November 19, 2006
Macbook Pro Airport Disconnect?
I am just posting this here in hopes that others find this via a Google search. Please post a comment if you are also experiencing this problem.
EDIT May 30, 2007:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airportextremeupdate2007003.html
Apple finally recognized that they had a problem with their airport extreme drivers on the new Intel machines, but the catch was that its a problem with 3rd-party routers using WPA or WPA2 (the only secure wifi protection). This finally explains why I couldn’t properly connect my MBP to any wifi router that used WPA protection, but it connected fine if I manually connected the machines or used WEP protection.
I just bought the new 15” Macbook Pro 2.16 w/Core 2 Duo around Halloween. I loved my old 12” Powerbook, but I wanted a more powerful machine with more screen real estate. I am enjoying this machine for the most part, but one thing that is a complete dealbreaker is this laptop’s inability to maintain a wireless connection. I connect to my D-Link DI-524 rev.D router w/the newest 4.03 firmware successfully but after about 10mins of use the wireless just craps out. I don’t have any problems with my HP NC6000 laptop connecting to the same router. I have also experienced this on a Linksys WRT54g v5 (i know this version is the crappy version wo/Linux support). I have tried everything on the forums. I think there may just be something wrong with the Draft-N card they put in this thing.
UPDATE: I have managed to keep connected to the Linksys WRT54g by manually setting the IP address. Not sure why this does anything, but I did notice it took a long time to acquire an IP address automatically before.
UPDATE AGAIN: Apple seems to have heard the complaints on messageboards and the blogosphere and released an update to solve the problems on my Macbook Pro’s airport being worthless.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airportupdate2006002.html
Another UPDATE (2-19-2007):
Apparently Apple didn’t think update was neccessary because they have pulled the update from Software Update and from Apple.com link above. You can still download it at VersionTracker: http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/28282. Not sure why they pulled it, but it helped out with my problems.
People were talking about this at MacFixIt:
UPDATE AGAIN: Apple seems to have heard the complaints on messageboards and the blogosphere and released an update to solve the problems on my Macbook Pro’s airport being worthless.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airportupdate2006002.html
Another UPDATE (2-19-2007):
Apparently Apple didn’t think update was neccessary because they have pulled the update from Software Update and from Apple.com link above. You can still download it at VersionTracker: http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/28282. Not sure why they pulled it, but it helped out with my problems.
People were talking about this at MacFixIt:
MacFixIt reader John Crook writes: “On my new Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro (15â€) I found that my Airport connection was intermittently “lockingâ€. My laptop could not ‘see’ either the internet or my router – even though the menu bar showed full signal strength. A reboot was necessary to restore the network connection. “(It appears) that Airport Update 2006-002 has fixed this problem. […] No problems since I applied the update. I was usually getting the problem at least once a day and most often after a wake from sleep. Due to the intermittent nature and inability to reproduce the problem it’s hard to be certain, but I’d say it’s looking very likely that the problem has been fixed.”
(:
I’m having the problem disconnecting from airport for no reason with my 15″ MacBook Pro. It seems to have become worse since 10.4.8.
My brandnew white macbook core 2 duo 2ghz has done it a couple of times… hence the search on Google and I found you! I’m also running 10.4.8. Interesting eh?
Just found this on the Apple Site…
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=570718&tstart=15
Tried changing the channel number - no difference. I’ll keep looking I guess.
Found your blogpost via a Google search on “macbook pro wrt54g v5 problems”.
I just bought a MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.16 GHz today, and I was having trouble connecting to my Linksys WRT54G router.
The first problem was that my WEP password didn’t work. So I disabled encryption altogether.
Then the problem was that my internet connection craps out after 5 mins. It turns out that it isn’t just my internet connection, the whole router craps out - trying to go the router web-based interface resulted in no response. I would have to power cycle the router to get around this.
And then I found your posting, and you referred to Apple’s AirPort update, which doesn’t exist at the link you provided for some reason. I googled for it, and installed it, and it seems to be ok (crossing fingers). Strangly, when I choose Software Update from the Apple menu, this AirPort Update 2006-002 does not appear.
Thanks, though!! I’ll post another comment if I run into another problem and pull my hair out :D
Yoshi,
Same exact problem here — my PowerMac G5 stays connected to the router no problem — but if I try to connect my girlfriend’s brand new Macbook 13″ Core 2 Duo, it knocks out the whole bloody router! Looks like lack of testing by Apple because I was unsuccessful at trying to knock out the Apple Store network. =)
Anyway, I’m gonna try 10.4.9 and if that fails, the airport update, and I’ll post again with results.
Such a relief, most people complain about connections but not about knocking out the router, I thought I was alone. =)
Juan.
Alright! I ran system update on the Macbook — two possibly pertinent updates, 10.4.9 and Aiport Extreme 2007-002. One of those fixed it! Using interference robustness (there’s like 12 networks various other 2.4GHz devices where I live), it can maintain a rock-solid connection.
Good luck to everyone else! =)
Juan.
Omg, finding a post that’s talking about the exact same problem you’ve been battling with for hours on end is like finding a pot of gold in a sea of never ending crap. Thanks!!
I just replaced my 12″ Powerbook with a new 15″ MacBookPro and have a Linksys WRT54GS router. The 12″ was working fine, but as soon as my MacBookPro tried to connect, the router stopped working. This has been going on for a solid three days, and is only fixed when I reboot the router and DSL modem. The connection would last for anywhere between 0 and 8 minutes. I’ve reset the modem, updated its firmware, tried WAP security and a config where my MAC address is let in (this is what it’s on now) among other useless tweaks. And, nothing has worked.
I just finished the updates as suggested above (thanks!), including the Airport Extreme Update 2007-002 and the Mac OS X Update (Intel) 10.4.9…totally shut everything down (router, modem, computer). Rebooted everything (modem, 30 sec, then router 30 sec, then computer) and things seem to be working…cross your fingers!!
Thank you so much everyone!!!
Ok, update: The software update seemed to work for almost 24 hrs…but I now just started to have the same issues again. Any other suggestions would be super, thanks!
Mmm… I just got a Macbook Pro 2.33… Same deal, knocks out the router when idle, except this time, the updates didn’t help. If anyone else has any suggestions…?
The updates didn’t work on my MBP 15′ 2.2, 6 months old.
My homemates’ PCs never showed the issues i’m facing.
I’m a brazilian guy using Zyxel router, in Germany.
I already downgraded to 2007, 2006-002, among others, and it didn’t manage any fixes. Hope you guys get a solution and gently replies us/me. It’s a little annoying every hour manual connect need.
Thanks, peace. Rod. rspoppi@yahoo.co.uk