Wifi Constantly Dropping in Lion

completely clearing my wifi setting, cycling power on the modem, then re-entering wifi settings, seems to have worked almost all the time

Late 2009 27" iMac. Wi-fi drops all the time after Lion upgrade. Just like everyone else. I also have a newer MacBook Air with Lion installed on the same wi-fi and it has never once dropped wi-fi. I tried almost every trick posted. For months and months. Some of them seemed to work for a bit, maybe even as long as a few weeks, but eventually the problem would return, just like before.

Finally I stumbled on the one that reverts the Atheros wi-fi driver back to the older version delivered with Snow Leopard (which never had the problem). While most of the posted "fixes" sound like superstition, this one actually made sense, except that it seemed that Apple MUST have fixed this by now if it was actually the problem. WRONG! I tried it and immediately the problem was gone and has not returned.

It only works for late 2009 iMacs AND it needs to be re-patched after some Apple updates, but it actually does work and takes 2 minutes to install. Oh, and you lose AirDrop, but to me that was pretty useless anyway, so definitely worth the trade. Here's the link:

http://rys.pixeltards.com/2011/09/04/osx-lion-wifi.html

Thanks a lot to Rys Sommefeldt for doing what the world's most valuable company seems unable to do: make their own products work.

Of course you're also opening up who knows how many security holes, breaking future compatibility and guaranteeing future updates won't apply properly.

Just be sure you understand the cons of your actions.

No, there should not have been a "warning."

Apple's products follow a standard. So, theoretically do everyone else's.

If Apple gets their implementation of the standard wrong, they'll fix it.

If third party vendors get it wrong, they have to fix their own products.

It's like if you buy something that blows up when you plug it into a wall socket; that's not the power company's fault.

This weekend I re-confirmed that the same hardware booted to Snow Leopard does not exhibit drop outs. Rebooting into Lion starts the drop-outs. NO HARDWARE CHANGES.... SAME MAC,,, SAME TIMECAPSULE.

Now using hardwired eithernet. Problem solved.

wireless Lion: 300 kb/S (or less)

wireless Snow Leopard 1.3 Mb/S

wired eithernet: 3.1 MB/S

"Nothing but net"

Mike

I had the same issue and it seems to be fixed now. After running all the software updates up to 10.7.3, I was getting all of the issues. Since running the WiFi updater it fixed the wake from sleep issue but still had the random drops. After thinking of what I would of done as a former Mac Genius, I said re-install 10.7.3 update from the website. http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1484

After doing the update, my random drops stopped and all has been well since. I am wondering if something was missed during the automatic update.

I hope this helps some people.

Hello my fellow people with issues,

I just wanted to add my two cents to this incredibly frustrating problem. I purchased a 2011 27" iMac with Intel processor and have been experiencing the same WiFi problems. The WiFi just randomly disconnects after a few minutes and will not automatically reconnect after sleep unless resetting Airport. Connections are unstable lasting only minutes. The one difference is that I am still running Snow Leopard 10.6.8. I refuse to update since it seems Lion just has the same problems. Like others, I have multiple Apple and non-Apple devices with stable connections to my D-Link DGL4500 router with NO issues.

First, I tried to change the router settings per other advice on the threads. I deconflicted the channel with the neighbors, turned off the auto mode for channel switching, and set the router to pure n mode on 2.4GHz. I also tried creating a new network location in my network preferences, moved the airport conncetion to the top of the list of preferred connections on top of bluetooth and others, and deleted the network preferences plist file. None of this worked.

Then, I finally bit the bullet and dragged the machine all the way to the closest Apple Store 1.5 hrs away. The Genius Bar worker was extremely pleasant and understanding but did NOT acknowledge ANY WiFi issues with the iMac. Of course, my iMac stayed connected to their WiFi connection through the entire process. Of note was the fact that he used a *USB* keyboard and mouse with my iMac vice using the bluetooth keyboard and mouse which comes standard. He did offer to replace the wireless card and antenna in the iMac with virtually no prompting from me so I took Apple up on that offer. Of further note was the Genius Bar worker's statement when I inquired about the bluetooth keyboard/mouse. He asked if I had tried the 5 GHz channel on my router since bluetooth also uses a 2.4 GHz freq. I had not tried that yet, I couldn't help but wonder why he would ask me that?

