Q: Lion WiFi Connection Problem

My FritzBox 7270 v3 allows me to switch to 5 GHz (= 802.11 n+a) and if I do so the problems disappear in my case as well. This is not realy a wonder since the signal is much stronger and the amount of neighborhood-networks working with 5 GHz is much smaller...

BUT: When I go to 5 GHz I can`t use my WLAN with my iPhone any more. For that reason this is no solution for me and all the others users affected by the problem and using an iPhone (since the iPhone only supports 2,4 GHz in 802.11 n)...

I just had a look at that program. It`s description says that it`s only there for connecting to OPEN networks. So: Are you sure you connected to your own network with it? If so: What about a little more security by using WPA/WPA2-encription...?

By the way: In my opinion the facts that there is no problems when A) working with Windows via Bootcamp on the same machine or B) working with Windows via Parallels on the same machine already prove that the problem has to do with Lion`s wi-fi-components...

Okay, had the exact annoying connected/looking for network wifi constant drop/reconnect problem. In the end the problem for me was: A) Lion doesn't really handle wifi the same as Snow leopard did (but I wouldn't necessarily say it's a bug) B) My router is a Lynksys wrt600n (mixed network at home, mostly PC, ps3's, and a few ipads and macs thrown in) C) My neighbors.

Tried everything everyone said everywhere I could find it - updating router firmware, resetting pram, rearrange network order, add dns entry, make sure updates current in Lion etc. ONLY the Lion macbook was having problems - EVERYTHING else connected fine, stayed connected and worked fine. Just killed it and now the Lion Macbook is bulletproof and staying connected.

My router settings for Radio Band and Standard Channel were set to AUTO. Instead, I now have them set to specific values. Standard radio band for 5GHz, Wide band for 2.4GHz, also using specific channels. Not sure why my Lion macbook was the ONLY thing that cared about this - but it did. Best guess being that, Somehow Lion and or my router were "adjusting" for interference from my neighbors - there are probably a dozen wifi networks visible to me at any time (most of them weak as they are further away/down the street). Lion connecting to wifi in my neighborhood was something like trying to play ping pong outside on a very windy day.

I would not say "it's a router problem" because EVERYTHING else always connected and worked fine. I would not say "it's a Lion bug" because the macbook always worked perfectly at work (where we have one wifi infrastructure that has several SSIDs broadcast there). I would say Lion is picky about what wifi configuration he is willing to play nice with, and under what conditions.

Try all the suggestions you can find for troubleshooting - but keep in mind it may come down to Radio Band, Channel settings, and how many of your neighbors have wifi.

I was one of the first people to write on this thread I think, and BOY what a lot of pent-up angst we all have (I might be the worst, in fact!). We definitely deserve better from Apple...

After the upgrade, I lost wifi on my 27 in. iMac...but NOT on my MBP...that also has the upgrade.

I, too, have tried virtually everything within my powers to ge this solved, but nothing has worked quite yet.

I was told that Lion apparently is much more picky than SL was about wifi connections. I was also told by an IT specialist who is also a Mac user that this is most likely the issue, especially with the pplethora of wifi systems in my neighborhood that apparently 'confuse' my older (circa 2005 Airport Express system).

I went ahead and bought the new wall-penetrating Airport router and plan to bump things up to the 5Ghz range as that will help distinguish me from the bulk of the routers in my area. If that does not work, I'm calling Comcast to have them proute the cable line for my cable modem up to where the iMac is, and will have it hardwired in, keeping it up and running, whilst also allowing my other computers to function on a much more robust wifi system than what I currently have.

Pray for rain from Apple (i.e. a better solution) folks, we all are a testament to the fact that Lion is roaring at us in wifi language...and as loyal Applers, we have a right to state out claim (although not over the phone as they never even answered my call, after 34 mins. on hold...).

Cheers,

JP

Dean B in Colorado wrote:

I would not say "it's a router problem" because EVERYTHING else always connected and worked fine. I would not say "it's a Lion bug" because the macbook always worked perfectly at work (where we have one wifi infrastructure that has several SSIDs broadcast there). I would say Lion is picky about what wifi configuration he is willing to play nice with, and under what conditions.

I monitor the issue for quite a while now and have participated in many troubleshoots here and in real live situations. Mostly successful but also failed sometimes.

One specific point with the "Lion WiFi" was very often the "Multiband / Mixed Mode" provided by the access points.

In almost all "Multiband / Mixed Mode" (2.4Ghz / 5Ghz 802.11 b/g/n) issues only a single SSID was used but (due to technical reasons) at least two BSSID's are present in the wireless.

It seems, that due to the "maximum user convienience - best performance" way Lion use in wireless environments, that will be a major part of the problem.

On that there is one network name and one password for the connection but Lion switches between both BSSID.

That leads to problems with addressed packets as they got to "your-lion@my-wireless--networkID:xyz" while the Lion meanwhile is "your-lion@my-wireless--networkID:fgh"

Yes, still connected to "my-wireless" but on a different branch.

