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2011 MBA WiFi issue
- Thread starter bwphoto
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I'm experiencing the same problems with my Netgear WNR2000 router. I just did a firmware upgrade to v1.2.3.7 and my GUI Language to V1.1.5.12. Still experiencing Wifi dropouts. My 2011 MBA 13" is dropping Wifi signal and not accepting my passwords occasionally to connect to my Wifi router. This is very frustrating. I even spent all night trying to re-install OS X Lion via Wifi. Finally got it done and now, I cant even web browse using Safari. On the other hand, my 5 year old Dell XPS M140 laptop work perfectly.
I'm going to call Apple and NETGEAR sometime in the morning to get some resolution.
I'm going to call Apple and NETGEAR sometime in the morning to get some resolution.
It's not unusual for Apple to struggle with Wi-Fi. They'll get it sorted out at some point. It seems that perhaps it's not much of a priority for them. I've had a few new MBP's and an MBA over the years with connectivity issues. Each time it's just a matter of Apple issuing a fix. No big deal.
I've connected my 2011 air to a Netgear WGR614 (g) for a few nights and haven't had any problems/drops. I've also connected to a Time Capsule N router and have had no drops there either. Guess I got lucky.
Yep, still seeing this a ton. Pretty much driving me nuts! From the looks of this forum, it seems this is not a very widespread issue, I would have expected to see many more people with issues. Very weird. I really don't want to swap my Air AGAIN (I'm on 4th)....
Just to chirp in, I'm having the same issues with my 13" 2011 MBA:
- sometimes after resuming from sleep, system reports that no preferred network is available even though mine is in the list
- sometimes system has no internet connectivity after connecting to wifi (disabling/enabling AirPort often fixes this)
- even while connected to wifi, system is regularly looking for more networks
My router is a Dlink DIR-655 which has been running fine for a couple years now (no, not continuously
). No other systems (3x Win 7 PCs) or wireless devices (Android phone, iPod Touch 4h gen) have wifi issues ever.
- sometimes after resuming from sleep, system reports that no preferred network is available even though mine is in the list
- sometimes system has no internet connectivity after connecting to wifi (disabling/enabling AirPort often fixes this)
- even while connected to wifi, system is regularly looking for more networks
My router is a Dlink DIR-655 which has been running fine for a couple years now (no, not continuously
). No other systems (3x Win 7 PCs) or wireless devices (Android phone, iPod Touch 4h gen) have wifi issues ever.found this on the apple support site - hopefully it's true!
https://discussions.apple.com/message/15884542#15884542
"Re: WiFi Issues With MacBook Air
Aug 9, 2011 12:08 AM (in response to robbiegraham)
OK just spent an hour in the Apple store. They said they have a major problem with Lion and will be releasing a fix "soon". The shop had a queue of people with the same problem"
https://discussions.apple.com/message/15884542#15884542
"Re: WiFi Issues With MacBook Air
Aug 9, 2011 12:08 AM (in response to robbiegraham)
OK just spent an hour in the Apple store. They said they have a major problem with Lion and will be releasing a fix "soon". The shop had a queue of people with the same problem"
Just because you are not seeing more users reporting this, is not truly indicative of the prevalence of the actual issue. Many people don't use wifi as much as those of us who either have our homes and offices setup with wifi, or those of us that travel a lot.
I experienced this same exact situation in 2009 with not one, but FIVE MacBook Pro's that local Apple Store exchanged for me, in an attempt to find one that would connect and _stay_ connected to wifi. Neither the genius in the store, nor Apple Care could come up with a fix. At the time I had a new & pure Apple Airport setup at home, so there were no third party components involved. It was all new Apple gear, they exchanged virtually every part of the new wireless network they had sold me, and still nothing.
If not for my constant business travel, and therefore a true dependence on wifi I probably would have kept the computer as it was a wonderful machine except that it was useless to me without wifi. I was very disappointed that nothing could be done. Especially since my old MBP had died.
I have nothing but good things to say about my local Apple Store, they were exceptional. They did everything they could possibly do. Too bad Apple could not support them with a properly working MBP.
My neighbor who went in with me when I first bought mine, also bought an identical MBP, but didn't have a need for wifi so he kept his. A few months later Apple issued one of their famous silent fixes. Too bad it took them so long.
FWIW, I reported a similar issue several weeks ago with the Netgear WNR2000 and a new MBA, which I was only able to resolve by switching to an older D-Link DI-524 (and moving down to g from n). Since then, I've had no WiFi issues.
Here is the post:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1195289/
The one common denominator with MBA's and MBP's is the fact that Apple chose Aluminum for the housing. As a result, by nature the case conflicts with wifi signals. My ThinkPad built with Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) is able to receive wifi signals quite easily and will lock on to the weakest of signals and perform quite nicely. The performance difference is actually quite dramatic.
I've had this instance happen to regular computers sometimes, so it's not that uncommon.
It's not unusual for any company to struggle with wi-fi. There are many things that can cause issues with wireless and many different implementations of wireless hardware and software. I do have the issue with password not being recognized sometimes but it's a minor annoyance as it works after a few tries. I don't have dropouts.
