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Airport dropping wifi connection in Snow Leopard?
- Thread starter gfrancetich
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Ugh!
Since I have updated my MB (from Tiger) my connection drops! I have a PC desktop connected via ethernet - and that works fine. My internet also connects wonderfully with the ethernet. But my Wi-Fi! I have called Verizon thinking it was there problem, and they told me to change my WEP to WPA. I did so, and a couple other changes on the router. It still dropped my connection every 3-5 minutes. Later, I updated to 10.6.2. The problem still persists! The only way to get it to connect again is to restart the Airport. So frustrating! It is updated... it is still not fixed!
Since I have updated my MB (from Tiger) my connection drops! I have a PC desktop connected via ethernet - and that works fine. My internet also connects wonderfully with the ethernet. But my Wi-Fi! I have called Verizon thinking it was there problem, and they told me to change my WEP to WPA. I did so, and a couple other changes on the router. It still dropped my connection every 3-5 minutes. Later, I updated to 10.6.2. The problem still persists! The only way to get it to connect again is to restart the Airport. So frustrating! It is updated... it is still not fixed!
You've got a few choices cupcake. You can down grade your os to tiger or leopard OR you can get an airport extreme router. From all I've seen and read those are your options. Maybe you could go back to tiger and return the software to an apple store and make a large scene and complain that their new os has a big fat bug, but I doubt it will be fruitful. I bought a used airport extreme on eBay for about $100 and I was able to add my external HD to my network.
same problem with my time capsule. random drops of the network. searched around for a fix, and on the apple discussion board someone had the suggestion that some of the widgets on the dashboard were causing the problem. (i am not really sure how this happens)
so, today i deleted some newer widgets i had installed and so far today no dropouts. others reported the same on the discussion and others it did not help.
so see if that helps in your case. you never know.
so, today i deleted some newer widgets i had installed and so far today no dropouts. others reported the same on the discussion and others it did not help.
so see if that helps in your case. you never know.
Problem solved !!!
This thread solved my problem at once. THANX !!! After almost a week updating from 10.6 to 10.6.1 and 10.6.2, installing the apple fix for airport client, deleting several files i've founded listed on the web as being the causes of the problem, nothing of it solved my problem except this thread here.
You have to go to your router Page and change Dynamic IP to Static IP. Though the guy from the router factory told me to use dynamic ip, I've made this proposed change and the sun has began to shine again at this very moment.
When I've changed to Static IP i had to put the IP number and Subnet Mask and Default Gateway numbers. I took those numbers from the page that was showed before changing the Dynamic to Static (Router Home Page --> Networking --> WAN). My Router is a TP-Link WR542-G.
This thread solved my problem at once. THANX !!! After almost a week updating from 10.6 to 10.6.1 and 10.6.2, installing the apple fix for airport client, deleting several files i've founded listed on the web as being the causes of the problem, nothing of it solved my problem except this thread here.
You have to go to your router Page and change Dynamic IP to Static IP. Though the guy from the router factory told me to use dynamic ip, I've made this proposed change and the sun has began to shine again at this very moment.
When I've changed to Static IP i had to put the IP number and Subnet Mask and Default Gateway numbers. I took those numbers from the page that was showed before changing the Dynamic to Static (Router Home Page --> Networking --> WAN). My Router is a TP-Link WR542-G.
I wanted to report that I'm having this issue as well. Every 5 minutes or so, I lose internet connection. I have full bars on WiFi, and in order to get internet again, I must turn off airport and turn it back on. Network Diagnostics show this:
I have Verizon FiOS and a linksys etherfast router [BEFSR41]. I have a Time Capsule and an airport extreme in separate places in the house, each connected to the linksys router via ethernet. They are each set up to create a wireless network of the same name, no security/passwd (neighbors are too far away), also on the same channel, and of course in bridge mode, because the linksys router is distributing the ip addresses. I used to have them set up via WDS, which caused too many problems. One airport would keep cutting out and need a restart every day or so.
I have tried changing channels, messed with all different kinds of settings (disable wide channels, interference robustness, different multicast rates, etc).
