MBA 13" 2015

[Carlanga]

So I bought a MBA 13" 2015 ver last week. The machine runs fine except for a big thing...
WIFI acts very erratically. When I'm online after a few minutes the machines drops the connection altogether while still showing full signal on the icon; wireless diagnostics don't seem to sayanything as well when it occurs. At first I thought it was interference, but channel is acceptable and I have internet on my iPhone w no loss of speed and signal if I put it on top of the MBA, so I don't think is the location.

I have it hooked up to an external monitor, speakers, usb hub and an ext HD w usb 3.0

Also noticed that clamshell mode makes the internet super slow on it compared to open which again is a disappointment.

I'm running 10.10.5, network is on 2.4ghz only.

 

[motrek]

So I bought a MBA 13" 2015 ver last week. The machine runs fine except for a big thing...
WIFI acts very erratically. When I'm online after a few minutes the machines drops the connection altogether while still showing full signal on the icon; wireless diagnostics don't seem to sayanything as well when it occurs. At first I thought it was interference, but channel is acceptable and I have internet on my iPhone w no loss of speed and signal if I put it on top of the MBA, so I don't think is the location.

I have it hooked up to an external monitor, speakers, usb hub and an ext HD w usb 3.0

Also noticed that clamshell mode makes the internet super slow on it compared to open which again is a disappointment.

I'm running 10.10.5, network is on 2.4ghz only.

I've never had any problems with wifi when in clamshell mode with my 2014 model. Maybe try turning the laptop or elevating it or something?

Also what you can do is get a USB wifi dongle and put it in your USB hub and switch to that when you're using the laptop in clamshell mode. They cost about $10 on Amazon.

 

[Carlanga]

I've never had any problems with wifi when in clamshell mode with my 2014 model. Maybe try turning the laptop or elevating it or something?

Also what you can do is get a USB wifi dongle and put it in your USB hub and switch to that when you're using the laptop in clamshell mode. They cost about $10 on Amazon.

Thanks for your suggestions, but those are a patch fix for a 2015 machine. My old 2007 macbook on the same spot did not have this WIFI drop issue. My iPhone place on the same location does not have the same issue. Its ridiculous to buy a secondary antenna if one want stop use clamshell mode considering its not the way it was designed, its not a small drop, it goes from 14 down to 1-2mb down in it. Even in open mode the mba still suffer from disconnects while showing full signal. The whole point of paying the apple tax is because things are supposed to work, but so far I have found lots of disappointment in the Amba, maybe its Yosemite that is buggy or whatever but not happy so far. I will continue using it a few days, but if this continues I will return it for a new one at BB.

 

[motrek]

Thanks for your suggestions, but those are a patch fix for a 2015 machine. My old 2007 macbook on the same spot did not have this WIFI drop issue. My iPhone place on the same location does not have the same issue. Its ridiculous to buy a secondary antenna if one want stop use clamshell mode considering its not the way it was designed, its not a small drop, it goes from 14 down to 1-2mb down in it. Even in open mode the mba still suffer from disconnects while showing full signal. The whole point of paying the apple tax is because things are supposed to work, but so far I have found lots of disappointment in the Amba, maybe its Yosemite that is buggy or whatever but not happy so far. I will continue using it a few days, but if this continues I will return it for a new one at BB.

I wouldn't be happy either but you may be placing too much blame on the MBA and Apple.

Wifi is not a cloud of molecules that evenly disperse around a room. It's radio waves being transmitted and received by antennas. All of your devices have antennas in different locations with different orientations, with different amounts of metal in different relative directions.

The fact that you can hold an iPhone in a similar location to the laptop and it gets better reception proves almost nothing. You don't know where the antennas are located, how they're oriented, etc.

If you think you have a defective product though (and you might) then just go get a replacement. I don't see the logic in waiting a few days first.

 

[AlliFlowers]

My 2015 MBA has had no problems in the 2 months I've had it (knock wood). I'd take it in to Apple.

 

[lazydog]

So I bought a MBA 13" 2015 ver last week. The machine runs fine except for a big thing...
WIFI acts very erratically. When I'm online after a few minutes the machines drops the connection altogether while still showing full signal on the icon; wireless diagnostics don't seem to sayanything as well when it occurs. At first I thought it was interference, but channel is acceptable and I have internet on my iPhone w no loss of speed and signal if I put it on top of the MBA, so I don't think is the location.

I have it hooked up to an external monitor, speakers, usb hub and an ext HD w usb 3.0

Also noticed that clamshell mode makes the internet super slow on it compared to open which again is a disappointment.

I'm running 10.10.5, network is on 2.4ghz only.

Hi
It might be useful to look at the signal noise ratio of the wifi before and after your machine drops its connection (you can have a bad SNR even if the icon in the menu bar shows full strength). As for a cause I'd say it's possible that the antenna wire inside the MBA may have come loose from the wifi card.

b e n

 

[Significant1]

BlueTooth is also on 2.4GHz and I have noticed that using a BT stereo headset while downloading a file, causes holes in the BT-audio.

