Airport problems after update

I have been using my 20" Intel iMac for a few months now and have had no problems getting the built-in airport device to connect to my wireless home network. Yesterday, I downloaded and installed the new airport system update, and ever since I've been having big trouble. It doesn't show any available network connection at all (and I know my wireles network is working because my laptop can still connect). If I restart the computer, sometimes it will find my network and sign on, but then it drops the connection after just a few minutes and goes back to saying it can't detect any available networks. Has anyone else had any problems since the new update? Any suggestions on what to do? Thanks.

iMac 20" Intel, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Oct 2, 2006 6:31 AM

78 replies

Oct 6, 2006 3:25 PM in response to Bradley Lambert

I have also been having problems but am at the point now where Firefox works perfectly both on Airport or LAN connection but Safari doesn't like the Airport at all. I have justabout given up on Safari and set Firefox as the default browser.

Florine

Level 1

0 points

Oct 8, 2006 5:32 AM in response to Bradley Lambert

I experience the same problems. Since the update to 10.4.8 I can not make contact to my wireless modem anymore. I have tried all solutions suggested below but nothing brought back the contact. Fortunately my Ibook still works...

IMac 20" duo core Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Oct 8, 2006 9:12 PM in response to Bradley Lambert

I just dropped back to 10.4.7 on my MBP until Apple can figure the mess out.

kuty

Level 1

9 points

Oct 9, 2006 2:13 AM in response to Bradley Lambert

What seems to have helped in my case was:
1. deleting the preference files mentioned in some earlier posts and restarting the machine
2. switching to the WPA2 from WPA on the router (Zyxel) as well as on the MBP
3. Changing the channel to 1

I think that what helped most was no 2. I use the WPA2-PSK with a shared key - no need to set-up a Radius server (whatever it is). I had a problem initially with this setting - the Zyxel did not want to let me select WPA2 as an option saying that the Radius server wasn't running - so I had to point to some dummy IP address as the server's and then only I could select the WPA2 flavour that doesn't make use of the Radius at all...

HTH

Oct 9, 2006 9:16 AM in response to Rick Bolton

I just got off the phone with AppleCare and the guy told me that Apple isn't doing anything about this issue since it's a problem with a third party router. He said their updates only deal with Apple products, so they can't predict how third party products will react to the updates. I told him that there are LOTS of people with the same problem since the 10.4.8 update, and he said yes, he knows, in fact he had taken another call about it earlier today, but it's still not an Apple issue. Ridiculous.

Is there a way to go back to 10.4.7 without having to reinstall ALL the software I have on my computer? The thought of having to go through all that gives me chills.

lenn5

Level 4

2,537 points

Oct 9, 2006 9:44 AM in response to Bradley Lambert

I'm having the same problem and I'm using an Airport Express router.

lenn

Oct 9, 2006 8:11 PM in response to Bradley Lambert

Bradley - you can do an install and archive but it really depends what software you have loaded as to how well it works. At days end I quit worrying about it and just re-installed it all - I MUST have wireless.

The problem IS APPLE'S headache - I use 100% Apple products and my Intel MBP DOES not work with 10.4.8 - period.

Oct 9, 2006 9:03 PM in response to Rick Bolton

"WPA is not even showing up as an option in the pulldown menu - WEP is all that is available for selection."

I'm having exactly the same problem with my mother's 17-inch 1.83 GHz Core Duo iMac. As I couldn't enter a WPA password, I wasn't able to establish contact. I couldn't even access the DSL modem configurations via the iMac. I used my PowerBook G4 instead (also running Mac OS 10.4.8) to configure it.

I gave up and now am using a direct Ethernet connection to the router. I hope Apple works on a solution soon.

leogirl

Level 1

8 points

Oct 26, 2006 8:12 PM in response to slaveToTechnology

If on the screen in Network Diagnostics showing only WEP encryption, you choose "Use Closed Network", a screen opens in which you can enter the name of your wireless network, then choose WPA Personal encryption.

This is how I've been connecting to my encrypted network since downloading Mac OS 10.4.8. I use Airport Express.

As for other posts in this thread, I am shocked, appalled, disheartened, etc. to hear that AppleCare is disavowing responsibility for this problem. Doesn't Apple monitor these discussion boards? I'm new to Apple and the lack of response to this problem is unbelievable. BTW - what third party? My system is 100% Apple.

myhighway

Level 5

7,270 points

Oct 26, 2006 9:49 PM in response to leogirl

"Doesn't Apple monitor these discussion boards?"

leogirl,
No, it does not. Apple employees are identified as such when they post, but I've only seen a couple posts in two years.

Feedback and complaints meant for Apple should be entered elsewhere on the website for direct, private transmission.

leogirl

Level 1

8 points

Oct 27, 2006 2:34 PM in response to myhighway

Thank you for the insight. I'm beginning to realize I'm just a PC person trying to use a Mac.

CVMax

Level 1

10 points

Oct 28, 2006 1:57 PM in response to Bradley Lambert

Had the iMac Core2Duo wireless connection problem everybody is buzzing about. Was able to resolve this with AppleCare in India (very helpful guy on the phone). We did two things, moved "airport" in the Network Port Configuration screen to the top and did a PRAM reset. The iMac now recognizes my closed network, reconnects after sleep, has normal speed and does recognize my preferred network after start-up. I hope that was it because this was a real pain in the neck.

Oct 28, 2006 3:19 PM in response to CVMax

After trying measures mentioned earlier in this thread without any luck, I'm also suspicious reordering the airport priority and resetting the PRAM will be the solution.

I have been up for nearly 30 minutes though, and the wireless did pop up after the machine was asleep.

That being said, I thought it would be helpful to include the link to show how to reset the PRAM:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

Add me to the list of disappointed by Apple's lack of acknowledgment that many mac intel wireless users were effectively hosed after the 10.4.8 update. I was golden for six months before this update. Come on Apple - You're better than that...

Ryan

iMac Intel Mac OS X (10.4.8)

iMac Intel Mac OS X (10.4.8)

igeeh

Level 1

0 points

Oct 28, 2006 4:47 PM in response to Bradley Lambert

What is wrong with the airport? I think that you should contact a technician for that or bring you iMac to an Apple Center. Or reformat your mac. When I updated my iMac nothing went wrong.

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lenn5

Level 4

2,537 points

Oct 28, 2006 5:26 PM in response to ryanmiller98

Just tried resetting PRAM on my iMac Core Duo 1.83. Still have the same AP connection problem after restarting or waking from sleep. I have to use the AP menu item to turn AP off, then back on again in order for my connection to work. Oh well....

lenn

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Airport problems after update