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wow, MBP wireless SUXK!!!!!!!!!
- Thread starter richardbb85
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Well i guess your one experience trumps the many poor reception problems that i have discussed with others.
No, not my one experience, but also the hundreds of thousands or millions of others who don't have such problems, but they're not going to take the time to post the lack of any problem in a forum. Also, if the MBP were the problem, they would ALL have the same problems. Elementary understanding of wireless networks will enable anyone to understand that environment plays a significant role in reception and signal strength... interference from other signals, etc. Again, if the MBP had poor wireless capabilities, they would ALL have such problems. The fact that some do and some don't is proof that other factors are responsible.
No, your option is NOT to give Apple more money as a thank you for screwing this up so greatly. Buy a third party USB wireless stick and be amazed how stable wireless LAN can be even on a Mac - as long as you don't use Apple's Airport card.
Using a third party device was the only thing that fixed WLAN on Snow Leopard for me. But it's still fascinating to see that the very same Airport card that does not work reliably with Apple's own operating system works so well with Windows and Linux on the same computer.
The problem is neither the computer nor the "cheap" router, it is Apple's lousy operating system. Put -any- other operating system on your Mac and see how your wireless connections will fly on the very same hardware. Apple crippled the wireless stack in (Snow) Leopard beyond imagination.
The fact is that many people have problems with Macbooks on the same network where people with other brand computers have no problem at all while using that same network at the same exact time.
Since I have a MBP I had to relocate one of my AP (I have two one G and one N). Before that I had 4 computers (and 2 iPhones) that have been connecting without problems at the same exact spot where my MBP is sitting.
The most obvious for me to prove that at least my MBP has crappy Wifi reception is that if I turned the MBP 90deg or lifted it up 5 inches from the desk, the WIFI miraculously worked again.
Note that I had full Wifi signal all the time in any position, just no data coming through.
Of course a majority of users have no problems, but Macbook Wifi problems are far from isolated, just look at the amount of threads about this in these forums and how often the issue comes up again.
It's a bit easy to always blame the network or access point...
My MBP 13" is crappy and drops connection all the time on my NetComm router but is just fine on my Airport (connects at 300Mbps!)
I think it must be incompatibility between the chipsets. Not the computer to blame and not the router to blame but the combination of the two. Anyway always buy Apple and you know it will be tested to work together.
I think it must be incompatibility between the chipsets. Not the computer to blame and not the router to blame but the combination of the two. Anyway always buy Apple and you know it will be tested to work together.
I can't comment on the dropped connections, but remember that aluminium Powerbooks, MacBooks, and MacBooks have always had a horribly weak wifi signal compared to heir plastic counterparts. The signal simply has a harder time transmitting through aluminium than most other materials.
That, or get a new router.
Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)
No, he's right, particularly since around 2003 when the aluminium Powerbooks came out.
HLdan said:
No, he's right, particularly since around 2003 when the aluminium Powerbooks came out.
If I don't have my wireless N router's signal strength set to high, my 13" MBP can't pick it up when the lid is closed. If I open the lid it finds it even if the signal strength is set to medium. On high, no problems.
The router in question is right next to the MBP, the only thing on the way is my 40" HDTV.
At work however it manages to pick the signal about 20 meters away and behind a brick wall.
The router in question is right next to the MBP, the only thing on the way is my 40" HDTV.
At work however it manages to pick the signal about 20 meters away and behind a brick wall.
@op. google DD WRT. It's a custom firmware for your router. My MBP is rock solid with this firmware and Buffalo router.
Typically, the Apple products that are aluminum based, will get a weaker wireless signal, than all plastic bodied laptops. I've seen this with a MBP; if the wireless signal is strong enough, this shouldn't be a problem for most users.
