Poor wifi range with my MacBook pro

Option-Click on the WiFi icon -> Wireless Diagnostics

Click on Wireless Diagnostics -> Window -> Scan

Expand the scan window so you can see the things to the far right.

The one item in bold will be the WiFi base station you are using.

You want to make sure the channel your base station is using is the strongest one your Mac sees in the location you are going to be using it.

RSSI values in the -30's (excellent), -40's (Great), -50's (Good) are preferred. Values from -60's to -90's are moving towards the weak side.

Noise values in the -90's (no noise), -80's (a tiny bit of noise), -70's (noise is getting stornger), -60's (noise may start to be a problem), from here going down towards the -30's is way too much noise on your channel.

Now look at the other WiFi base stations listed. In the 2.4GHz frequences, you want to be on 1, 6, or 11 if possible. You do not want anyone to be on any channels 2 below and 2 above your 2.4GHz channel as each channel actually takes up a total of 5 channels worth of bandwidth.

If you have overlapping channels from other WiFi base stations, you need to evaluate if their RSSI is strong or weak. If they exist, but have an RSSI in the -80's -90's, and you have a nice strong RSSI, then this is not a problem. What you do not want is overlapping channels that are very strong.

The 5GHz channels do not overlap, but you again want to look at the RSSI and Noise values, and if there is conflicting WiFi base stations, if they are strong signals or very weak.

I'm guessing apple wont want to now about this

You do not know that unless try

BugReporter

Anyone can get a free account at:

<https://developer.apple.com/register/index.action>

Click on the airport wi-fi icon in the menu and see what network you are actually on. You may not be on the correct one.

Also, open up Network in System Preferences and select the wi-fi connection. Click on the Advanced button. Drag your preferred network to the top to insure it will connect to that first.

pagan ninny

it's really frustrating as I rely on my machine

Frustrating would be an understatement 😉

Most router today are simultaneous dual band. In your Network setting you can see more.

The 5Ghz channel is faster, the 2.4 Ghz reaches a longer distance. Hard to believe this would of changed with a 10.11.5 upgrade.

holding the option key click on the airport icon in the top right of your screen will reveal more info about your current Network.

Easy enough to reset your router and modem as a basic. Also check your router for any firmware updates.

Please verify the settings in air port utility .

1. open air port utility via spotlight

2. click on base station > edit > wireless > wireless options > uncheck the box 5 GHz network name and radio mode , 2.4 GHz channel , 5GHz channel must be automatic .

Bring your device that is not able to connect to wi fi ( mac computer ) nearer to service provider modem and air port express . the more the system is nearer the better is the signal strength & all lines in wifi icon are visible .

And if you take the system far away from modem the lines will fade away .

There is more useful information to the right of the window. You should grow that window to see all of the collumns. Maybe just click the Green button in the upper left of the window.

But the RSSI values shown are really bad. -83 is a very weak lousy signal. -92 is as worse as the utility will display, and -83 is almost there.

And since there are ONLY 2 WiFi base stations shown, I do not think it is interference from other WiFi base stations.

Assuming you are not too far away from your base station, then this would tend to indicate you are having difficulty receiving a signal. I would tend to suspect your Mac's WiFi antenna.

UNLESS you have walls and radio interfering objects between your Mac. Lots of walls/floors, Metal Studs in the walls, metal appliances (stove, microwave, refrigerator, diskwasher, metal cabinet, etc...), concrete walls with rebar, RFI shielding paint (there really is such a thing), etc...

Maybe it is time to make a Genius Bar Appointment, and have your Mac's WiFi evaluated.

Open system preferences > network > set location to automatic .

Alternatively you can see much more when clicking the WiFi icon while holding the Alt/option key, make a screen shot with CMD+SHIFT+4.

Better to know what the cause is, then keep wondering. At least you can fix it now.