Macbook Pro Late 2013 network (WiFi and ethernet) issues

Question

dantart Author

Level 1

7 points

Macbook Pro Late 2013 network (WiFi and ethernet) issues

I must admin first, that I've read this complete articles before asking here:

- 2013 MacBook Air WiFi Problems (high latency, dropped connections) [Updated]

http://www.midwesternmac.com/blogs/jeff-geerling/2013-macbook-air-wifi-problems

- New Macbook Air - wifi connectivity problems (the 141 pages all of them)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5100655

- How-to Fix OS X 10.9 Mavericks – Wi-Fi Issues

http://howtoapple.com/mavericks-wifi-issues-fix/

- Late 2013 Macbook Pro Retina 13'' Wifi Issues (the 44 pages all of them)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5535320?start=630&tstart=0

- And some other pages looking for "macbook pro late 2013 network issues"

https://www.google.es/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=macbook+pro+late+2013+networ k+issues

I have my "old" 2008 Macbook Pro, and I've bought a new one (late 2013 version). I've experienced serious network issues, not only WiFi as everybody is claiming on the Internet, but also ethernet network issues, and I'd like to share here my benchmarcks.

I've tried everything described in those articles and others I found, as to:

- clean PRAM

- reset SMC

- delete System Configuration folder (bluetooth and/or wifi and/or complete folder)

- upgrade to 10.9.3

- change order (to put Wifi first) in network preferences locations

- disable iCloud completely

- disable "Wake for Wi-Fi network access" in Energy Saver

- disable bluetooth

- create a little script to ping every 0.2 the router

- reinstall everything (fresh install 10.9)

All tests were done in a clean environtment (just the current testing device connected to the network), and even reseting router in each test. My network is a 100Mb fiber optic. (I performed other tests in 3 other 100Mb networks and in a 50Mb network, and results are the same). I also did tests with a Windows 7, and Windows 8 laptops and have no problems at all (obviously).

I did all tests with http://testvelocidad.eu, a page when you can check network speed.

TESTS WITH MACBOOK PRO 2008

Ethernet. Speed shown in tests (in Mbps): 74, 79, 71, 82, 74, 81, 89, 70, 25, 76, 81, 83, 77, 79 (average 74.3, top of 89!)

Wifi. Speed shown in tests (in Mbps): 45, 48, 50, 44, 41, 47, 39, 45, 43, 36, 41, 42, 49, 50 (average 44.2, top of 50!)

NOTES:

- This Macbook connects to my WiFi with 802.11n

- Bluetooth does not affect the tests at all

- The graph grows normally and test is running well

TESTS WITH NEW MACBOOK PRO LATE 2013

Bluetooth OFF

Ethernet. Speed shown in tests (in Mbps): 43, 45, 42, 40, 40, 30, 35, 44, 37, 35, 39, 48, 37, 36 (average 39.3) << SLOW !! Top 48

Wifi. Speed shown in tests (in Mbps): 24, 23, 18, 21, 24, 25, 22, 23, 20, 24, 19, 23, 21, 20 (average 21.9) << SLOW !! Top 25

NOTES:

- New Macbook connects to my WiFi with 802.11g, impossible to get a "n" connection even touching everything in router. I had an option to just connect to "n" networks, and then WiFi does not even recognize my network.

- I tried with DHCP, and static IP (both in WiFI and ethernet tests)

- I tried changing the MTU manually to 1453 as some forums said (in WiFi test) (https://www.google.es/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=macbook+wifi+issues+change+m tu+manually)

- It's curious when running the test (both in WiFI and ethernet tests), the graph is growing and after 4/5 seconds, it shows flat line for the rest of the 10 seconds test, never grows again (http://cl.ly/image/1w473J0L0J2I)

Bluetooth ON

Ethernet. Speed shown in tests (in Mbps): 41, 45, 40, 39, 47, 46, 46, 43, 42, 41, 46, 47, 49, 47, 42, 44 (average 44) << SLOW AGAIN !! Top 49

Wifi. Speed shown in tests (in Mbps): 3, 5, 4, 3, 2, 4, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3 (average 3.3) << DRAMATICALLY SLOW !! Top 5

NOTES:

- It's curious when running some of the tests, that after 2 seconds, the graph is frozen, does not move at all for 3/4 seconds and then the test finishes suddenly, it seems the network hangouts for a while!

