iMac loses wifi connection after wake

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Level 1

5 points

iMac loses wifi connection after wake

When my girlfriend's iMac wakes from sleep, it often loses the Wifi connection. The airport adapter shows an internal IP (169.254.xx.xx) and it can't reach anything on the wireless network.

I've tried toggling Airport on and off, renewing the DHCP lease, using a different network location (not Automatic), and disabling network services that it doesn't need -- none of that helps.

The only thing that DOES fix it (short of rebooting the Mac, or the router) is running ifconfig en1 down && ifconfig en1 up from Terminal. So I created an Automator script that runs those commands with admin privileges, and we launch that when the wifi goes down.

But I'd really like to prevent this from happening at all. Does anyone have tips?

Console log here (with comments): https://gist.github.com/anonymous/1f1ad2cc9287bda1ffbb

iMac stats:

iMac, mid-2011, 21.5"
OS X Mavericks 10.9.5

Router stats:

Model: Linksys WRT320N
Firmware: Tomato (AdvancedTomato v1.28.0000 MIPSR2-1.26.20 K26 Max)
Chipset: Broadcom BCM4716 chip rev 1 pkg 9
Band: 2.4 GHz
Security: WPA2 Personal + AES

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9), 21.5", mid 2011

Posted on Oct 7, 2014 8:04 PM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Oct 7, 2014 9:05 PM in response to themangler

Test after taking each of the following steps that you haven't already tried. Back up all data before making any changes.

1. Make sure the network is on the preferred list by following these instructions. It's important to read the article carefully, as it's the starting point for any further efforts to solve the problem. If you skip any of the steps, the problem may not be solved. Make sure the box marked

Remember networks this computer has joined

is checked.

2. Follow the instructions in this support article under the heading

Symptom: After restarting or waking from sleep, my computer might not connect to the Internet

3. Reset the PRAM.

4. Make a note of all your settings for Wi-Fi in the Network preference pane, then delete the connection from the connection list and recreate it with the same settings. You do this by clicking the plus-sign icon below the connection list, and selecting Wi-Fi as the interface in the sheet that opens. Select Join other network from the Network Name menu, then select your network. Enter the password when prompted and save it in the keychain.

5. From the Location menu at the top of the Network preference pane, select Edit Locations. A sheet will drop down. Click the plus-sign button to create a new location. Give it any name you want. In the new location, set up the Wi-Fi service with the same settings you used before. Click Apply and test.

6. Launch the Keychain Access application. Search for and delete all AirPort network password items that refer to the network. Make a note of the password first.

7. Repair permissions on the startup volume.

8. Turn off Bluetoothand test.

9. Reset the System Management Controller.

10. This step shouldn't be necessary, but has been advised by Apple Support in some cases, apparently as a workaround for a bug. Open the Energy Saver pane in System Preferences. If applicable, click the padlock icon in the lower left corner to unlock the settings. Enter your administrator login password when prompted.

Select the Power Adapter tab and uncheck the boxes marked

Wake for Wi-Fi network access

and

Enable Power Nap...

if present. Then, if the computer is a MacBook, select the Battery tab and uncheck

Enable Power Nap...

11. Reinstall OS X.

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