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Ron K · Oct 15, 2011, 06:35 AM

Now that I am traveling, I am completely dependent on wifi for my internet signal. However, I have run into a problem: my new 13" MBA (top of the line, 2011) does not pick up a signal or when it does, it is very weak. This is not the case if I am sitting in the same room with the wifi router, but if I go any distance the signal drops off dramatically. For example. When I stay in a hotel in Cebu city, Philippines, my room is on the 5th floor, but the router is located on the 3rd floor. I have much too often had to call the reception desk to have someone refresh the router. The kicker is that this does not happen with PCs. And now that I am on one of the outer islands, the difference is more dramatic. I met with an IT tech who paid a visit to the resort where I am renting a cottage. He has a MacBook Pro, 2009. He also has a PC. He says that his MBP will not pick up the signal if there is even a modest distance from the router, whereas his PC will pick it up at about twice the range.

What am I missing here? Has Apple neglected to install a serviceable wifi signal receptor? The same tech, above, just brought two signal boosters. One is a USB port plug-in with a standard 5" or 6" antennae. The other is a 14" - 16" antenna that can replace the short one on the router, or can be used with the USB wifi booster. Neither of them has any effect on the signal reception. I hope someone here can help with this issue, because I am forced to use my computer in more public places and not in the privacy of my dwelling. Thanks ahead for any information that will shed light on this problem and also provide a work around.

cgc · Oct 15, 2011, 11:26 AM

If Apple mis-engineered the Wifi antenna I'm sure more people than just you would be complaining.

Ron K · Oct 16, 2011, 06:24 AM

I don't think you should just be brushing me off as a complainer; that doesn't address the issue at all and becomes too personal for my taste. I agree that others may not have the same problem, but it is in fact an issue for me, and I would like some constructive input as to how to resolve it. As I mentioned, the tech here has a MacBook Pro and a PC and has the same issue as I do. His PC picks up the signal without any interference, and the MB does not. OK?

Waragainstsleep · Oct 16, 2011, 06:40 AM

Metal cases are not ideal for Wifi receivers. Its about the only advantage of the cheap nasty plastic casings they use for PCs.

You could try a USB wifi dongle and see if its any better. Other than that, not much you can really do.

Ron K · Oct 16, 2011, 07:36 AM

Thank you for the constructive reply, and for taking an interest in this issue. Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

ghporter · Oct 16, 2011, 08:24 AM

I'd like to also point out that the hot spot location situation you describe at the hotel is just plain bad for everyone, whether they use a Mac or a PC. Further, as Waragainstsleep points out, the MBA is at something of a disadvantage because of its metal case, which makes the antennas it has less effective. In other words, getting a "great" wireless signal with an MBA requires a great signal to start with.

On the other hand, while cgc didn't make this explicit in his comment, he's right that a design problem with the MacBook Air would have caused an enormous outcry quite some time ago. Have you tried experimenting with reception in locations with "known good" signals? Places like coffee shops full of people surfing wirelessly should have good to excellent signal strength (if not enormous bandwidth available to each user), and in such places your Air should get an extremely good signal. If it doesn't, you have an equipment problem and need to get Apple to fix your computer. If it does work great there, you can point out to the hotel management in places where you get bad or no signals that they are not really providing WiFi service to half of their floors, and they appear to be too cheap to put in enough access points to adequately cover all the rooms. Which, is definitely the case in the "3rd floor access point, 5th floor room" situation you described in your original post.

SierraDragon · Oct 16, 2011, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Ron K

I don't think you should just be brushing me off as a complainer...

"If Apple mis-engineered the Wifi antenna I'm sure more people than just you would be complaining" was not "brushing you off as a complainer." It was troubleshooting away one possible solution, answering part of the question: No, all MBAs do not have terrible WiFi reception.

Next step is to take the box to Apple tech for warranty service.

HTH

-Allen