upgraded to mountain lion and wifi keeps dropping

Upgraded to Mountain lion earlier today and wifi drops every 30 minutes

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Jul 26, 2012 12:49 PM

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234 replies

Oct 16, 2012 2:47 PM in response to Jerney Jim

Which router are you using ? Have you checked if there is a firmware update for your router ? Have you tried using the 5 Ghz band for wireless ? Try finding a cleaner channel if you are using 2.4 Ghz and switch to that channel. Try using 8.8.8.8 for your DNS Server. Delete all the items in your Preferred Network List and then reboot, re-join your network and check if the issue reproduces.


If after all this the issue still reproduces, then call AppleCare and report it to them.

Oct 16, 2012 4:29 PM in response to wifiguru

Thanks, but that doesn't explain why my MacBook works fine (also running Mountain Lion with no changes to any settings including DNS entries). I'm not sure if the DNS entries I was told to enter actually helped solve the issue. The Apple tech guy said he had told me to change many different settings at once to eliminate all possible causes for the dropouts to save me having to keep calling back. The DNS entries I changed may only have been some sort of safeguard. I suppose I could try deleting them to see if it makes any difference but I am reluctant to fiddle with this machine now because it has worked perfectly since I called tech support.


Also, for other people still having this problem, your machine may be out of warranty but if you tell them you have upgraded to ML you get free software tech support for 90 days. At least that's what happens here in the UK. Even the phone calls are free so you have nothing to lose.

Oct 18, 2012 6:52 AM in response to Mr harley

Hi everybody,


I quickly clicked through the thread and didn't see any mention of this, so figured I'd let you know what (seemed to) fix it for me.


My Macbook Air was dropping network connection constantly, so the internet was basically unusable.


FIX: I went to System Preferences > Network, and unchecked "Ask to join new networks".


Boom, browsing was back. Watched some Netflix. Joy.


I read this somewhere in a post from like 3 years ago; apparently there was a bug that made it constantly be scanning and asking for new networks, even if it was connected successfully to mine.


Hope this helps somebody.

Oct 19, 2012 12:40 AM in response to jackflint

Hi Jack, the only solution I've found that works is to change your router settings to WPA2, then clear out Wifi settings on iMac and set new wifi connection to use WPA2 also.

Since then (Oct 4) I've had no drop outs and I've been using my iMac a lot in that time.

I tried lots of the other suggested fixes and they usually work for a while and then wifi drops out and back to usual rubbish.

Here's more details - http://www.patwalsh.co.uk/osx-mountain-lionwifi-issue-finally-a-solution/

Oct 19, 2012 1:14 PM in response to barcapat

i confirm the report of barcapat. WPA2 and reset of settings are key.


It remains a major problem because you are not meant to ask network administrators to grade their me because you upgrade to mountain Lion! But if you are ready to drop WEP and all your devices that are not WPA2-compatible (including potentially your router) then you have a work around for your Apple upgraded OS.


I still have regular "slow down" for which a reboot is required, but no more drop out.

Oct 24, 2012 12:03 AM in response to barcapat

Thanks. I can confirm that changing my router security to WPA seems to have finally cured this problem. My router is old and is not WPA2 compatible (only WPA). I also have an old PC running Win XP for the kids and that is not WPA2 compatible either. Thankfully, changing the router to WPA has done the trick. I am still furious with Apple for not highlighting this problem, they must surely know about it all.

Oct 24, 2012 1:20 AM in response to jackflint

1.Go to mac hd/library --> locate Prefences folder then locate the SystemConfiguration folder and place this on desktop.

2.Shut down mac and do a SMC RESET ( http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964?viewlocale=en_US )


3. start mac up , go to your desktop and click on the apple on the top of your screen go to system prefences and go to network


4.underneath the white field on the left you select wifi and underneath you see a + a - and a little flower thingie, click on the flower thingie and select set order device. Drag wi-fi to the top and press ok .


5. Click on advanced now and delete all preferred networks then go to the next tab which is called TCP/IP, click this and renew dhcp-lease then click apply and ok.


6.Go to the spotlight and type in keychain passwords , open it and select password on the left side of your screen , delete all airportnetwork passwords.


7. go back to system prefences network and go to assist me , then diagnostics , setup network enter password and save password in keychain


8.test it put it to sleep , restart --> see if works , otherwise call AppleCare.



Cameron.

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upgraded to mountain lion and wifi keeps dropping

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