Q: OSX Yosemite Wifi issues

I used (emphasis on USED) an Apple trackpad, Apple keyboard and a Bose sound link mini. All totally useless to me now and have been for 6 months. Been using a Microsoft ARC keyboard and mouse as they aren't Bluetooth.

simen wrote:

 

I discovered that Yosemite doesn't like "802.11n Preamble" set to Greenfield... Shouldn't be a problem usually, but looks like the drivers doesn't like it. So set it to "GF-BRCM" or "Mixed Mode". This might also fix 5GHz troubles (will test this at work where I have a 5GHz AP).

 

Before when I had to Greenfield I got 6/7 (TX/RX) Mbit, but now I get 144/144.

 

Before I figured this out I also found another "workaround" and that was to force the "Transmission Rate" to 54Mbit (better than 6), but that lead to a decrease of on my other N-devices that doesn't behave buggy.

Simen, this post of yours contains the most important and constructive contribution to this thread I've read in more than a month or so and maybe more! And may carry a solution to the most duped that has been hidden in the eye of the sun altogether.

Could it be that Yosemite has the Greenfield/ High Throughput WiFi as default? Seems incredible, as people using older (802.11 b or g) WiFi hardware/ WiFi routers in combination with a Yosemite Mac will not be able to connect to the Internet at all this way. In order to connect to the Internet in any situation, Yosemite should be able to automatically and dynamically switch between Greenfield, Legacy, Mixed Mode and GF-BRCM.

I have no way to know if it actually does so, but have a hunch it does not.

Greenfield/ High Throughput seems meant to give you the best WiFi speeds on 802.11n-only networks, but simply does not work with mixed/roaming networks and/or older b/g routers.

For the less technically-minded in this thread, would you mind explaining how to switch to "GF-BRCM" or "Mixed Mode"?

Thank you ever so much, I think we are getting somewhere here.

I'D like to think so too but if it were that simple Apple could have fixed it in a heartbeat. Who knows maybe staff are spread too thin these days.

hexdiy wrote:

 

For the less technically-minded in this thread, would you mind explaining how to switch to "GF-BRCM" or "Mixed Mode"?

Thank you ever so much, I think we are getting somewhere here.

No problem, happy to help.

To your question... It depends on the router. I only use Tomato or OpenWRT compatible routers.

For OpenWRT "short_preamble" needs to be disabled:

http://wiki.openwrt.org/doc/uci/wireless

For Tomato log into the web administration area and set "Advanced -> Wireless -> 802.11n Preamble" to "GF-BRCM" or "Mixed Mode".

I am sure DD-WRT has this option to, but dunno where since I don't use that firmware.

For other routers, search for the model supplied with keyword "preamble" or "greenfield".

Btw the "GF" in "GF-BRCM" stand for Greenfield and "BRCM" stands for Broadcom, so looks like the drivers doesn't like the generic implementation. I haven't found any documentation to what the difference is between regular GF and GF-BRCM, and haven't had the time to test myself either. But one could do some speed tests with a Broadcom and Atheros client and see if there is a difference etc.

And I have had no problem with Apple BT keyboard and mouse.  Weird. Glad I was an accountant...

I have since a MASSIVE reduction in Mac: router/modem activity since things got sorted this past month or so...

MBP Mid 2010

Well done for intriguing Hexdiy out of retirement.

FYI on my Brit Telecom dual band router modem there doesn't appear to the equivalent of your

     For Tomato log into the web administration area and set "Advanced -> Wireless -> 802.11n Preamble" to "GF-BRCM" or "Mixed Mode".

Tomato and DDWRT are alternative firmware versions for your router, Paul. You need to flash the ROM. Again getting into hacker territory for something Apple should have gotten right in the first place.

simen wrote:

 

hexdiy wrote:

 

For the less technically-minded in this thread, would you mind explaining how to switch to "GF-BRCM" or "Mixed Mode"?

Thank you ever so much, I think we are getting somewhere here.

No problem, happy to help.

 

To your question... It depends on the router. I only use Tomato or OpenWRT compatible routers.

 

For OpenWRT "short_preamble" needs to be disabled:

http://wiki.openwrt.org/doc/uci/wireless

 

For Tomato log into the web administration area and set "Advanced -> Wireless -> 802.11n Preamble" to "GF-BRCM" or "Mixed Mode".

 

I am sure DD-WRT has this option to, but dunno where since I don't use that firmware.

