Q: Lion WiFi Connection Problem

I'm not sure why all the discrepancies over 10.7.1 fixing this(or not) but it HAS fixed it for me.

So, going back to Windows will get you a calmer computer experience?

EchFam-DD wrote:

 

Dear all,

 

As one of the many who is also suffering from this issue, I have been following this discussion since approx page 25, and would offer the following comments:

 

-like others, I note that 10.7.1 has unfortunately not fixed the problem

 

-like others, I find this frustrating

 

-unlike too many others on here, I do my venting elsewhere (a very, very patient spouse helps, or else try screaming out the window a la Network for those of you who remember that film...), since I don't think my venting on here will help anyone of you...

 

-aiming to be a tad more constructive, at my end, I can attest to trying various fixes suggested on here and elsewhere, and have found only one that truly works: change your WLAN router's broadcast setting from "auto channel selection" to a fixed channel that you should choose from those that are supported by the wifi cards in all the Macs you're connecting to that net (look under "About this Mac>>More Info>>System report>>WiFi>>Interfaces>>Supported Channels on each Mac). In my case, I picked channel 36, and I have had stable wifi for nearly 2 weeks now. 

 

Don't know if it'll help all of you but it's my 2 cents worth...

 

Good luck to all, and hey, let's try to help each other out here instead of just venting (which also has very limited entertainment value, to be honest...!

 

PS Have no spouse, and worried about neighbors getting upset? tNo worries: try invesdting in a good punching bag... and yes, you can even put an Apple logo, Steve's face, etc.. on it...  Enjoy!

Thanks for this!

I updated my 2011 MBP when first released and had no problems. Updated my girlfriend's 2010 MBP today and was only getting "connection timeout" errors when trying to get onto WIFI. Changed the Airport Extreme channel to 13 and now it connects no problem.

Shouldn't have to this but was easy enough to fix. I join the chorus in thanking EchFam-DD

I had connection problems with Snow Leopard although not as severe as I have been having with Lion. This is the first day I have been able to use WiFi without interruption and I hope it holds.

Many people on this site have complained bitterly about Apple and the length of time it is taking to fix the problem. It took a bit of time for them to fix the problem when 10.6.4 and NVIDIA did not work together, but Apple got it fixed and they will get this fixed.

I think our problems with Lion have to be put in perspective. Although I had seen computers from the earliest days on, my first hands on experience with one was when my husband's secretary let me use her machine to do my own work after she left for the day. That computer recorded on tape! And I felt I was dealing with something wondrous when I started using her newer computer with MAG cards. The first home machine I had was an IBM  "memory machine" that could only store 10 pages worth of work and lost everything if the power went out, which happened often enough. I got a PC within a few weeks of their coming out and suffered far worse problems than not being able to get on the WEB, which did not exist at that time; and, sometime later, when it did become available, it was with Dial Up that was slow as molasses.

The various PC's I've had frequently failed, lost data, etc. DOS was a pain in the butt; Windows a bit better; and the support from the various PC companies was dreadful.  Believe me, Apple Care is great by comparison with anything I have ever experienced. And, Apple does get things fixed without having to wait for a whole new OS.

But, saying that, I too am fustrated and becoming impatient. Maybe that is because I am getting used to having a machine that really works, and works well, most of the time.

What we do in helping one another on this site is very good. I don't know of anything similar for PC users. Either we will find an answer or Apple will. I just hope it is soon.

Oh yes, Microsoft have TechNet forums. If you want a perspective, go see the people complaining about wifi connectivity. The same problems have been around for three years atleast. When I was testing Windows 7 and later when SL came out, then during the draft wireless N days and another blip on the coming of the final N standard. I know because a bought a new router (Belkin N1) which, a year later, was not even mentioned in the manufacturer's literature.

For those who say this is a Lion issue, I had two MBP's last year on SL, one connected ok and the other slightly older model just would not connect. Since it was my partner's, I can assure you I sweated blood over it!

But I am sure the solution would have been a router firmware update (not available) or a new router with the final N standard.

I've written about what worked for me here: http://www.whoneedsactions.com/solution-for-osx-lions-wi-fi-problems - specifically for BT Broadband but shoud apply to many. I was one of those venting ealier in this thread, relieved to finally have this sorted. =D

One of the saddest scenarios with the premature and drastically flawed release of Lion, is the computers now being shipped with it installed. I know of two people so far, who have taken their macbook pros back because THE WIFI WOULD NOT STAY CONNECTED.

