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My new iMac will not connect to 802.11g, only 802.11n

M

Mijumaru

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 10, 2011
11
0
Ughhh, my new iMac will not connect to 802.11g, only 802.11n

My new 21.5 inch iMac was getting connection time-outs when trying to connect to my router, or 90% of the other networks around here. Called Support, they suggested it was my router (even though I kept telling the guy that I really doubt it is, since I already tested if my mac would connect to other routers. It would only not time-out on a couple in my area.


He still suggested I call my ISP. My ISP agreed with me, but sent me a new router anyway. It still does not work. Looked around on my mac, saw that I could see the networks that my Airport Card can see from "About this Mac". Turns out the only routers I was connecting to, were the wireless N ones.

I cannot connect to wireless G at all.


Is there a setting I can change to fix this?

I've already installed so much stuff on here so I would hate to have to return it.

Thanks
 
didn't work :/

Is the new airport card on the 2011 imacs incompatible with 802.11g?
 
MrNomNoms said:
Why would you assume that it doesn't work with 802.11g?

What is the brand/make/model of your router? I've experienced issues like that in the past and it came down to a buggy firmware in the router.
Click to expand...

Westell A90-750020-07

I assume it's the 802.11g because I tried to test my airport card by trying to connect to all the other networks that showed up. All of them timed out except for one open and 1 protected network, (I know the router works for that one because it actually gave me a wrong password message instead of a time-out)

I later found out that that all the networks that timed-out were 802.11g and the ones that I could connect to were 802.11n by going to "About This Mac" -> "More Info"-> Network"Airport" and it gives you a list of your local wireless networks and the PHY Mode: tells you if they're 802.11g or 802.11n.


There is no way to update my firmware, I tried and it would fail. I already had a new router/modem sent to me. Same problems.

All my other computers and printers and Iphones etc connect to it just fine.
 
Mijumaru said:
Westell A90-750020-07

I assume it's the 802.11g because I tried to test my airport card by trying to connect to all the other networks that showed up. All of them timed out except for one open and 1 protected network, (I know the router works for that one because it actually gave me a wrong password message instead of a time-out)

I later found out that that all the networks that timed-out were 802.11g and the ones that I could connect to were 802.11n by going to "About This Mac" -> "More Info"-> Network"Airport" and it gives you a list of your local wireless networks and the PHY Mode: tells you if they're 802.11g or 802.11n.

There is no way to update my firmware, I tried and it would fail. I already had a new router/modem sent to me. Same problems.

All my other computers and printers and Iphones etc connect to it just fine.
Click to expand...

All I can possibly suggest is to do a clean install of Mac OS X, update it with all the latest patches and see whether the same problem occurs again - how far from the router is the iMac btw?
 
Mijumaru said:
I later found out that that all the networks that timed-out were 802.11g and the ones that I could connect to were 802.11n by going to "About This Mac" -> "More Info"-> Network"Airport" and it gives you a list of your local wireless networks and the PHY Mode: tells you if they're 802.11g or 802.11n.
...
All my other computers and printers and Iphones etc connect to it just fine.
Click to expand...
In that section, under "Interfaces", I have:
Code: 
Interfaces:
  en1:
    Card Type:	          AirPort Extreme  (0x168C, 0x8F)
    Firmware Version:	  Atheros 9280: 2.1.14.5
    Locale:	          FCC
    Country Code:	  US
    Supported PHY Modes:  802.11 a/b/g/n
    Supported Channels:	  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64,
                          100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 149,
                          153, 157, 161, 165
So, what does yours say in that section, especially the "Supported PHY Modes" line?

How far is your iMac from the base station?
 
Bear said:
In that section, under "Interfaces", I have:
Code: 
Interfaces:
  en1:
    Card Type:	          AirPort Extreme  (0x168C, 0x8F)
    Firmware Version:	  Atheros 9280: 2.1.14.5
    Locale:	          FCC
    Country Code:	  US
    Supported PHY Modes:  802.11 a/b/g/n
    Supported Channels:	  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64,
                          100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 149,
                          153, 157, 161, 165
So, what does yours say in that section, especially the "Supported PHY Modes" line?

How far is your iMac from the base station?
Click to expand...

Ok this is strange! There is no supported PHY modes line!
Also the country code says DB... not US
Here's a copy and paste of it. There is no Supported PHY Modes line


Software Versions:
Menu Extra: 6.2.2 (622.2)
configd plug-in: 6.2.5 (625.6)
System Profiler: 6.0.1 (601.1)
Network Preference: 6.2.2 (622.2)
AirPort Utility: 5.5.2 (552.11)
IO80211 Family: 3.2 (320.1)
Interfaces:
en1:
Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x168C, 0x9A)
Firmware Version: Atheros 9380: 4.0.35.3
Locale: FCC
Country Code: DB
Supported Channels: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165
Wake On Wireless: Supported
Status: Not Associated
 
Mijumaru said:
Ok this is strange! There is no supported PHY modes line!
Also the country code says DB... not US
Here's a copy and paste of it. There is no Supported PHY Modes line
...
Click to expand...
You have a different generation machine from me, so the PHY line not being there might be normal. As for the country.. What locale is your system set to? Does it match the country you're in? Does it match the country code for the airport interface?

If they don't match, that's your issue. Notice the difference in the supported channel list? It's not just channel numbers, it's exact frequencies for each channel.
 
Last edited:
Bear said:
You have a different generation machine from me, so the PHY line not being there might be normal. As for the country.. What locale is your system set to? Does it match the country you're in?

If it doesn't, that's your issue. Notice the difference in the supported channel list? It's not just channel numbers, it's exact frequencies for each channel.
Click to expand...



Hmm how do I check which locale my system is set to?
 
Hmmm well i've been calling Apple Care so far...

First guy either got disconnected or hung up on me when he asked me what the problem was! The phone connection was pretty bad and he had a hard time hearing what I was saying so I had to keep repeating myself. He could have said something like "Sorry i'm having a bad connection, can you try and call back?" Thought it was pretty rude of him.

Second time I called, I got a much better connection with much more friendly people.

The apple care guy couldn't figure it out so he transferred me over to the wireless department. Nothing so far has worked. She had me delete some plist files but it still didn't work.

Then she told me to get out my system restore CDs....

I have to go to work soon so I just asked for a case number so I can call them back.

But this is really a hassle.

Should I just return my iMac? It's been less than 14 days.
 
Mijumaru said:
Ok this is strange! There is no supported PHY modes line!
Also the country code says DB... not US
Here's a copy and paste of it. There is no Supported PHY Modes line
Click to expand...

I have the 9380 as well with same firmware (and get no supported PHY mode lines),but my country code reads US and I can definitely see G-only networks. My guess is your radio is getting configured to the wrong country....

I did a bit of checking, and it seems this is set automagically - the machine listens for a base station to send out a packet that tells what country you're in, then sets itself appropriately. This *should* be coming from your router, but maybe someone else has a router nearby thats blasting out wrong codes?

Or maybe that's just a red-herring... Can you drag the machine to another location to try it (apple store, friends house ,whatever?)

One other random thing to try - power off your machine, then power it on with the option key held down (to get to boot selection screen). There should be a wireless network pulldown - can you see your SSID there?
 
Jazwire said:
Tell your ISP not to give you a router thats 5 years old.
Click to expand...

I payed for a premium product, and if it doesn't connect to wireless g, which is what most routers use, then there is something wrong.

Just had them send me a third router of a different brand, and it still won't connect.
 
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