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LaraJones Author

Level 1

0 points

new macbook pro 2011 weak and dropping wireless connection

Just looked throught this part of the forum and found out there are a lot of people out there which seem to have the same problem as me.

I purchased a new modell 2011 MBP on the very first day from our apple store.
At home, sitting directly beside the wireless router I didn´t noticed anything wrong.
I have got beside of the Mac OS a bootcamp Prt. with Windows 7 on it and everythign works fine so far.

Five days after purchased I started traveling on business and at present we are for some weeks in Melbourne. Were having a wireless connection in our appartement and here I have got massiv problems with my connection.

We are having altogether four windows mashines with us, my IPad, my Iphone, another HTC smartphone, and my new Macbook.

All the other devices connecting to our room wireless without problems. The net strengh is not fantastic but the other devices bringing it up to four bars on the windows wireless symbol in the task bar. None of the other computers where ever loosing the connection.

Only my macbook can not make it over three bars and its going on and off. Donwloads fail freuquently because the conection is interrupted more than one times..
In my opinion this problem is even worse on the Windows OS and a bit better but far away from beeing good and acpetable on the Mac Os.
I hope its only a driver issue and there is no hardware problem with the new mashine. Other than this I love the new notebook and I am very satisfied with its performance.

Iphone 4, Ipad 1 ,Macbook pro 13, I 5, 8GB, early 2011, Windows 7, Mac OS

Posted on Mar 8, 2011 9:00 PM

968 replies

LaraJones Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 26, 2011 10:27 AM in response to Adrian J.

Hi Adrian,

I appriciate your post.

But if you had read through the six weeks posts you would have come yourself to the conclusion that this is for sure NO Router Problem of some single users who cant adjust their network right...

So many people tried to solve it with adjustments, a lot of the guys are experts in Networking and in Mac Hardware... they cant all be wrong, can they????

We ourself have an nearly unlimited amount of PC´s and wireless devices at home, my husband is a professional software developer and you can believe me: If there was anything WE could have done : WE DID IT!!!!!!

Fact is:

In a network were dozents of other mashines work f.E. Macbook Pros Modell up to 2010, Ipads, Iphones , Windows Mashines JUST ONLY the Macbook Pro 2011 DOES NOT work!I

If you would have read the thread here only to the half, you would know this by now.

And anyway. Just a few words about this never ending discussion:

HOW TO ADJUST MY NETWORK so, that my new Macbook Pro 2011 might maybe works a bit better.

A modern Macbook Pro should WORK IN ANY NETWORK!!!!!!!!!

I dont think, its my duty as a Macbook New Owner to play and test and adjust for hours only to find a way to connect my Macbook to an existing, modern, fast and well working wireless access point.

Maybe, after three days of adjumstemet and buying the right ( Apple) Router you get a bit of a better net with the new Modell Macbook....

BUT

...what do you do when you go out with your Macbook..

I take it, you bought a Notebook becaue you want to take it with you, am I right???????

And when you go to Starbucks, or you want to log into an public Net at the airport, what than???? Do you first at all go to the provider of the public access point and ask him to adjust his router to your new Modell Macbook?????????

Sorry Sir, could you please change your network protokoll to WEP as my lovely little shiny Macbook cant handle anything else?????

You know where I am going?????

The present situation with our Macbooks is unacceptable...

WE NEED A SOLLUTION AND FIRST AT ALL WE NEED A STATEMENT FROM APPLE

I am sure, nealry everybody here would accept to wait when Apple says:

Yes guys ther is a problem ,we are investigating it and coming back to you as soon as possible...

Apr 26, 2011 11:58 AM in response to seanfromcolumbus

I can repeat seanfromcolumbus' test and get the same results. As an IC design engineer working in power conversion products in the portable electronics business, his explanation makes good sense.

whilst running the sudo ping in a terminal I went back to the network utility and ran ping again from there ... Hardly surprising then was it to see the standard ping test producing normal results instead of the erratic latency we are all concerned with.

Since there are other users in this community reporting when Windows is runs on the MBP there is no observed problem with the ping, then most likely is the problem being caused by the way the power save mechanisms within OSx are interacting with the network card, and not with the network card itself.

Perhaps those who feel most effected by this would care to try running seanfromcolumbus' sudo ping command in a terminal and leave the terminal minimised. This consumes about 3% cpu power. but it may keep the network card awake to avoid the annoying problems that people seem to be having.

bbogey

Level 1

0 points

Apr 26, 2011 12:19 PM in response to LaraJones

LaraJones wrote:

So WHAT do you want to test ???????

When I picked my Macbook up at the genius desk in Melbourne and we asked the Genius Guy to ping the notebook for us after he just swapped the Network Card we still found the same horrible Ping results like everybody here and the Genius Guy said something like:

Why is it so important to you that the Ping results are perfekt???? What do you want to do with the Notebook that you have to have perfekt Ping Results???

