Airport Randomly Shuts-Off; Reboot Will Temporarily Solve The Problem

What do you mean, take it out of the equation? Ethernet still works with this computer, if that's what you're asking.

The dongle hasn't arrived yet, so I don't know for sure if it will work.

I mean that if you have a wireless router AND Apple's AirPort Extreme, then remove the AirPort Extreme and see if it works directly with the router.

If I removed the wireless card, how would the computer still connect to the wifi? What do you mean by "directly with the router"?

We aree mixing up terminology here. Apple's AirPort Extreme is a separate product, a smallish box looking device. IF you have a wireless router then connect wirelessly DIRECTLY with the router. Unplug AirPort Extreme totally. Then see if it holds onto the network.

Ah, no, I don't. I was working from this text from System Profiler:

"

Software Versions:

Menu Extra: 6.2.2 (622.2)

configd plug-in: 6.2.5 (625.6)

System Profiler: 6.0.1 (601.1)

Network Preference: 6.2.2 (622.2)

AirPort Utility: 5.6.1 (561.3)

IO80211 Family: 3.2 (320.1)

Interfaces:

en1:

Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0xD6)

Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 5.100.198.104.5)

Locale: FCC

Country Code: US

Supported PHY Modes: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Supported Channels: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165

Wake On Wireless: Supported

Status: Connected

"

Try the procedure that I had mentioned to sarverjoshua... and see if it works for you.

I'm not really sure how to do that, I'm afraid. I might be able to figure out how to do it at home (my father set up, with difficulty, our network there, so I'm not sure of its technical details), but I doubt that my college's IT department or the other people in my residence hall would be pleased if I started messing with the routers here.

I've just finished, at the suggestion of said IT, reinstalling my OS (10.6.6 from the install disk and 10.6.8 from Software Update (which also, possibly significantly, gave me some new AirPort control software)), so hopefully that will work.

I had suggested doing it at home first. Because that is where your router is. And to see whether it actually works, because it may not. I have no idea whether it will, though I think it should. Once one thing is taken care of, then we could look at the next part. Which is, outside the house. On no account should you mess with the routers or anything else if you dont have a clue about it.

Is your WiFi network still the same as before?

So far I've just been on the college network since the problem began happening (though the AirPort was working fine on the college network for about five straight days prior). I've been nearly from one end of campus to the other without noticing changes in the working/not working behavior, but I'm not sure how they have things set up. I know that the wireless network doesn't go through quite the same channels as the wired one.

I'm curious: how exactly would something about the network I'm on cause my computer to stop recognizing its wireless card? (I'm quite aware that I may not understand any explanation you can give, but no harm in asking.)

Well, I'm not sure either. Which is the reason why my suggestion in case of a problem, and there definitely seems to be one here, remains the same always. That is, why not isolate what and where exactly is the problem? Is it the hardware? The software? Or the wireless networking aspect?' After that if there is still an issue, then its best to provide a feedback to Apple either as a problem or as an enhancement. And of course the support community where they may be someone who could provide you with an answer that works (though so far it hasnt).

Where would I get such a log? My AirPort hasn't gone down since the OS reinstall, but I'd like to know in case it does again.

Also, you said that ethernet is your only reliable internet access? You've not tried wireless dongles, or they haven't worked for you?