What's weird is this: we have several other macs running snow leopard, but mine is the only issue having the problem. A few weeks ago, my macbook was having NO problems, but my Dad's was having the issue. He was stuck with the issue for a few days and it's as if it got transfered back to me. The problem then went away, but now it's back again. I must turn on/off airport on my macbook to get internet back. Restarting in boot camp, I've had no problems in windows. It's almost as if the problem gets stuck with ONE computer, lasts for a few days, then goes away. But my computer gets stuck with the problem most often.
When I've had this problem, I've tried to monitor WHICH airport I'm connected to. A few weeks ago when I was having the problem, I was always connected to the time capsule. Now, when I'm having this problem, I'm connected to the airport extreme.
What's also weird - a few weeks ago when I was having this problem, I noticed my internet would cut out whenever I starting using my iPhone (which was connected to wifi) - it's not connected to wifi when it's 'sleeping' - but as soon as I slide to unlock and connect to wifi, my macbook wifi would cut out, and i must turn on/off airport to get it to work again. I decided to leave my iphone off of wifi, and my problem would be fine. But NOW, we only have two computers using wifi, and only mine is having the issue. I don't have my iPhone connected to wifi at all. I don't get this crap. It makes no sense to me... at all.
All firmwares are up to date, all snow leopard software is up to date, and I've tried everything. Both show green lights, and no other macs are having the issue. Just mine. And I don't have it when I am booted up in Windows.
Any explanations or suggestions?
Update: I have elected to rename one of the wireless networks (so they aren't the same). It seems to have made the wireless a bit more stable and give it greater range. HOWEVER, every once in awhile, I still get an issue with needing to turn off airport and turning it back on. Problem does not occur in Windows!
I have Verizon FiOS and a linksys etherfast router [BEFSR41]. I have a Time Capsule and an airport extreme in separate places in the house, each connected to the linksys router via ethernet. They are each set up to create a wireless network of the same name, no security/passwd (neighbors are too far away), also on the same channel, and of course in bridge mode, because the linksys router is distributing the ip addresses. I used to have them set up via WDS, which caused too many problems. One airport would keep cutting out and need a restart every day or so.
I have tried changing channels, messed with all different kinds of settings (disable wide channels, interference robustness, different multicast rates, etc).
What's weird is this: we have several other macs running snow leopard, but mine is the only issue having the problem. A few weeks ago, my macbook was having NO problems, but my Dad's was having the issue. He was stuck with the issue for a few days and it's as if it got transfered back to me. The problem then went away, but now it's back again. I must turn on/off airport on my macbook to get internet back. Restarting in boot camp, I've had no problems in windows. It's almost as if the problem gets stuck with ONE computer, lasts for a few days, then goes away. But my computer gets stuck with the problem most often.
When I've had this problem, I've tried to monitor WHICH airport I'm connected to. A few weeks ago when I was having the problem, I was always connected to the time capsule. Now, when I'm having this problem, I'm connected to the airport extreme.
What's also weird - a few weeks ago when I was having this problem, I noticed my internet would cut out whenever I starting using my iPhone (which was connected to wifi) - it's not connected to wifi when it's 'sleeping' - but as soon as I slide to unlock and connect to wifi, my macbook wifi would cut out, and i must turn on/off airport to get it to work again. I decided to leave my iphone off of wifi, and my problem would be fine. But NOW, we only have two computers using wifi, and only mine is having the issue. I don't have my iPhone connected to wifi at all. I don't get this crap. It makes no sense to me... at all.
All firmwares are up to date, all snow leopard software is up to date, and I've tried everything. Both show green lights, and no other macs are having the issue. Just mine. And I don't have it when I am booted up in Windows.
Any explanations or suggestions?
Update: I have elected to rename one of the wireless networks (so they aren't the same). It seems to have made the wireless a bit more stable and give it greater range. HOWEVER, every once in awhile, I still get an issue with needing to turn off airport and turning it back on. Problem does not occur in Windows!
Hi Mac, I'm PC and I can connect to the internet...
New MBP owner and first post here...
Two new MBP's, a basic 13" and a 15" i5 model. Also have a couple older XP/Win7 laptops and a new i5 Sony VAIO. WiFi system is generic Verizon issue FIOS Westell unit using WPA Personal centrally located in single story house.
