Q: Lion WiFi Connection Problem

I have the same problem with disconnexion of my Wi-Fi after a system wake up. Having read and tried many solutions proposed in this forum, I finally tried what was suggested in other posts and it works for me.

I have disabled the sleep mode of the computer and finally, my problem disappeared (so far). It is NOT a permanent fix but, while the real solution from Apple is coming, I can use my system with less fustration.

System preferences>Energy saver>Computer sleep: Never

I have an iMac i7 with the latest Lion upgrade (10.7.3). It worked for me and I hope it will work for you too.

Note: As an Apple fan, I am disappointed by the slowliness of Apple to come up with a permanent solution. After all, it is not an isolated problem, many, many users experience this problem for a long while...

Once again, it's not a disconnection problem after Sleep, it's a re-connection problem after Waking up. Sleep always disconnects wifi, by design. So, not allowing your computer to Sleep is preserving the wifi connection, eliminating the need to re-connect afterwards.

There's no way I would want to erase all my files and installed apps for this issue, then spend hours and hours reinstalling everything, an approach that may or may not work. Turn off sleep mode, or wake using the power button, or wait for the fix.

Spot on. I've also just bought my MacBook. I've got no WiFi at all since upgrading to 10.7.3. Apple support admitted to me that this was a known problem and they were working on a solution. Needless to say this is not what I expected when I bought Apple. Mine will also be going back if this is not resolved soon.

Just happened to me the other night. Opened up my mac pro (which i have lion on it) and the wifi at the top of the screen has an exclamation mark. Tried allmost everything so i gave up. When i brought it into work it picked up the wifi signal from the modem. I brought it home and the same thing happened, my mac pro has a exclamation mark at the wifi icon. After a few minutes it did connect to the modem but i cant get on the interent. By the way i also have another mac pro and macbook which still have leopard and it connect fine. My iphone and ipad connect fine. So im thinking it has something to do with lion wifi driver and my router (wep encrypt). Hope someone can find a solution for this.

I too have had the WiFi Connection Problem ever since I upgraded to Lion.

I started out with losing connection on waking from sleep, and then it escalated to randomly losing the connection all the time.

The Senior Applecare Tech that I have an open case with acknowledged that the "losing connection on waking from sleep" is an issue they are working on and suggested that I unplug the ethernet cable from my airport express and plug it directly into my iMac for a few days to see if the "random loss of connection" still occurs. This would narrow the problem, he said.

With the ethernet cable plugged directly into my iMac there was no "waking from sleep" or "random loss of connection" problem; but on both my iPad and iPhone (which both displayed and showed a wifi connection in settings), Safari was not able to connect to the internet. I don't understand this, but that's not the problem.

I plugged the ethernet cable back into the Airport Express and so far (one hour) have only had the "waking from sleep" problem. iPad, iPhone, and Siri all work fine.

Everyone I have talked to at Apple has said 10.7.4 is on the way to fix the problem; but since this has been going on for at least for 6 or 7 months with regards to Lion and they have tried and failed before, I am beginning to lose hope.

If it has taken Apple this long to find a solution, it must be a serious and very difficult problem.

BillC3,

When you plugged the ethernet cable directly to your iMac, the reason your iPAD couldn't get online is because it was no longer wireless. With the ethernet cable plugged directly to your iMAC instead of using the Airport Express, your iPAD had no Wireless signal to pick up

I, too, have an open case in re: to the problem that you and other describe: Started with the waking from sleep, now escalated into totally random "drops" in connectivity.

....I know this is a Lion OS problem, because, when I lose connectivity on the iMAC (only device running Lion OS), if I turn on the iPAD, iPOD Touch or my MacBook, (Tiger), they remain connected wirelessly.

Was also told the 10.7.4 fix is on the way, but the 10.7.3 update just released on Feb 3 I think. I hope the next update does what it's supposed to do.

For now, when I have to work on the iMAC, I just plug the ethernet directly into the iMac.

Please try following - I have found this advise on macrumors.com, written by mobius1ski:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1210649

Looks like I prediceted correctly in my previous thread here:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/17651360#17651360

See this Apple fix for Wi-Fi:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1501?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Oh, a Wifi-Fix for the iMac.

But what's about the MacBook Air?

Will have to wait and see for any other models.

Did that update work for you? It says it came out today. I have to say I'm nervous about updating at this point...
Thanks for posting that link. I'll stare at it for a while and...perhaps..hit download Thanks!

Ok, I will stay tuned.

It would have been nice if Apple had also released an update for the MacBook Air.

I think the hardware is very similiar.

The update issued today has made my 21.5-inch, Mid 2010 iMac unable to see my Airport Extreme's 5ghz network.

I'm livid that Apple would issue an update that would make my problem worse!

Just an FYI, I'm not suggesting it could happen to everyone.

I'm off to restore my iMac...

Can anyone else confirm what echelon3 is reporting? Is there a kb article on what the fix is supposed to do?