Mac Pro Constantly Losing Wireless Connectivity

Hi Carolyn,

Yeah Ive spent on and off 12 months reading forums and searching the web for a solution.

Its not a propblem just with OSX Lion... I only just got Lion one month ago and its been doing the same problems for well over 12 months! (I was on Leopard prior to Lion) Still same problems so cant be the OS systems fault

Also no offence but I've tried all those "attempts" at troubleshooting in the links you've given (also stated in my original post I've tried most). I need a definitive answer on the problem, not a temp solution until it drops out 15 minutes later.

Read both those topics already in the past.....

Troubleshooting Wi-Fi issues in OS X Lion and Mac OS X v10.6 <--- baloney (a person with basic understanding of computers would know already to try those troubleshooting tips). none worked

WiFi Dropping in OS X Lion? Here are Some Wireless Troubleshooting Solutions <--- baloney

Basic WiFi Troubleshooting

- Turn wireless on & off <--- temp fix, problem still happens after next time network is idle and looses connectivity

- Reboot the Mac <--- temp fix, problem still happens after next time network is idle and looses connectivity

- Reset the Router <--- temp fix, problem still happens after next time network is idle and looses connectivity

More Advanced WiFi Troubleshooting Tips <--- none work, still have problems (general knowledge/google solutions which I've already tried)

Another Idea: Maintaining Data Transfer <--- I SHOULDNT have to ping a site to keep a steady network/wifi connection (absolute cop out solutions!!!)

I've just tried http://osxdaily.com/2011/11/06/lion-wi-fi-problems-solution-mac (Page title - resolve OS X Lion Wi-Fi connection problems )

and going to see if that has a fix on the problem. I'm downloading some files for the next 6 hours so can't be sure until I have a period of idle internet to see if the connectivity drops out.

I will post a comment here in the next 24-48 hours to see if it worked (hopefully its not just a crappy temp fix like most help pages)

Thanks

Quinn

An update on trying http://osxdaily.com/2011/11/06/lion-wi-fi-problems-solution-mac (Page title - resolve OS X Lion Wi-Fi connection problems )

Was ok for about 10 hours (I was downloading somethings during that time) but when the transfer stopped, the connectivity dropped out.

So that didnt work

Message was edited by: quinndagit

Hi Grant Bennet-Alder,

what program do you recommend to use? do you have a link or a name I can google?

My PC laptop never has any connectivity problems (always connected), so would this stumbler remedy the problem for my mac's airport extreme?

Let me know the details on a program to use and also what I need to do with it.

Thanks again! (I like your answer as I hadnt seen this solution anywhere before and I was tired of people recommending me generic solutions or common knowledge tips)

Peter 🙂

additional post... (it wouldnt let me edit the previous post)

Hey Grant Bennet-Alder, I found a program istumbler.

not sure what you wanted me to find out or do with the program.

here's some screens of each of my drop outs in the last hour

wifi drop out 1

http://i.imgur.com/emI60.png

wifi dropped out during a speedtest

http://i.imgur.com/aPutt.png

wifi dropped out during a speedtest 2

http://i.imgur.com/YMRCo.png

wifi reconnected after off and on trick but still problems

http://i.imgur.com/YwM8Y.png

Message was edited by: quinndagit

Which keep-alive "fix" are you talking about? You meant turning off n on my wireless modem router? I've done it before as a temporary fix for my connectivity but never really checked if it changed channels.

I just tried turning off and on my modem and checked to see if it moved it to a channel that is less busy, but it is still on channel 6.

I am now trying to load up the settings on my router http://xxx.xxx.2.1/ but for some reason its not accepting my password (I've been entering the same password it asks me when I need to log onto my wifi but no luck)

I've looked through all my networking paperwork but no luck. I think I need to call up Belkin or maybe manually reset everything to its factory settings to make a new password 😟 😟

But is that what you suggest? Would using channel 11 be a definite fix?

-------------------------------------------

Message was edited by: quinndagit

(edit...) lol I read somewhere the password should be blank. Tried a blank password and still nothing. Tried a blank password on another browser (google chrome) and I'm in! 🙂 🙂

Grrrrrr (It wouldnt let me edit my last post again)

I changed my channel to 11 like you said but it is still at a low signal strength

(screen of my page showing istumbler/activity monitor network details) http://i.imgur.com/OBGR0.jpg

Still around 20-30% strength.

My computer is upstairs and one room across from my kitchen (where my wireless modem/router is)

The other signals are from my neighbours where live in houses about 15-25 metres away

Yeah its been sitting around 20%. Around abouts the same %'s as the other devices.

The http://i.imgur.com/OBGR0.jpg link works fine for me. (try open in new tab)

I'll try a different image host next time.

Here's another window cap of the devices and %'s http://lookpic.com/O/i2/465/0Lf5ywWr.png

I havent had a drop out yet since changing the channel to 11 but this is because I'm ftp'ing a GB of files

I'll wait and see if there's any more drop outs in the next 24-48 hours

Thanks

Peter

So its been a couple of days to see how it went.

I waited to see how "changing the channel" worked out for me but I still got drop-outs whenever my computer/browser wasnt doing anything (ie - surfing the web, or down/uploading) or my computer was idle and came back to it (click on one website and then it drops out even though I look at my network history and it says it was connected (down/uploading) while I was away)

So to summarise, the channel change did not work. Thank you anyway Grant Bennet-Alder as it was an answer I had not read about before and thought it might have worked 🙂

I disagree. My router should not be the problem as my PC laptop works fine and never has the loss in connectivity!!!!!!!!!!!!!

25 metres is pretty far away. This is not houses like in America or apartments, its residential (Australian size blocks of land)

How should my router be effecting the connectivity drop outs?

Its the highest quality Belkin N Wireless Router (802.11n). I totally disagree with buying a new router to see the problem the same and having to disconnect/connect my airport/wifi each time I get a drop out (As I'm writing this I get the same drop outs and keep having to dis/re-connect to keep it stable)

By having a router which can scan a greater distance would be even more of a problem as it would pick up on more signals!

Is there any problems with the Mac Pro Airport Extreme card? There's so many of the same symptoms around the net with the MacBook Pro but no definitive answers or solutions!!! arrgghhhhh

Message was edited by: quinndagit