Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Curren~Sea

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 21, 2006
178
0
Vancouver, BC
I have a latest model MBP. Its wireless reception is fairly weak. What can I get to boost my wireless reception? I would think that some type of USB or plug-in device could do. Thanks.
 

that thing is a BEAST!!

but as for the reception (if you're using an apple airport), i find that cordless phones often weaken or totally kill the reception. for example, when i'm connected to the airport network, and the phone rings, the airport symbol goes gray and i have no connection whatsoever. no matter where the airport is in my house. i wonder if the new airport works better as far as reception... :confused:
 
The simplest way is to change the channel on your router. Most have around 12 channels. Try each one and see if it boosts. Test it at different distances as well.

Chances are if you are in the same house as the router you don't need to buy another dongle or anything else. Just change the channel. Also, setting it to G-only unless you have B devices may help.
 
that thing is a BEAST!!

but as for the reception (if you're using an apple airport), i find that cordless phones often weaken or totally kill the reception. for example, when i'm connected to the airport network, and the phone rings, the airport symbol goes gray and i have no connection whatsoever. no matter where the airport is in my house. i wonder if the new airport works better as far as reception... :confused:

thats because the airport is on 2.4 ghz and the way it sounds your phone probably is too. once the phone rings, the two just interfere with each other. i used to have that problem but bought a 5.8ghz phone and no more problems.
 
Actually, I am concerned about picking up hotspots. The laptop works great at home anywhere within my house. But when I'm out in the field I need greater reception. Thanks.
 
I have the exact same problem. In my college the majority of laptops that has a constant loss of connection or weak signal were macs. Is it just a bad antenna in the macs or can it be boosted.
 
I have the exact same problem. In my college the majority of laptops that has a constant loss of connection or weak signal were macs. Is it just a bad antenna in the macs or can it be boosted.
The aluminum skinned Mac laptops (PowerBooks or MacBook Pros) have notoriously bad reception.

The MacBooks, especially the C2D ones, have stunningly good reception, far better than that of the MacBook Pros, PowerBooks, or iBooks (although the iBooks are pretty decent).
 
I wasn't sure what you needed. It is tough in the field, since you have no control over the hardware giving you the signal. It may just not work well with the Mac regardless of the antenna.

good luck to you. Hope you can find a solution. Any wireless cards that will get into that express card slot?
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.