Summarizing questions happening JUST IN NEW MACBOOK PRO:

- Why Bluetooth is affecting drastically the WiFi performance ? (from average to 25 to 5)

- Why even turning off Bluetooth I can't get the same network Wifi speed as old laptop does ? (from average to 44 to 21)

- Why I can't get the same network ethernet speed as old laptop does ? (from average to 74 to 44)

- Why can't Ethernet connection can't get more than 45/50 Mbps in all cases ?

- Why can't I connect to 802.11n networks (more people happening, http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/131455/why-doesnt-my-macbook-pro-retina -connect-to-802-11n) ?

I know I can change the laptop for other new (store staff told me so, and I have Apple Care too), but I think this will happen again, since it's a hardware/software issue from Apple.

Thank you for any help

Posted on May 25, 2014 12:29 AM

Reply

Answer 1

dantart Author

Level 1

7 points

May 25, 2014 6:57 AM in response to dantart

I have to clarify that all things happening with this late 2013 Macbook Pro, didn't and do NOT happen with the MacBook Pro of 2008.

So it's no about asking for "new features", but having working at least the ones I have with the grand-grand-father of this laptop.

Reply

Answer 2

dantart Author

Level 1

7 points

May 25, 2014 12:18 PM in response to dantart

I have slightly better results when changing bluetooth driver, but far from normal.

Also I wonder the common point ethernet and wifi share, since it's not a WiFi problem but a network problem itself ... hardware ? software ? both ?

Reply

Answer 3

May 25, 2014 1:02 PM in response to dantart

Ethernet? I tried a USB-Ethernet-Adapter the other day and performance felt ok (didn't measure, but big files were copied quickly).

I also think it's a driver issue because I can connect to some 802.11n networks, but it's rare. One theory is that n doesn't work at 2.4 GHz.

Reply

Answer 4

dantart Author

Level 1

7 points

May 26, 2014 3:18 AM in response to dantart

I've went to the store, and they opened a NEW Macbook Pro to test it.

It happens THE SAME.

C'mon! I can't believe it ... Did nobody notice this before ?

WIFI TEST:

We did same Wifi test (close to router) and:

- With my old MacBook Pro 2008, I got 50Mbits

- With the new one, and the other new one opened, we got about 15/20 Mbits

ETHERNET TEST:

We did the same ethernet test connected to a 100Mbits network with the same cable:

- With my old MacBook Pro 2008, I got 102Mbits (in all tests, no exception)

- With the new one, and the other new one opened, we got about 50/60 Mbits

The most amazing thing is that nobody reported this !!!

Or maybe it's a wrong shipment from Apple ...

Reply

Answer 5

May 26, 2014 4:17 AM in response to dantart

I guess nobody noticed because for surfing the Internet it's fast enough.

Reply

Answer 6

dantart Author

Level 1

7 points

May 26, 2014 4:23 AM in response to Spy_Break_de

That's EXACTLY what I'm afraid of

But some people (as me) works with big amounts of data, and 50Mbits is not enough (that's because I paid a 100Mbits at home and office).

We are not talking about satellite or special bandwidth ... 100Mbits is quite normal nowadays.

The thing, as you said, is that this laptops are used by people that does not need more than 20 Mbits to surf Internet and play Youtube videos and see cats.

But all of this "sad" conclusion does not solve an Apple problem.

They can not sell a Macbook Pro of 2014, and gives you LESS features than a MacBook Pro of 2008.

Wouldn't you expect at least the same (or better normally) features when you but iPhone 5 comparing to the iPhone 4 ?

This has to be solved yes or yes ... they have downgrade bandwidth features drastically.

I don't know where to contact or to say this.

