When using Clamshell set up what can I do to boost my wifi- it is degraded to half speed when MacBook is closed.

I noticed that my wifi speed was significantly degraded by half when in Clamshell mode. If I unhook the clamshell setup and test my wifi speed it immediately jumps up. If I get a wifi signal booster will that help or is there something I can attach to my MacBook to boost the speed. Not sure where the signal for wifi comes in to the MacBook but it must be blocked and degraded. Any suggestions or solutions would be greatly appreciated. thank you. Patti

iPhone 6 Plus, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Mar 2, 2017 8:30 PM

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6 replies

Mar 6, 2017 8:00 PM in response to BobHarris

Just FYI - Cox tested everything and claimed that the signal is almost 300 megabits/second and that it was my old router (NetGear N300- single band) that was blocking speed. The tech recommended a new router - I checked on line and found a Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 Dual band gigabit router for $139, which he thought was a great price as the one he had to sell me was only AC 1275 and would be $189 through Cox. So I ordered it from Costco and I will try it out - easy returns to Costco if doesn't work out. Hopefully this will overcome the hidden antenna problem and get me back up to a faster speed for internet use. thanks for all your help and info.

Mar 5, 2017 8:12 PM in response to winkle33

Is this the ultra thin Macbook, or the older poly-carbonate plastic Macbook Pro.


The metal based Mac laptops put the antenna in the hinge. It is the only place that is not metal. If this is your style Mac, then make sure the back of the Mac has a clear line-of-sight to the WiFi base station. For example, if the metal body of the Mac is between the hinge and the base station, that is a lot of metal to get through. If there is a refrigerator or other metal kitchen object between the back of the Mac and the base station, etc...


If you have the plastic model, then I think the antenna is in the bezel of the screen. When the screen is vertical, it may be a better orientation than lying flat. You could experiment on the orientation, or even try propping up the Mac to give the top of the Mac a better angle towards the base station.

Mar 5, 2017 8:24 PM in response to winkle33

Thanks for your response. I have the MacBook Pro 15 with a metal case so the antenna is in the hinge. The laptop sits on my desk up against the base of the large LED screen. My wifi router is in the next room just on the other side of the wall just behind the laptop and LED Screen.

Since I started using the clamshell set up my internet speed has degraded by at least 70%. I was complaining to Cox about it and when the repairman came to my house and had me up hook my laptop and carry it into the living room I had my ah ha moment when the speed jumped back up to 3 times what it was. When I was researching Clamshell mode on the internet, no one mentioned the degradation of the signal.

Would putting a Wifi booster that plugs into a wall outlet inside my office with the laptop set-up help? Or is there something I can plug into the laptop that would boost the signal? I really like the clamshell set up and the large screen and the Logitech Keyboard that gives me back the Num pad. I need the large screen for photo/art work. If I have to live with the slower speed, I will but hoping there is something I can do to boost reception. Thanks for your help.

Mar 6, 2017 5:40 AM in response to winkle33

Maybe. When you and the Cox service tech tested in the same room as the WiFi base station, was your Macbook Pro in clamshell mode? If so, then there is a very good chance having a local WiFi source with a good line of sight to your Macbook Pro would help.


You could try some different orientations for your Macbook Pro to see if that improves things.


Can you setup the current WiFi base station in your office, instead of where it currently is?


Can you move the current WiFi base station around in the room it currently lives it to see if may there is something in the walls that is line of sight interfering with your Macbook Pro's reception. A refrigerator, dishwasher, goldfish tank (WiFi and water do not mix), HVAC ducts in the walls, metal pipes, etc...


Can you run Ethernet? Or use Powerline Ethernet adapters (Google it, if you do not know what a Powerline Ethernet adapter is)?


You could get a Mesh Network, such as the eero.com <http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-wi-fi-mesh-networking-kits/>


Do you know for a fact that leaving the Macbook Pro "Open" reduces your external monitor performance? Just testing your assumptions.

Mar 6, 2017 11:29 AM in response to BobHarris

My laptop was unhooked from Clamshell set up in office/studio and carried into living room and was open to test. So definitely it is a closed problem with the antenna being inside. Just need to boost the wifi to overcome the "hidden and buried antenna".


Can't move the base station router as it is in a data jack behind the TV in Great room. Anyway I don't think I can as I only have a straight telephone jack in office. The pre-wire consultant for my home builder said that 1 data jack in center of house should be enough. So I only put in the one. But I can buy a wifi booster and plug it in my office/studio where clamshell set up is and see if that helps. You would think I could attach an external antenna to the laptop somehow but don't think that is an option from my internet searches. I only need to boost the signal about 30-40% for my needs. I don't stream or game or anything that requires high speed. But when Cox signal comes in way less than the 150 mpbs I am paying for then by the time it gets to my office I sometimes get readings as low at 10-15. Cox tech is coming out today and I will see what signal is at modem and then go from there. I think Cox service is getting too slow at times and that is my main problem. They need to figure that out before I buy "faster routers or signal boosters" Have only 6 months left on my 2 year Cox contract and will be looking at Century Link DSL as that is dedicated to my house and won't be slowed by neighbors on line. I will let you know what COX says later today.

Mar 6, 2017 12:14 PM in response to winkle33

DSL is generally limited to around 3 megabits/second. Maybe they have juiced it up a little, but I would be surprised if it can do more than 5 megabits/second.


Unless Century Link DSL is just their brand name, and they offer fiber or cable to the home, or have a deal to carry the signal across the Cox cables.


I my current home, before we moved in, I paid about 2K to have Ethernet run to all the rooms (AND a 2 lines with an electrical outlet in key closets). That way I had Ethernet available everywhere. The closets are were I would setup routers or WiFi access points using Ethernet as the back-haul, or a network attached printer and the 2nd ethernet feed could be put into service as a FAX telephone line.


The house before that I ran my own ethernet from an electrical outlet on the first floor into the basement (drills were involved), across the basement, up into a hall closet that was under a 2nd floor hall closet, and through the upstairs hall closet wall into a bedroom closet (more drills were involved). That gave me ethernet in the upstairs office, and a place to put a WiFi access point, again using ethernet as the back-haul.


In your case, you if you cannot figure out the correct WiFi booster, you might just look at a pair of PowerLine Ethernet adapters. Plug one into an outlet in the great room, and the 2nd in the office. Plug ethernet cable from router into the one, and an ethernet cable from the other into your Mac. PowerLine will give you way more than 150 megabits/second.

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When using Clamshell set up what can I do to boost my wifi- it is degraded to half speed when MacBook is closed.

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