13" 2011 MBA i5/4/128 - No issues connecting to a Time Capsule, and no issues connecting to an older Netgear g wireless router.
I don't think it negates it, just makes it tolerable, i have no problems connecting but the range is more limited than my iPhone 3G which is plastic.
Thanks for the info. I'm planning on upgrading my Netgear WNR2000 to the new Airport Extreme.
I'm experiencing the same problem, 2011 11 inch MBA, D-link dir-655 router, random disconnect, won't reconnect even if entered correct passphrase. I changed the channel settings, hopefully that fixes it. I was planning a trip to the store to exchange my MBA because this issue has been bugging me, good thing I saw this thread.
I'll resurrect this thread because I'm having big time wifi issues with my new Air. It connects to the local network (it's a Time Capsule, if that matters), and I can see and connect to other machines and files on the network. However, my wifi signal shows an exclamation mark and "No internet connectivity." I was unable to connect to my home network last night and again this morning, but now it's working fine at the office.
This is definitely NOT a router or ISP issue as all other machines on my network are connected to the internet.
My searches suggest to me that this is a big unresolved issue with the MBA, but this forum is oddly silent about it.
I just installed the new update this morning and maybe there's an internet fix hidden in there... we'll see. But I'm like others who rely heavily on wifi, particularly when traveling. This is a critical issue, not "no big deal." As this thread is over a month old and it's still an issue, Apple needs to issue a fix ASAP.
This is definitely NOT a router or ISP issue as all other machines on my network are connected to the internet.
My searches suggest to me that this is a big unresolved issue with the MBA, but this forum is oddly silent about it.
I just installed the new update this morning and maybe there's an internet fix hidden in there... we'll see. But I'm like others who rely heavily on wifi, particularly when traveling. This is a critical issue, not "no big deal." As this thread is over a month old and it's still an issue, Apple needs to issue a fix ASAP.
its funny. That is the exact router i'm still using. Been using it for better part of the last decade. heck, my last firmware update is 2005.
It's been the BEST router i have used to date. I've tried linksys and netgear and have had issues in different places with all others
But this one is going rock solid steady!
Except with my new AIR. From everywhere in the house, I'm able to connect with everything from IPOD touches, Netbooks, Laptops and Cell phones, with at least medium signal.
But my AIR? No matter where I am, OSx is reporting full bars of signal to it. and excellent health. Yet, randomly, it'll just stop communicating. It won't disconnect from the router usually, but it'll go 2-3 minutes where the "task manager" (forget what it's called in OSx) reports 0bytes data transmitting
ive had my net crash a lot with my old routers...
i replaced them after a few months with a new random cheap one. it was always only the wifi part of the router that crashed. my cabled desktop pc was perfectly fine.
my wifi haven't shut down since i got my apple airport extreme. i really love it. worth every penny!
and yes i did have the wifi tested with more than just my old laptop. iPhones, friends laptops etc. the net just "died" when you're on wifi, even though the laptop was still connected, and the net itself worked fine on the desktop pc. it was kinda weird!
but as said, buying a proper router fixed it for me.
i replaced them after a few months with a new random cheap one. it was always only the wifi part of the router that crashed. my cabled desktop pc was perfectly fine.
my wifi haven't shut down since i got my apple airport extreme. i really love it. worth every penny!
and yes i did have the wifi tested with more than just my old laptop. iPhones, friends laptops etc. the net just "died" when you're on wifi, even though the laptop was still connected, and the net itself worked fine on the desktop pc. it was kinda weird!
but as said, buying a proper router fixed it for me.
I'm getting the "invalid password" problem on new MBA. I know the password is right... Even went to router and changed password to see if that would work.... It didn't. I know it's not the router since I'm connected to it now with iPad. Router is Apple's Time Capsule.
I'm hoping it resolves itself somehow since some replies here suggest it might...
What's causing this? Only difference on my MBA vs. Other systems in the house is Lion...
I'm hoping it resolves itself somehow since some replies here suggest it might...
What's causing this? Only difference on my MBA vs. Other systems in the house is Lion...
Changing channels on the router seemed to solve it for now. However, my WiFi icon shows it's searching, not connected.
I did try turning on 5ghz dual-band on the router... however, it made the non-5ghz SSID flakey for other devices in the same room (my bedroom). I couldn't connect to it from any device, even though I could connect to the 5ghz SSID with my MBA.
Mind you, I've been connecting to this router (Time Capsule) without an issue or problem for a long long time with multiple devices... in this same room. I'm pretty convinced it's a Lion and/or MBA problem.
I did try turning on 5ghz dual-band on the router... however, it made the non-5ghz SSID flakey for other devices in the same room (my bedroom). I couldn't connect to it from any device, even though I could connect to the 5ghz SSID with my MBA.
Mind you, I've been connecting to this router (Time Capsule) without an issue or problem for a long long time with multiple devices... in this same room. I'm pretty convinced it's a Lion and/or MBA problem.