Wifi connection droppings, non- and working configurations
Hi,
There are a number of wifi dropping discussions within MBP area, but I also noticed people having the same issues with MBA. Other wifi devices (like Iphone, ipad, other laptop/desktops) do not seem to have any issues what so ever. What's the deal? Some people (like myself) had/have problems with wifi connections dropping. Sometimes you have a connection and suddenly you don't, or a very, very slow connection. The Apple support desk gives a number of resolutions, like deleting wifi config files, creating a new connection/location, hard reset, turning off IPv6 and so on. For me an some others this is not a fix. Once again, other wifi devices (Apple and non Apple) connected to the same router do not have this problem.
The issue seems to be a conflict between the MBP/MBA with the router used. Whether this is a MBP/MBA software (OS) and or hardware issue is still debatable, since no actual root cause has been found so far.
It seems that some routers have this problems, while others are working fine. So, I copy/paste the known problem and working configurations from this discussion into this one, hoping some Apple official does something useful with it, like finding the root cause and coming up with a permanent fix.
Please feel free to only add your found problem and working configurations. If you want to discuss your issues, put it in the other discussion topic. If you mention your router, please add the type and link it to a product information sheet found on the web. I sincerely hopes this help finding out any consistency why MBP/MBA have conflicts some routers.
Example, the MBP 2011 - 13inch is mine and I had this problem straight away, out of the box. Changing it for another did not help.
Configuration with WIFI connection drops (so problem configurations):
Apple product: MBP 2011 - 13inch - default configuration (shop)
OS version tested: Snow Leopard 10.6.7 and Lion
Router: Sweex LW-055
Apple product: MBP 2010 - 15inch - default configuration (shop)
OS version tested: Snow Leopard 10.6.X
Router: DIR-655 (include link to product information if you can find it)
Succesful configuration:
Apple product: MBP 2011 - 13inch - default configuration (shop)
OS version tested: Lion
Router: Airport Express 2008
Apple product: MBP 2010 - 15inch - default configuration (shop)
OS version tested: Snow Leopard 10.6.X (Since I can get a stable connection for a couple of days-weeks before it drops off again) (Not important here, but WiFi works with iPhone iOS 4.X, Windows Vista and XP, Sony XMB (PS3), Ubuntu, Android and so forth.)
Router: DIR-655
Apple product: MBP 2009 - 15inch - default configuration (shop)
OS version tested: Leopard 10.5.X and Snow Leopard 10.6.8
Router: DIR-655
Apple product: MBP 2010 - 15inch - default configuration (shop)
OS version tested: Snow Leopard 10.6.X
Router: WGT624
Apple product: MBP 2010 - 15inch - default configuration (shop)
OS version tested: Snow Leopard 10.6.X
Router: WNR3500L
Apple product: MBP 2010 - 15inch - default configuration (shop)
OS version tested: Snow Leopard 10.6.X
Router: DIR-301
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7), WIFI connection droppings