Q: Late 2013 Macbook Pro Retina 13'' Wifi Issues

Have you tried it with a different router?

That one is pretty old one - it probably doesn't know about the new chipset in the MBPro.

No idea if there is new firmware for it available?

I know it sounds pretty weird - but the AP has to be compatible with the new chipset too.
I'd try it somewhere different with another type of AP.

Hello all,

I hope this helps someone else, but I was having endless issues with my wifi, and after some digging and talking with apple support it turned out it was caused by a bug in the new migration assistant if you used it this may be your problem too.

To rectify the problem if you used the migration assistant:

- turn off your computer

- Press end hold "command-R" and press your power button until you boot into recovery

- click next on english as your language

- next click the utilities menu at the top and selet console

- now type "passwordreset" and press enter

- then select your HDD, and username

- click the button at the very buttom that mentions permissions fixing

- close the window when the button is grayed out and says "done"

- type "reboot" and press enter

This fixed all the problems I was having.

Well, that was one of those advices I got from Apple support, too – but it didn't change anything.

Did you try adding google DNS servers? Mine is still a little flaky, but no more then typical for any other computer on our network, but adding Google DNS servers make a difference for me, I have always used them on every computer I own and it makes a difference on unstable/slow connections.

From Google Developers site:

 

The Google Public DNS IP addresses (IPv4) are as follows:

• 8.8.8.8
• 8.8.4.4

The Google Public DNS IPv6 addresses are as follows:

• 2001:4860:4860::8888
• 2001:4860:4860::8844

vZwo, did you try my prior advice on enabling WMM mode under the Linksys router's QoS settings? This made my rMBP fast but everything else slow. Or try disabling it if it's on.

Dot K wrote:

 

Let me rephrase - the latency is not a defect nor a bug. It's a powersaving feature.
The problem is that "ping" as such cannot deliver enough 'weight' for it to stay awake.

 

I created this little screenrecording to show you the actual impact.

If I just ping, it looks like the latency is very high - as soon as I start the stream (from my Synology > Macbook) you see that the ping imediately drops until I hit Pause on the player.

 

http://d.cloudz.be/9qBR

 

Geniusses .. tssk

Not true

Or at least not in every case.

I observe the same you describe when I transfer file, backup time machine over wifi, share screen with other mac, etc

Unfortunately latency seriously impacts other areas. For example Internet radio streaming.

My wife used to listen to one particular radio channel via Internet. Did it for years on previus macs without problem, now cannot do this with new MBP - too many stream interruptions. I did a test and lauched this radio on new MBP and old MBA at the same time. MBA - perfect streaming, MBP - interruptions

I tested ping while streaming youtube - ping problem and package lost are there as well. Buffering is well done on youtube so you don't have interruptions, but problem exists.

I agree it may be the feature - but not well implemented if is impacting network experience

Do you experience this in Safari? The streaming issues?

Did you try it in Chrome?

yes - Safari

but I used Safari on both MBP and old MBA. Same condition, same browser - different result and difference in ping on both machines (I fact I did this test on 4 macs at home  - two old MBA and two new MBP)

I found a resolution/workaround for this radio channel - I use fstream to listen to it instead of flash via webpage. Fstream buffers well so problem is not noticable.

But still - the problem exists

The problem is that Safari uses this new "App-nap" feature that makes Flash apps without focus (background, no mouse over, ... ) go to sleep or at least get a lot less resources assigned.

Chrome doesn't have this feature yet so it keeps playing like it used to do.

Try this - it's not a permanent fix, you need to apply it each time you reboot.

In terminal, type the following:

defaults write com.apple.Safari NSAppSleepDisabled -bool YES

I totally understand that it's frustrating as ****. I had the same feeling when I bought a sparkling new rMBP and it seemingly performed baaaad. Did a lot of investigating and this is the only logical explanation.

NO - its not a problem of power nap.

have the same results streaminng in firefox. I tested it with safari active, monitor turned on and verifying which apps are in nap mode.

I believe while straming something from Internet sources as you described there is no enough workload to trigger card to wake-up.

As soon as card is "busy enough" - no problems with latency and packet lost

I believe the solution is to simply modify something in card firmware (which I hope apple is working on ...)

Same issue here :

I have the same exact problem on my 15 inch Late 2013 Retina. Yesterday I picked it up after 2 weeks at the local repair shop without them being able to solve the issue. They changed the wi-fi module, screen (in case any antenna was broken) and even the motherboard.

Apple accepted to exchange the computer for a brand new one but I seriously doubt that it's going to make any difference.

As was noted earlier in this thread, ping with the default 1 second delay is not a useful diagnostic tool for the late 2013 Retina MPBs. The WIFI chip sleeps after 1/4 second of inactivity. So, assuming no other network activity, ping results will always be ugly on these machines unless the delay is reduced to less than 0.25s like so:

ping -i 0.2 <router ip address>

or to test outside connectivity:

ping -i 0.2 www.apple.com

For most real world usage, the aggressive WIFI sleep doesn't cause a problem - either latency doesn't matter or there is enough traffic to prevent sleep during streaming or downloads. Some activies such as remote terminal sessions are affected, which can be a bit frustrating, but it is by design and exchanging computers won't help.

My workaround is to just run a continuous "ping -i 0.2 ..." in the background when I want to keep WIFI from sleeping. Ugly, but it works.

I'm sure some folks on this thread have real connectivity problems that extend beyond the sleep issue. But for ping results to be useful, you must include "-i 0.2".

hello ekinfromankara,

I've got a late 2013 rMBP 15'' and it behaves the same as your computer.

normally erratic/slow pings, but when downloading a big file in the background or using ping -i 0.1.

The ping response times improve a lot.

Well,

I took my 13" MBPretina into the local apple store today. Explained the intermittent WIFI problem. The tech at the Genius bar didn't even open up the laptop. After I told him that the laptop was less than 30 days old, he said that I have 3 options: 1) exchange via apple online, 2, let techs open the laptop and try to repair (he doubted it would work), 3) have store order another model with my specs (since store was out of models with my config). I chose #3. Hopefully apple will send updated hardware/firmware in the next week...

Interestingly, the paperwork that I received says under the diagnosis:

Issue: Custimer states that unit has intermittent wi-fi connectivyt

Steps to reproduce: Please see previous cases with AppleCare

Proposed resolution: Replace Computer

Me thinks Apple knows about this issue due to high volume of customer visits and is keeping this on the DL.

On another note, I ran into a random person at the next table at lunch with a 15" mbpRetina and they had the same problem, but didn't know it was as wide-spread.  He said he used an app called "caffeine" that kept  his system from sleeping. Might be a "band aid" for the interim.