New Macbook Air - wifi connectivity problems

Hmm.....good question as to whether or not a software hack might help. I am in hopes that if this turns into a hardware/software issue that Apple will replace the computer for a new one after they have corrected the problem and are for sure producing Airs that work. A lot of people I know who bought a non-custom made Air got the first one replaced and when the second one had the same problems they returned it for full refund with plans to buy when the Air is fixed. So I don't think it is just a problem for the custom made Airs. My custom made got replaced and the second one started dropping WiFi right out of the box. Updating the firmware and changing the router channel to WPA-2 has helped so now it only drops WiFi maybe once or twice a day instead of every 5 minutes. But outside of my house it hasn't been able to stay connected at a few places I've taken it to that offer free WiFi. I'll be interested in hearing your report after you take your Air on the road and test it at your parents and other places.

13"/i5/4G/128G

I got this Wifi issue as well. It appears to be better after reboot. According to all the discussion, the root of this problem seems to be the iOS rather than the hardware. I hope APPLE can offer update ASAP!

Not really OS related. The issue happens in Windows 8 too. They have to fix the driver.

The temporary fix they provided (WPA2) works in my home wifi, but outside, its not going to work everywhere. My 14 day return period is ending on Monday. Not sure if I should wait or return.

I have spend to much time in seting up windows 8 via bootcamp and also installing other software. I dont want to go through all that again with a new machine which could have the same wifi issue too. I am going to ask the apple senior specialist I am in touch with to see if my return period can be extended as I am still testing the wifi issue.

Can you try Windows 7 ? People using Win7 appear to have a working wifi

Nope. I dont have a mac with Win 7.

I'd be interested to know if they are willing to extend the length of time for a full refund. Having a custom made Air I am not eligible for a refund. I was able to return my first Air with problems and my current one was configured and shipped out to me mid June. When it had the same issues right out of the box, the Apple tech I am working with informed me that Apple had acknowledged there was a problem and were working on it, so it would not be an option to return my second Air for a new replacement! Thus the temporary WPA-2 channel that has been a partial fix as long as I am in my house. If I could have returned it for a full refund and waited until all of these issues were in the past for the new MBA, I would do it in a heartbeat! I am uneasy that even after they find a fix I may be stuck with an Air that is not able to function as well as the ones that are produced later when they get it right.

Make a Linux live USB or CD, boot into it and do a complete backup of the SSD to a USB HDD using dd. That way you can recreate it exactly after getting a new one, including Boot Camp and whatnot.

Till then, I've now had some time to test my old Linksys WRT54G router running DD-WRT, and there're also no connection problems with that one. If anything, this new Air seems to connect faster to any of the routers I have access to. Still have to roadtest it though 😉

But my worries before purchasing so for are put to shame. While following this thread, I got the impression that this was an issue with every Air out there, and that it wasn't more attended to only because most people wouldn't notice it, having fairly new routers defaulting to WPA2. Now, after receiving mine, I'm not so sure. I'm thinking now I may have been blinded by following this thread, thinking it must be a software issue, but now I'm really starting to think it's a hardware issue with a limited number of victims.

Realistically, how many people have posted on this thread? 20? 30? If I had a wifi issue today and had any possiblity of returning that Air to Apple, I'd do it right away.

PS: I just FileVault encrypted my entire drive (500GB model). I took half an hour, and Activity Monitor showed "Activity Monitor" as the process using the most CPU. Holy crap that's efficient. Thumbs up for Intels' AES-NI and for Apple's developers for knowing how to exploit it properly.

I have tested my new air a few weeks now. been in a few environment where it was working. tested with 2 windows version too. I have found if the wifi is in actually constantly use it does not drop. surfing is not constant usage. Encription is not seems to have too much effect on it, but giving more priority in service order has positive affect.

I have done two more things makes it better. If I connect it to power and don't let it to go to sleep it is more stable. on the top of it I have a jabber client running in messages, and while that is connected no drops at all. Internet radio also works just fine, since that is constantly usin wifi. That indicates to me, no hardware issue here. frimware issue most likely(that is software too 🙂), rather then driver since all 3 OS I have tried had the same issue. my theory is supported by many of others experience.

so if you want to use the air with less problem here are the steps I have done:

1. created new location

2. have set wifi in service priority to the top

3. didn't let the wifi stop (jabber client/internet radio in my case, but network diag was woking also to me and others too)

4. I don't let the air to go to sleep

this is not a solution, but makes it working.

To me it looks like all hw has the issue, but because of different swares running in the background some don't experiencing it that often or at all.

Have fun

I have the wifi issue. Returned it today, got a new one and still the same problem.

did anybody try the just released update

(via AppStore update) or here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1672

The software update is out, and I trust it will work as well as (mumble mumble NDA)

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1672

Chris

Trying it right now. Changed my router settings to WPA2/TKIP from WPA2/AES. It used to always disconnect me every 1-2 minutes with WPA2/TKIP. Its been 10 minutes and no disconnects! Super excited! Will post if something changes.

Just updated... Ill try to run a torrent and browse. Standby...

Still working great, dropbox download + youtube HD.