March 17, 2006 1:51 PM PST

MacBook Pro Special Report: Wireless connectivity issues

by CNET staff

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Some readers report flaky wireless connections when using third-party routers with the MacBook Pro.

There are a few separate issues here, which all appear to be related:

Inability to obtain an IP address from a third-party router
Inability to recognize a third-party router at all
Frequent disconnects from third-party routers

MacFixIt reader John Budacovich describes issue #1:

"I too am having problems with a MacBook Pro accessing a secure (PEAP) wireless network.

"My laptop makes the connection to the access with no problem - but it does not receive an IP address from the CISCO access point. It self assigns a 169 address instead. In fact, I have observed the access point receiving the request for an address from the MacBook Pro which the access point does provide.

"I have also tried to get on the secure network with a fixed IP address in an open range on the VPN - but with no success. The same MacBook Pro will, however, access an open network (and receive an IP address from same) in the very same building without difficulty."

MacFixIt reader Eas describes issue #2:

"I am seeing this with my MacBook Pro and a linksys wre54g expander. My usual solution is to just turn the MacBook Pro's airport off and back on again and the problem is fixed. I have not traced it further than that. Using iStumbler, I can see both the wre54g and wap54g, but the connection should go to the wre, because it is closer and the signal is stronger. I do not see this on my powerbook G4. It can also see both routers, but always makes the right connection and does not need to be power cycled."

MacFixIt reader Nic describes issue #3:

"I'm using a Linksys WAP54GP access point configured using personal WPA with my 2Ghz MacBook Pro and experience frequent drop outs. So frequent that I cant use it. Connecting to a Cisco 350 AP (802.11b) configured with 128bit WEP which is located physically close to the Linksys AP and do not experience the same problem. Connecting to other .b hotspots does not cause a problem - Its only with my Linksys .g AP."

Some additional reports;

MacFixIt reader Andy writes:

"We are experiencing this as well with all of our MacBook pros and Meru Networks Wireless Access Points. Meru is working with us tirelessly to solve this issue, they have not so far found a reason. What we do know is that it authenticates fine on the Radius side, but the DHCP server treats it as an unknown. Hence the 169 address."

Another reader writes:

"I have done some non-scientific testing and found that the wifi, while more sensitive than in the previous Powerbooks (I had almost all generations of them), has slower throughput on the Macbook if you are any meaningful distance away from the access point even if you have a good signal (3 bars on the status bar indicator).

"I ran speed tests using speakeasy test servers.

"My Internet connect is rated at 8000/768 (8MB/768KB). When I use a wired Cat5 connection, on the closest server to me (NYC), I get 8168/695.

"On my PowerBook 1.67 at 10 feet from the access point I got 8020/695. On my MacBook Pro at the same distance I got 7080/684.

"At 40 feet from the access point with my PowerBook 1.67 I got 6400/690. With my MacBook Pro, I got 2300/534. What is most interesting is that at this distance, my PB had only 1-2 bars, where my MacBook Pro had 3/4 bars, yet the throughput on MacBook Pro drops off considerably.

"At 50-60 feet from the access point my PowerBook loses the connection. The Macbook Pro maintains the connection 1-2 bars, but the throughput slows to 430/123. My old Gateway PC laptop at that distance gets a 6300/650 throughput."

Solutions

Delete then re-establish wireless network You may need to delete then re-establish any encrypted AirPort network configurations in order to achieve a stable connection.

One reader writes:

"I deleted my Airport Express settings from the preferred network list and set it back to joining wireless networks automatically.

"After a reboot I entered my Airport network info one time only and it connected fine, held my breath and tried a reboot... And it worked! I did a few reboots and shutdown / power up tests before I left for work and it seemed all good."

Power cycle the router Some users have reported that turning their router off then back on resolves the issue -- though it's a kludgy workaround:

"I have a Linksys WRT54G (v2) wireless router at home. I've experienced periodic dropouts of wireless service with my MacBook pro. One second I'll have a wireless connection, the next, it's gone. Restarting the computer doesn't bring it back. The only fix is to cycle the power on the router. When I do that, the wireless connection pops right back up."

More fixes There are several more applicable fixes for this issue found in our tutorial "Improving AirPort reception, avoiding dropouts/lost connectivity, working around card/Base station recognition issues."