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MBP wireless range

B

boazjoe

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 13, 2008
76
24
How do I improve the built in MBP wireless range? I have a friend with a 500.00 HP laptop and it has (literally) twice the reception as my high end MBP. Is there something I can do? I can't even get the wireless at work, all the while he is happily zipping along the internet. Argh! How humiliting!

HELP!!

Joe
 
i know! it sucks..

free version:
the wireless antenna is located right below the wording "macbook pro" when you computer is open (the different color grey bar thing), so if you spin your macbook pro and try to find which direction the signal is coming in you might get better reception

costly version:
buy an external usb wifi router, they are like $45 from linksys, then you will have a lot better signal
 
Or even better, just turn off the wireless and disconnect the switch on your friend's computer. :D
 
No, it is a g card and the network itself is g. Guess I might have to use an external antenna or an USB card. Hate to do that though. Seems to me a $2500 plus laptop should be better than this.
 
Yeah, I have some troubles in my living room sometimes... but in my room (where I use my MBP the most), it has no problems. :)
 
My friend's new MBP gets Wi-Fi all the way to the other side of the street!! It obviously has 802.11n and my router is the Linksys Ultra RangePlus Wirless-N (802.11n) the speed and range of this thing is amazing.

Buried all the way in my basement, I still get reception on ground level outside.
 
At my work, my MBP is geting exelent signal, from g networks. Also the network manager was surprised in how my MBP is geting signal of a network that no other laptop can get in the room I work! :D

Have to say so far that the MBP has the better Wi-fi reception I ever seen.
 
Minimoose 360 said:
My friend's new MBP gets Wi-Fi all the way to the other side of the street!! It obviously has 802.11n and my router is the Linksys Ultra RangePlus Wirless-N (802.11n) the speed and range of this thing is amazing.

Buried all the way in my basement, I still get reception on ground level outside.
Click to expand...

I do not have that particular router, but I do have a Draft-N router and it is in the basement. The MacBook Pro gets full bars on the second floor. Three floors later and I'm still at nearly perfect signal. It is excellent!
 
Despite what zealots and inexperienced users say, MBP wireless reception has always been bad, to say the least. Other manufacturers put an external antenna (but you can see it and apple does not want that) when they use metal cases.

<< I decided against the MacBook Pro on a number of grounds, now that processor speeds were equal. Evidently my skin is corrosive, judging by the craters on my palm rests, and that was something I could live without. As too was the ExpressCard slot, and the lesser battery life, and the built-in Faraday cage that meant for pathetic wireless reception >>

From the ars technica review of the macbooks.

On my MBP I have had three screens, the first one by AUO and the last two by Samsung. Honestly, the AUO model (which is the most recent led screen, samsungs are older) had a good reception (weaker than many other notebooks, but perfectly usable). I had zero problems when sitting in the office.

With the samsung screens my wifi connection is always dropping. And I am seated at the same desk.

thistle
 
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