The Windoze machines have ZERO connection problems anywhere in the house ever... the two MPB's are usually lucky to load a few web pages assuming they make connection at all. Makes no difference if one, none, or all of the other machines are online, the MPB's have issues.
None of this happened the first few days after getting them. It has escalated to a nearly unacceptable crapshoot as to whether the several thousand bucks worth of apple gear can connect to the internet or not, vs the old beater PC's... at least they work... patches and all.
I thought Windoze machines were getting to be a PITA but at this point, these things take the Prize.
PRAM resets, Airport ON, Airport OFF, Power ON, Power OFF, where's Ralph Macchio when I need him...?
After googling and reading more connection issue posts than I ever imagined existed (on the PC's)... well the cliche about "once you go Mac, you'll never go back" is a little different in our house atm. It's more like "Once you go Mac, you never see your email again..."
Staying tuned and trying to stay Hopeful... while posting this on the Sony.
New MBP owner and first post here...
Two new MBP's, a basic 13" and a 15" i5 model. Also have a couple older XP/Win7 laptops and a new i5 Sony VAIO. WiFi system is generic Verizon issue FIOS Westell unit using WPA Personal centrally located in single story house.
The Windoze machines have ZERO connection problems anywhere in the house ever... the two MPB's are usually lucky to load a few web pages assuming they make connection at all. Makes no difference if one, none, or all of the other machines are online, the MPB's have issues.
None of this happened the first few days after getting them. It has escalated to a nearly unacceptable crapshoot as to whether the several thousand bucks worth of apple gear can connect to the internet or not, vs the old beater PC's... at least they work... patches and all.
I thought Windoze machines were getting to be a PITA but at this point, these things take the Prize.
PRAM resets, Airport ON, Airport OFF, Power ON, Power OFF, where's Ralph Macchio when I need him...?
After googling and reading more connection issue posts than I ever imagined existed (on the PC's)... well the cliche about "once you go Mac, you'll never go back" is a little different in our house atm. It's more like "Once you go Mac, you never see your email again..."
Staying tuned and trying to stay Hopeful... while posting this on the Sony.
any updates?
Hi, just switched from pc to mac and bought my first mpb a month ago. Wifi keeps disconnecting every 5mins or so using the main router in the building. Works fine with the access point though that we use in a different part of the building. Any fix for this? Its frustrating to keep turning airport on and off as i'm often using the main router.
Laptops with windows doesn't have this problem.
An apple tech mentioned I should try to reinstall the airport... how do I do this? all softwares are up to date.
Hi, just switched from pc to mac and bought my first mpb a month ago. Wifi keeps disconnecting every 5mins or so using the main router in the building. Works fine with the access point though that we use in a different part of the building. Any fix for this? Its frustrating to keep turning airport on and off as i'm often using the main router.
Laptops with windows doesn't have this problem.
An apple tech mentioned I should try to reinstall the airport... how do I do this? all softwares are up to date.
I'm having this problem too, having to turn Airport on and off very frequently to stay online. I have a Macbook Pro 13" 2.26 ghz, connected to an AT&T 2WIRE router.
I didn't have the problem back with Leopard. I'm still having the problem with 10.6.3.
I took it to the genius bar twice. First time, they did a complete system wipe, and the problem still presented. Second time, they replaced the Airport card. The problem still occurs very frequently.
I have a Playstation 3, two Windows computers, and even my iPhone connecting flawlessly to the same router. My MBP is the only device having problems. This is what the console shows during the connection errors:
Anyone know what any of this means, or how to fix this?
I didn't have the problem back with Leopard. I'm still having the problem with 10.6.3.
I took it to the genius bar twice. First time, they did a complete system wipe, and the problem still presented. Second time, they replaced the Airport card. The problem still occurs very frequently.
