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copydeskcat Author

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Mac Mini dropping internet connection

Hi folks,

I've had a Mac Mini since January 2012.

It's a 2.5ghz with 8gb 1333 DDR.

I have a VirginMedia internet connection using a Belkin Superhub.

Initially, I was running Lion and the Mac worked a treat without any problems. Then I upgraded to Mountain Lion.

Shortly afterwards, I started getting internet drop-off on wifi roughly every hour or so. All access to the internet would cease for around 3-4 minutes - nothing would bring it back. I thought it was a wifi problem, so I purchased two D-Link 500 Powerline adaptors and moved to Ethernet (shutting down wifi). The problem persisted.

The problem does not occur on any other device in the house (I have two iPhone 5, two iPod Touches, a laptop, xBox, iPad and AppleTV). When it happens on the Mac, I can access the internet freely on all the other devices while the Mac sits frozen. I can perform any other activities on the Mac at the time, just not the internet.

The kind of message I was getting in Console referred to mdworker and "heartbeat detected".

I got Virgin out to test my connection, but the line is fine and my setup on the router is fine.

I set a dedicated IP address for the Mac on the router, and set the Mac to use DHCP with a specific IP address.

I set the router to filter the Mac via its Mac address. The problem persisted.

So, with five days of my warranty remaining, I took it to Apple and they tested it - but could not replicated the problem, so they assumed it was an environmental issue and sent me home with my Mac Mini.

As soon as I got home, the problem returned - losing the internet connection roughly once an hour for 3-4 minutes.

So, I reinstalled Mountain Lion. The problem persisted.

So, I wiped the drive and installed a fresh version of Mountain Lion. The problem persisted.

I took it back to Apple and they agreed to look at it again, even though I was now out of warranty. They couldn't replicate the problem.

They put me back to Lion and I took the Mac home. So far so good - the Mac seemed to be working fine.

Then, the problem returned - albeit in a slightly different fashion. I still get the internet freezing roughly every hour or so, but it's now for only about 20 seconds at a time.

When it happens now, I get this kind of message:

26/01/2013 12:30:44.923 com.apple.usbmuxd: _handle_timer heartbeat detected detach for device 0x54-192.168.0.14:0!

I thought it was perhaps Spotlight trying to index an external drive - but I've exluded the drive from being indexed, and it's still happening.

I'm convinced the Mac is faulty, but can't prove it - and Apple keep saying it's environmental.

Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? I would really appreciate some help.

Best,

CDC

Posted on Jan 26, 2013 5:59 AM

Best reply

BDAqua

Level 10

239,363 points

Posted on Jan 26, 2013 11:19 AM

com.apple.usbmuxd

What iDevices do you have around?

System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.

The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.

View in context

42 replies

copydeskcat Author

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Feb 3, 2013 11:46 AM in response to copydeskcat

Looks like the a0:21:b7:04:88:58 address is my Netgear four-port switch...

I wonder if it's the source of all my trouble?

copydeskcat Author

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Feb 3, 2013 11:55 AM in response to copydeskcat

The other one (c4:64:13:f9:ad:a9) is a Cisco product. I don't see it listed as a connected device, so I'm not sure what it is.

BDAqua

Level 10

239,363 points

Feb 3, 2013 12:15 PM in response to copydeskcat

What rights are on the folders above where that file should be?

Cisco could be a Linksys device!?

Switch could be causing it.

copydeskcat Author

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Feb 3, 2013 12:27 PM in response to BDAqua

Not sure I have any Linksys devices...

How do I check the permissions on the folder?

BDAqua

Level 10

239,363 points

Feb 4, 2013 11:32 AM in response to copydeskcat

Same way as a file, highlight it in the Finder & do a Get Info, CMD+i

copydeskcat Author

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Feb 4, 2013 4:21 PM in response to BDAqua

The "logs" Folder has read & write access.

What should it be?

BDAqua

Level 10

239,363 points

Feb 4, 2013 5:46 PM in response to copydeskcat

Seems OK there, I'm not sure what's up now!?

bauer172

Level 1

29 points

Feb 5, 2013 2:37 PM in response to BDAqua

Are you using USB 3, possibly for an external hard drive? I recently read that USB 3 can introduce interference with Bluetooth and Wifi. Searching I found that this happens to a number of people. Apple has a knowledgebase article (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5172#15). Also Intel has put out a whitepaper regarding this issue. Let us know if you are using a USB 3 device and if so then which one.

copydeskcat Author

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Feb 5, 2013 2:50 PM in response to bauer172

I do use a USB 3 hard drive, but it's been happening since before I got it - and, it happens on ethernet with wifi disabled.

I think it's my connection. The cable company are coming out on Fri. I'll keep you posted.

Feb 28, 2013 4:25 AM in response to copydeskcat

How did this ever turn out, by the way? I have a an iMAC (with OS X 10.7.5--Lion) and it always drops the WIFI connection. No other computer in the house or iPAD or iphone drops--just this computer. The Apple store tried to tell me it was my environment, but I moved and changed internet service providers to Verizon FIOS, and no, it's simply not the environment. I know there's a problem, but I've never been able to find a fix; yet, many people out on these boards have problems with it dropping the connection. BTW, at my old house, I had an older MAC (Tiger OS) and it never dropped the connection in the same "environment." I have come to conclude that this machine is 1) faulty 2) poorly designed Unfortuantely, this will be the last one I purchase, as this Mac cost me nearly 1500, and the only reason I paid that is because the previous generation was fantastic. Come on Apple, provide the fix that we all deserve. BTW, I don't believe this is a software issue, or Apple would provide a patch, and I've downloaded fixes of the OS. This is not a firmware problem either, likely, as I've downloaded firmware fixes too... so... it's a hardware issue in the Mac, more than likely, and no tuning, etc. will fix it.

copydeskcat Author

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Feb 28, 2013 5:38 AM in response to tiredofmyMACProblem

Okay... here's what I can tell you...

After months of trying to locate the problem on the Mac, it started happening with other devices on my network. So, last week, I got VirginMedia to come out again, and they replaced the router - but the problem persisted.

So... I went out and purchased a TP-Link 8-port router (£18) and an Airport Express (£80) at the weekend - and I haven't had a problem since.

I guess it was environmental after all.

Nov 25, 2015 6:15 AM in response to BDAqua

The re-ordering worked perfectly. Thanks.

Mac Mini dropping internet connection