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mwelty · Oct 6, 2003, 04:01 PM

So I got the 1.25GHz G4 AlBook on Friday, and to say the least Airport Extreme was a royal pain in the ***.

Compared to my 867MHz TiBook, Airport reception was downright deplorable. Using the AlBook in the exact same circumstances as the TiBook provided 50% to 25% lower signal than before.

What is up with this? I thought that moving the antenna viewing windows up into the display was supposed to HELP the situation.

Along with some motivation by other mitigating circumstances, I went ahead and upgraded to a Belkin 802.11g access point (I previously had a Linksys 802.11b) to see if this would solve my signal strength problems.

No dice.

I move the router into my bedroom so that it will be within about 8 feet (direct line of sight) of where I normally use the PowerBook. 72% signal is the best I can get (both KisMac and Macstumbler). I figure that this must be solely related to the fact that there are several other people with base stations in my apartment complex.

So I bring the PowerBook to work today, where there is only one other base station in the building on a completely different end of the 2.4GHz spectrum. Once again, less than stellar results.

SO...I reseated the Airport Extreme card, hoping that maybe it just wasn't lining up properly.

No dice.

Finally, I've had it, I call Apple. I explain to them my issue, let them know that I'm not a completely wireless idiot (I was one of the first people to adopt Airport technology) and this situation was definitely not having anything to do with my network (other wireless notebooks work fine here, side by side with the AlBook).

The guy at AppleCare said "say no more, we've had problems with early production models. I'm creating a case for you and you can bring it into the Apple Store you bought it at and have them exchange it with a new production model."

So, to make this already way long story short: don't go through everything I have gone through. (Dropped $140 on a new base station, yeah I'm dumb). It appears that there IS a problem with early production AlBook and Airport Extreme. Call Apple, tell them you consider this DOA, and you want it exchanged.

I wrapped up the call with a case # in under 5 minutes.

Hope this helps anyone else experiencing this trouble.

Commodus · Oct 6, 2003, 04:05 PM

Good to hear that Apple is on top of it. I'd hate to think that I would get a brand-new PowerBook and never be able to connect at a proper speed.

babajazz · Oct 6, 2003, 04:34 PM

so if my albook left taiwan three days ago...did I get the newer model or the problematic "first" batch?
cheers

Drakino · Oct 6, 2003, 04:50 PM

Out of curiosity, how did you get KisMac working on the Airport Extreme card? It has never worked with mine, and seems to be confirmed at the KisMac homepage.

slider · Oct 6, 2003, 06:08 PM

Well this is good news, I was kinda bumped that my PB was delayed to the 10th of this month, but I was hoping it was to fix some of the issue that seem to be popping up, sounds like that is exactly the case. I am definately willing to wait if it means me not having to be very disappointed.

schk · Oct 6, 2003, 06:23 PM

ugh, I shouldn't have read this thread. My PB is perfect, but I just ran MacStumbler and started walking around my house . The max reading I can get is 69% right next to my access point. I didn't really notice my poor readings since it shows 3-4 bars in the places I use it, but according to Internet Connect the signals are on the low end, I can get a maximum of 75% right next to the access point. I guess I'll call up Applecare and see if they will offer to do.

scctx · Oct 6, 2003, 07:07 PM

Just to chime in. I went thru this last week and had to go to 2 Apple stores before my 15" ALBook was deemed DOA. I ordered the day after the keynote and got one of the early models I guess.