I have a Playstation 3, two Windows computers, and even my iPhone connecting flawlessly to the same router. My MBP is the only device having problems. This is what the console shows during the connection errors:
And again later:
Anyone know what any of this means, or how to fix this?
having these same problems, using a 2wire gateway from at&t and it drops about every 20 minutes for only about 15 seconds at most. The gateway is not defective as every other wifi capable electronic in the house works just fine. wtf apple
Same problems here
I'm having the same problems with my MB when I upgraded to 10.6.3. I didn't have a single problem with wireless before then and my wife who is running an old Tiger MBP and my PC laptop and desktop Mac have no issues either.
I have AT&T U-Verse and spent an hour on the phone with them and they couldn't figure out the problem. My MB has already been in the shop and had the Airport card replaced and the logic board replaced. Not sure there's much more that can be done at this point!
This is very frustrating!
I'm having the same problems with my MB when I upgraded to 10.6.3. I didn't have a single problem with wireless before then and my wife who is running an old Tiger MBP and my PC laptop and desktop Mac have no issues either.
I have AT&T U-Verse and spent an hour on the phone with them and they couldn't figure out the problem. My MB has already been in the shop and had the Airport card replaced and the logic board replaced. Not sure there's much more that can be done at this point!
This is very frustrating!
Has anybody read the article this article.?
To reset your network settings follow these steps:
1. Turn off Airport.
2. Navigate to the folder /YourHardDrives/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/ and delete these files:
a) com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
b) com.apple.airport.preferences.plist-orig
c) com.apple.smb.server.plist
d) NetworkInterfaces.plist
e) preferences.plist
(make sure you go to the Main Library not your Account Library)
3. Immediately reboot to completely Let the OS X system rebuild the network drivers.
4. Upon reboot try the System Preferences->Network pane to turn the Airport on again and rejoin your wireless network.
This will reset your wireless drivers in OS X. Hopefully this will help.
One more thing. Open System Preferences->Network pane and at the top make a new custom Location calling it what ever you want. I sometime believe that the Automatic location is not up to snuff. You could even make a spot for just for Home and one for Roaming.
Good Luck.
One more thing: Download the free application iStumbler and then you will be able to see if other wireless networks are not on the same channel that your wireless router.
To reset your network settings follow these steps:
1. Turn off Airport.
2. Navigate to the folder /YourHardDrives/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/ and delete these files:
a) com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
b) com.apple.airport.preferences.plist-orig
c) com.apple.smb.server.plist
d) NetworkInterfaces.plist
e) preferences.plist
(make sure you go to the Main Library not your Account Library)
3. Immediately reboot to completely Let the OS X system rebuild the network drivers.
4. Upon reboot try the System Preferences->Network pane to turn the Airport on again and rejoin your wireless network.
This will reset your wireless drivers in OS X. Hopefully this will help.
One more thing. Open System Preferences->Network pane and at the top make a new custom Location calling it what ever you want. I sometime believe that the Automatic location is not up to snuff. You could even make a spot for just for Home and one for Roaming.
Good Luck.
One more thing: Download the free application iStumbler and then you will be able to see if other wireless networks are not on the same channel that your wireless router.
thank gawd it's not just me
this has has been driving me mental. i'm typing quickly before it happens again. I hope that it does get sorted. I have 10.6.4 installed and it's still happening
any new ideas
cheers
this has has been driving me mental. i'm typing quickly before it happens again. I hope that it does get sorted. I have 10.6.4 installed and it's still happening
any new ideas
cheers
Almost exactly if not identical to the issue here on my Mac. Using 10.6.4 and I often notice the connection dropping and giving me the same look in Diagnostics. I have been on the phone with my ISP and doing everything I could think of. Cleaning up the OS with Cocktail. Reset Safari and Firefox multiple times. Reset the Airport Express and my modem a number of times. Without luck.
Now I've done what satcomer said earlier and deleted those preference files and I also created a new profile for my internet called "Home". It will be interesting to see if everything starts working like it did back when I first installed the Airport Express and used 10.6.3.
Edit: In addition to be above I also tried changing channels - that didn't help either.
Edit: So after reinstalling OS X and updating to 10.6.4 didn't help either I'm at a loss. I'm getting the same exact image that theaustinpeay is getting in Network Diagnostics. I guess the solution to reinstall OS X can be ruled out too.
Does anyone have any good ideas of what to do now?
