iMac Related Warning re Airport Connection

[markpsf]

I bought a new iMac last month. I had an earlier generation one that was problem free.

I have now received my second replacement iMac and it has the same problem as the other two, as verified by the Apple technicians at my local Apple store who very thoroughly tested the computer.

The Airport function does not work effectively. At times the hard drive cannot find the Airport/WiFi card (tests done by technician as I watched!).

There is no problem with my software nor with our airport setup. The latter has been checked using our other iMac (2008) computer. And, again, the technicians have verified this problem and reported it to Apple.

At the age of 72, my wife and I will not again cart the computer back to Apple.

I will run a long ethernet cable from our upstairs office to my downstairs office and use that.

But Apple needs to address the problem.

Am I alone with this? I doubt it.

I plan to continue to pester them (shooting peas at an elephant) until they come up with some resolution.

Mark

 

[Spike88]

To reduce the risk of wireless connection and/or eliminate drop-outs, try:

Change 1:

Within wireless router, change to 802.11g only and change its maximum connection rate to 18 Mbits. re: Disable 802.11n on your wireless router.

Change 2:

Within wireless router, change Authentication from default WEP to WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK. For some unknown reason, some WEPs don't like the new iMacs, but work great with MBPs or other Apple end devices.

These 2 items resolve majority of drop-outs on the "new" iMacs.

---------

WEP-Open: Offers the same security offered by a wired network (LAN) with encrypted packets. This option offers either 64-bit or 128-bit encryption. In this mode, WEP keys are always authenticated at the device level. After authentication, data is then encrypted between the gateway and the connected device.

WEP-Shared: Similar to WEP-Open but in this mode, WEP keys accept a string of unencrypted data from a device. The wireless Home Networking modem encrypts with a WEP key and sends back the encrypted data to the attached device.

To use either of these two options, please enter one of the following in the Key field:

To enable 64-bit encryption, enter a 10 character key, using only hexadecimal characters. Alternatively, you may also use a 5 ASCII character key.
To enable 128-bit encryption, enter a 26 character key, using only hexadecimal characters. Alternatively, you may also use a 13 ASCII character key.
Note: Hexadecimal characters can only be numbers 0-9 and/or letters A-F.

WPA-PSK: This supports TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) which allows verification of the security configuration after the encryption keys are determined, synchronizes changing of the unicast encryption key for each frame, and then determines a unique starting unicast encryption key for each pre-shared key authentication.

WPA2-PSK: This supports AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) which is a private key algorithm that ranges from 128- to 256-bits.

WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK: Turns on both WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK mode.

To use any of these three options, please enter one of the following in the Key field:

A 64 character key, using only hexadecimal characters.
An ASCII "pass phrase" between 8 and 63 alphanumeric characters. Click SAVE.

Important: If you changed the network name or key, you will need to reconfigure your wireless network on your computer.

 

[markpsf]

As a Non-Tech Person, I Would Need Help

Thanks Spike.

But with less than half your tech savvy I am likely to create as many problems as I solve trying to do this.

I might get through Changes 1 and 2. Beyond that I wouldn't have a chance.

If what you indicate is true, then Apple tech should be able to walk me (and others!) through this on the phone via Apple Care support.

I shouldn't be in the position of having to try to follow directions from a forum tech whiz.

Mark

To reduce the risk of wireless connection and/or eliminate drop-outs, try:

Change 1:

Within wireless router, change to 802.11g only and change its maximum connection rate to 18 Mbits. re: Disable 802.11n on your wireless router.

Change 2:

Within wireless modem, change Authentication from default WEP to WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK. For some unknown reason, some WEPs don't like the new iMacs, but ok with MBPs or other Apple end devices.

These 2 items resolve majority of drop-outs on the "new" iMacs.

---------

WEP-Open: Offers the same security offered by a wired network (LAN) with encrypted packets. This option offers either 64-bit or 128-bit encryption. In this mode, WEP keys are always authenticated at the device level. After authentication, data is then encrypted between the gateway and the connected device.

WEP-Shared: Similar to WEP-Open but in this mode, WEP keys accept a string of unencrypted data from a device. The wireless Home Networking modem encrypts with a WEP key and sends back the encrypted data to the attached device.

To use either of these two options, please enter one of the following in the Key field:

To enable 64-bit encryption, enter a 10 character key, using only hexadecimal characters. Alternatively, you may also use a 5 ASCII character key.
To enable 128-bit encryption, enter a 26 character key, using only hexadecimal characters. Alternatively, you may also use a 13 ASCII character key.
Note: Hexadecimal characters can only be numbers 0-9 and/or letters A-F.

WPA-PSK: This supports TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) which allows verification of the security configuration after the encryption keys are determined, synchronizes changing of the unicast encryption key for each frame, and then determines a unique starting unicast encryption key for each pre-shared key authentication.

WPA2-PSK: This supports AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) which is a private key algorithm that ranges from 128- to 256-bits.

WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK: Turns on both WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK mode.

To use any of these three options, please enter one of the following in the Key field:

A 64 character key, using only hexadecimal characters.
An ASCII "pass phrase" between 8 and 63 alphanumeric characters. Click SAVE.

Important: If you changed the network name or key, you will need to reconfigure your wireless network on your computer.

 

[bpeeps]

I shouldn't be in the position of having to try to follow directions from a forum tech whiz.

If you want Apple to troubleshoot your problem, stick with them. But there's a lot of great information on these forums that can provide you help as well. No since in turning down helpful resources.

 

[markpsf]

Will do a combo

I plan to have some Apple Care "expert" walk me through a couple of the steps recommended by Spike.

Mark

If you want Apple to troubleshoot your problem, stick with them. But there's a lot of great information on these forums that can provide you help as well. No since in turning down helpful resources.

 

[Consultant]

Schedule appointment with your Apple Store and call them.

You do NONT have to cart it. Ask about having somene to come out and get it from your car.