Yes, ping is just a one very important method to test and find out the problems in network, either it's local or ISP network problem. If the problem is already on the computer itself, it needs to be fixed first or use some another computer.

Apr 26, 2011 12:45 PM in response to LaraJones

I think it's important to split this issue into 2 separate issues.

Issue 1: Erratic ping times, but no other issues with connectivity

My results indicate to me there really is no issue here. Once the card is "awake" and data is flowing, we see latency as it should be (<2ms from card to router). So gaming, VOIP, etc. should see normal performance. Therefore in my opinion, this is a non-issue. If you are trying to use ping to diagnose other network issues, just make sure you specify a rate of .2 seconds or faster to avoid getting erroneous results.

Issue 2: Disconnects/Failure to connect/etc.

Could be bad hardware, bad router config, poor interference rejection, etc. etc. I believe this is a real issue for some (but not me) and hopefully those that experience this see a fix soon.

Birdie18

Level 1

0 points

Apr 26, 2011 10:17 PM in response to seanfromcolumbus

Not talking about bad hardware but only odd behavior comparing to others PC.

Erratic ping result which has been proven to be performed normal while data is transfering. However people still experienced poor performance when gaming or streaming, some people even got unbelievable poor result from speedtest.net. Does that mean Apple has changed OS X behavior for some reason (power management/battery life) but causing more side effects? I don't know, but think about it guys.

Packet loss, no need to explain how significant it brings performance down

Wireless disconnection which I believe its caused of something I mentioned above

Apr 27, 2011 10:49 AM in response to LaraJones

I took my 2011 15" Macbook Pro back for a refund, took some convincing mind you (the senior technician at PC World didn't know what a macbook was - let alone what simple ping tests and disconnects meant); that's just under £2k back in my bank, I've been watching this thread since the beginning waiting for a fix/solution.

Still nothing.

Apple care did not have this down as a known fault when I called up.

So i'm keeping my money till this is fixed (and acknowledged) - beyond a joke.

BillyV65

Level 1

0 points

Apr 27, 2011 12:40 PM in response to LaraJones

Just wanted to also throw my hat into the ring for the same problems. Mine has actually gotten worse as time wears on to the point that I can barely even use the internet on my '11 2.2 MBP. Here is a copy of my ping times (using the sudo .2 command):

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3163 ttl=64 time=20.338 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3164 ttl=64 time=6.277 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3165 ttl=64 time=2.198 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3166 ttl=64 time=1.832 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3167 ttl=64 time=24.496 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3168 ttl=64 time=5.588 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3169 ttl=64 time=3.701 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3170 ttl=64 time=1.844 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3171 ttl=64 time=10.581 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3172 ttl=64 time=1.684 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3173 ttl=64 time=3.223 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3174 ttl=64 time=4.902 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3175 ttl=64 time=1.846 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3176 ttl=64 time=2.729 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3177 ttl=64 time=1.786 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3178 ttl=64 time=3.268 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3179 ttl=64 time=9.703 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3180 ttl=64 time=1.763 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3181 ttl=64 time=1.798 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3182 ttl=64 time=2.005 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3183 ttl=64 time=18.417 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3184 ttl=64 time=7.694 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3185 ttl=64 time=7.208 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3186 ttl=64 time=1.696 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3187 ttl=64 time=6.615 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3188 ttl=64 time=5.701 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3189 ttl=64 time=88.422 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3190 ttl=64 time=36.572 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3191 ttl=64 time=2.410 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3192 ttl=64 time=95.097 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3193 ttl=64 time=72.629 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3194 ttl=64 time=52.344 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3195 ttl=64 time=17.863 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3196 ttl=64 time=2.800 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3197 ttl=64 time=104.132 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3198 ttl=64 time=64.492 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3199 ttl=64 time=28.975 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3200 ttl=64 time=1.856 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3201 ttl=64 time=145.971 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3202 ttl=64 time=84.563 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3203 ttl=64 time=47.650 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3204 ttl=64 time=8.328 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3205 ttl=64 time=32.229 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3206 ttl=64 time=5.354 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3207 ttl=64 time=2.126 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3208 ttl=64 time=2.615 ms

Request timeout for icmp_seq 3209

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3210 ttl=64 time=2.834 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3211 ttl=64 time=1.813 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3212 ttl=64 time=5.462 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3213 ttl=64 time=15.580 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3214 ttl=64 time=10.390 ms

I do notice when I have unusually high pings that my internet becomes absolutely unusable as I get an error that the server can't be found (in Chrome, Safari & Firefox). My recent '10 i7 MBP has had ZERO issues since purchasing it in Sept '10 and this one has had issues since I got it 3 weeks ago. I've also reseted all hardware involved and can confirm low ping times and very stable internet using iPhone 4, 2 other Windows7 PCs and my other MBP.