Edit: So it seems odd in a way; I reset PRAM and so far no dropped connections from my AirPort Express like I have experienced before. I am now on my 2nd hour of being on the internet and the connection has not dropped once. Seems unbelievable. So far I'm enjoying it.
Friday morning update: Don't even bother resetting PRAM if you see the same window in Network Diagnostics as me and theaustinpeay. It won't work. I thought it did. It can't be that my Airport Express is failing?? It's only a month or so old.
Whoa! I found this https://forum.transmissionbt.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8533&start=30
My cure was to remove all the torrent clients from my MB. I used Transmission as my client of choice, and after I ditched that with Cleanapp the airport is working like a dream, as it used to.
Nowadays my Lacie Network Space 2 or my Linux box handles jobs with torrents, so it's no biggie to me ditch the torrent clients from Snow Leopard
Edit: But the wireless is having poor signal performance. I can't take my MB more than few meters away, and the signal is lost. However the connection is not dropping as it used to even sitting right next to a router. GRRRRR......
Edit 15th of July: I ran the OS X 10.6.4 combo update on top of the 10.6.4, and the signal at least works on my living room couch (about 10 meters away from the router)
My cure was to remove all the torrent clients from my MB. I used Transmission as my client of choice, and after I ditched that with Cleanapp the airport is working like a dream, as it used to.
Nowadays my Lacie Network Space 2 or my Linux box handles jobs with torrents, so it's no biggie to me ditch the torrent clients from Snow Leopard
Edit: But the wireless is having poor signal performance. I can't take my MB more than few meters away, and the signal is lost. However the connection is not dropping as it used to even sitting right next to a router. GRRRRR......
Edit 15th of July: I ran the OS X 10.6.4 combo update on top of the 10.6.4, and the signal at least works on my living room couch (about 10 meters away from the router)
I believe there is some kind of incompatibility between MacOS X and the different router/access points' implementation of Power Save Polling. I recently purchased a D-Link DAP-2553 access point to plug into my first gen time capsule so I could have simultaneous 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz networks by having the AP do 5Ghz and the TC do 2.4Ghz. When I connect either of my 13" Macbook Pros to the D-Link 5Ghz network, my connection drops after 15 minutes of idle time and I see the following message in the MacOS X logs:
AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 4 (Disassociated due to inactivity).
I was also seeing the same problem in Windows 7, but I was able to fix it by setting the power saving settings for the Wi-Fi adapter to 'Maximum Performance' via the steps in this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928152
Apparently this setting puts the Wi-Fi card in "Continuously Aware Mode" (CAM) instead of "Power Save Polling" (PSP) mode.
However, I haven't found a similar setting in MacOS X to keep the connection from dying in OS X by switching from PSP to CAM mode. On the D-Link AP you can list the connected clients - while the laptop is booted in OS X, "Yes" is displayed in the "Power Saving Mode" column in the GUI - presumably because PSP is in use. When I boot the laptops into Windows 7, it says "No" - presumably because CAM is in use.
Apparently this is an issue with other routers and Intel Wi-Fi cards:
http://www.intel.com/support/wireles.../cs-006205.htm
Here is an article that talks about Power Save Polling vs. Continuously Aware Mode:
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/networking/?p=533
Anyone know how to disable PSP (aka enable CAM) in MacOS X?
AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 4 (Disassociated due to inactivity).
I was also seeing the same problem in Windows 7, but I was able to fix it by setting the power saving settings for the Wi-Fi adapter to 'Maximum Performance' via the steps in this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928152
Apparently this setting puts the Wi-Fi card in "Continuously Aware Mode" (CAM) instead of "Power Save Polling" (PSP) mode.
However, I haven't found a similar setting in MacOS X to keep the connection from dying in OS X by switching from PSP to CAM mode. On the D-Link AP you can list the connected clients - while the laptop is booted in OS X, "Yes" is displayed in the "Power Saving Mode" column in the GUI - presumably because PSP is in use. When I boot the laptops into Windows 7, it says "No" - presumably because CAM is in use.