After another 3 hr round trip journey to the Apple store, I eagerly retrieved my "repaired" iMac. The connection worked for 15 minutes, then the same problems recurred.

What I did next solved my problem, at least for the past 48 hrs, which is the longest I have had a "problem free" WiFi experience since purchasing my incredibly expensive iMac.

I hooked up a generic USB keyboard, plugged in a wireless USB mouse, and disabled the bluetooth on the iMac. Since then, NO WiFi problems. I'm talking ZERO. Streaming music as long as I want, uninterrupted streaming movies, computer sleeps and wakes up and the WiFi reconnects instantly.

This definitely must be an issue with the bluetooth interfering with the 2.4GHz WiFi connection--in my humble, non-computer-engineering-literate opinion. I have not tried my router's 5 GHz signal with the iMac bluetooth kb/mouse but perhaps I will.

In the meantime...to APPLE: fix your Sh$t and stop denying your equipment has an issue when it clearly does. Until then, my black, bulky, wired logitech keyboard, and grey, wireless usb belkin mouse is disrupting the image of your holistic APPLE computer zen. Not that I really care. I just want my $1900 computer to work as advertised.

Regards~CC

Not a Genius like you, but looking at these, conflicts can arise without extreme care, dependent on whether client mode is selected.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3048

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2272

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1731

Also this may be of interest

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Airport/5.0/en/ap2060.html

Apple recommends the Auto settings in most scenarios, but if dual channel is available then moving wireless onto the higher frequency should help. Unless configuring for such, the Extend My Wireless Network option needs to be OFF as this places limitations on the functioning of Airport which then requires an ethernet connection - which from your post seems not to be an option - Airport to Access point.

Would be interested to hear how you resolve the issues you have, if it all. Best wishes, Ct.

has anyone tried reamoving their StartupItems? Sorry but for some reason I am unable to search this disussion and its so long to look through. I know this has solved some of these issues for some folks. Macintosh HD -> Library -> StartupItems.

After exclusively using Windows all my life, I buy a shiny new iMac, only to find that something as simple as wifi can't stay connected for any longer than a few minutes.

It's been roughly 3 months now, and this experience is making me think of dumping Apple.

Ok!

I hooked up a generic USB keyboard, plugged in a wireless USB mouse, and disabled the bluetooth on the iMac. Since then, NO WiFi problems. I'm talking ZERO. Streaming music as long as I want, uninterrupted streaming movies, computer sleeps and wakes up and the WiFi reconnects instantly.

Makes sense. I think this pretty well sums up the root cause of the problem and it's something I thought of early on in this saga, especially as the imac's internal wifi card has always had problems with shielding/reception. So add in Bluetooth this and Bluetooth that and it's bound to lead to these kinds of problems. It might even be down to the distance of the keyboard from the mac or the location of the wireless router. BTW, no dual-channel available, just a Broadband co supplied Thomson router, on the floor below.

Bill

I had the same wifi issue. found a solution:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4628?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Apple fumbled with Mac Lion OS. Some hope the issues will be solved with Mountain Lion.

Sorry, I spoke too soon. The Lion OS disconnected my wifi within the hour. Still puzzled.

Just did the procedure recommended by McCainiac and it worked for me (at least for now, I rebooted, logged out) my MacBook Pro's WiFi connexion came back ok...

I have tried a lot if not all suggested solutions on this and other threads, this is the first one to work for me

Had been running Lion for quite a while before the problem occurred.

This is the article:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4628?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Go to bottom of page where it says:

Symptom: After restarting or waking from sleep, my computer might not connect to the Internet

Good Luck