Q: Lion WiFi Connection Problem

Listen everyone... logic has it that if this was a software (OS Lion) issue, then everyone would be having an issuse. If this is a hardware issue, it would be symtematic of machines using the same hardware or machines using hardware that has not been updated or configured properly in the first place. If it is a permissions error or a user error or a network configuation error on your part, then it could be fixed by resetting the network. If it is a hard ware issue then try changing your router. If you still think this is a software issue, then use Lion Internet Recover or Disk Assistant Recovery (explained here). If your not sure call your internet provider or send your computer to Apple for servincing or just for them to look at. Also just because something was working before, and does not work afterwords the way you want or like now, does not mean it was set up correctly previously.

Scratch that, I'm still losing wifi! It only takes a few seconds to reconnect but still should not be happening.

I've been reading responses to this thread for weeks since my intial post a while ago and that type of thinking comes across very holier-than-thou.

It's almost laughable to continue to blame the consumer for this issue.

We've had network and IT professionals collectively tearing their hair out. To say this isn't Apple's issue to fix is incredibly naive. Across the world, hundreds of thousands of people upgraded to Lion, a majority of them have this problem evidenced by the 126 pages of forum posts. That's all their fault? Not Apple's? Come on now.

this thread... is not evident of any thing.... it is the same people responding to each other or trying to help others... Each person probably has about 20 posts in this one thread alone.

Saying that the majority of people experience this would be an unbelievably huge exaggeration.  I have been selling Macs for years and have only heard of a few customers having this issue. So it's still a small percentage. I have seen 3 iMacs doing it on our showroom so that seems high. Plus one customer for sure. I would say 5% tops. The other 95% and just happily living life with their macs oblivious to the problems you are having.

Indeed, at least for me, it was clearly a network hardware problem. I struggled with this for months. I even take my iMac and MacBook to the Apple Store since both were upgraded to Lion. And guess what? No problem at all at the open wi fi spot of Apple Store, neither Starbucks coffee!

I tried to configure my old router like a hundred times without sucess. So I decided to buy a new ADSL router.

This was because my ISP send a technician to my house and he almost laughted when he saw my router.

As soon as a I get the new router. Voila! no more problems at home.

The technician attributed the problem to the following issues:

-LOTS of WiFi networks around (I live in a condo, so there is a lot of "noise"

-router B/G/N issues.

-Some DCP renewal not working on the old router.

I feel that this is the same that happens when you buy an AUDI. You dont want to use the old oil in your services it will mess your engine. If you have an AUDI, then you need this expensive semi-synthetic oil because the engine is "sooo modern"....just like your mac.

Trust me this issue is related to OSX, I have about 7 machines on my network plus about 5 mobile devices, all work except the Macbook running 10.7. I have a pro grade netgear router and am very comfortable with all the settings etc.

"logic has it that if this was a software (OS Lion) issue, then everyone would be having an issuse"

I'm affraid your logic is flawed, that would suggest everyone has exactly the same OS and network setup. Apple are at fault here and I've no idea why your are trying to claim otherwise. I've been building, programming, debuging and generally fiddling with computers for a long time now and never have I experianced a fault like this.

Apple sort your life out, Apple fan boys, admit Apple have f'd up.

So you like to fiddle with computers... and then in your same breath you say "this issue is related to OSX" Your logic is flawed - not mine. I would suggest you read this entire thread as well as the many other threads and see how many people are using all types of machines and hardware or have differnent types of networks. Oh...with all those computers you have and mobile devices... don't you think maybe that is why your network is hiccup ing?

When I say fiddle I mean I'm a computing professional of over 10 years. My network is fine, like I say I have  serious router, not one of these ones your ISP give you. I havn't had to touch it in about a year until this happened.

"So you like to fiddle with computers... and then in your same breath you say "this issue is related to OSX" Your logic is flawed - not mine."

That sentance doesn't make sense.

***.  Just bought my first Apple product - an iMac.  Same problem but do the tech support people tell you this?  No they get you to delete files, reinstall the OS etc etc.  Today, when confronted, they told me their software engineers are working on a fix!!!  Plus, how do you keep a record of the issues with Apple?  Issues such as this leave no trace and you can just keep on phoning.

