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Why does my wifi keep going on and off on my mac?

My dad recently got a macbook air (2013, 10.8.4). I have a 2011 macbook air. My mac can connect to our home's wifi network, and so can all the other devices in our home, but his macbook can't. As in, it connects (or appears to according to the status bar), but the internet doesn't work. So I go to network diagnostics. It always ends up telling me that it's working fine, even though it always starts out by showing that the ISP conenction fails etc. Sometimes it even tells me that the network settings had changed. I restart his computer, the internet works for 1 minute, then it stops working again. I restart the router, it works for 1 minute, then stops working. I even try to access the router's ip address (to log in to the router) via his macbook, but not even that works. I have no idea what to do. Is this a problem with my router, or could it be a problem with his mac?


Any ideas? Any help is appreciated 🙂


Bear in mind that my wifi settings are the same as his (e.g. DNS), and that there are no conflicting ips as far as I know (it uses DHCP). This problem only occurrs on his macbook. Other devices (e.g. iPads, iPhones, my macbook) work.

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 6, 2013 3:46 AM

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28 replies

Jul 8, 2013 12:02 PM in response to matteo534

So I have a few things to say...


  1. I didn't BUY a new router. It was old and outdated anyway, so my ISP replaced it for free. We were going to change it at some point, and this event made sure that we did.
  2. My dad does use his mac wherever he goes, and so far he hasn't had this problem anywhere else.
  3. {rez}, I understand, but unfortunately I can't un-mark the answer as solved. At the time I thought that was the solution. If it's possible to un-mark a "solved" answer then please tell me how. You're right, it is a defective product, but for now my dad can use his mac, and so the purpose of this post has been fulfilled (at least until he runs into this problem again!).

Jul 8, 2013 12:14 PM in response to matteo534

matteo534 wrote:


So I have a few things to say...


  1. I didn't BUY a new router. It was old and outdated anyway, so my ISP replaced it for free. We were going to change it at some point, and this event made sure that we did.
  2. My dad does use his mac wherever he goes, and so far he hasn't had this problem anywhere else.
  3. {rez}, I understand, but unfortunately I can't un-mark the answer as solved. At the time I thought that was the solution. If it's possible to un-mark a "solved" answer then please tell me how. You're right, it is a defective product, but for now my dad can use his mac, and so the purpose of this post has been fulfilled (at least until he runs into this problem again!).

You do know that you don't have to explain yourself, cause at that point it sounds to me like you are being harassed. Turn off notifications from that thread at the top right of the page and stop reacting to obnoxious behavior. It does not matter to you or your dad, if anyone else's feelings get hurt. Part of being a grown up making your decisions.

You are the one who reacted to everything and found with someone's help fix for your dad's problem. Your dad is happy and you are smart, do not let anyone change that for you.

Jul 8, 2013 3:04 PM in response to Mikael_B

My Air isn't stationary. I'm in the mall right now and online. My special circumstance isn't that I don't take my Air out with me. I just use an AT&T cellular USB modem when I'm out of my condo. There are disadvantages to this (money) but advantages too (finding an available wifi is often difficult and I don't often go to places that have it, such as coffee houses). I can see a lot of wifis around the mall here, but all are secured and unavailable to me.


Also at work, there is a sort of wifi, but only using a specialized highly locked down customized wifi that my company uses so that only it's own computers can use it. I can't use it and furthermore, I'm not allowed to create my own wifi network, so I can't tether from my phone. So my only alternative is a cellular modem.


I do like just sitting down anywhere, plugging the little modem into the USB jack and being online with a good signal, good speed, and no worries about being hacked from other people on the local wifi.

Jul 9, 2013 7:34 AM in response to carbon_dragon

It seems you have found a setup which works, for you, basically avoiding the issue. It costs a little more, but also gives you internet access without relying on other wifi nets, so you're happy, and confident Apple will arrive at a solution.