 

For other routers, search for the model supplied with keyword "preamble" or "greenfield".

 

Btw the "GF" in "GF-BRCM" stand for Greenfield and "BRCM" stands for Broadcom, so looks like the drivers doesn't like the generic implementation. I haven't found any documentation to what the difference is between regular GF and GF-BRCM, and haven't had the time to test myself either. But one could do some speed tests with a Broadcom and Atheros client and see if there is a difference etc.

Forget Atheros, most modern Macs run Broadcom chips/cards nowadays. And exactly that seems to be the trouble. This is a WiFi transition period (no pun intended), in which only "Mixed Mode" may be valid always. If Apple has decided to be on the forefront as usual, and have chosen "Greenfield" as default, with Yosemite, they may be gruesomely mistaken...

Fall back to "mixed mode" on your WiFi router and your Yosemite WiFi may be fixed. Fingers crossed...

I'M assuming that for Apple extreme/express firmware the mixed would be the otionfot a/b/n etc. pardon my mistake there. Mine is on the ootion for most variations. Tried the others with no change. It would appear to be flaky drivers for some wi-fi chipsets because within a single ecosystem the effects are limited to some equipment. we run 2 extremes 3 iMacs 1 pc 3 iPads 2 iPhones 1 iPhone made iPod 2 apple TVs 1 ps3 1 TVs and 1 theatre system, these last two account for almost no traffic though. Rarely 1 of our 2 expresses gets turned on. not sure what's starting to happen to my iPad but my office iMac is the only one effected by this issue. I was using a PS Vita on it as well but I've got that on eBay at the moment.

Same with me, tried many things from around the web, update apple's latest 10.10.2 (which says fix wifi problems). So far nothing

I notice every time i open Google+, the internet drops immediately, and when browsing other websites it occasionally drops wifi connection every 3-5 minute.

APPLE PLEASE PLEASE FIX THIS WIFI PROBLEM. It has been going on for many months!!!!!!!

I hope apple is reading this.

Same problems here with Wifi and a brand-new imac:

Got a new Imac 2 days ago. Updated it straightaway to version 10.10.2. Everything went well but suddenly after some hours safari did not open a site anymore.

But wifi stayed connected all the time according to the display. At the same time I opened the same webpages with my iphone next to me which was in the same wifi and it worked all the time. Later it suddenly worked again with the imac too.

Today the same thing again. Everything ok for 30 minutes. Suddenly safari did not open anything. But iphone in the same wifi worked perfectly normal. Some minutes after it worked all normal again. I write this with the imac right now.

I use the imac with the standard bluetooth magic mouse and keyboard. I have a fritzbox as router.

Did not change anything with the imac, put just some data on after updating to the newest version.

I am disappointed with it because I thought the problems should be solved right now. I hope an update will be there soon.

Hello again fellow victims

Just adding a comment so that we avoid anyone concluding this is over. I find it astonishing that apple have not made any kind of customer apology. I'll keep that in mind next time I buy any new hardware. Considering the general product is so good, it's beyond comprehension that we, the customers are being simply abandoned. As for the people who have posted, with their "gushing thank you" - why? Why thank a company for solving a problem you shouldn't have had. They should be apologising!!!!

I am a user not a technician!

Right, I've had it, squarely in the jaw . No one here is posting their current OSX and networking configuration or router type & brand. No analysis whatever going on from there, sorry, people!

If you want to go on whining, whine ahead. I you want a solution, clearly it will not be forthcoming from Apple, so please make an effort and post your current OSX and networking configuration and/or router type & brand.

Suspicions are that Yosemite prefers Greenfield/ Broadcom (GF-BRCM) network call preambles which will probably only work with Broadcom network cards (in just about any fairly recent Mac you can name) and compatible hardware/ WiFi routers (Airports?). And here is the catch: non-compatible (maybe older) WiFi routers will probably ignore calls from Greenfield or GF-BRCM, because 802.11 b,g and ac networks are excluded. In Legacy mode or Mixed Mode, however, they will probably be heard.

There you go.

Anyone?  

A few pages back, I mentioned how I fixed the Wifi problem on my 13" Retina Macbook Pro by placing the 10.10.2 IO80211Family.kext with the one from first release of Yosemite 10.10 and since then I had no problem with wifi.

I guess no one noticed my post , Regards

Don't forget to report it to Apple - here https://www.apple.com/feedback/imac.html