Wifi Constantly Dropping in Lion

Give this a shot:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964

What signal strength are you seeing the wireless network at ? Press the Option Key and click on the WiFi Menu Extra and it will tell you the signal stregth (RSSI).

A good RSSI value is between -40 and -70. Lower than -70 will work, but you might see issues at time's.

Do you ever get an IP address when you get connected ? And when you say your connection drop's does the WiFi Menu Extra grey out ? Can you ping your wireless router ?

When this happen's can you ping your router at that point ?

Launch Terminal and ping your router in 1 window and ping www.google.com in another.

When you see this issue, check on your ping's and see if the one to your router is still working.

Could you let us know the following:

1. What kind of wireless router (or AP) are you using? Make, Model, FCCID and firmware version?

2. When you are connected, option click the Wi-Fi icon and take a screen shot of the drop down box and post it so we can see your connection.

3. When you say your Wi-Fi drops, is your Wi-Fi icon greyed out? Or, is it that it looks like you are connected, but you are not able to pass traffic.

It would help us to turn up some debugging for Wi-Fi and post it here. To turn up debugging do the following:

1. Open a terminal

2. Execute this command in term (just copy and paste this text in term and hit enter): sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport debug +alluserland +LogFile

**Note this command will require your admin password**

3. Recreate the issue

4. After recreating the issue, go to console and look for a log called wifi.log. Copy and paste your wifi log here and please note the approximate time as to when you Wi-Fi was disconnected.

I'm having the exact problems as described by the original poster. WI-FI is connected and not gray'ed out. Signal strength is very good - only a few feet away from the newest extreme. Network just goes away.

Here's what I see:

(1) Connection is good, have an IP (either DHCP or fixed - I tried both), just no traffic

(2) Launch Safari - hit a web page, then no connectivity after a few clicks

(3) ping the router - no connection

(4) ifconfig -a (sometimes shows an IP on the interface - sometimes not) - in both cases no network connectivity

(5) turning Wi-FI off then on temporarily fixes the problem

(6) I found that if I open a terminal (while the network is working) and ping the router - then the network stays up - but only as long as the ping is running, if I Control-C the ping, network eventually goes away in a minute.

(7) Ethernet has no problems - typing this while connected via ethernet.

(8) Another thing I noticed, while the ping was running in the terminal and the network was functioning, if I click on the WI-FI indicator in the menu bar, "WI-FI Looking for networks" shows up and the network drops - sometimes it comes back sometimes not - only a turn off then turn on restores the WI-FI connection.

WI-FI was working perfectly prior to the Lion Update.

R Malay

See my post above yours. You need to provide some more information in order for people to try and help you.

Hi,

This also happens to me after after upgrading to lion.

- After option click on the Airpor, I'm recieving RSSI: -32

- I'm getting a gray icon on the Airport Icon if im losing the Wifi.

Problem seems to not occur if i'm running uTorrent. Running this for 20 mins now, and Wifi is not being disconnected. Maybe because it due to it constantly sending data.

I tried it with twitter, dropbox and messenger app instead of uTorrent but I seems to get disconnected.

Is it a problem with Lion that disconnects Wifi, when the connection to the router or internet is idle?

Thanks.

I'm having a similar issue. Wi-Fi has been working fine for me overall, but it has temporarily dropped the connection on me about 4 times, both at home and out at another location. It's happening on my wife's MBP as well.

Not feeling very confident regarding dropping wifi. I spend over an hour with Apple today and they could not solve this problem. Has anyone had sucess?

This might be helpful but not a fix to this issue, I just used it as a work around to rid myself of the very annoying wifi drop every few minutes.

I created an AppleScript below, saved it as application with "stay open" ticked.

try

repeat

do shell script "ping -c 1 <replace with ip address of router>"

delay 5

end repeat

end try

Now if only I could run this script at start up... anybody knows how?

Can you guys run this command in Terminal:

sudo /usr/libexec/airportd debug +alluserland +alldriver +allvendor

sudo /usr/libexec/airportd logger

After you run these commands, then try to reproduce the issue where the machine drops WiFi. And at that point, copy paste the output in the Terminal app. here. Hopefully it can throw some light on what's going on.

Also what are the Energy Saver settings on your Mac ? Does increasing the Sleep time help ?

Hi wifiguri,

The Sleep time for computer and monitor is 15 and 10 respectively. Increasing this didn't help. My Wifi disconnects every 2-4 mins, long before the computer sleeps.

