Q: My 7 month old MacBook has recently started to lose the internet signal. After using a dongle for Internet my MacBook recognizes that there is a full and strong signal from my wifi...it lasts only minutes before cutting out.

I'm not sure why you are posting this in an iMac forum but OK!

I would recommend reading Macworld's DNS Troubleshooting article. It's possible that is where the problem is. You can use the following directions to change from  your ISP's DNS settings to a third parties.

1. System preferences

2. Network

3. Click Advanced

4. Click DNS tab

5. Click + sign

6. Add 208.67.222.222

7. Click + sign

8. Add 208.67.220.220

9. Click OK.

10. Exit System Preferences

11. Try out your iMac and report what happened.

Roger

If the computer is less than 90 days old or you purchased AppleCare then I would recommend contacting AppleCare. Please use AppleCare Contact Info to get the phone number in your area.

Well, I just stumbled on your answer after I posted a similar question to somewhere, probably the wrong place and with the wrong etiquette as I am not familar with using support forums. I did want to let you know that, so far, it is working. For some reason the settings reverted back to the original, one time so far. Thank you very much for your advice. If it keeps working, you will have saved me a lot of time and frustration.

~Mary Jensen

I am glad it finally was resolved.

well, it's dropping off again - any other suggestions would be very much appreciated.

~Mary

Mac OS X (10.6)

Use Software Update or the OS 10.6.8 combo update to update your OS.  Also, update everything SU has to offer for your computer.  When done, repair permissions and restart your computer.

Repeat rkaufmann87 instructions and post back the results.

Hello - very unhappy to have to report the problem is still the same. I am running 10.8.3 so only had a minor update (took forever to download). Permissions were squeaky clean. I have repeated restart and repair, permissions - still clean. Maybe it will help if I am a little less vague:

    Under WIFI icon in header, I get an alternating message - "WI-FI: On" for 6 to 10 seconds, then "WI-FI: looking for Networks" with a greyed out rotating gear for 3 to 5 seconds. Occasionally, read that maybe once or twice an hour, it drops off long enough for a page to report there is no internet connection. I can coax the connection back by turning WIFI off and then on again. When I turn it off, I get a report right away that there is no connection so it seems I might have a weak connection when I am seeing the "looking for networks" message.

~ Mary

Mary Jensen wrote:

 

Hello - very unhappy to have to report the problem is still the same. I am running 10.8.3 so only had a minor update (took forever to download). Permissions were squeaky clean. I have repeated restart and repair, permissions - still clean. Maybe it will help if I am a little less vague:

    Under WIFI icon in header, I get an alternating message - "WI-FI: On" for 6 to 10 seconds, then "WI-FI: looking for Networks" with a greyed out rotating gear for 3 to 5 seconds. Occasionally, read that maybe once or twice an hour, it drops off long enough for a page to report there is no internet connection. I can coax the connection back by turning WIFI off and then on again. When I turn it off, I get a report right away that there is no connection so it seems I might have a weak connection when I am seeing the "looking for networks" message.

~ Mary

Not according to your system profile!  Please correct you system profile so that you will get the correct troubleshooting suggestions/solutions.  Thank you.

=============================

Try the basics first:

   Change your router channel number.  Most times this works & is all you have to do.

Disconnect & reconnect your modem.  unplug it for about 10 seconds.  Plug it back in.  Do the same for Apple’s routers.  Wait for everything to reboot.

System Preferences>Network

Click the Assist Me button.

In the next window that pops up, click the Diagnostic button & do the necessary.

Research Knowledge Base for network problems that pertain to the OS that is currently installed on your computer.   See these basic networking KB Articles:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1401 AirPort troubleshooting guide

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712 Using network locations in Mac OS X

Manually provided DNS server addresses are higher priority than DHCP's

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1714 Solutions for connecting to the Internet, setting up a small network, and troubleshooting

============================

What to do when you can't connect to the Internet

Also, run the Airport Utility app which is located inside the Utilities folder.

=====================

If using a  Linksys router, contact LinkSys Customer Support and/or post in their forums.

If using Apple's Airport, please re-post over in one of the AirPort Forums.

========================

You are still under warranty and/or have AppleCare, call them.  Let them deal w/it.

Baby Boomer - thank you for your help. I had previously been through all the recommendations on your post in the mostly red and some blue suggestions. Since, I have gone through them all again and have tried further research. To add some relevent background, this problem only began after I upgraded to 10.8. It's also possible we are in some kind of a cross-conversation since I never claimed to be running 10.6 - but that's probably my fault as I am not familiar with support etquette/protocol. I apologize for that but will point out I did say so in my above original request for support. My iPhone and iPad are the only devices under warranty that are serviced by my wifi network. It is a Cisco router, about 2 years old and all devices on this network are strong and reliable - this includes windows (various operating systems), wireless television and DVD. That leaves me with questioning the operating system I have upgraded to. Is it possible this is where the problem is?

~ Mary