Macbook Pro Retina issues with Wifi Speeds

etranger33 wrote:

I have one of the new Macbook Pro 15" Retina models and have been having issues with Wifi Speeds. Apple has replaced the computer but have the same issue with the new one. When doing a side-by-side comparison with older Macbook Pros and PC's I'm seeing around a 10 megabytes per second difference. Is anyone else experiencing the same issue?

Back to the original question. It seems as if you are running a dual band router with a computer that does not support dual band. The older computers by default are selecting 2.4ghz (single band) while you need to disable 5ghz (dual band) on your router.

Folks:

I've recently diagnosed a problem with the most recent MacBook Pro with Retina - both the 15" and the new 13" and I've got a work-around to the problem IF you manage your WiFi router.

My router, which I've used for years with tons of Apple products is a Zyxel X550N. It does 2.5GHz. If I go into the router settings and switch off the "Automatic channel negotiation (20MHz vs. 40MHz) so that it only uses a fixed 20MHz channel, then all of the WiFi issues go away. If I turn it back to automatic negotiation then they return.

So, at the moment, with it turned off, all is well.

Here's hoping you can use the same workaround. And here's hoping that Apple will FIX THIS BUG so that these machines can be truly portable to networks that we don't manage ourselves.

Yours:

Cyggy.

I have the same or similar problem. My new 13 inch Macbook Pro Retina displays extremely poor wifi performance. I am using it on my LAN with a dual band Time Capsule. I first noticed a problem when I tried to do a TimeMachine backup. Time Machine indicated that it would take 34,000 days to complete the backup. This seemed a little on the excessive side. I then noticed that when I tried to download a pdf file from the internet that the estimated download time was 23 minutes. On my MacPro I was able to download the file in less than one minute. The MBP Retina is in a room with an open door leading to the room where the Time Capsule is located about 25 feet away. I currently have the MBPR connected over the 5GHz band. I haven't tested it on the 2.4GHz band as of yet. But something is clearly amiss.

John

cyggy wrote:

Folks:

I've recently diagnosed a problem with the most recent MacBook Pro with Retina - both the 15" and the new 13" and I've got a work-around to the problem IF you manage your WiFi router.

My router, which I've used for years with tons of Apple products is a Zyxel X550N. It does 2.5GHz. If I go into the router settings and switch off the "Automatic channel negotiation (20MHz vs. 40MHz) so that it only uses a fixed 20MHz channel, then all of the WiFi issues go away. If I turn it back to automatic negotiation then they return.

So, at the moment, with it turned off, all is well.

Here's hoping you can use the same workaround. And here's hoping that Apple will FIX THIS BUG so that these machines can be truly portable to networks that we don't manage ourselves.

Yours:

Cyggy.

Fixed @40MHZ works great with mine as well. Also fixed channel instead of auto. 6 or 11 usually work best.

This seems to have improved the Wifi so far.. Hope Apple updates or pushes a patch for t

Thanks.

yes, almost every macbook pro has the same problem.

I'm wating to Apple to recall the macbook retinas and fix this fatal error, but this never gona happen...

our last hope is the eurpean union, please, fine apple!!

I'm having similar problems with my Pro Retina. Just got a new dual band router and all my other devices have switched seamlessly but I'm having significant networking issues on my laptop. My connection to the 2.4GHz network is very spotty and frequently drops. I'm having a bit more luck with the 5GhZ network but the range is actually quite poor. Are there any fixes for this?

Hey all,

I have also problems with the wifi but not with signal.. I stay connected but won't be loading pages or anything I disconnect reconnect and it work agian. GETS ME CRAZY!!!! I can't even see things on my apple TV smoothly.

I read all the post but its very techy... can one of the solutions wrote above work for me you think?

The internet works fine on an ipad.

Thanks!

I have had the same problem.

I own a late 2013 MacBook Pro with Retina Display and was struggling with wifi issues.

I think I've solved it.

The symptoms were always pointing towards my Airport Extreme (old, only one antenna); I had no troubles in my office or other wifi networks. Also, when switching the base station to a 5GHz only setting, it would work with no hitches.

Trying to trouble shoot it, I brought an old Linksys wifi router and set it up as a repeater of my main network (it has DD-WRT and I gave it the same SSID and password of my main network). This router is 802.11G only.

The thing is and this is where I start to get lost, the Linksys only worked like twice before it forgot all the settings. It sits unplugged besides the Airport Extreme BUT my MacBook has had no troubles connecting to my main network ever since. I believe it could be a plist or something that got modified in my Mac or something like that and it probably has something to do with it having an 802.11AC wifi card.

I would recommend anyone with this problem and similar setup (using an old Airport mostly in N+G setting or similar) and symptoms (only have problems in one network) to try using an old router (borrow one, buy one used for pennies, probably a good idea if it's a G only router) to see if it helps.

Also, if anyone has any idea how this might have fixed my issue or if it might only be a temporal fix to chime in and try to enlighten us.

I'll try to answer questions that arise concerning this "solution"

Regards