New Macbook Air - wifi connectivity problems

What router are you using ? Please list the firmware version too and check if you have the latest updates.

It would help if all of you guys always posted your router make/model so anyone else who came to this thread can check if there is an issue with any one brand of routers. Just a suggestion 🙂

That doesn't sound right. Can you post a screenshot ? When i use it, as long as WiFi is turned on, the Continue button is always enabled and I can gather logs.

Mine are:

Cisco WAP4410N with 2.0.6.1

Linksys WRT54GL with 4.30.16

Linksys WAG160Nv2 with 2.00.20

So all of them have the newest firmware, all of them are 2.4GHz, and I have problems not only with G but also with N.

So far, the only thing I have not had an issue with is using my MacBook Pro with Internet Sharing on, that shares an 802.11n 2.4ghz network.

My n router defaults back to g because it is old and some g devices connect to it. Out of curiosity, Hijej, do you see PHY Mode 802.11n or 802.11g when you option click the wifi icon?

My other network is aso 802.11n, but it reverts to g when I connect.

Just got my new Haswell Macbook Air 13" yesterday, having the same problems as everyone else. This is my 3rd Air and I've never had any wifi issues in the past.

At different hotspots (2.4GHz most likely), wifi signal drops constantly (between 10 seconds and 20 min).

At home (5GHz, Airport Express, latest firmware 7.6.3), wifi signal drops rarely.

Extremely annoying since I am constantly out-and-about and rarely home during work hours. I used Migration Assistant from my previous 2012 Macbook Air.

I would go to the Genius Bar and perhaps get a new system, but I got the CPU upgrade so I don't think they have those models readily available.

I really hope Apple releases a firmware update for the new wireless chipset soon, because this is a dealbreaker.

gmc74: PHY mode is 802.11n and router is set to "N Only"

That is a bummer, I am giving this until the end of the week, then I am returning it. It seems to work fine with other Apple hardware, but the world doesn't use other apple hardware, like the hotel I will be at next week...

Same problems as everyone above.

Router

Netgear N WNDR3300 (Firmware up to date)

Multiple devices all working fine. Sitting here onlline on iMac with new MBA next to me on same network. iMac never loses connection (neither does my wifes MacBook, kids Nexus's multiple iPhones, iPad, AppleTV, etc...).

gmc74 : Did that Apple developer told you anything about that?

And probably how long it will take them to produce fix?

Or to discover it's hardware problem.

Apple, have you anything to tell us?

I can chime in here..

I decided to make an appointment and head over to see my local genius.

Gave him the scoop and he indicated there was a few things he could try, and agreed that since it was working great in the store, that is wasn't likely hardware related. So he looked over a few things and explained about a file that kept info on wifi connections and by deleting it, the mba would create a new file instead of refering to an old, possibly corrupt file.. I think it is in : Macintosh HD > Library > Preferences...file called SystemConfiguration ... I'm 95% sure that's it, but not 100%, so please research before deleting.... he went on to say that over the years there hes' found that deleting that file solves many if not most issues... and if that wasn't it, to come back and they'd 'try more', all the while keeping a log of issues so there was a track record.... he seemed to know what he was talking about and I didn't want to spend all day there....While there, I asked about the airport extreme and a bunch of related network questions with hooking one of those into the network. He told me I shouldn't need to buy that to get the MBA working right, but that it would solve the problem and had other benefits (discrete 5Mgz network for one, plus remote printer etc etc etc..)

So I bought one... came home.. no luck on the "fix" he tried... same old thing. Hung up w/in 60 seconds.

So, I unboxed, installed and set up a new network w/ 5Ghz option and i've been online ever since.. yes, it costs $200 and no, I don't think it should be required. It's absurd that they don't have a better handle on this issue... but I kind of like the idea of having a seperate network that I use and it does seem to be a stronger signal through the house....

I don't think I've solved anyone elses issue, so sorry for that. But you could try deleting that file, see if it works and a least when you eventually get to see/talk to apple, you can say you tried that. And, you can decide if you're willing to drop another $200 to solve the issue for good...there are surely cheaper options there too, but I was there and I'm a sucker for white roundish slick looking well boxed eletctronics with a promise of an easier IT life...

I'll keep trying on the 'other network' and update if I figure anything out and keep looking here for ideas.

No, I got an email that said they would look at it and get back to me.

I wouldn't anticipate Apple responding to anything in here, that isn't there style.

This confirms what I have been finding.

If the MBA is connected to Apple hardware (Airport Extreme, Express or a Mac with Internet Sharing turned on) it has no issues. If it is connected to another router, it does.

Buying the Airport Extreme solves your issue at home, until you take it to a hotel or another location. Then you have the same issue again.

i went into the apple store today. and of course my wireless worked great.

the genius i talked to told me he was happy to exchange the computer, but like a lot of the people on here, i also upgraded the computer when I ordered it online, and even if i did get a new macbook air with the same specifications, i would run into this same issue.

i told him that i couldn't believe that they would release a computer that is designed to be extremely portable that wouldn't work with every type of wireless router.

i'm hoping they will develop a fix for this. for now i bought the ethernet adapter. contemplating returning everything and getting a macbook pro instead. i've waited almost five years to buy a new laptop. it should be able to work wherever i need to take it. this is ridiculous.

@gmc74,

That's a good point. For some reason I'm thinking that they work on 'most' networks (the've sold a pantload of these things and I haven't heard of a ton of issues. My wife has a mid 11 MBA and it works great on the same network... I'm going to start trying this thing around on as many other networks as I can in the next week, before my return envelope passes. If i'm going to have trouble taking it on the road, that won't work. I'll spend the next 5 days or so bringing it with and try as many remote networks and see what I find.

The only down side to that is it can take up to 6 hours before mine has an issue, so you may not see many issues.

If you don't travel often, it probably will be fixed before you have an issue. I am on the road next week, so I am returning it Sunday if it isn't resolved before hand. I will then just wait for them to fix it, and buy it again. I figure I can wait a few more weeks 🙂