hardware that you sold them?

I have wifi speed problems with my MBA (2011).  Every now and then the speed falls off from about 40mb down to <1mb for no reason at all.  I've tried everything from changing channels, turning off bluetooth, getting new routers and still the problem persists.  When it slowed initially I did speed comparisons with my iPhone 4 and that was showing in excess of 20mb.  So if they can put a decent setup into the iPhone why not the MBA?

When it does occur I renew the DNS and reboot.  This "appears" to work so far with my particular problem.

But can someone tell me why Apple set up these forums?  It certainly isn't to get customer feedback because it's readily apparent that they don't monitor them!

I have been having issues since the beginning (MBA mid-2011). I recently found that the problems (inability to connect, unstable connections etc) are completely solved by doing a Repair Permission on the full Disk (I need to reboot in safe mode). After that everything works... until connections start to be problematic once again. I can keep repairing permissions, and every time the problem is solved. Sometimes I can go for months between issues. I am sure there is more to it for other users, but I hope this can be helpful.

Thanks feranick I've just tried that and speed test now giving 60mb/20mb.  Lets hope that works and is not just a blip,

You rebooted in safe mode before doing the repair permission??

Darren, yes, I performed the repair after rebooting in safe mode.

Same problem here with a MBA.  Upon turning on, it will automatically connect to our home (preferred) WiFi network.  However, after sleeping or having the lid closed, when it wakes or is opened again, it will not automatically connect.  We have to go in and manually connect....

This has been going on for months, and I had no idea others were having the same problem.  It is a new problem for us - we didn't have this in the beginning.  I'd say it started a few months ago?

I have a mid-2012 MacBook Air 13" and a mid-2012 MacBook Air 11" WiFi connected to a 1st gen Time Machine. The 11" has the problem with not being able to connect to the internet; it connects just fine to the Time Machine, 1st gen Airport Express and 2nd gen Airport Express but can't connect to the internet on any of them every now and then. There is an iPad 2, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S that have no problem connecting to the internet. The 11" MacBook Air is the only device with the problem.

Also, I have a cable modem with wireless router built in. Same problem when connecting to it, i.e. no internet connection.

I've retried resetting the cable modem, shutting down the 11" MacBok Air, turning off other devices, turing off WiFi and turning it back on, and other suggestion on this forum. Nothing remedies the problem. It connects to the internet only when it is **** good and ready.

Any clue what is going on?

People, I cannot believe the number of posts on this issue! Apple obviously ignore this forum or sit there chuckling to themselves that people like me make the transition from PC to Mac only to find the darned thing drops the ISP more times than Romney dropped the ball during his election campaign. This makes this forum look like a moaners page rather than  a community of like minded souls trying to find solutions. My brand new 27" MAC might just go back in the box. (two iPhones and two iPads connected to the same home network NEVER drop!)

To add to my post a page or two back -- yes, we have the same issue with our MBA.  BUT, the other Apple devices in our home have no problem whatsoever:

- 3 iPads

- 1 iPhone

- 1 MacBook Pro

Just the MBA is causing the problems.

With the Win8 now out, it's worth migrating. There are lots of beautiful and effective machines out there. I see no reason why a $2000 computer has to be wired all the time in order to get connected. Get rid of it just as I'm about to do.

My MBA doesn't have connection problem here while I'm home. But whenever I travel outside Canada, it just refuses to connect and doesn't even see the network at all. Whereas the iPad, my blackberry all other PC gets strong and consistent connection. It's a real flaw.

Win8? Have you actually seen that mess? The WiFi issue is only an occasional annoyance. Win8 is a total annoyance.

I am actually using the new surface touch screen and it's pretty **** slick. Windows 8 takes some learning but is much better. My thought is when the next RT full computer tablet is introduced and will make major gains into companies as it has the entire office suite abilities. That will become the work desktop.

Thanks for posting this! I am planning to buy it to replace my MBA too!

Surface is the new Zune and we know what happened to that.