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Giuly

macrumors 68040
41yErILkiIL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


It's called a 100' Ethernet Cable and costs $10.91 on Amazon.
 
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InlawBiker

macrumors 6502
Apr 6, 2007
284
36
LOL :D . Nobody wants to run cable, but cable is always 100% better than WiFi in every way except convenience.
 

Lance-AR

macrumors 6502
May 7, 2012
315
1
Little Rock, AR
In the 2.4Ghz band, only channels 1, 6 and 11 do not overlap each other. I would stick with one of those so you're only getting interference from 1 group of APs at a time.

By the way, I too experienced this issue last weekend with a new, 10.7.3 iMac with relatively clean airwaves between itself and the AP about 10 feet away. The AP was Ruckus Wireless. I was unable to resolve the issue.
 

TonsOfFun420

macrumors member
May 10, 2012
52
0
First time poster here, I switched from windows in September of 2011 when I got an iMac 27" and I loved everything about it except for the fact that my wireless connection would drop all the time. It was even happening in the Apple store when they were trying to register me, so I thought it must be a defect, took it back and they gave me a brand new one, got it home and the same thing was happening, and it still happened after that last wifi update. I just dealt with the inconvenience and plugged the iMac directly into the modem. Then a few days ago I was given a new wireless router, I tried it out and it has been working perfectly, havn't dropped the connection once. It could have been some sort of compatibility issue where it wouldn't work properly with the old Netgear router, but does work with the new Linksys router, or maybe it was what someone mentioned earlier about getting rid of the old connections after installing the update, in this case I am using an entirely new connection. Hope this helps people fix their problems too!
 

jukinha92

macrumors member
Apr 30, 2012
36
0
Hi. I would like to know if the range of iMac s wifi is good because my router is 20 30 meters from my desk and i need to know if my new iMac is going to have a good network question.
 

snebes

macrumors 6502a
Apr 20, 2008
810
713
This is an issue that I have been having since I bought mine.

I took to to the Apple store yesterday, got it back today. They could not reproduce the problem, even though I show the drops in the console. They stone walled any help because their "tests" didn't show any problems.

My warranty is up at the end of the month, so I am pretty screwed if I can't reproduce the issue at the genius bar soon.

Their answer? Call Apple care when it happens. It must be my network. Have them charge me $50.00 for the phone call.

It didn't even phase them when I told them it has happened across 3 different wifi routers--1 x 2wire POS and 2 x airport express stations.

I have tried one last thing that I saw recently in the (many, many) posts on the Apple forums. I created a new network location. I haven't had a drop yet tonight, but I am sure it will happen anytime soon.

Just a warning for all if you plan to bring it into an Apple "Genius" bar. They will only be unhelpful if you are lucky, and at worse, waste a lot of your time resetting the system and running tests that supposedly last almost 24 hours end to end.
 

snebes

macrumors 6502a
Apr 20, 2008
810
713
Just a quick update on my situation.

I had 7 drops in a 8 minute period tonight. Obviously the new network location didn't help 1 bit.

I immediately called Apple Care, just as the Genius Bar recommended.

They were just as useless. Since the situation wasn't happening right then and there, and I haven't found the cause, they nearly refused to help. They didn't care about the console log that was full of information.

They asked what apps I had opened, and she questioned my use of having Terminal up and running a lot--didn't quite grasp that I use SSH as a developer.

I eventually lied, said it was happening currently. All they had me do was wipe all the files from /Library/Caches

I expect to have this problem yet...

I suppose executive customer service will he hearing from me soon. The level of incompetence and misunderstanding from support is beyond belief for me.

I hope I come to a resolution to this and am able to share it with everyone experiencing this problem soon.

Here is an example drop from my Console, in case anyone has any ideas:
Code:
5/16/12 7:41:19.000 PM kernel: AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 8 (Disassociated because station leaving).
5/16/12 7:41:19.655 PM UserEventAgent: CaptiveNetworkSupport:CaptivePublishState:1211 en1 - PreProbe
5/16/12 7:41:19.656 PM configd: setting hostname to "Steves-iMac.local"
5/16/12 7:41:19.660 PM configd: network configuration changed.
5/16/12 7:41:19.670 PM applepushserviced: <APSCourier: 0x7f9c92d04bc0>: Stream error occurred for <APSTCPStream: 0x7f9c92d17620>: The operation couldn’t be completed. Socket is not connected
5/16/12 7:41:22.000 PM kernel: en1: BSSID changed to 44:d8:84:6a:61:99
5/16/12 7:41:22.000 PM kernel: AirPort: Link Up on en1
5/16/12 7:41:22.000 PM kernel: en1: BSSID changed to 44:d8:84:6a:61:99
5/16/12 7:41:24.761 PM rpcsvchost: sandbox_init: com.apple.msrpc.netlogon.sb succeeded
5/16/12 7:41:29.000 PM kernel: en1: BSSID changed to 44:d8:84:6a:61:99
5/16/12 7:41:29.000 PM kernel: AirPort: RSN handshake complete on en1
5/16/12 7:41:35.400 PM configd: network configuration changed.
5/16/12 7:41:35.413 PM UserEventAgent: CaptiveNetworkSupport:CaptivePublishState:1211 en1 - Probe
5/16/12 7:41:35.413 PM UserEventAgent: CaptiveNetworkSupport:CaptiveStartDetect:2343 Bypassing probe on HansGruber because it is protected and not on the exception list
5/16/12 7:41:35.413 PM UserEventAgent: CaptiveNetworkSupport:CaptivePublishState:1211 en1 - Unknown
5/16/12 7:41:35.418 PM configd: network configuration changed.
5/16/12 7:41:35.420 PM configd: setting hostname to "steves-imac"