Still, I recommend people to return defective units, and to postpone any purchase until the problem is solved. Apple charges premium price for this machine and should supply premium products, not malfunctioning ones. If we buy it anyway and put up with it not working why should Apple spend resources to fix this?

Jul 9, 2013 7:45 AM in response to Mikael_B

I'm guessing Apple doesn't care only about me as a customer. There is still a problem, it's already getting them some bad press and it will just get worse. It will result in lots of people delaying purchase and returning units and that isn't good for the bottom line either. The fact that I'm working around the problem isn't going to keep the problem from being fixed. I'm not going to return my unit, even though it works for me, in the mistaken belief that one more return is going to get Apple to fix this sooner.


I suspect they are ALREADY working hard to figure this out. I think it's important not to blow the problem out of proportion and to give them time to find and understand the problem so they can fix it without creating more side effects.


Also, I have no choice using a cellular modem, it's the only option my employer allows. For people who aren't in that situation, if they can't get their Air to work, by all means return it or delay purchase. That's prudent of course.

Jul 9, 2013 8:02 AM in response to carbon_dragon

Basically I agree fully with your statement, and understand why you act that way. You, or I, as a single customer, is of course not that important to any company, but I hope more will return their units, or wait buying one, thereby increasing the pressure on Apple, therefore I recommend that, hoping to influency not one person but many.

Honestly, I really want this solved ASAP so I can get one.

Jul 9, 2013 8:30 AM in response to Mikael_B

Mikael_B wrote:


Basically I agree fully with your statement, and understand why you act that way. You, or I, as a single customer, is of course not that important to any company, but I hope more will return their units, or wait buying one, thereby increasing the pressure on Apple, therefore I recommend that, hoping to influency not one person but many.

Honestly, I really want this solved ASAP so I can get one.

Your position as well as rez's is as transparent as it can be. You want something done by large corporation and think that screaming at poor guy who started that thread and at everyone else can help. First of all he is innocent bystander and I suggest you to start your own thread. That way you and rez can decide what and who you consider to be "helpful" and when your or anyone's question is answered.

Second and very important part. For some reason that time (if my information is correct and I do not pretend to be an expert, but referring to link I posted at the start) Apple decided to roll out routers with new ac standard and only one device -MBA. I still remember rolling out iphone with 4.0 Bluetooth standard. Multiple complains on then new LTE, Bluetooth would not work with older and even newer cars. Then industry catches up. Ironically those places where you go (coffee shops) they have professionally managed networks, people start complaining they upgrade. Nobody wants to lose customers over 15 dollars router ( I just paid for new Netgear over years old Trendnet ).

Updates to software will come and go and for next step, Apple will change to new network adapters on other MBP's Imac's and so on. Progress will not stop over your "little coup", but software improvements will be made and you are very helpful in that process.

One more point, I may be biased(love my ipad) but I think Apple is one of the companies that actually never hides the fact that customers matter. At least I d like to think that me and you do.

Now here is a link where you can actually submit feedback to apple about MBA.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookair.html

Jul 9, 2013 9:00 AM in response to fromsouth

There are a lot of posts in the forum concernig this problem, but there's no way to know what percentage of people are having issues. Lots probably already have modern routers (as I did not) or better Apple routers (which I did not originally anyway) and may never see the problem at all. Or they had a certain kind of security on their wifi net (or none at all) and again never saw the problem. Or they don't use wifi.


So is this a problem with 70% or buyers? 30%? 5% 1% I have no idea. The higher the percentage the higher the priority of the fix. The worst case is that it is a hardware fix. In that case if they don't offer a replacement program or offer to fix the chips people like myself are out of luck, but even then the only thing it would affect for me is potential resale value. Most likely (I hope) it's a firmware or a software fix and it will be fixed in time. It's certainly fine with me if the tech press keeps the pressure on Apple, but it may not help them fix this any faster.


Maybe if you want to have an effect you should try to get prominent tech sites interest like engadget, gdgt, and so on. I think they will fix this if we give them a little time.

Jul 9, 2013 1:30 PM in response to fromsouth

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