When I think of the people who will spend their hard earned cash in this economy on a computer for their child to go to school, and when they get down to school and fire it up, they will not be able to connect and stay connected to the internet. All of their friends will be able to on $250 notebooks running Windows, but that student on that $1200-$2400 macbook will NOT simply because Apple released them with Lion installed.

Cupertino's silence on this shows adamantly that they don't care about computers anymore. Their vision of a future for computers in in some cloud, where I believe those who created Lion's brains were and still are.

That said, There is NO DEFINITE fix in sight for this Wifi disconnect issue.

I was on with tech support for hours yesterday trying to get a friends new computer with Lion pre-installed to connect and stay connected to no avail.  It is going back for a full refund today, and she will try to find one with Snow Leopard installed. If not she will simply move to a Windows Notebook, partition the drive and install Linux.

The bulk of the Apple Empire must not be coming from computers they way they blatantly ignore this wretched wifi issue.

I have to agree with you about the lack of help on the subject. Even an automated troubleshooting application that goes through all the voodoo for you, would be welcome, plus it could feedback the results to establish common causes and reveal solutions. Maybe the Apple University will have a course devoted to it. Someone could get a Nobel prize for solving it!

"I was on with tech support for hours yesterday trying to get a friends new computer with Lion pre-installed to connect and stay connected to no avail."

All for free I assume.

"It is going back for a full refund today"

Then nothing lost except for some time and gas.

"If not she will simply move to a Windows Notebook, partition the drive and install Linux."

Didn't know Linux was perfect? But that does show Windows to be not an option.

I'm still evaluating my first Mac, hence my user name, "whyamac". But I've had years suffering with Microsoft products and just got absolutely fed up with the crashes and secuity weakness - one of which required a complete hard disc wipe and rebuild. I don't know why 10.7.1 solved my minor WiFi problems and does not solve for others, but so far I like (not love) this Mac.

I have been having MAJOR problems with my wifi since upgrading to Lion. The speed was constantly going up and down, up and down. The speed graph just looked like mountains.

After waiting for the first update, which didn't do anything to help, I tried some other things.

I proved there was no fault with my wifi router/connection etc by speed testing on a windows machine.

In the end, the thing that seems to have cured the problem is resetting the PRAM

For anyone who doesn't know how to do this, boot your mac and at the grey screen hold down option/cmd P and R all at the same time.

The machine will then reboot.

This seems to have fixed all my wifi issues since updating to Lion. I'm not impressed with apple that this has had to be done though.

Hope it helps other people out there anyway !

Maybe a more detailed explanation from Apple:

Resetting PRAM and NVRAM

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
6. Release the keys.

Didn't work for me, unfortunatelly.

What seems to work however is setting manually the wifi channel on my router. As long as it was set to "auto" Lion was killing my wifi network within 5 minutes (for all other devices, too !). After I have fixed a channel it works stable (at least for the next 2 hours - massive improvement)

Still... Apple should investigate and issue a fix. As long as Lion machine was connected over cable, all other devices (Apple, PC, Android) worked correctly in "auto" mode.

There is one addition for people with a MBP. Each of the steps are as you say. But, MBP's with removable batteries should have the battery removed after shutting the Mac and before resetting the PRAM and the NVRAM. Obviously, that step is not to be taken with a MBP that has the internal battery.

I too was frustrated with the wi-fi problem and that 10.7.1 did not fix the issue.  Decided to contact Apple support and it was a very positive experience: called back in a few seconds, step by step instructions and most importantly the issue was fixed and has remained fixed.

I am amused by those negative comments in this thread, threatening to go back to Windows.  When I had Windows machines, you would never consider upgrading your operating system, unless you wanted to completely mess up your computer.  You would certainly never consider a downloaded upgrade, even if it was available.  If you wanted to upgrade your operating system it would usually mean an upgrade of computer - a heck of a lot more money than $30.

This is a new release and as such it will have bugs.  Windows release patch after patch after patch - it never stops.  Anyone in the tech world knows that if you want stability and no/less bugs, you wait for a few further releases before upgrading.

The problem is that we have a lot more people using Apple products and expecting Apple to be a miracle software provider - releasing software with no bugs.  This will never be the case. 

We all look forward to Apple releasing new software.  I updated my iMac to Lion immediately because I am prepared and accepting of there being bugs.  However I have not updated the family's computers, as they prefer to wait for later releases and less bugs.

Rensi,

Um, your post would be great if it inclued the step by step instructions that you received that fixed your problem.

Thanks ahead of time for your future post...

,,,,,still no solution! but Apple is making fool!

......ancora nessuna soluzione! ma che figuraccia sta facendo Apple!