Interface information:
Code:
  Interfaces:
en1:
  Card Type:	AirPort Extreme  (0x168C, 0x9A)
  Firmware Version:	Atheros 9380: 4.0.64.8-P2P
  MAC Address:	<snip>
  Locale:	FCC
  Country Code:	US 
  Supported Channels:	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165
  Wake On Wireless:	Supported
  AirDrop:	Supported
  Status:	Connected
  Current Network Information:
HansGruber:
  PHY Mode:	802.11n
  BSSID:	44:d8:84:6a:61:99
  Channel:	1
  Country Code:	US 
  Network Type:	Infrastructure
  Security:	WPA2 Personal
  Signal / Noise:	-61 dBm / -102 dBm
  Transmit Rate:	104
  MCS Index:	13
 
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EssentialParado

macrumors 65816
Feb 17, 2005
1,162
48
Any update to this issue?

Like the other posters, I also didn't have a problem until Apple released the "Fix", and since then it's been dropping out with annoying regularity on my 8 month-old iMac. :(
 

snebes

macrumors 6502a
Apr 20, 2008
810
713
Any update to this issue?

Like the other posters, I also didn't have a problem until Apple released the "Fix", and since then it's been dropping out with annoying regularity on my 8 month-old iMac. :(

I actually got a call-back today on my issue from level 2 or 3 tech support. She empathized with my situation, and said that engineering is working on it--that this is a "known" issue. It will be updated in a future software fix, but she made it sound like that was very far off. Keep in mind it took a lot of convincing to talk to someone this high up the chain, and she still never heard of this issue. So much for a "known" issue...

So basically, I'm stuck with a broken airport card (based on the general diagnosis that the airport card chipset [atheros] has a problem with the software, or is defective)

I guess this is the Apple Care support I should expect after I bought the AppleCare warranty. my regular warranty would have expired yesterday.
 

EssentialParado

macrumors 65816
Feb 17, 2005
1,162
48
I actually got a call-back today on my issue from level 2 or 3 tech support. She empathized with my situation, and said that engineering is working on it--that this is a "known" issue. It will be updated in a future software fix, but she made it sound like that was very far off. Keep in mind it took a lot of convincing to talk to someone this high up the chain, and she still never heard of this issue. So much for a "known" issue...

So basically, I'm stuck with a broken airport card (based on the general diagnosis that the airport card chipset [atheros] has a problem with the software, or is defective)

I guess this is the Apple Care support I should expect after I bought the AppleCare warranty. my regular warranty would have expired yesterday.
Ah, thanks for the reply! It's very rare that Apple will say when something is a known issue that's being worked on, very good to know at least.
 

DIMEZ

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 5, 2009
525
24
MD
You know i figured out the problem, it was a combination of router and terrible internet coverage in my area. When i moved It was perfect, no drops or disconnection. just stranger how poor the wireless card is compare to a notebook.
 

n-i-k-k-o

macrumors member
Jan 15, 2007
41
0
Calne, Wiltshire, UK
I'm just posting my setup in case it helps anyone.

I have a TimeCapsule that backs up 2x laptops (MacBook & MBP). In an upstairs office, there's a MacMini which will soon be replaced by a new 27" iMac. There's also 2x printers (laser B&W & colour inkjet).

Because I want to share the printers across all computers, I bought an Airport Express which joins the wireless network created by the TimeCapsule. It doesnt extend it, but just joins it as a wireless client. The printers plug into a USB2 hub which plugs into the back of the Airport Express. The Mac Mini (and the iMac) plug into the back of the Airport Express via ethernet.

With this setup, I use the two Airport devices to talk wireless to each other. The laptops talk wireless to the Airport Extreme. And the Mac Mini (and soon to be iMac) talk ethernet to the Airport Express.

Could be useful for someone?

N
 
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