[moxiecat]

We bought a new AirPort Extreme 802.11n for Christmas. We have two Macs--an 2005 iMac which is plugged into the AE via Ethernet, and a 2006 MacBook Pro that we use in other rooms.

The signal strength on the MacBook Pro is terrible. Even at just 20 feet away, the signal strength varies between 1 and 3 bars (most often just 1 bar). It's extremely erratic. It literally drops from 3 bars to 1, then up to 2, back down to 1, shoot up to 3 for a few seconds, then back to 1. When the bars are in the 2-3 range it runs the internet OK, but the problem is that the signal frequently drops to 1 bar, at which point pages stop loading.

To eliminate interference as a problem, our daughter brought her 2008 MacBook Pro over and we carried it around the house. It had 4 bar strength with no problems wherever we went and held 4 bars for hours while she used it in the kitchen. So we're pretty sure the problem is not interference in our house, unless her newer AirPort card is better at blocking it.

Our MacBook Pro is a Intel Core Duo, 2.16 GHz, running 10.4.11. The wireless card is 0x168C, 0x86. The wireless network adapter is listed as 802.11 a/b/g, so the computer isn't running "n", but that isn't a reason for the weak signal, is it? The AE is set up to run "n" as well as the older ones. (Sorry, please bear with my terminology...this is my first experience with wireless!)

So is the AirPort card in the computer that weak? The computer is not that old (2006), so I really didn't think we'd have a problem with it using the AirPort Extreme. The only thing I can think of at this point is that the AirPort card in the computer is bad--but can that even be checked or replaced?

One more thing: when I click on the AirPort icon in the finder menu bar, it takes a second or two for the drop down menu to appear. This is unlike the volume or bluetooth icon drop menus, which appear instantly. I don't know if that is important, but maybe it is if my AirPort card is malfunctioning.

We've tried a number of fixes listed online, like deleting plist files and resetting the NVRAM, but nothing has worked. Any ideas are most welcome. Thanks.

[ghporter]

Welcome to our forums!

I don't know whether it's your MBP's card going bad or the antenna connection to it being flaky. Either way, having your daughter's newer MBP as a reference shows that it's not your network, but rather that particular computer that's at fault. Since your base station is set up for compatibility with all wireless standards, it's not the base that's causing the problem either. The AirPort icon issue you're seeing points strongly to the card itself being a major contender for "the problem."

The list of fix attempts you've tried does not include "reboot" or "turned off and left off for several minutes." It's a long shot, but a good cold restart could "jumpstart" that card. Give it a try before you start worrying about hardware. But pencil in "worry about hardware" on your calendar.

Now the bad news. It's awfully hard to get at the AirPort card in a first generation MBP. I have the slightly earlier model with a 2.0GHz processor, and it's nicely buttoned up. You can't easily get at anything but the RAM in this version, so going in by yourself and checking the connection or replacing the card will be either extremely difficult or nearly impossible, depending on your level of technical ability. I've been working on computers and general electronics since before 1980 and I don't want to pop mine open, if that tells you anything.

So what it comes down to is that I think you need to find an Apple Authorized Service Provider in your area and have them open 'er up and see what's going on.

[moxiecat]

Hi GH, Thank you for your extremely detailed response.

Sadly, we have tried both restarting and turning it off multiple times over the last few days. More times than I can count! It's been turned off overnight a few times, and when it starts up, it is extremely slow to connect to the AE. Turning AirPort off and on usually connects it with three bars right away, but then the flaky signal action begins.

No, I would definitely never try to replace the card myself. LOL. (I have managed to replace RAM in an MBP, though, but remembering how difficult that was definitely turns me off trying this!) I don't mind hiring someone to fix the problem, as long as the card CAN be examined/replaced, and I'm not asking for something that's impossible to accomplish.

My daughter knows a local Mac technician who may be able to help us, and judging by what you wrote, I'm guessing that should be the next step. Just to clarify: If we find someone who can open the computer up and knows what he's doing, is there a way he can check the card to see if it's functioning correctly? And if not, the card can definitely be replaced, yes? I just want to be clear on what I'm asking for and expecting a qualified person to do.

Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it!

[ghporter]

The card is replaceable. If it is the card, you may want to ask the technician to use the more capable newer AirPort Extreme card, which works with N wireless. I don't know if there's a test fixture or the like to evaluate a questionable card, but I would expect a Mac shop to have a few cards available to swap in to see if the computer works better with a different card, which is basically the same thing as checking the questionable card.

