Macbook 802.11n 300mbps wireless

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powloo Author

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Macbook 802.11n 300mbps wireless

I have a 802.11n 300mbps capable wireless network at home (provided by a Netgear WNDR3700).

All other computers at home (two Windows laptops and my partner's 13" 2011 white macbook) can connect perfectly well

at 300mbps.

However, I have a 13" unibody Macbook (circa 2008) which only connects at 144mbps. Ive checked the Network Utiltiy

which reports 802.11 a/b/g/n (so the N enabler is installed), and the Apple System Profiler shows the appropriate

channels are supported; but I cannot get the speed up past 144mbps.

So my questions are:

(1) Can the 13" aluminum unibody MacBook connect at 300mps on wireless? Has anyone been able to do this?

(2) If it is, is there a setting I need to set somewhere to get it to work?

According to the System Profiler I have an Airport Extreme in the MacBook, with the Broadcom BCM43xxx 1.0

firmware...

Any help appreciated!

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on May 20, 2011 1:09 AM

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Answer 1

powloo Author

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May 20, 2011 3:03 AM in response to powloo

A quick update. I dug out an old Airport Express that I had lying around, and the MacBook does connect to that at 300mbps; so I connected to the Airport Express (by placing it in preference order above my existing wireless network). I then decided to change the preference order, by placing my existing wireless network above the Airport Express and got my mac to reconnect to that. It now connected at 300Mbs! However, if I turn off the Airport Express, it doesn't connect at 300Mbps with my existing wireless network.

Very strange...

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Answer 2

powloo Author

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May 22, 2011 11:33 AM in response to powloo

It turns out this is related to the 802.11d locale information. This can be seen in the Mac System Profiler under Airport. My router was sending out the wrong information in its 802.11d beacon, namely: Local: ETSI and country Code: X3. This I believe was somewhere in South America, which doesn't allow the wide band (40MHz) channels, so my Mac was only using one channel.

I'm not sure why this didn't affect my other systems, but it did affect this mac. On checking the Netgear website, a new firmware was available for my router. Upgraded it, and it started sending out the correct Country Code. Mac is now using both channels, the Country Code is set to DE and I'm getting 270Mbs.

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Answer 3

xreyuk

Level 1

5 points

Jun 12, 2011 7:06 AM in response to powloo

Hi, I'm also having this problem.

I logged into my router, updated to the latest firmware (I also have a Netgear), and changed the country code, and changed it back to Europe.

Under the information in the system profiler I have, locale: ETSI country code: GB. However, I am still having the problem where I am only connected at 144Mbps.

I have the Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 firmeware, a Netgear DGN2200 router, and this is on the latest model, white plastic MacBook.

Any suggestions why I still might be having trouble?

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Answer 4

powloo Author

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Jun 12, 2011 7:50 AM in response to xreyuk

Does the Network Utility on the Mac report 802.11b/g/n or just 802.11b/g? If there's no n then the N enabler hasn't been installed... see http://store.apple.com/us/product/D4141ZM/A.

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Answer 5

xreyuk

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Jun 12, 2011 8:11 AM in response to powloo

Hi Powloo, thanks for responding so quickly.

It's reporting 802.11a/b/g/n in the network utility.

Thanks.

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Answer 6

powloo Author

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Jun 12, 2011 8:34 AM in response to xreyuk

Hmm... that's strange then. If the router is sending out the correct country code in its 802.11d beacon message, and your mac has N support, then the only other things I can think of (a) router config, (b) there may still be an issue with your router firmware (c) your location in your house - you may be far from the router... take a look at (a) your router config; I'm not sure what options you have on the DGN2200 router; but maybe set it to 300mbps on the advanced settings (routers sometimes default to "up to 150mbps" and you have to select a higher setting, or perhaps it has an option for 'wideband' somewhere

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Answer 7

xreyuk

Level 1

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Jun 12, 2011 8:45 AM in response to powloo

Hey powloo,

It has settings for up to 54Mbps, up to 150Mbps, and up to 300Mbps. I have always had it set in the up to 300Mbps mode, and can't seem to see any other settings related to speed.

Anything you can recommend?

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Answer 8

fced

Level 1

2 points

Jul 18, 2012 6:30 PM in response to powloo

Same problem here with Macbook Pro i5 Mid 2010... I have an Apple airport extrem born (white box Wifi 300Mbps 5ghz) and impossible to have the 300mbps on this Macbook pro... It connect to 120/144 Mbps... Nothing more...

With my other and older Macbook Pro Core2duo, it connect perferctly on 300mpbs, (10Mo /sec download/upload on local network) 270/300Mbps in Airport menu or in Network tool ... I remember i have pay 1$ to Apple after i have buy the Core2duo to have Wifi N working on my wifi component... http://store.apple.com/us/product/D4141ZM/A

Any idea to retablish this Wifi N as it should be on my Mid2010 Macbook pro (should i pay one dollar again) ? http://store.apple.com/us/product/D4141ZM/A

Thanks

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