Q: New MacBook Air Wireless Problems

I have a 2011 Macbook Air with Lion. I also have a 2010 Macbook. I am running a Lynksis Router Dual Band with WPA Encryption. The Macbook has no problem running wifi in the 5ghz band, but the Macbook Air doesn't even find it, unless I am within 15 feet from router. Right now, I am about 40 feet from the router, within line of sight, and the Macbook Air only finds the 2ghz band. The Macbook, which also has Lion, is sitting right next to me using the 5ghz band with no problems. I am a little disappointed considering I thought this computer was an upgrade to the Macbook.

Any thoughts on how to fix this problem, please let me know. I hope Apple comes out with a Software Update to fix this problem.

I called the Apple Support line today and brought it to their attention. Maybe if enough people call, they will make a patch or update to fix the issue. Please everyone, call.

Pj Morris

I am also having the same issues, but only with this MBA 13" that I purchased in Oct11,  I have a MBA 11" that I had used for 6 months and passed to an employee and it never had an issue, and like several posters I have iPad1, iPad2, several iPhone's and iMac and a 15" MBP that all work fine.  After conducting side by side tests I took the unit into the Apple store and they said they would replace the airport express card, I went back and they said they did not need to do that they just did a software fix, (wiped network settings and reset, which I had already done unsuccessfully.) I tested the unit at the store and it failed to connect and so complained that the problem was the same, they took it back to the tech and they wanted to do some other software wipe and reset that would take a few hours, so I left and came back.  Tested at the store again, and again it failed.  I looked at the guy and said, um, do you check to see if what you do actually works?  They said they would now change the airport card, which they did and I picked it up the next day: today.  And guess what...Still does not work.  So if any of you find a solution, it will be celebrated, and maybe Apple will give you a job, because their techs are not doing it.  (And according to another post, they are not allowed to look at these posts???)

I had the same problem for a long time with 2 different Macbook Air laptops (both Late 2010 models).

The issue couldn't be solved by Apple and in the first case they agreed to give me a new 2011 model to replace the old one. And in another case they told me to take the laptop to a dealer where the whole logic board was replaced.

I'm not sure if the new 2011 model worked well as I sold it right after it arrived, but the another one (with brand new logic board) has been ok ever since.

I think you that all of you with the same problem should get a MBA or a new logic board. I'm pretty sure that nothing else helps. In my case we (me and Apple support)  tried every possible software fix without any luck.

This is a hardware problem.

Thanks Pekkis234,

I also thought that this was hardware and I have had both the logic board and the airport card replaced.

My unit does now perform better, but it has a real range issue.  Unless I am within 3 meters of my wireless router, it drops off very quickly.

I have several other mac machines that perform beautifully and it makes this seem extra terrible, as I suddenly feel like I have PC again.

I will point out that even after 5 runs with the apple techs they still had not loaded the current version of Lion, which shocks me. 

And one final point, this is the first unit I have bought directly from the apple store.  All the rest I have bought through a long time apple dealer, and never before have I felt the service was poor.  The apple store was a mistake that I made out of convenience, i went to the closer location, but I won't do so again,  In Edmonton, Westworld has always looked after my personal and business computers and when problems arose, it was never the hassle I have faced with the store.  They are faster, more skilled and when things go wrong, they one up you and you leave feeling great.  With the store, I had a young guy, look at me, tell me he had been watching the whole thing and how bad it was and when I asked him, how about a credit or something for all the timeyou wasted for me...he smiles and says sorry.

Not the way I like to do business.  Sorry Westworld, it won't happen again.

Yep, Apple Customer experience has gotten worse  rapidly during the

last year or two. I guess it has to have something to do with the

rapidly increasing numbers of Apple users. But it will be a way to

destruction, since the customer care has always been one on the main

reasons to stay with Apple during the last 10 years.

I am WAY late to this party but have this same problem. 3 Macbooks in the house and my Air is the only one with wi-fi issues. Has anyone tried changing security from WEP to WPA?  I have WEP at home and can't keep a connnection. At work, I have WPA and never seem to have a problem.

I've got a fix! - All you do is upgrade to the latest OS X (10.7.4).  Did that yesterday and problem solved!!  I've been having this issue since I bough this MBA last year.  Tried everything and suddenly...  Thanks Apple, better late than never, I guess...

You have all described my problem perfectly.  Macbook Air 11", ipad2, iMac and PC all on my linksys (wrt 54g) network.  MBA consistently drops wireless signal as does ipad2.  Local Apple store cleansed wireless link software on MBA and no change in performance.  I am running 10.7.4 on MBA so that is NOT the soultion for me. Also running latest on ipad2 and 10.6.8 on iMac.  My only solution (reliable but tedious) is to run upstairs, unplug the wireless router, wait a few seconds, plug it back in and then run back down stairs to a renewed connection on my MBA - whew! 

For me there are several variables to this whole issue (starting at the cable and going to my computer):

1. My cable service;

2. My cable modem;

3. My linksys router;

4. The wireless link on my linksys router;

5. My MBA wireless card (or ipad2 wireless or iMac wireless or PC wireless);

6. My MBA or my ipad2.

I'm pretty sure that (1) and (2) and (3) are not the problem since my hardwire connections do not drop signal.  So that leaves (4,5,6).  But my iMac when on wireless does not drop the link nor does the PC.  So, that maybe eliminates (4).  My MBA and my ipad2 both share the same problem in that they are typically 10' to 30' distant from the wireless router (the PC and iMac are closer <10').  So, it is either a distance problem or a wireless card issue with the MBA or the ipad2 (the MBA and ipad2 themselves don't show any other. problems).  Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.