Hey guys look at this thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/358919/
I followed the steps for Leopard and my internet speed has significantly increased! SERIOUSLY! It takes me only 3 seconds to load MacRumors now
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/358919/
I followed the steps for Leopard and my internet speed has significantly increased! SERIOUSLY! It takes me only 3 seconds to load MacRumors now
I'm somewhere around 100-120ft from my router (an AT&T 2wire gateway), going through 3-4 walls and I get perfect signal with my MBP. The internet goes just as fast at this distance as it does when I'm sitting right next to the router. My iPhone isn't quite as fast at this distance but it still works fine. My xbox 360, on the other hand, had terrible signal and was either really slow or just didn't work at all.
This is with just wireless G, too. When we had a wireless N router, I could go over to the neighbors house that is over 300ft away and still get perfect signal with my Macbook. But that router had a strange problem of slowing our internet down randomly and requiring a reboot, so we got rid of it.
This is with just wireless G, too. When we had a wireless N router, I could go over to the neighbors house that is over 300ft away and still get perfect signal with my Macbook. But that router had a strange problem of slowing our internet down randomly and requiring a reboot, so we got rid of it.
I've found the majority of my wireless problems are due to living in a condo complex with 30 other wireless routers within range. The wireless spectrum was never designed to handle that kind of traffic within the same frequency. The solution is to change your setting to Wireless N * ONLY * on the 5ghz band. Problems usually go away, but then you won't be able to connect your iphone to the wifi, and most guests who come visit wont be able to get on your wireless. Also, things like the PS3 will no longer work over your wireless network, so there are trade offs involved in going to N only.
Yes, this works. Another option when there is a lot of networks is to go "about this Mac" and "More info" and "Airport" and it will show you all the other networks in range and what channel they are using. Then go to Airport Utility and manually select an unused channel. I have managed to increase the signal to noise gap by 50db this way.
I've actually been incredibly impressed with my MBP. I keep seeing on these forums how apple didn't think the aluminum enclosure through, wireless would be impeded. I get better wifi strength than ANY other computer I've used, and being "that guy" everyone goes to with their tech troubles, I've used hundreds of laptops at this point.
I'm the only one on my floor that gets any wifi reception (and I get a damn good connection) in our common room.
I'm the only one on my floor that gets any wifi reception (and I get a damn good connection) in our common room.
I've noticed it has been hit or miss since the switch to Intel. I've had sibling MacBook Pros get wildly different wireless results.
Or you could get a Dual-Band wireless router, like the one I have.
It has an N network for my MBP and MB, and it has a G network for my iPhone and Wii.
BTW, my MBP's wireless is fantastic.
+1 I've set up at least two thousand (no exaggeration) wireless networks in my lifetime.
I didn't get to read the entire thread so maybe the problem is fixed but I'll chime in anyway.
While there is a rare chance it could be a problem with your laptop most likely it is the router or environment.
People with stone walls or heavy brick walls generally have weak signal in the house. Also if you live in the vicinity of many other wireless networks that can really screw with things.
Some things to try:
Make sure your router is not on channel 11. This is the default by most manufacturers. Sometimes just changing this can drastically improve things.
Try your computer on a different wireless network, one that is known to be stable and see if you still have problems.
Move the antaennas of the router if it has them. Believe it or not this can make a difference. Unless you have a newer linksys you will probably have these.
I've had nothing but flawless connectivity with my 13" MBP. I use a time capsule and a d link at work. Also, I have a linksys, previously. I'd call AppleCare if this persists.
Good luck.
Habitus
Here's another example: I had my MBP about 25 feet from my AirPort Express and was playing music via AirTunes. Everything is working fine, until I turned on my microwave oven. Even though iTunes is still playing, the music stops coming from the remote speakers. I turn off the microwave. The music starts. I repeated this 3 or 4 times. Worked every time. Microwaves (and many other devices) interfere with wireless signals. If you live near other apartments/condos/houses, you could have your wireless signal constantly bombarded with interference from nearby devices.
I hvave the same problem. I lose connection about once every hour or 2. It has nothing to do with my router as it happens when im on other connections also. Its really frustrating, especially when downloading large files only to come back to the computer and seeing that it couldnt complete downloading, so you gotta start all over again...
I find my wireless works best when I am completely undressed & killing kittens for all those in the know.