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savvypavvy Author

Level 1

0 points

MacBook Pro Retina Display with External Monitor and WiFi

I have a new MacBook Pro with Retinal display. I am not able to connect my Dell monitor through DVI->Thunderbolt. When I do, the external display will not keep wifi. I had no issues with my old MacBook Pro. I know it is not the wifi, as my iPhone has no issue, nor do my other computers connecting to wifi. Thus, I have to either use my monitor or wifi, I cannot use both at the same time.

When I took my retina display Mac to the Genius Bar, they deleted a file that allowed me to connect my monitor while maintaining wifi. This solved the issue. However, when I restarted my Mac, I was not able to maintain wifi while connecting my monitor. Is this the solution for allowing me to use my external monitor and wifi at the same time? If so, where can I find this file for me to remove it in the future?

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Sep 4, 2012 7:48 PM

19 replies

sillyigt

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2013 3:52 PM in response to savvypavvy

I was having the same issue; when I had an external display plugged in my wifi performance turned to s**t. It turned out that my aftermarket Thunderbolt to DVI adapter wasn't propertly sheilded, after switching to an official (expensive) Apple adapter all is well...

m2guru

Level 1

9 points

Aug 24, 2013 4:00 PM in response to jzondor

It happens whether I have one or two monitors. Both are Apple®-brand Thunderbolt-DVI adapters.

Sep 11, 2013 12:07 AM in response to savvypavvy

Ohh My!

I have been frustrated by the slow WiFi since february this year when I got my Retina, and now after seing this thread... have simply changed the Thunderbolt port in which I plug my external monitor in - and my WiFi is back to what it should be.

Of the two ports on the left, if I plug the monitor into the port closer to the power (left) then I have slow WiFi... if I unplug, and plug it into the one next to the USB (right) then I have normal WiFi.

Really pathetic, but this solved the slow WiFi for me.

Some Technical details if this may be of use to apple/others...

- I have a apple thunderbolt --> DVI adaptor (not a fake one)

- I use it to plug in a Samsung SyncMaster B2430

- I usually always have an external usb hub plugged in (extension is long, so the items I have plugged into the hub are far away, so no interference from those devices.

- I changed my router (bought new one), changed ports, changed all settings that were advised on other sites, and nothign worked... as each time my external monitor was plugged in and it was slow, and I did not realize then that when it was fast... that the external monitor was not plugged in :S

Cheers!

Brad

osmcgraw

Level 1

0 points

Dec 25, 2013 9:43 AM in response to savvypavvy

Thanks a lot. This all of a sudden started happening. The wifi router must have rebooted and switched chanels and all of a sudden my MBP wasn't getting any wifi. Strangely and stupidly, the wifi icon at the top of the screen still showed full connectivity but the thing wouldn't even ping the router more than 10% of the time. With the thunderbolt display disconnected sitting in the exact same spot it would work perfectly. I changed the channel of the WIFI and it works perfectly now! Thanks!

MacBook Pro Retina Display with External Monitor and WiFi