I have since switched to pure 5GHz Wifi anyway, because 2.4GHz is too crowded with Wifi networks where I live and stability became a problem for all my devices.

 

[Carlanga]

I wouldn't be happy either but you may be placing too much blame on the MBA and Apple....

They do affect and I do know where the antennas are placed and the direction on them on each device, but thanks!
There was an issue similar to this that was supposedly corrected w .2 or .3 of yosemite, so it might still be software based.

My 2015 MBA has had no problems in the 2 months I've had it (knock wood). I'd take it in to Apple.

good to know thanks!

Hi
It might be useful to look at the signal noise ratio of the wifi before and after your machine drops its connection (you can have a bad SNR even if the icon in the menu bar shows full strength). As for a cause I'd say it's possible that the antenna wire inside the MBA may have come loose from the wifi card.

b e n

thanks, that is the weird thing though, nose levels stay the same at -96 even when it drops. I did change some settings again so I will see if those make the connection stick if not I will prob make the connection w a static IP and see if that fixes it.

BlueTooth is also on 2.4GHz and I have noticed that using a BT stereo headset while downloading a file, causes holes in the BT-audio.

I have since switched to pure 5GHz Wifi anyway, because 2.4GHz is too crowded with Wifi networks where I live and stability became a problem for all my devices.

You know, maybe that might be it, considering I have 2-3 BT devices connected at the same time and this only happens when I have my full setup. Will have to test it out! I wish I could do 5ghz since only one other person here has a 5ghz network but my wifi is part of the cable modem and it only does 2.4 . Might have to request a dual 5.0 one but I don't think they have one available and don't want to spend on one extra atm. Thanks!

 

[motrek]

They do affect and I do know where the antennas are placed and the direction on them on each device, but thanks!
There was an issue similar to this that was supposedly corrected w .2 or .3 of yosemite, so it might still be software based.
...

I don't know about the dropped connections. I was replying to the wifi being slower in clamshell mode. I don't know how a software change could affect wifi speed in clamshell vs. not clamshell mode.

 

[Carlanga]

I don't know about the dropped connections. I was replying to the wifi being slower in clamshell mode. I don't know how a software change could affect wifi speed in clamshell vs. not clamshell mode.

You are mixing things...
The software patches have been for the issue I'm having of erratic drops (http://osxdaily.com/2015/01/30/os-x-10-10-2-yosemite-wi-fi-problems/)

As for clamshell mode having worse wifi sometimes is prob due to the aluminum construction of the macbook air; when closed you are having some extra blocking would be guess similar to the reason the iPhone went plastic (I believe it was on the 2nd gen).

 

[motrek]

You are mixing things...
The software patches have been for the issue I'm having of erratic drops (http://osxdaily.com/2015/01/30/os-x-10-10-2-yosemite-wi-fi-problems/)

As for clamshell mode having worse wifi sometimes is prob due to the aluminum construction of the macbook air; when closed you are having some extra blocking would be guess similar to the reason the iPhone went plastic (I believe it was on the 2nd gen).

I'm not mixing anything. You're the one who brought up two different problems in your original post.

Like I said, the MBA's wifi speed will depend on its orientation to the radio waves to/from your wifi router. Its antenna is obviously in the hinge because that's the only part of the exterior that isn't metal. (Well, the Apple logo isn't metal either but it's obviously just some clear plastic to let the backlight through.) So for optimal results you should presumably have the hinge in the direction of the router. Try it in different positions, and try changing the positions/orientations of your router's antennas, too.

Also be aware that holding the laptop will almost certainly affect its reception (like how you can often improve a TV's reception by holding its antenna) so when you're searching for a good position, remember not to hold the laptop.

Also, if you sit between the laptop and the router, that will also have an effect on performance.

 

[lazydog]

thanks, that is the weird thing though, nose levels stay the same at -96 even when it drops. I did change some settings again so I will see if those make the connection stick if not I will prob make the connection w a static IP and see if that fixes it.

I'm thinking the noise level would probably stay the same. Rather it would be the signal level that drops when you have a bad connection or in clam shell mode etc. I hope you have sorted your problem by now but if you haven't it might be worth checking the SNR (signal - noise)?

b e n

 

[in2tech]

This may very well not be your problem, but I had all kind's of problems with my WiFi connection on my MBA 2012 and searched forever and finally went into System Preferences and unchecked "Put hard disk to sleep" and "Wake for WiFi network access" and have never had a problem since. Like I said might not be your problem, (return quickly if continues to Apple) but it's worth a try before you return it! Used to happen even before it went to sleep for some reason for me!

Just weird but fixed it for me!

Good Luck!