Mac Mini 2018 WiFi Issue

[Ooskalabebe]

I was wondering if anyone else is having WiFi issues with the new Mac Mini? Mine seems to be having random moments where on a 5Ghz WiFi it would suddenly be slow with a TX rate of only 16-30 Mbps, and if I restart WiFi it would go back to around 500-800 Mbps. I have one thunderbolt 3 usb-c cable plugged in, and I have tried switching to the other ports to no avail. It’s even an official Apple thunderbolt 3 cable. All other devices on the same network are working just fine!

It’s been troubling me ever since I received the new Mac and I am debating whether it’s a software of hardware issue (if I need to return it).

Thanks guys!

 

[Bartjes]

I had some issues connecting to Wifi with a USB-3 powered hub. I changed it for another brand and since connexion and speed are OK in the 2.4 GB range (no 5 GB for the moment).

 

[profets]

I've been having wifi issues with mine - to the point that I'm basically going to return it.

Network Utility always shows it connected at 54mbps. And performance over wifi when connected is very poor. I've tried different wifi access points, different physical locations with different networks and the same would happen.

I've also tried wiping and restoring the Mac, and identical behaviour still. Plenty of other Macs, including older ones in these environments that have zero issue with wifi as well. Pretty frustrating.

 

[Easttime]

My 2018 mini New in December developed an intermittent problem where Safari and the App Store would slow to a crawl and the mini would not connect to our wifi network. I had simply replaced my old 2014 mini with the new 2018 mini. Network diagnostics utility said something about a busy wifi environment, but I only had the same peripherals, iPad, iPhone and MacBook as with the 2014 mini, which had flawless wifi performance in this environment. Contacted Apple Level 1 and 2 tech support who were very helpful, tried a variety of software fixes over the phone. Got it going temporarily, but after I got off the phone with tech support the disconnect recurred. Nothing worked until I unplugged the HooToo USB hub that had worked fine with the 2014 mini, and plugged all the USB devices directly into the 2018 mini, except the keyboard and mouse which I plugged into the new USB-C monitor’s USB hub ports. The 2018 mini reconnected to the house wifi and has been fine since. Hope it holds.

 

[mcaswell]

I'm having this exact issue with my 2018 13" MBP... random drastic slowdowns to low double-digit Tx rate (confirmed with an iperf3 LAN speed test), despite being in the same room as the Linksys Velop node with a very strong signal. I believe it's related to some kind of incompatibility between the WiFi chips that recent Mac models are using vs. the Qualcomm chipset used in many routers.

I say that because it occurs with my MBP and iMac Pro, both of which use a USI WiFi chip, but the problem does NOT occur with the MacBook Air (model prior to the recently released one)... remains full-speed all the time. I also swapped out the Velop node with a different one, and the problem remained.

Lastly, I added a Linksys RE9000 range extender (set up to operate as a simple access point), which was partially to take advantage of the MBP's 3x3 WiFi (Velop is only 2X2), but also to test a non-Qualcomm chipset (Velop is Qualcomm, RE9000 is not). That was over 5 months ago, and I haven't experienced a big speed drop since... almost always stays rock solid at 1300mb/s, occasionally dropping a little (normal minor fluctuations).

I did just check the iFixit teardown, and the Mac Mini uses a Murata 339S00458 WiFi chip, not USI like my machines, so that adds another piece to the puzzle.

 

[dmk1974]

I'm having issues with my new 2018 Mini streaming in-house using Plex. Never had any issues with my 2014 Mini. Both same setup, both WiFi to Mini and Ethernet to Apple TV. Getting tons of pauses and stutters with the 2018. 2014 never had a single issue. Both connected via 5 GHz band.

Another odd thing: I cannot see my other or guest networks on the 2.4 GHz band. Other devices in the house have zero issues. Is the WiFi on this new 2018 Mac Mini a turd???

 

[Pepe4life]

What on earth is wrong with apple. This computer has Bluetooth and wifi connectivity issues, both of which seems to stem from USB interference....do they not test their products prior to release anymore?

