Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Macbook Pro w/ Retina Display Issues with Wifi with Bluetooth.

I have a Macbook Pro with Retina Display, 2.3 Ghz model. I've noticed that while on wifi, when I use a bluetooth mouse or even turn on bluetooth on my computer, the wifi performance severely decreases for a short period of time. While using a bluetooth mouse the wifi intermittently fails and I need to shut off wifi and turn it back on to correct the issue.


Using the ping utility on terminal I have confirmed this in that when bluetooth is turned on, a large number of packets are lost for about ten seconds.


Has anyone else been experiencing this problem and is this an issue I can correct myself or should I contact Apple?


Thanks

MacBook Pro with Retina display, Mac OS X (10.7.4), 2.3 Ghz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD

Posted on Jul 8, 2012 9:01 AM

Reply
20 replies

Jul 21, 2012 1:36 PM in response to Shootist007

Do you guys have a dual band wireless router that you can test your MBPr with ? If you hold down the option key and click on the WiFI Menu Extra, note down the channel number. (If this is between channe 1 and 11, then you are on the 2.4 Ghz network).


Bluetooth should only affect 2.4 Ghz, so if you have a dual band router and you use the 5 Ghz network to connect your WiFi network, you should not see this issue happening anymore.


But if you do see the issue when using a 5 Ghz network too, then this has nothing to do with Bluetooth.

Jul 21, 2012 3:49 PM in response to wifiguru

wifiguru wrote:



But if you do see the issue when using a 5 Ghz network too, then this has nothing to do with Bluetooth.

What do you mean, "Then it has nothing to do with Bluetooth"?


It is only when BT is turned on that this problem happens. So why would BT have nothing to do with it in the 5Ghz range IF when BT is turned on it happens and when it is turned off it doesn't. That tell me it has Something to do with BT.

Jul 21, 2012 4:31 PM in response to Willchoy

I agree but the way he stated it is that if you switch the router to 5Ghz only and the Mac WiFi connects at 5GHz and then you turn BT on and still have the problem "It has nothing to do with BT". I Disagree with that assumption.


Also I don't think it has anything to do with the band you are using. I think it is because both the WiFi & BT cards are one in the same, On the same card in the computer. And the antenna wires all connect in the same place and run along the same paths to the antennas.


You are right it is worth a shot and Good Luck. But that does not fix the problem for those not running a N router or the real problem of the interference.

Willchoy wrote:


He's saying if you switch Wifi on RMBP to 5ghz channel the signal won't interfere as bluetooth is on 2.4ghz channel, meaning that you shouldn't have the problem. I totally agree with wifiguru.


Definently give that a shot.



Will🙂

Sep 3, 2012 8:58 AM in response to cxu

I have the same issue with my macbook pro with retina display. I have 2 macbook pros. I never would of thought that a bluetooth signal was interfering with both of them. I had a gateway wireless router that only had 2.4 Ghz 802.11 b/g, which is the same frequency of bluetooth. I know that bluetooth bounces from channel to channel, whereas wifi sticks to one constant channel (normally). I have reinstalled my mac twice, thinking that somehow my drivers were corrupted. This was false becuase everytime I reinstalled it did the same thing, Act fine for 5-10 minutes and randomly the internet connection would freeze up all together for 10-20 seconds. I have also tried contacting apple multiple times and they tried to do a smc and pram reset. They also tried to get rid of my chaches in my computer. It all seemed to be fine, and then when I got off the phone it would act us once more.

I have read numerous articles to try and fix the situation; one of them was to try change the location of the network and change the MTU size. No help. I called At&T (my internet provider) and got a new router and that did work for a while. But eventually acted up again. The router was still 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g. I read this article and found out that my Magic Mouse might be causing the issue. Turns out to be true. Everytime I would browser the internet or browse the itunes store and it would freeze, i would immediatly turn the bluetooth off and what do you know, it works!!! This is a huge dissapointment in apple however. It seems to be only a macbook pro w/ retina display issue. My other macbook pro only acts up when i'm using my newer one (something is wrong with the bluetooth and wifi in the retina for the 2.4 ghz frequencies.

I just got a Airport express, and have not experienced this issue what so ever. This is due to the fact that it is a dual band wireless router. It supports 2.4Ghz and 5 Ghz both at 802.11 a/b/g/n which is a major improvement compared to what I had. I use the 5Ghz frequency and have no issues still.

This is still an issue however because if I want to go out and use anothers persons wifi, I can't control their frequency. So I will still have this issue. 😟😟

Sep 3, 2012 9:14 AM in response to kusch653

I returned it after having it over a month, so you shouldn't have any problems. You just need to make sure you're firm with them that what you're experiencing is completely unnacceptable for paying as much as you did for a computer. Depending on whether you bought it at a store or online. If you purchased it at a store and the have the same one, they could give you a new one right there. If online, which is where I got mine, I received one within a week of returning my old one.

Macbook Pro w/ Retina Display Issues with Wifi with Bluetooth.

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.