Thanks for your help 🙂

Here is the log on my machine:

^CWhiteLightning:~ jepzman$ sudo /usr/libexec/airportd logger

Thu Jul 21 13:55:37.777 <kernel> IO80211ScanManager::startScan: Broadcast scan request received from pid 149 ().

Thu Jul 21 13:55:37.777 <kernel> IO80211ScanManager::startScan: Initiating scan.

Thu Jul 21 13:55:40.860 <kernel> IO80211ScanManager::getScanResult: All scan results returned for pid 149.

Thu Jul 21 13:55:47.604 <kernel> IO80211ScanManager::cachePurge: clearEntries[0] Firing!

Thu Jul 21 13:55:47.604 <kernel> IO80211ScanManager::cachePurge: Rescheduling in 23 seconds.

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.554 <kernel> en1: link down event, informing supplicant.

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.559 <configd[14]> _p2pSupEventCallback: APPLE80211_M_LINK_CHANGED

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.559 <configd[14]> _p2pSupEventCallback: Primary interface link marked down

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.560 <configd[14]> _p2pSupEventCallback: APPLE80211_M_BSSID_CHANGED

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.567 <configd[14]> _bsd_80211_event_callback: LINK_CHANGED (en1)

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.627 <airportd[2374]> _handleNewMessage: received XPC event for pid 14, <dictionary: 0x7faac1416b50> { count = 3, contents =

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.628 "_eventType" => <int64: 0x7faac1416db0>: 4

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.628 "_interfaceName" => <string: 0x7faac14157e0> { length = 3, contents = "en1" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.628 "_command" => <string: 0x7faac1416e40> { length = 12, contents = "DRIVER_EVENT" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.628 }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.628 <airportd[2374]> _processDriverEvent: link changed

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.629 <configd[14]> _bsd_80211_event_callback: SSID_CHANGED (en1)

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.630 <airportd[2374]> _handleNewMessage: received XPC event for pid 14, <dictionary: 0x7faac141c8b0> { count = 3, contents =

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.630 "_eventType" => <int64: 0x7faac1418500>: 2

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.630 "_interfaceName" => <string: 0x7faac141cb10> { length = 3, contents = "en1" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.630 "_command" => <string: 0x7faac141cb70> { length = 12, contents = "DRIVER_EVENT" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.630 }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.631 <configd[14]> _bsd_80211_event_callback: BSSID_CHANGED (en1)

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.632 <airportd[2374]> _handleNewMessage: received XPC event for pid 14, <dictionary: 0x7faac141f650> { count = 3, contents =

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.632 "_eventType" => <int64: 0x7faac141f8b0>: 3

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.632 "_interfaceName" => <string: 0x7faac141f920> { length = 3, contents = "en1" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.632 "_command" => <string: 0x7faac141f9a0> { length = 12, contents = "DRIVER_EVENT" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.632 }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.632 <configd[14]> _bsd_80211_event_callback: BSSID Changed, but not associated

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.635 <configd[14]> _SC_callback: Changed keys = { 'State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/Power Status' 'State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/Busy' }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.637 <airportd[2374]> _handleNewMessage: received XPC event for pid 14, <dictionary: 0x7faac14211a0> { count = 2, contents =

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.637 "_changedKeys" => <array: 0x7faac141e370> { count = 2, capacity = 4, contents =

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.638 0: <string: 0x7faac1421400> { length = 49, contents = "State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/Power Status" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.638 1: <string: 0x7faac14214a0> { length = 41, contents = "State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/Busy" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.638 }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.638 "_command" => <string: 0x7faac1421550> { length = 16, contents = "SC_CHANGED_EVENT" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.638 }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.639 <configd[14]> _SC_callback: Changed keys = { 'State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/WEPOpenSystem' 'State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/CachedScanRecord' 'State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/CHANNEL' 'State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/WEP40' }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.639 <airportd[2374]> _processDriverEvent: SSID changed

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.640 <airportd[2374]> _handleNewMessage: received XPC event for pid 14, <dictionary: 0x7faac1420f20> { count = 2, contents =

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.640 "_changedKeys" => <array: 0x7faac14157e0> { count = 4, capacity = 8, contents =