Good luck, and please let us know how this turns out.

[moxiecat]

Thanks again. I will definitely post back with results.

I had read online both that the card was/wasn't replaceable, so I was a little confused on that point! :-) Thanks.

Since you have a MBP similar to mine, do you know if the hardware of this MBP can handle an AE card with N wireless? I am asking because Apple has a $1.99 download that is supposed to enable N wireless in older AirPort cards. However, they say that my model of MBP is not compatible with this update (as well as many other Macs too). So I was wondering too if my computer was simply not capable of working with a newer card that had N.

I promise, that will be my last question. Thanks again for the help.

[ibook_steve]

What happens when your MBP is sitting right next to the base station?

Also, on the router, do a few experiments. What happens if you change the broadcast channel (typically at 11; try something else)? What happens if you disable 802.11n and broadcast only b and g?

Do you have a wireless landline phone and if so, what frequency is it running at? If you have anything other than DECT 6.0 phones, you could have problems.

Also, how does your MBP work in other locations on other wifi networks (head over to Starbucks and see how it works)?

I would try these types of experiments before even considering a problem with the Airport card.

Steve

[moxiecat]

When we tried the MBP in the kitchen (one room closer to the AE), the reception is better. It generally stays at 2-3 bars. (Although my daughter's newer MBP held a solid 4 bars in the same spot.) I would imagine that if it was parked next to the base AE, it would vary between 3-4 bars. My husband's old iMac, which is right next to the AE, generally held 4 bars before we just decided to plug it in via Ethernet.

We did change the router channel from automatic (11) to 6. That didn't work. Have not tried disabling n though. Will try that next. (Would that really affect the reception the non-N machine was getting, though?)

We do have wireless phones, and that was the very first variable we tried to eliminate. We unplugged all the bases and disabled the batteries. It didn't make a difference. And then, when all the phones were plugged back in and my daughter's MBP worked fine wirelessly, we guessed that phone interference probably wasn't the culprit.

I did think today of taking the MBP to another location that was wireless. You have to pay for WiFi at Starbucks, though, right? I'll have to try to find a local place where we can easily test it. We aren't people who take our MBP out of the house, generally, so we're not well-versed in WiFi accessibility. :-)

Thanks for the ideas.

[ibook_steve]

Any place that has public wifi will at least let you get to the page where you have to sign up and pay.

If you still haven't put the problem machine right next to the base station (as you say you still have it one room away), you should try this. It's possible that something more minor, like the antenna connection to the Airport card, has simply popped off and can be put back on. See what your reception is right next to the base.

And yes, broadcasting just b and g can help. If there are no other n machines in the house other than your daughter's, there's really no point at all to broadcast n other than for something like a Time Capsule or other NAS (network accessed storage). 802.11n doesn't speed up any Internet-related use, only local network use.

Steve

[moxiecat]

New developments. I put the MBP right next to the base station. Turned off AirPort, turned it on. It held 4 bars the entire time (as soon as I brought the machine closer, in fact). Then I moved it back into our study (where it usually is located). The signal dropped to 3 bars. I waited a minute, then started up Safari. The icon immediately dropped down to one bar, then up to 2. So, back to normal, unfortunately. :-)

I opened AirPort utility and went into the AirPort Extreme settings (this is on the iMac, which is physically connected to the AE). Under the Wireless tab, I went to Radio Mode to try to turn off the N setting as you said. However, that is not an option. The only four options are 802.11n (802.11b/g compatible), 802.11n only (2.4 GHz), 802.11n (802.11a compatible), and 802.11n (5 GHz). We are currently using the b/g compatible option, but as you can see, none of these options remove n from the equation. Am I looking in the wrong place to turn off the N broadcasting? I don't see the n/b/g options anywhere else.

[monkfunk]

did you ever find a solution? I have the exact same issue, bought a new router and still having problems, other laptops in the house work further away from my mac, it is driving me mad!

[amazing]

Delete all the locations in the network System pref, then add them back in. That's been known to help...and it worked for me with one difficult wireless problem.

[monkfunk]

well i fixed my problem, just raised up high in my room instead of on the ground, works like a charm

[ghporter]

Raising the base station will help in most situations. It puts the signal path above most obstructions like furniture, which often helps immensely.

[larrylake]

I had the same problem with my 2006 Macbook pro
weak wifi would drop the connection....it only worked very close to the wifi antenna
I changed the airport card myself....works like a charm now