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rMBP late 2013 WiFi connectivity problems

I recently got my new Retina MacBook Pro 13" with the following specs:


2.6 GHz i5

16GB DDR3

256GB SSD


After a while using it I've some WiFi connection issues. After waking it up it couldn't connect back to my WiFi. I've done a Video to show you:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7lZceTLVzk



Does anyone else have this problem? What should I do? Apple Store or calling Apple Hotline?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9), latest Firmware installed

Posted on Nov 11, 2013 10:33 AM

Reply
14 replies

Dec 22, 2013 3:54 PM in response to haha103

You are not alone.


I have a 2012 15" rMBP running Mountain Lion. When it just came out the wifi was terrible. Sometimes it just did not connect at all, no matter what. I had to reboot the system to get it working. And I heard for some people it was worse, for they were having connection dropped every few minutes. Then after a few patches it finally got better. Now for every 4, 5 wake ups there will be once the wifi tries and fails to connect endlessly. All I need to do is to disable/enable wifi again and it will work.


Now I am having another problem with my newly purchased 2013 15" rMBP. It's running Mavericks and it seems to have another issue that's more annoying. This time wifi connections are mostly fine. But the communication will likely freeze every couple of minites. I notice this most when ssh-ing to another host, for the terminal will stop responding for about 30 seconds or a mintue. When I search I find quite a few posts complaining pinging a local router gets very unstable results.


For what I feel wifi is a tricky area recently. 2 years ago I had an ASUS MB that came with a built-in wifi and the connection was also very unstable on Windows 7, until I called Microsoft support and was suggested to download a Microsoft version of the driver that eventually fixed it. The driver was not even found on the hardware vendor's web site. Obviously in this case I'll say Microsoft did a much better job.

Mar 8, 2014 1:53 PM in response to tisch

I also have the Problem with my 15" MBP Late 2013: the WiFi-connection to my brandnew TPLINK-802.11ac-AP (http://www.tp-link.com.de/products/details/?categoryid=2872&model=Archer+C7) is completely rubbish. Seven hours ago, I could receive files via SMB with 72MBytes/sec, now there I only have 27MBits/sec left.


User uploaded file


User uploaded file


Please apologize the german screenshots, "Senderate" means "transmissionrate".



Shall I return my new 1300MBit/s "ac"-WIFI-AP and use my 450MBit-"802.11an"-WiFi-AP?!



Regards,

Sebastian

Mar 8, 2014 3:16 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Both of them are from the "new" AP - The RSSI is at -65, what is a quite nice value (optimum: -100) and indicates, that my AP should work with 65% of full speed. The negotiated transmittion-rate at 27MBps is in this case quite too low (1300MBps == 100%, i think). Also websites won't load. I needed to switch to the 2.4GHz-frequency because also after restarting the MBP + AP, the connection is still too slow/useless.


Yeah, the other networks appears and disappears - depending on the refresh (Mac OS is refreshing the SSID-spots every 10 seconds?).


Yes, I removed the powerplug of the AP, but the result is sadly the same. :-/


User uploaded file


By the way: I just switched back to my old 802.11N-AP. The AP is standing at the same place as the new AP did and the MBP is also at the same place (as you can see at the RSSI):

User uploaded file


With the old AP (N-Mode), I get a 324 MBps-connection. crazy...

Mar 8, 2014 3:50 PM in response to sebbelBS

The RSSI is at -65, what is a quite nice value (optimum: -100)

That is not correct. Numbers closer to zero are higher signal levels, and this -65 must be netted out against noise, which is often at -85.


Do not force it to switch to the 2.4GHz band, there are only THREE Channels there at the speeds you want, and your neighborhood is already crowded.


The new Apple802.11ac is very nice.


User uploaded file


.

Mar 8, 2014 11:14 PM in response to tisch

Thank you all for your informations, I think, I found the solution. 😕


To install my WiFi-AP, I used a PoE-adapter by the same manufacturer (TPLink: injector+splitter).

Sadly, the psu only provides 1.5A, the new AP comes with a bigger PSU (2.5A @12V DC). Maybe, the AP didn't got enough power. Now I need to install a powersocket into my wardrobe. :-/


The test just proved my hard fail:

User uploaded file


Sorry for this...

Mar 12, 2014 12:38 AM in response to sebbelBS

OK, after 2 Days of testing does it still suck! Even with the right powersupply do I only have 2.4GHz, the AC-Connection is too slow.


Can I change the interval, MacOS is searching for the "best" basestation? The Airport is every 5 seconds scanning for other networks. Normal?



Where can I delete my current network and airport-settings? I kept my userprofile since OS 10.4, also UPnP and DLNA isn't working - maybe, I got some old/obsolete networksettings.



Regards,


Sebastian

Mar 12, 2014 8:04 AM in response to sebbelBS

To leave all prevoius settings behind:


System preferences > Network > WiFI > (unlock the lock) > (assist me) > (Assistant) ...



... and set it up again from scratch, including a new "Location" using a different location_name..


-----


RE: Power Over Ethernet


To use speeds over 100BaseT, All four pairs on a cable must be available for DATA, with none used for power.

Mar 16, 2014 4:07 PM in response to tisch

In my case, it's TP-Link, who have a serious problem with incompatibilities with the AC-connections to Broadcom-WiFi-NICs. When getting back from Standby, the connection hangs.


See the following thread: http forum.tp-link.com/showthread.php?72559-5GHz-AES-Archer-C7-problem


There are alot of people with issues on a mac, but sadly, Apple is one of the first manufacturer, who uses the BCM-Chips. When the BCM-AC-Chips are getting into the retail-market, TPLink will recognize, that they have a serious problem with it.

Mar 16, 2014 5:21 PM in response to tisch

Your movie appear to show that you have two Routers { Monkeycave, Mokeycave5GHz } or that you have split your Router into two networks. This gives you a tremendous handicap.


You should combine all your Routers and all bands available into ONE network, and let the computers figure out how to connect at any given moment. You do this by connecting them using Ethernet cables (vastly preferable) or putting them close enough so that their signal patterns overlap (a distant second choice, as this strongly reduces available bandwidth). Then you give them the same password, and the same Network-Name, and make sure only one is using DHCP and the others are in "Bridge" mode.


Wi-Fi base stations: Extending the range of your wireless network by adding additional Wi-Fi base stations

rMBP late 2013 WiFi connectivity problems

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