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Ben Katz · Oct 16, 2009, 07:26 PM

Hi All!

I found this site, because I (for the Love of all that is good and holy) cannot post at the apple.discussions forum; where I have had an account for years...Anyhow, I am having a common problem (as I have seen from numerous google searches) with my airport card in my Macbook. I am running 10.4.11 on the white macbooks that came out about 3 years ago...My Macbook has been awesome for almost the entire period of time, however, I keep losing my connection with my apple airport wireless router. I tested the connection with another computer and the signal is strong all over the house....I, however, have to be about 5 or 6 feet away from the router in order to receive a strong signal, and even then it fluctuates between 3 and 2 bars.

From searching literally hundreds of posts, I cannot quite find an answer/solution to my problem...I have deduced that I either have a wireless network in the area that is interfering with my network or I just need a new wireless card in my macbook.

I looked up wireless cards on ebay and it seems like I can get one pretty cheap, but I would be very apprehensive to open up the computer and install it, for I would probably screw it up somehow. If I were to buy the card on ebay and schedule an appt. with a genius, do you think they would install it for me...I don't mind paying. My appleCare warrantee has expired long ago...so, I am not sure if they would even consider helping me.

Also, I have seen that I could update my OS from Tiger to Snow Leopard, but I don't want to do that if it is not necessary. I have made sure that I have the latest firmware updates and everything and it seems all up to date.

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks, in advance, for even reading this rambling diatribe....

Benny

ghporter · Oct 16, 2009, 09:39 PM

Welcome to our forums!

Simple way to tell if it's interference: manually set your own AirPort base to a different channel. I'd go with either 1 or 11 (11 us the highest channel in the States-go higher if you're where higher channels are allowed). If it's interference, you'll see a LOT of improvement by just changing the channel.

Simple way to tell if it's your card: go to Starbucks or some other free WiFi hotspot and see if you lose the connection like you do at home.

I'm going to leave this thread in the Notebooks forum for now, but I'm guessing it'll turn out to be something you fix by just changing your channel.

Ben Katz · Oct 17, 2009, 03:00 PM

Thanks for the help....ok, how do I change the channel? I did download istumble to view all the networksm I've also taken it to work as if yesterday and I was having the same issue. Is it really difficult to install your own wireless card?

shdwghst457 · Oct 17, 2009, 03:33 PM

i would pop it open and check to make sure the internal antenna is still connected before ordering anything.

Ben Katz · Oct 17, 2009, 06:32 PM

I do still have an intermittent signal...its just that I cannot leave the room anymore...could the internal antenna be disconnected and your computer can still receive a weak signal? Is that even possible? If so, I will definitely check it out...thanks!

ghporter · Oct 17, 2009, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by Ben Katz

Thanks for the help....ok, how do I change the channel? I did download istumble to view all the networksm I've also taken it to work as if yesterday and I was having the same issue. Is it really difficult to install your own wireless card?

Plug into the AirPort base with a cable, and use the AirPort Utility to configure it. Like almost everything from Apple, it's pretty easy to use.

Ben Katz · Oct 17, 2009, 07:11 PM

Ok...is there anything else I should do? Also, does changing the channel affect how I connect...meaning, do you have to reconfigure my wireless printer that is connected to a separate airport?

ghporter · Oct 17, 2009, 07:29 PM

The channel won't affect ANYTHING else. You won't have to re-enter a password or anything. Is the printer connected to an AirPort Express? That should still work too.

Ben Katz · Oct 17, 2009, 07:34 PM

Yes it is connected to another airport...

Ben Katz · Oct 17, 2009, 07:39 PM

Yes, I have our printer connected to an airport router that is talking with the basestation..

AKcrab · Oct 17, 2009, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Ben Katz

I tested the connection with another computer and the signal is strong all over the house....I, however, have to be about 5 or 6 feet away from the router in order to receive a strong signal, and even then it fluctuates between 3 and 2 bars.

I think you probably do have a bum card (or the antenna has come loose).

Go to a different network (as Glenn suggested) and see how your macbook does.

ghporter · Oct 18, 2009, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by AKcrab

I think you probably do have a bum card (or the antenna has come loose).

Go to a different network (as Glenn suggested) and see how your macbook does.

That's the final step. If you get a lousy signal at Starbucks, your card or something connecting it, is bad and needs to be replaced.