There needs to be a fix QUICKLY as not being able to confidently access the internet pretty much makes this thing an expensive aluminum paperweight.

I would call up AppleCare, but that seems like it does zero good. Keeping my fingers crossed for a software fix soon but until then, I have to USB tether to my iPhone to have reliable internet -_-

yozhbk

Level 1

8 points

Apr 27, 2011 7:01 PM in response to BillyV65

WoW I`m wondering why I`m not getting replies for this.

dimaxp

Level 1

14 points

Apr 27, 2011 8:22 PM in response to seanfromcolumbus

seanfromcolumbus wrote:

Issue 1: Erratic ping times, but no other issues with connectivity

My results indicate to me there really is no issue here. Once the card is "awake" and data is flowing, we see latency as it should be (<2ms from card to router). So gaming, VOIP, etc. should see normal performance. Therefore in my opinion, this is a non-issue. If you are trying to use ping to diagnose other network issues, just make sure you specify a rate of .2 seconds or faster to avoid getting erroneous results.

Not all applications consistently stream data, applications that send/receive data sporadically but need to do so in real time are heavily affected by whatever Apple is trying to do.

I should not have to wait 200ms for the card to "wake up" after I idle it.

If it is some demented form of power management, they should at least have the decency to let us turn it off.

I should not have to run a live NASA TV stream in the background to RDP into a server without typing lag.

My typing speed is something above 60WPM, I see whole phrases appearing on the screen after I type them on the remote server.

While I am streaming something in the background, I see the majority but not all the letters on the screen as I type them.

Any application that transmits in a simiilar fashion as a default ping is affected.

I await a reply that says "Just avoid using it in that way". 😉

LaraJones Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 27, 2011 11:39 PM in response to dimaxp

Good morning everybody...

DIMAXP: You speak out my thoughts...

I get more and more the feeling some of the guys here seem to think this problem is not a problem but a tiny little inconvienience of their much loved Apple toy....

A sentence like the one you ended your last answer with I heard already as I was talking last time to the Apple hotline.

I was complaining that I am now, since I bought the Macbook ( more than six weeks ago) not beeing able to do my job properly and cant work with the notebook... Answer of the lady at the hotline was:

BUT YOU CAN WORK, CANT YOU. ITS ONLY THE NETWORK WHAT DOES NOT WORK AT PRESENT, IS IT????

I have to say I did not know if she was serious but she was...

I should have answered:

Yes of course I can work and why am I so diviuos to expect my Macbook beeing able to send my work up to a server?????

Is it too much what I ask of my Macbook????

It seem to be only my own fault..It seems I just want too much of a brandnew notebook...

I am not willed to adjust my home network for two hours to reduce my drop outs from five to three in a minute...and yes I was thinking of taking my Macbook with me frequently and ask it to connect to public Networks on my travels just as quick as at home, because I am traveling around the world most of the time and I have to work from different places...

Thought so far thats what a Notebook is for...might have been wrong all the time...

LaraJones Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 28, 2011 12:06 AM in response to dimaxp

Short update about MY Macbook....

Last week on Monday I took it to the Apple Store.

After the exchange of the Network Card in the Apple Store in Melbourne last month did not do the trick Apple this time wants to change the Logicboard complete.

My notebook is not back yet. Its day 11 today and I start asking myself If Apple wants to keep my Macbook now until their is a fix????

PS:

Yesterday afternoon I visited another big Computer Warehouse local and pinged two more Macbook Pros 2011.. with the same horrible result like mine.

Next to it two Macbooks Airs, both had absolutley stable Pingresults....

I myself have not seen one Macbook Pro 2011 with normal Ping Results. I testet at least 20 Mashines so far in different Shops in different countries and none of them worked allright...

JT34554

Level 1

0 points

Apr 28, 2011 12:35 AM in response to LaraJones

So I have been following this thread since day 1 and have gone through most troubleshooting advice from exchanging my whole MB Pro 2011 17in' for a brand new one, to adjusting my different router settings. And I was reading a lot of posting on this site and on AT&T sites about Macbook Pro and ATT routers (2Wire) having issues communicating. So just for fun I decided to go buy a cisco netgear router and bridge my AT&T router to act just as a modem (FYI - I do own an old Macbook Pro 2008 that works fine with the AT&T router/modem), and so far all the macbook pro issues have ceased. Crossing my fingers but it does seem like ATT routers do not work well with these new Macbooks. "Now" I am not saying there is nothing wrong with the Macbook although from my experience switching to an ATT 2wire g routher to a Cisco n router has resolved my wireless connectivity. So I am only suggesting for anyone on this discussion who is having issues AND has an ATT 2wire router, you should try to bridge your ATT router to act like a modem and buy a new router N. Good luck to all and I hope Apple does update the software soon to help out the rest of you all.