Wireless AC Problems - Late 2013 15" Retina

[Twinkie]

I've had my BTO 15" Retina for a couple of months, and have noticed that my 802.11ac connections are pretty awful.

Pinging the router will show tons of spikes in latency, ranging from a normal < 5ms up to 1,600ms. I've also noticed that doing something like 'ping -l 1000 (router)' shows ~30% packet loss. This doesn't happen on 802.11n connections.

In spite of this, Wireless Diagnostics says everything's a-ok.

For reference, this happens when I'm in the same 12x10' room as the router.

"Maybe it's the router?" you ask? This happens with a Netgear Nighthawk, as well as a new AEBS.

"Maybe the channel?" Tried that, even as far as using the recommended channels in Wireless Diagnostics.

I can't imagine this is normal, but I'm reluctant to take the time to hang out at the Genius Bar to be told it's running within spec.

Anyone else experienced this?

 

[luffytubby]

I'm pretty sure I've read on this site about how they were planning a firmware for Apple AC enabled devices and/or airport extreme 2013 edition.


Sorry, I can't be of more help.

 

[Gav Mack]

Does it improve or stay the same if you switch off bluetooth?

 

[am2am]

latency problem is well known for all new macs. related to power saving of new network/wifi card.

 

[Twinkie]

Does it improve or stay the same if you switch off bluetooth?

It stays the same. 25% packet loss or higher when I send a burst. Intermittent 1000+ms latency.

latency problem is well known for all new macs. related to power saving of new network/wifi card.

Well, that saves me a trip to the Apple Store, I guess. I'm surprised I didn't find anything about it when I was Googling.

So even with the power connected and "Prevent computer from sleeping" checked, it's going to suck until Apple gets around to a firmware update? (Assuming they acknowledge that there's a problem to begin with)

 

[am2am]

read
here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5535320?start=0&tstart=0
or
here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1678605/
or
here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1649466/

 

[cbautis2]

Wireless-AC is still in its infancy. It hasn't even reached its final specifications yet. It's not just the 2013 MBA, or 2013 rMBP that have these ping spikes. A lot of laptops with the AC such as dell xps 12, Sony Vaio Pro, Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro, etc.. all have WiFi issues. I guess when you make the Airport device more complex (the firmware has to support all of WiFi modes and IEEE standards and has to make sure all of them work properly), more problems are bound to happen. Lately, we consumers demand the latest and the greatest thus manufacturers have to come up with new tech as quickly as possible and end up with no time to test their products at all. So we end up with beta products and have to wait for manufacturers to iron out the issues based on consumer feedback.