Machine going back!

Carlo TD,

You can't just say its the network thats the problem, routers are pretty user friendly now a days, that it's easy for anyone to setup. There are hundreds of other pages other than this site and thread with other people having somekind of WIFI problems with their Macs. I have a ton of other devices and computers running off my router and they work perfectly just fine. Other folks on here have stated that too.

The logic is not flawed that the problem could very well be with OSX Lion. Something has to be triggering this problem. Apple prides themselves with having the best pairing of Hardware and Software. Something is wrong with one of the two.

Not many people actually go on these threads to complain, they just go to their nearest computer friendly person, whether that be  a friend, a store, geek squad, applecare whoever. If anything, they go on to read to see if there is a solution and leave it at that and don't bother to comment.

Here are the common problems:

1. WIFI NO HARDWARE INSTALLED

2. WIFI keeps dropping signal

3. WIFI takes too long initialize connection

4. WIFI runs extremely slow

Some Soltuions Posted through this thread:

1. Reset PRAM and SMC

2. Downgrade Airport Card to Snow Leopard Driver(kext files)

3. Deleting ceratin PLIST files and rebooting

4. Run Diagnostics

5. Run Lion Recovery

6. Repair Disk Permissions

7. Disk Assistant Recovery

8. Get a USB wireless card

9. Reload Lion and start from scratch

10. Downgrade to Snow Leopard OSX 10.6

11. go to network preference uncheck "show wifi status" and reboot and uncheck reopen windows.

12. Delete Locations and set up new one.

13. Tear apart your iMac or Macbook and clean connectors to airport card.

14. Get a new router

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10501&cs_id=1050108 &p_id=8072&seq=1&format=4#feedback This little wifi card hasn't let me down yet. takes a little time to get used to, but it works.

"It is not up to Apple to Address your network issue... You need to address it."

Complete rubbish. People buy computers, follow the set-up instructions in the manuals and expect them to work. My system was working fine until a few weeks ago when I upgraded to 10.7.3. Whatever is wrong is clearly their fault, not mine, and they need to fix it. They broke it.

Tony850

Nice one creating that nicely consolidated list of possible fixes. There are one or two I havn't tried so might give them a bash tonight. Though I am leaning more and more toward downgrading to 10.6.

Only issue is I have no end of development stuff setup on my machine so I'm looking at about two days to get it setup. I'm self employed and that is a serious knock to my bottom line.

I'll be back on here if I have any luck.

Tomhog,

I really don't think it's worth your time to downgrade. I know how time is precious when you own your own business. I would purchase that usb card I linked to and get that working for you. I love my apple gear, I will give this more time to be addressed, I am just tired of people not putting solutions up here and just creating dead space to read.

Also for everyone else. This seems to be a common problem among 2010 and newer Mac models(imac, macbook[pro], air). There are few older ones i've read that has this issue, but they seem to be the ones who any one of those simplier fixes work for.

Nope, sorry, you're wrong on that. Just got off the phone with Apple technical support, they are aware of the issue, a HUGE number of people are having it, not just iMacs, but the laptop community as well. The only ones not affected are the IOS 5 people, like on my iPad, which connects instantly everytime, and I have about 15 different places I connect with this thing. That's what ****** me off so much about this, is that my little $500.00 iPad goes "blink, I'm on", instantly, everywhere, 15 different locations, and my $2500.00 quad core i7 iMac with 12 gigs of ram sits there hunting for half a minute for the ONLY wifi thing in the area.

Anyway, folks, they ARE working on it, and there's a BIT of a workaround which will speed things up for some; instead of waking the machine with any wireless device (mouse, keyboard), wake it with the power button - click for one second and release. My machine only hunts for about ten seconds this way, as opposed to almost thirty seconds any other way.

The technicians are aware of it, they acknowledge it's a software problem, and there will be a software solution soon.

From the horse's mouth.

Cheers,

Cameron

PS thanks to those who've TRIED to help.