 

[dmk1974]

It won't quite solve the WiFi issue with my Mini, but I was looking at a MoCA 2.0 adapter since I can't connect ethernet directly to my router from my upstairs office (but I do have Coax). I have a TiVo Roamio which feeds MoCA 1.1 to a few TiVo Mini's in the house with no issues. Maybe a MoCA adapter, even at 1.1 speeds, may be better than 5 GHz 802.11ac?

 

[sirozha]

I'm having the same issue with the 2018 MacBook Air. It has the same Wi-F chip manufacturer as 2018 MacBook Pros - USI WiFi chip. The access points are Ubiquiti UniFi UAP-AC-HD (Qualcomm chipset) and UAP-IW-HD (Mediatek chipsets). I've read somewhere that the USI Wi-fi chip doesn't have this issue with Wi-Fi routers/APs that use Broadcom chipsets.

 

[Easttime]

My 2018 mini New in December developed an intermittent problem where Safari and the App Store would slow to a crawl and the mini would not connect to our wifi network. I had simply replaced my old 2014 mini with the new 2018 mini. Network diagnostics utility said something about a busy wifi environment, but I only had the same peripherals, iPad, iPhone and MacBook as with the 2014 mini, which had flawless wifi performance in this environment. Contacted Apple Level 1 and 2 tech support who were very helpful, tried a variety of software fixes over the phone. Got it going temporarily, but after I got off the phone with tech support the disconnect recurred. Nothing worked until I unplugged the HooToo USB hub that had worked fine with the 2014 mini, and plugged all the USB devices directly into the 2018 mini, except the keyboard and mouse which I plugged into the new USB-C monitor’s USB hub ports. The 2018 mini reconnected to the house wifi and has been fine since. Hope it holds.

Update: problem came back so bad that the mini was unusable. I went into recovery mode and reinstalled Mojave when 14.3 came out. Rock solid now for 3 weeks, even with the USB hub and all the other USB peripherals reattached as they were when the problem started. Must have been a software thing.

Update March 8: Still rock solid. Obviously was a software problem, not hardware.

 

[dmk1974]

For preventing USB 3 RF interference, would a wall-wart powered 3.5" external USB 3 drive any better than using a USB powered 2.5" external USB 3 drive?

 

[kraiggers]

Update: problem came back so bad that the mini was unusable. I went into recovery mode and reinstalled Mojave when 14.3 came out. Rock solid now for 3 weeks, even with the USB hub and all the other USB peripherals reattached as they were when the problem started. Must have been a software thing.

Update March 8: Still rock solid. Obviously was a software problem, not hardware.

Hello. Could you perhaps provide another update on your status?

I Just got a new 2018 mini, which is pretty fantastic, except I encountered the exact same wifi dropouts to 11-15 Mbps. This was on Mojave 10.14.6. I have an Eero mesh which normally connected on my 2014 mini (in exact same location, connections, etc.) at 500-780 Mbps.

I reinstalled Mojave just now; an hoping that will solve the problem. It doesn't appear to be an endemic issue, as this is the only thread I found discussing it...

 

[Easttime]

Hello. Could you perhaps provide another update on your status?

I Just got a new 2018 mini, which is pretty fantastic, except I encountered the exact same wifi dropouts to 11-15 Mbps. This was on Mojave 10.14.6. I have an Eero mesh which normally connected on my 2014 mini (in exact same location, connections, etc.) at 500-780 Mbps.

I reinstalled Mojave just now; an hoping that will solve the problem. It doesn't appear to be an endemic issue, as this is the only thread I found discussing it...

Still rock solid internet connection. No further problems.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

If there is ANY way you can run ethernet into the Mini, just do that instead.
Solves ALL the problems...

(what works, works...)

 

[Stephen Docherty]

The solution to this problem is to insulate your peripheral plug (going into the Mac) with aluminium foil. I know it sounds crazy -but google it. This is the only solution. I am appalled that I've paid £1050 of my hard earned cash for this product. Apple should be on the phone apologising (or something) to me this very instancE!