Apparently this is an issue with other routers and Intel Wi-Fi cards:
http://www.intel.com/support/wireles.../cs-006205.htm
Here is an article that talks about Power Save Polling vs. Continuously Aware Mode:
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/networking/?p=533
Anyone know how to disable PSP (aka enable CAM) in MacOS X?
My wife and I have both been having this same problem. We're running Comcast Cable Internet through a stock modem and a Linksys WRT54G2 V1 router.
Until the last week the droupouts only happened when I was DLing large files. Now, though, they seem to happen at least a few times an hour to both of our computers.
I haven't reset the router yet, but I guess I need to do that. Another thing, though, is that I use this MBP at work all the time, and I can't think of a single time that I've had the same problem.
Are folks who have an Airport Extreme having the same problem?
Until the last week the droupouts only happened when I was DLing large files. Now, though, they seem to happen at least a few times an hour to both of our computers.
I haven't reset the router yet, but I guess I need to do that. Another thing, though, is that I use this MBP at work all the time, and I can't think of a single time that I've had the same problem.
Are folks who have an Airport Extreme having the same problem?
I have a 17" MBP that I have had for over a year. I have never had any problems with the wifi until recently (may have been with 10.6.4). I was working from home over a CiscoVPN connection for most of 2009 and rarely dropped a connection. Recently I can't keep the wifi up for more than 20 minutes. Running with the VPN client in this environment sucks since I have to re-login each time the wifi drops. I have a ATT Uverse 2wire wireless router which has been rock solid over the last 2 years.
I have tried many of the suggestions on this forum and others but none of them worked.
Tonight I was looking at the /var/log/kernel.log and saw these link down messages right when the wifi dropped.
Aug 12 22:35:52 mbp kernel[0]: AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 4 (Disassociated due to inactivity).
Aug 12 22:35:52 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
Aug 12 22:35:52 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
Aug 12 22:35:52 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
Aug 12 22:36:00 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
Aug 12 22:36:00 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
Aug 12 22:36:00 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
Aug 12 22:36:03 mbp kernel[0]: Auth result for: 00:23:51:a4:fc:91 MAC AUTH succeeded
Aug 12 22:36:03 mbp kernel[0]: AirPort: Link Up on en1
Aug 12 22:36:03 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
Aug 12 22:36:03 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
Aug 12 22:36:03 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
Aug 12 22:36:04 mbp kernel[0]: AirPort: RSN handshake complete on en1
Aug 12 22:36:05 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
Aug 12 22:36:05 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
Aug 12 22:36:05 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
Aug 12 22:36:05 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
Aug 12 22:36:05 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
Aug 12 22:36:05 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
Aug 12 22:37:12 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
Aug 12 22:37:12 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
Aug 12 22:37:12 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
So I figured I would try to keep the link busy by just continuously pinging one of my machines at work over the VPN connection. This was just running in the background from a terminal window. Seems like the pings are running at 1 or 2 per second.
While this was running I connected to another work machine with Remote Desktop Connection and was able to work for 2 hours without dropping the link once. I stopped the pings after this time and the wifi dropped within 5 minutes.
So until Apple figures out what they broke, this will be my work around. Figured I would share it since it seems that many folks are having similar problems. I will follow up if this doesn't seem to work over longer periods.
I am also going to try just pinging the wireless router to see if that is enough to keep the link up.
I have tried many of the suggestions on this forum and others but none of them worked.
Tonight I was looking at the /var/log/kernel.log and saw these link down messages right when the wifi dropped.
Aug 12 22:35:52 mbp kernel[0]: AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 4 (Disassociated due to inactivity).
Aug 12 22:35:52 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
Aug 12 22:35:52 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
Aug 12 22:35:52 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
Aug 12 22:36:00 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
Aug 12 22:36:00 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
Aug 12 22:36:00 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
Aug 12 22:36:03 mbp kernel[0]: Auth result for: 00:23:51:a4:fc:91 MAC AUTH succeeded
Aug 12 22:36:03 mbp kernel[0]: AirPort: Link Up on en1
Aug 12 22:36:03 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
Aug 12 22:36:03 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
Aug 12 22:36:03 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
Aug 12 22:36:04 mbp kernel[0]: AirPort: RSN handshake complete on en1
Aug 12 22:36:05 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
Aug 12 22:36:05 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
Aug 12 22:36:05 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
Aug 12 22:36:05 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
Aug 12 22:36:05 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
Aug 12 22:36:05 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
Aug 12 22:37:12 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
Aug 12 22:37:12 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
Aug 12 22:37:12 mbp kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
So I figured I would try to keep the link busy by just continuously pinging one of my machines at work over the VPN connection. This was just running in the background from a terminal window. Seems like the pings are running at 1 or 2 per second.