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.640 0: <string: 0x7faac141dfe0> { length = 50, contents = "State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/WEPOpenSystem" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.640 1: <string: 0x7faac141e240> { length = 53, contents = "State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/CachedScanRecord" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.640 2: <string: 0x7faac141e0e0> { length = 44, contents = "State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/CHANNEL" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.640 3: <string: 0x7faac141e140> { length = 42, contents = "State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/WEP40" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.640 }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.640 "_command" => <string: 0x7faac141d8d0> { length = 16, contents = "SC_CHANGED_EVENT" }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.640 }

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.642 <airportd[2374]> _processDriverEvent: BSSID changed

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.644 <airportd[2374]> _processSystemConfigurationEvent: Processing 'State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/Power Status'

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.644 <airportd[2374]> _processSystemConfigurationEvent: Processing 'State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/Busy'

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.644 <airportd[2374]> _processSystemConfigurationEvent: Processing 'State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/WEPOpenSystem'

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.644 <airportd[2374]> _processSystemConfigurationEvent: Processing 'State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/CachedScanRecord'

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.644 <airportd[2374]> _processSystemConfigurationEvent: Processing 'State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/CHANNEL'

Thu Jul 21 13:55:59.644 <airportd[2374]> _processSystemConfigurationEvent: Processing 'State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/WEP40'

Thu Jul 21 13:56:00.644 <configd[14]> _SC_callback: Changed keys = { 'State:/Network/Service/B7CC1388-592D-4CC3-8C5B-A3B34F15B194/DHCP' }

Thu Jul 21 13:56:00.645 <airportd[2374]> _handleNewMessage: received XPC event for pid 14, <dictionary: 0x7faac16020c0> { count = 2, contents =

Thu Jul 21 13:56:00.646 "_changedKeys" => <array: 0x7faac1601720> { count = 1, capacity = 2, contents =

Thu Jul 21 13:56:00.646 0: <string: 0x7faac1601780> { length = 64, contents = "State:/Network/Service/B7CC1388-592D-4CC3-8C5B-A3B34F15B194/DHCP" }

Thu Jul 21 13:56:00.646 }

Thu Jul 21 13:56:00.646 "_command" => <string: 0x7faac1602320> { length = 16, contents = "SC_CHANGED_EVENT" }

Thu Jul 21 13:56:00.646 }

Thu Jul 21 13:56:00.647 <airportd[2374]> _processSystemConfigurationEvent: Processing 'State:/Network/Service/B7CC1388-592D-4CC3-8C5B-A3B34F15B194/DHCP'

Thu Jul 21 13:56:00.647 <airportd[2374]> _processDHCPChanges: State:/Network/Service/B7CC1388-592D-4CC3-8C5B-A3B34F15B194/DHCP

Thu Jul 21 13:56:00.647 <airportd[2374]> _processDHCPChanges: DHCP airport_changed = 1

Thu Jul 21 13:56:00.647 <airportd[2374]> _setDHCPMessage: dhcpInfoKey "State:/Network/Interface/en1/AirPort/DHCP Message" = (null)

Thu Jul 21 13:56:10.603 <kernel> IO80211ScanManager::cachePurge: clearEntries[0] Firing!

Thu Jul 21 13:56:10.604 <kernel> IO80211ScanManager::cachePurge: NOT Rescheduling.

Thu Jul 21 13:56:29.580 <airportd[2374]> ___createTerminateTimer_block_invoke_1: ...exiting

Thu Jul 21 13:56:42.975 <configd[14]> _SC_callback: Changed keys = { 'State:/IOKit/PowerManagement/CurrentSettings' }

Thu Jul 21 13:56:44.772 <configd[14]> _SC_callback: Changed keys = { 'State:/IOKit/PowerManagement/CurrentSettings' }

Thu Jul 21 13:56:59.657 <kernel> IO80211ScanManager::startScan: Broadcast scan request received from pid 149 ().

Thu Jul 21 13:56:59.657 <kernel> IO80211ScanManager::startScan: Initiating scan.

Thu Jul 21 13:57:02.725 <kernel> IO80211ScanManager::scanDone: Scheduling cache purge timer in 30 seconds.

Thu Jul 21 13:57:02.726 <kernel> IO80211ScanManager::getScanResult: All scan results returned for pid 149.

My 2010 MacBook Pro is also having this issue, was fine with osx 10.6, since the upgrade last night there have been numerous WiFi drop outs for no apparent reason,

Reading lots of other web posts makes me think there is a bug somewhere with this new OS, I hope Apple sort soon as its very annoying,