Reply

Answer 7

dantart Author

Level 1

7 points

May 26, 2014 5:50 AM in response to Spy_Break_de

Anyway... People don't need Retina 2880px resolution to surf Internet and it has and it works...

I'm just "claiming" the specs it has (it should has)

Reply

Answer 8

May 27, 2014 4:07 AM in response to dantart

What did the guy at the AppleStore tell you? Did you try to contact Apple support?

Reply

Answer 9

dantart Author

Level 1

7 points

May 27, 2014 4:13 AM in response to Spy_Break_de

They avoid any responsability ...

They sold a new MacBook Pro with features BELOW a nother Macbook Pro 6 years before.

And the officially named "Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter", is not Gibabit ... it does not support more than 60/70 Mbits.

Reply

Answer 10

May 27, 2014 8:08 AM in response to dantart

Have you tested performance with something like iperf3 or just copying files around?

Reply

Answer 11

dbc0308

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2014 4:53 AM in response to dantart

Hi! Did you guys come to a solution? I have the exact same problem with the high-end mid 2014 MBPr. I'm on the phone with apple support right now.

Reply

Answer 12

dbc0308

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2014 4:55 AM in response to dbc0308

Just to add, I was able to get 802.11n network when I created a home network over my old MBP 2008 (guess we have the same situation dantart). The new MBPr connected with n-network. Crazy...

Reply

Answer 13

dbc0308

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2014 1:16 PM in response to dbc0308

After an hour and a half with apple support we reached a conclusion that it might be a problem with my home router (netgear CG3100). I did iphone tethering and home network on the old MBP and when i connected with the new MBPr the 802.11n was activated, on both occasions. Next up is testing with other routers to see if this is a persistent problem or just at home.

2 things come to my mind:

- Why does a brand new laptop have problem connecting with 802.11n when an old one does it without a flawlessly?

- Is this problem only between this particular router or does it affect a wider range?

Hope this helps someone stuck with this issue.

Reply

Answer 14

RobinD61

Level 1

0 points

Oct 1, 2014 1:14 PM in response to dbc0308

My wife just got a MBPr 13" (mid-2014) and there are wifi issues !

Yesterday, she tried to copy some big files to our NAS and it was extremely slow.

So I checked the TX rate and it was varying from 11Mbits to even 1Mbits !! and she was like 2 meters away from the routeur ! (Cisco e4200).

While with my MBP 2010 I was connected at 150 Mbps ! (2,4ghz network).

Today, after a reboot, the speed seems "better" : 44-56mbits but I saw that her mode PHY is 802.11g while I am connected as 802.11n on the exactly same network !!

What is wrong ?!

I was thinking about buying a new MBPr 15" for myself, but this issue is a blocker for me...

Reply

Answer 15

Aug 29, 2015 1:05 PM in response to dantart

I had the same problem with my rMBP 15" late 2013. Like Exact same problem. Apple is terrible at quality and consistency control in making drivers.

Intall this older kext(wifi driver) and it will fix your problem. I can connect to N only networks on 2.4 and 5 ghz and get 300 mbps transmit rates now.

Here is what I did to get the WIFI working as described above.

1. Go to you hard drives root folder. Open system/library/extensions

drag & drop the IO80211Family.kext to a new folder on your desktop(as a backup) then delete it from system/library/extensions

2. Download & Run Kext Wizard

Direct download--> http://wizards.osxlatitude.com/kext/download.html

Page with more info on kext wizard--> http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/253395-kext-wizard-easy-to-use-kext-insta ller-and-more/

3. Download & Extract - IO80211Family.kext zip. Here are two links incase one goes down

https://www.sendspace.com/file/4v4a4r

http://www.filedropper.com/io80211familykext

4. In Kext Wizard click install tab then then Drag & Drop the extracted IO80211Family.kext file into the Kext Wizard, Then click Install button.

5. Click the Maintenance tab and check the S/L/E box to repair permissions & Rebuild Cache.

6. Restart and adjust your router settings to N only and test. Should fix it. If it breaks wifi(99.5% chance it wont) or makes it worse then repeat these step and reinstall the original Kext that you backed up in Step 1.

Reply