Q: New Macbook Air - wifi connectivity problems

To be honest, my call was initially to return the unit.  I like it, but I could not stand the wifi problems.  I have an old Dlink router at home and the connection was getting dropped every ~30 secs.  I'll test it out on the road tomorrow, but if it works here now, I'm pretty sure it will work elsewhere (it worked like a charm at the Genius Bar, that's why they sent me home saying it "should be fixed" when they did nothing).  So I'm hopeful it's not a hardware defect but a software defect that got fixed with the patch!

I installed the update and, like everyone else, still have the problem.  It's just not as bad, but the drops are still very consistent, about every minute.  This is very noticeable when going down a google search and opening every link in a new tab.  The mba is unuseable in win8.  It will simply drop the wifi after about 20 seconds and never come back.  Have to turn wifi off/on to get it back for another 20 seconds. 

exactly my doubt....

You probably have a lossy WiFi connection with some ping drops. Hence the indication from diagnostics. If you dont look at diagnostics and everything is working, it means your connection is ok. You probably have a slightly poor LAN or WAN link ( happens a lot in 2.4 Ghz) but thats just how bad 2.4 Ghz is usually with all the interference

here is how you can verify it manually. In Terminal, ping your router. If you see no drops you are good. The issue is mostly a WAN side issue. Wireless Diags seems new in 10.8.4 so you just did not know about this on earlier 10.8.3 machines.

what wireless router do you have ? And have you tried using WiFi with any other router ? Tried taking it to an Apple Store ?

I took mine in to a Genius Bar for this issue before the update was released. They called in the serial number, and wanted to capture the unit, however, I didn't have a backup of my data nor another machine to use for work.

Before the update, I found that my machine could hold a connection at 5 Ghz, but not at 2.4 Ghz. Post supposed wifi update, I still have issues, albeit slightly less frequently.

I plan to buy a MacBook Air 13" (Haswell) in about a week. I am going to be in Japan at that time and the price there is almost half of what it is where I live. I am going to stay for 2 weeks near Tokyo (about 1 hour by bus) and it would be a pain (time and money) to have to go to the Apple store to have my laptop inspected or changed. Please, continue posting your experience with the update, so I can make a decision: to buy, or not to buy...

PS: This would be my first Mac

Mine is a 2012 model. It worked fine for a year and then started to have drop-outs & no end of hassle. That makes me think it is related to OSX updates. It certainly isn't confined to 2013 models. It doesn't make it easier to accept or live with that I had 12 months use from the computer - I'm thinking about returning it anyway. Very, very disappointed.

I use a Netgear WNDR4700 (100% up to date on firmware) and use the 5ghz bandwidth with wpa2/aes security.  Everything else that connects to this router is fine and doesn't experience drops.  If I have to take it to an apple store, it will be to return it...  It is a custom i7/8/256 and can't be traded in. 

Signed in to report that I still have the WiFi problem after the update too. MBA 13" 2013, 8GB, 512GB.

Works fine with my 2013 2GB Time Machine. Drops the connection with two of the other WiFi services I use outside of home.

You Guys (with macbook air 2013) have the new software update for this issue. Did you tried it? (I have an 2012 MID, it is looks like too old, because Apple doesn't care about that...) :(((((

Yes. We've installed the update. It didn't fix the issue. So we're annoyed that we bought a brand new product that doesn't work as every other laptop (Apple or otherwise) in the exact same place with the exact same network.

Hopefully they will fix it before rMBP comes out, to avoid more and more disappointed users

You have a different problem mate

Just buy it, the issue resolved. People still have issue is most likely with their settings not with the air. In the apple store they make sure you have the update installed, so nothing to be worried about...