I have a new macbook pro w retina screen that cannot hold a wifi signal. All trouble shooting has been done with my telco to no avail. Would buying an airport help to keep the signal stronger? I live 1km from a major CBD in Aust so its not remote.
Howdy Boughtanapplegotalemon,
I see you are a new user here at Apple Support Communities - welcome! I hope you will continue to contribute to the community with questions and answers.
If you are having difficulties staying connected to Wi-Fi with your MacBook Pro, I would suggest that you troubleshoot using the steps in this article - Use Wireless Diagnostics to help you resolve Wi-Fi issues on your Mac.
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Best to you.
I have already tried all trouble shooting offered by Apple. Some of it worked temporarily but the improvements never lasted and the drop outs began again. My previous model MBP worked perfectly on the previous as do other laptops when they are here and using the network. Any other ideas Brett? Anyone?
I see a lot of people on this forum have the same problem with this model, has anyone resolved the issue?
Hi Boughtanapplegotalemon,
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. Due to the nature of the issue you described you may find more information by using another one of Apple's support resources - https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action.
Brett I have used all these resources to no avail. Does anyone know if an airport device might help this issue? None of the online, or phone support has helped.
Also wondering why I can't reply to these chats unless I tick the "This helped me" or 'solved' icon? Its a little misleading as the problem remains 'unsolved.
Boughtanapplegotalemon wrote:
I have a new macbook pro w retina screen that cannot hold a wifi signal. All trouble shooting has been done with my telco to no avail. Would buying an airport help to keep the signal stronger? I live 1km from a major CBD in Aust so its not remote.
What modem router make and model, the Telco give you... ??
I presume you are on ADSL??
your distance from CBD in Australia means very little since our broadband can use phone wires laid in the ground before 1910. oiled paper insulation.. and the worst adsl characteristics in the world.
It matters a lot the sort of building you live in.. eg apartment buildings tend to be full of 2.4ghz so getting decent speed with it is near impossible.. you really need 5ghz and you need a very good router to handle it if the building is made with lots of concrete.
Give me screenshots of the actual wireless scan.. you can do that via the instructions Brett gave you.
Post those two shots as it gives an idea of current signal and how much interference you have.
Thanks so much LaPastengue for the info. It is a cable internet service with Telstra and I have a Gateway modem which offers both 2.4 and 5GHz, neither of which can hold a wifi signal with this laptop.
I live in a freestanding house in an old suburb with zoning that prohibits unit blocks and high rises so, while every house has wifi, Telstra has checked the interference levels from neighbours and within my house and assured me they are more than acceptable levels. It's also relevant to mention that I've had no problem in five years until I bought this new computer and that all other devices - older mac's, PC's and tablets, phones etc - work perfectly in the same room at the same time as I am constantly booting up network preferences trying to get a connection.
I have had two new Macbook Pro's here in the past couple of months (since the problem arose) and neither would hold a wifi connection while everything else would. Apple refuse to accept this and say the only thing they will do is take my laptop back for a minimum of 14 days, something that I cannot do as the device is vital to my daily work. As the device is less than 3 months old, this seems to be a pretty harsh, unsatisfactory option.
Give me the screenshot of the actual connection you are getting.
The Telstra gateway Max for cable is a problematic device.. and I think the newer wireless cards in latest laptop could well have issues with it.
I am running an Apple Time Capsule, AC version. I think you can pick up a Gen6 Airport Extreme for a reasonable price and try it..
If you buy from apple store.. as they say, if it doesn't work return it in 14days.. I do find the apple stuff works better with the apple routers.. It is becoming more so of late with apple attempting to do strange peer to peer transfers between the laptop of iOS devices.. Some of these new protocols will not be handled well by the Telstra unit.
At the same time if you don't want to spend >$200 look around for a gen5 AE.. as they work very well in my experience..
I don't seem to have that option under my wifi symbol - and it's not in my wifi system preferences either.
Hold down the option key.. then click the wifi.
But I think you can already see the problem. Force the connection to 5ghz.
I followed the prompts but can't get anything other than this - have tried several times
When you open wireless diagnostics..
Go to the top menu..
The tools have all moved from utilities to directly part of the main software.. as a bunch of separate windows.
Bring up and use scan.. and try all of them..
but I think you need to buy a router more suited to your equipment.. i.e. an Apple router.
Did you connect to Telstra-5G as LaPastenague advised?
But I think you can already see the problem. Force the connection to 5ghz.
Are you going to try an Apple AiPort Extreme as LaPastenague advised?
The Telstra gateway Max for cable is a problematic device.. and I think the newer wireless cards in latest laptop could well have issues with it.
I am running an Apple Time Capsule, AC version. I think you can pick up a Gen6 Airport Extreme for a reasonable price and try it..
If you buy from apple store.. as they say, if it doesn't work return it in 14days.. I do find the apple stuff works better with the apple routers.. It is becoming more so of late with apple attempting to do strange peer to peer transfers between the laptop of iOS devices.. Some of these new protocols will not be handled well by the Telstra unit.
At the same time if you don't want to spend >$200 look around for a gen5 AE.. as they work very well in my experience..
Finally figured out how to get here! Don't know what any of this means though! I think I might be forced to buy an apple router - I certainly can't operate like this. There is definitely something faulty with this mac though as other devices work fine with the Telstra modem, while this lemon can't hold a connection long enough to send an email.
Did you try to force the connection to Telstra2162-5G .. please do that.
Just select the 5ghz instead of the 2.4ghz when you click on the wireless icon in the top menu area.
5Ghz is often superior now for connections when you are surrounded by 2.4ghz stuff..
I also see it has recommended you use low channels for 5ghz.. at the moment your modem router is using 149 for 5ghz.. which is the best option for most people.. but the selection of 36 or 40 often gives better penetration.. ie longer range which is an issue.
Please tell us if that improves things at all.
I've changed it on to 5G but don't know understand how to change channels - I'll see how it goes on 5G for an hour or so. Should I send you another screen shot?
I have a new macbook pro w retina screen that cannot hold a wifi signal. All trouble shooting has been done with my telco to no avail. Would buying an airport help to keep the signal stronger? I live 1km from a major CBD in Aust so its not remote.