While this was running I connected to another work machine with Remote Desktop Connection and was able to work for 2 hours without dropping the link once. I stopped the pings after this time and the wifi dropped within 5 minutes.
So until Apple figures out what they broke, this will be my work around. Figured I would share it since it seems that many folks are having similar problems. I will follow up if this doesn't seem to work over longer periods.
I am also going to try just pinging the wireless router to see if that is enough to keep the link up.
There are many things in the everyday household that can cause dropouts, Unshielded Microwave Ovens for example are a very common source, when they get used, the connection dies. Also look for any wireless devices in your house and see if having them switched on causes your drop out. They can often be using similar frequencies to your Airport, which will swamp out the Airport Radio signal.
For example a friend of mine has a wireless security camera, everytime it went into wireless mode, Airport would just die, and cease giving out internet on the network, but Ethernet would work. I would suggest taking this line of thinking if all of your computers are doing this.
For example a friend of mine has a wireless security camera, everytime it went into wireless mode, Airport would just die, and cease giving out internet on the network, but Ethernet would work. I would suggest taking this line of thinking if all of your computers are doing this.
10.6.4
The problem has recently arisen on my system using a new airport extreme and another about a year old which was working perfectly well until a routine update on my o.s. The older airport extreme, which extends the wireless network, has worked flawlessly for about two years. Now both airport extremes need restarted daily. I've tried various fixes unsuccessfully.
Apple needs to get its act together and engineer a fix for this pronto. The reputation of their wireless devices is already suffering because of a pervasive failure of time capsules after a couple of years. My own went belly up after this period.
The problem has recently arisen on my system using a new airport extreme and another about a year old which was working perfectly well until a routine update on my o.s. The older airport extreme, which extends the wireless network, has worked flawlessly for about two years. Now both airport extremes need restarted daily. I've tried various fixes unsuccessfully.
Apple needs to get its act together and engineer a fix for this pronto. The reputation of their wireless devices is already suffering because of a pervasive failure of time capsules after a couple of years. My own went belly up after this period.
My GF's 20" iMac has just started doing this.
Tried removing the drivers as such as someone suggested, it drops every minute.
This is really annoying!
Edit:
I deleted the saved network key in the Keychain. My GF for some reason had three different key's for one network! I came to the conclusion that maybe that had something to do with it. Once I removed the saved key's from Keychain it's not dropped connection once. *touch wood*
I admit it's only been 5 minutes or so but that's good seeing as it was dropping every 5 minutes.
I've got Safari open now. Also got Network Diagnostics and Network Preferences open. I'll monitor it over night and post my results tomorrow. I'll soon be able to say if it drops or not because once it drops I have to re-enter the password.
Update
Everything seems alright now. Maybe it was the fact there was more than one saved network key for it, one of which was incorrect.
Or maybe clearing the Keychain helped some other way!
Tried removing the drivers as such as someone suggested, it drops every minute.
This is really annoying!
Edit:
I deleted the saved network key in the Keychain. My GF for some reason had three different key's for one network! I came to the conclusion that maybe that had something to do with it. Once I removed the saved key's from Keychain it's not dropped connection once. *touch wood*
I admit it's only been 5 minutes or so but that's good seeing as it was dropping every 5 minutes.
I've got Safari open now. Also got Network Diagnostics and Network Preferences open. I'll monitor it over night and post my results tomorrow. I'll soon be able to say if it drops or not because once it drops I have to re-enter the password.
Update
Everything seems alright now. Maybe it was the fact there was more than one saved network key for it, one of which was incorrect.
Or maybe clearing the Keychain helped some other way!