robertfromeb
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Q: The cause of wifi strange behaviour?

Hello Apple World,

 

I have a 2011 mac mini, on Mavericks, latest update. It is behaving strangely, in that when booted up it works fine and connects to the internet.

 

After about 20 minutes, the internet connection drops. Now here's the strange thing. The Wi Fi icon still shows as connected. I go into system prefs and the wi fi shows as connected to the internet and IP address. Diagnostics says connected to the internet ok.

 

Rebooting fixes the issue, for 20 minutes.

 

I cannot access my router from the mac, but when I load it from another PC, the mac shows as an attached device.

 

Any views?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on Mar 30, 2014 2:11 PM

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robertfromeb

Q: The cause of wifi strange behaviour?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 30, 2014 2:46 PM in response to robertfromeb
    Level 10 (123,765 points)
    Mar 30, 2014 2:46 PM in response to robertfromeb

    Hello,

     

    Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712

     

    10.5, 10.6, 10.7 & 10.8…

     

    System Preferences>Network, top of window>Locations>Edit Locations, little plus icon, give it a name.

     

     

    10.5.x/10.6.x/10.7.x/10.8.x instructions...

     

    System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.

     

    The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.

     

    f using Wifi/Airport...

     

    Instead of joining your Network from the list, click the WiFi icon at the top, and click join other network. Fill in everything as needed.

     

    For 10.5/10.6/10.7/10.8, System Preferences>Network, unlock the lock if need be, highlight the Interface you use to connect to Internet, click on the advanced button, click on the DNS tab, click on the little plus icon, then add these numbers...

     

    208.67.222.222

    208.67.220.220

     

    (There may be better or faster DNS numbers in your area, but these should be a good test).

    Click OK.

     

    Any change?

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 30, 2014 4:34 PM in response to robertfromeb
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    Mar 30, 2014 4:34 PM in response to robertfromeb

    How do you know the Internet connection is dropping? What fails to work?

  • by robertfromeb,

    robertfromeb robertfromeb Mar 31, 2014 11:02 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 31, 2014 11:02 AM in response to Linc Davis

    I get timeouts when attempting to access web pages (all browsers). Cannot connect directly to router.

     

    Other devices eg PC, Ipads etc... all connect fine.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 31, 2014 11:36 AM in response to robertfromeb
    Level 10 (123,765 points)
    Mar 31, 2014 11:36 AM in response to robertfromeb

    Have you tried the DNS numbers for your Wifi connection?

  • by robertfromeb,

    robertfromeb robertfromeb Mar 31, 2014 1:41 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 31, 2014 1:41 PM in response to BDAqua

    Hello,

     

    It lasted 20 minutes longer, but then the same.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 31, 2014 2:33 PM in response to robertfromeb
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    Mar 31, 2014 2:33 PM in response to robertfromeb

    Please read this whole message before doing anything.

    This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

    The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.

    Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you turn on the computer, and again when you log in.

    Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a Fusion Drive or a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.

    Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.

    The login screen appears even if you usually login automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

    Test while in safe mode. Same problem?

    After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

  • by robertfromeb,

    robertfromeb robertfromeb Apr 1, 2014 10:30 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 1, 2014 10:30 AM in response to Linc Davis

    will be a few days before I can try now, but thanks, and I will post back. Understood this is a test, not a solution

  • by robertfromeb,

    robertfromeb robertfromeb Apr 2, 2014 2:21 PM in response to robertfromeb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 2, 2014 2:21 PM in response to robertfromeb

    I don't know if this helps any diagnosis, but it's not amount of elapsed time before it goes wrong. Tonight, I was on the web from about 6.50 to 7.00, and left mac to attend something else. Returned at 10, and still able to access the web.

  • by robertfromeb,

    robertfromeb robertfromeb Apr 12, 2014 1:35 PM in response to robertfromeb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2014 1:35 PM in response to robertfromeb

    I just wanted to come back an reply to this post with what I found to be wrong. It was infact the router. The mac mini must've been more sensitive or something like that to the router wi fi signal.

     

    A few days later, other devices started to drop connection with the router, when they had been working ok before.

     

    I got brand new broadband and a new router last Friday, and have had stable, constant wi fi connection since.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Apr 12, 2014 4:25 PM in response to robertfromeb
    Level 10 (123,765 points)
    Apr 12, 2014 4:25 PM in response to robertfromeb

    Great to hear, thanks for the report!