Q: Wifi Constantly Dropping in Lion

Carlo TD wrote:

 

Billjacobson wrote:

 

Same ole S...tuff   I deleted the SystemConfiguration folder after finally finding the Finder > Preferences > Sidebar settings for what can be seen by the serfs.  Whewww... Thanks for the pointer.

 

But, still not picking up Verizon MIFI 4510L    Dell, Macbook, iPad, iPhone find it fine. 

 

My solution for now is using the macbook as the shared server, and connecting the iMac to macbook with ethernet cable.  Very clunky, but it works.

 

And the internet connection is way faster that it has ever been when the iMac would some times connect to WIFI.

 

And your sure you dont have any other wifi devices connected to it... maybe a printer? That device only handles up to five devices (which means it might handle five, might handle four, might handle three devices, might handle two devices. Its specificiations does not say will handle exactly five devices at any given time... the specifications say access up to five devices. You should contact the manufacture of your MIFI device and ask for a new instruction manual, or some one to explain what access up to five devices means.

It's posts like these Carlo, that make me wonder how many people are just doing things which they don't really understand, and this is breaking their internet connectivity because of too many devices.  I've never been able to get more than about 3 devices to work on my Sprint MiFi device at any one time, reliably.

Thanks for the insult gphoei.

FYI, the verizon MIFI, a Samsung device, lets one know how many devices are connecting.  Right now it's one.

Any other suggestions SA.

Yes... create a new user on the computer. And see if your able to connect to the internet with that new user.

I don't remember... but a MIFI device costs about a $100 extra a month? Is that correct? It is great if you are on the road and travel a lot (and even then it only handles b/g connections)... but with that $100 a month, you can pay for both home internet service and even telephone service with Verison, Comcast, or dsl with Embarq.

Message was edited by: Carlo TD

I live in a rural area where my only broadband access is dial up, satellite or Verizon.  For $60 a month I get a great service, and I have access when I'm on the road meeting with clients.  It's a sad fact that broadband competition is not available to millions of rural homes throughout the US.  There is in fact, a digital divide.  The children of young families who can not afford broadband access are at a competitive disadvantage.

And my competitive advantage is diminished by an iMac workstation that can not maintain a wifi connection. 

Thanks for the ideas on how to fix.  I did create a new user, but have yet to get the connection.  Will keep on trying.

Billjacobson wrote:

 

Thanks for the insult gphoei.

 

FYI, the verizon MIFI, a Samsung device, lets one know how many devices are connecting.  Right now it's one.

 

Any other suggestions SA.

My comment was not intended to be an insult, only a comment on what you said.  You mentioned multiple devices without saying how many were connected at any particular time.  Here's something you can try which may give you more information on what is actually happening. Enter the following in a terminal window to turn on a lot more logging.

sudo /usr/libexec/airportd debug +alluserland +alldriver +allvendor +LogFile
sudo killall configd

Next, wait for the problem to occur, and then wait a about 10 seconds and do the following to turn all the logging off.

sudo /usr/libexec/airportd debug -alluserland -alldriver -allvendor -LogFile
sudo killall configd

Finally, open /var/log/wifi.log in an editor and read through it to see if there is any information reported there about why the WiFi disconnect occured.  Post your findings back here.

If you are not familar with how to get to /var/log and open that file in an editor, post back here and I can give you more direct instructions.

Here are two links to look at.

http://www.cse.wustl.edu/~jain/cse574-08/ftp/rural/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo_dUZEzeLQ&feature=related

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Long-Range-Antenna-Wireless-WiFi-signal-Booster-14dBi-/2 00615639215?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA %252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D200712168466%26ps%3D54#ht_3563wt_75 8

I installed Rys Sommefeldt fix while I had 10.7.3 on my iMac (Atheros chipset) and while it fixed wifi stability (no dropouts) anytime I would log in or change users you would have to manually select the wifi network.

I have now installed 10.7.4 and the problem persists - would the COmbo update have replaced the Rys Sommefeldt fix or would I need to somehow manually uninstall it.

The wifi update fix released in February did nothing.

Meanwhile my Macbook Air has zero wifi problems so I'm certain it is to do with Atheros chipset.

Hey guys,

i think that with the latest update 10.7.4 that came out the wi-fi issues are solved.

I'll cross my fingers till tommorow but till now everything is extremely fine.

Sad to say, this did not fix it for me!

In Apple's usual style of never admitting problems, today's (11 May 2012) update to Lion OS-X 10.7.4 (11E53) actually fixed the WiFi drop outs.

I have been streaming internet radio via WiFi for about an hour on my MBP 13" (March 2011) with no drop-outs!

That is good to hear. When I saw your post I went ahead and updated too. Time will tell if it is a good fix for me too. I will update if there are developments.

i thought the new update had worked for me at first but overnight the connection has dropped again.

Sorry to hear about your problem, Mark. My MBP has been up for 6 hrs without a dropout. Before it would go West after 60 seconds! What vintage is your h/w? Mine is March 2011.