mediclips
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Q: My Macbook refuses to connect to a network ...

I have my late 2013 Macbook Pro since March. I was able to connect to 3 different networks at home  without a problem from almost any place for 4 months. Suddenly, I could not connect to any network after "sleep". I solved it partially doing what was recommend in this case: SMC Reset, Set Service Order, Delete "SystemConfiguration" Folder, Turn Off Bluetooth, Disable Keychain Sync, etc. I said partially successful because I could not connect to a particular network (Network6) from a particular point (Point6) even if I did it flawlessly every day for 4 months and other devices (Dell laptop, iPad and iPhone) DO connect to that network at that point.

 

I can connect to that network from other places, but not in that Point6, where I usually work.

 

Setup: I have a Linksys WRT54GL Router (Network1) with a Hawking Technologies HiGain 300N Range Extender (Network6), both firmwares up to date. Poin 6 is less than 2 meters away from the Range Extender and I never had any issue there. Now, sometimes I cannot see that network, or if I see it I cannot connect, or if I can connect there is no internet access, even if there is an acceptable good signal, signal to noise ratio and low interference. Also, from that Point 6 I can connect to Network 3 that is more than 35 meters away and other devices can connect to Network6. I had reset the Range Extender 6 times and nothing. I have analized my home with Netspot Pro and there is very good Signal to Noise Ratio in Point6, very low noise and no interference with my neighbors networks because they have different channels: I am the only one who uses channel 6, they use 1,2 or 11.

 

So far I have concluded that:

 

1) It is not a hardware problem because my Mac does connect to other networks and to Network 6 from other places but not from Point6 where it connected every day many hours for 4 months. (I am writing this connected to Network 6 in the basement and the Range Extender is in the floor above me; very good STN Ratio).

2) It is not the Range Extender or Network 6 because I can connect to Network 6 from many other places farther away and because other devices connect to Network 6 in Point 6.

3) It is not Noise or Interference in Point6 because a) Netspot detects the same acceptable level of noise everywhere, b) No interference from neighbors networks in that place (I am the only one in channel 6) and c) Other devices connect to Network 6 in Point6.

 

As I wrote, I have deleted the SystemConfiguration folder many times but nothing. It does not connect to Network 6 in Point6.

 

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

MacBook Pro with Retina display

Posted on Aug 14, 2014 7:27 PM

by mediclips,Solvedanswer
mediclips mediclips
Level 1 (0 points)
A:

Thanks Mario. I read those 2 articles before writing my post.

 

As I wrote before, I could easily fix the "wifi not connecting after sleep" issue with the SMC reset and deleting the SystemConfiguration file. But I could not fix the stubborn "no wifi at point6"  described in my post.

 

This morning, I decided, contrary to common sense, to just change the channel of the router default of 6 to channel 1. I also changed the channel of the Range Extender from 6 to 1. I said contrary to common sense, because 5 of my neighbors routers are in channel 1, the others are in channel 11 and I was the only one in channel 6, to reduce interference.

 

Big surprise! I recovered the wifi access in Point 6 and everywhere around the house where I had low signal and Signal to noise ratio. Remember that I measured the noise and interference with Netspot and they were more than acceptable in Point6. Later, I will measure them again with Netspot to see if there is any difference.

 

Maybe some in this forum can explain to me how I did not have any problem for 4 months in channel 6 and suddenly being unable to get wifi in that point without any change in noise or interference, but being able to get wifi with channel 1, the most popular channel in my neighborhood and the one with the highest interference.  There is a good article about this in     Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Potential sources of wireless interference

 

Anyway, thanks for your help and I am glad I finally got my wifi at point 6.

Posted on Aug 17, 2014 11:27 AM

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mediclips

Q: My Macbook refuses to connect to a network ...

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  • Helpful answers

  • by mario49,

    mario49 mario49 Aug 17, 2014 8:03 AM in response to mediclips
    Community Specialists
    Aug 17, 2014 8:03 AM in response to mediclips

    Hey mediclips,

     

    Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

     

    Sounds like this computer is having trouble connecting to the network after sleep. I see you have done a lot of things to try to resolve this. It still not working can be very frustrating. There is a section in this first article specifically for not connecting after sleep. The second article is the recommended settings for networks.

     

    Wi-Fi: How to troubleshoot Wi-Fi connectivity

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4628?viewlocale=en_US

     

    iOS and OS X: Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4199

     

    Have a nice day,

    Mario

  • by edwardhaigh,

    edwardhaigh edwardhaigh Aug 17, 2014 8:21 AM in response to mediclips
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2014 8:21 AM in response to mediclips

    Hello mediclips,

     

    Can you see the wireless access points from your computer when you look at connections?

     

    Also this kb might be useful for you;

     

    Wi-Fi: How to troubleshoot Wi-Fi connectivity

     

    Regards


    Edward Haigh

  • by mediclips,Solvedanswer

    mediclips mediclips Aug 17, 2014 11:27 AM in response to mario49
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2014 11:27 AM in response to mario49

    Thanks Mario. I read those 2 articles before writing my post.

     

    As I wrote before, I could easily fix the "wifi not connecting after sleep" issue with the SMC reset and deleting the SystemConfiguration file. But I could not fix the stubborn "no wifi at point6"  described in my post.

     

    This morning, I decided, contrary to common sense, to just change the channel of the router default of 6 to channel 1. I also changed the channel of the Range Extender from 6 to 1. I said contrary to common sense, because 5 of my neighbors routers are in channel 1, the others are in channel 11 and I was the only one in channel 6, to reduce interference.

     

    Big surprise! I recovered the wifi access in Point 6 and everywhere around the house where I had low signal and Signal to noise ratio. Remember that I measured the noise and interference with Netspot and they were more than acceptable in Point6. Later, I will measure them again with Netspot to see if there is any difference.

     

    Maybe somebody in this forum can explain to me how I did not have any problem for 4 months in channel 6 and suddenly being unable to get wifi in that point without any change in noise or interference, but being able to get wifi with channel 1, the most popular channel in my neighborhood and the one with the highest interference.  There is a good article about this in     Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Potential sources of wireless interference

     

    Anyway, thanks for your help and I am glad I finally got my wifi at point 6.

  • by mediclips,

    mediclips mediclips Aug 17, 2014 11:22 AM in response to edwardhaigh
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2014 11:22 AM in response to edwardhaigh

    Thanks Edward. I read that article before writing my post.

     

    Please, read my answer to Mario. I explained there how I finally solved the problem simply by changing to channel of the Router and the Range Extender from 6 to 1.

     

    Anyway, thanks for your help and I am glad I finally got my wifi at point 6.

  • by edwardhaigh,

    edwardhaigh edwardhaigh Aug 17, 2014 11:27 AM in response to mediclips
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2014 11:27 AM in response to mediclips

    Glad I could help. That's an interesting fix as it indicates some form of interference is occurring? It might be worth trying channel 11 at some point too and seeing if that fixes as well, this would show us it really is a problem with channel 6!

     

    Regardless, glad it is up and running!