The problem exists even at Airport Extreme based wireless if no dedicated name (SSID) for the 5GHz part is set.

For example the last case from Monday this week:

Base was a Netgear WRT54G (by the way a 2005 model) which provides by default a mixed mode 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11b/g/n with a single SSID.

The only working solution was to change back the radio mode to "802.11g only" as the Netgear have no option to choose either 2.4GHz OR 5GHz 802.11n.

It seems also that the Lion have a problem with WEP security which is commonly used by default on older access points (routers).

Lupunus

Hi, I am definatly connected to my network, and it is wpa2 as i tried changing that from wpa to fix the issue in the first place needless to say that didn't work....

Any way the program can see all the networks that lion can see (accept it also allows me to connect lol)

Its still working for me so i think once the trial is up im going to buy the full version as it has stopped me pulling lumps of hair out of my head.

Neil

laechleviel wrote:

 

I just had a look at that program. It`s description says that it`s only there for connecting to OPEN networks. So: Are you sure you connected to your own network with it? If so: What about a little more security by using WPA/WPA2-encription...?

 

By the way: In my opinion the facts that there is no problems when A) working with Windows via Bootcamp on the same machine or B) working with Windows via Parallels on the same machine already prove that the problem has to do with Lion`s wi-fi-components...

Same hardware , same symptoms

Not good

Well, I must say that I have the problem permanently resolved changing the password settings as you did. Happens, that I need to do it more than once!!! for some reason my router does not really save the settings when I save them...so I was still with WEP settings....kind of weird. But I need to reboot it like three times in order to make the new settings permament. It was kind of weird but after that and hearing some users by just getting a new router its probably that the problem lies in some Lion - Some routers compatibility. Very hard to solve for the two guys (if so) sitting in Cupertino trying to work for non-apple hardware compatibility. Just get a new hardware that its compatible with Apple.

this worked for me on a macbook pro,

Go into System> Network. 

Uncheck the Show Wi-fi in menu bar and then turn off the wi-fi. 

Now check the show wi-fi in menu bar and finally turn on wifi.

Hope it works for you.

@lupunus: you asked some people here what they have done to solve the problem apart from moaning that Apple isn't doing anything...

That's  a strange way of moving the responsability to the Apple customers, no??

I have contacted Apple Care (as mentioned earlier, I spoke with 'Roy') and  they admitted that they are very much aware of this problem but they choose not to communicate on this as long as they haven't solved the problem...

It's not us 'customers' who should solve this problem. What I have done to 'solve' the problem: I am using a cable link to my router again instead of wifi. That's all I can do for now. This porblem is so wide-spread that it cannot be a problem for the Apple-technicians to reproduce it...so it's their sole responsability to solve this.

I wonder: what has Apple done so far? (apart from continuing to sell this Lion OS and iMacs and what not, pretending everything is fine ...).

Hi. I bought an iMac last week and have been having this same problem. I originally thought it was my router but i've realised now it's a Lion OSX problem seeing as how i have no trouble in windows 7 via bootcamp. I found this and it has worked for me as a solution to the problem and may work for others until there's a fix for this from Apple. It may have already been posted, i didn't look through the whole thread

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

It worked for me, although on reboot it messed up a few configurations - had a to reboot the computer and the airport a few times to clear some previos settings but at least now i am able to work on the network again.

thanks.

Had the same problem with my Mac Mini 2011 (After sleep no wifi… router disappears in the wifi networks list… etc).

Changed my Router configuration to channel auto and it works like a charm (before the channel was fixed to 12).

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4199

The only permanent solutions I found for my setup (iMac mid 2010 Core i3 3,2 GHz / FritzBox 7270 v3) within the last three month were:

1. going back to Snow Leopard
2. replacing Lion`s wi-fi-drivers with Snow Leopard´s old wi-fi-drivers (http://rys.pixeltards.com/2011/09/04/osx-lion-wifi.html) > only works with the atheros-chipset and you can`t use Airdrop any more...
3. doing a permanent ping to google.com or whatever via a terminal-window > not realy comfortable...
4. switching to the 5 GHz-band (802.11 n+a) in my router`s configuration > iPhones can`t join the wi-fi any more as they only support 2,4 GHz in 802.11 n...

My choice is No. 2.

ALL the other tips/tricks/recommendations (from this community, different websites and Apple`s support-hotline) worked for some hours or days only in my case...

Unfortunately the previous "solutions" stopped working after a few days. I thought it was a problem with my iMac because my Macbook pro with exactly the same lion instalation file and clean install doesn't have any wifi problem. Today I did a clean install with my iMac but this didn't work :-(... When I install lion there are no wifi problems. When I install the update of lion the problems start. Chaning to 1492 causes less problems. But the wifi drops all still there.

I can't understand why my Macbook Pro hasn't got these problems. Together with all other macs in this house on the same network. My iMac is the only one with problems..... Very strange! Maybe my airport express has to do something with it? I only use this for printing, but maybe it interferes with the network....