Wireless Dropping and Reconnecting?

[Yuiichi]

Hey guys,

I come to you with an issue that's been driving me absolutely nuts for the past couple of weeks and wonder if you've heard anything that might help me.

Here's what happens:
I'm browsing the internet in Safari, going along my merry way, when all of a sudden the page stops loading. This can be any page on the internet. It's here, I assume, that the wireless just gives out for a moment or two and then reconnects on it's own (usually). The problem is, after this has occurred, there's no way of getting Safari (or Firefox) to actually refresh and get the correct page. It'll either tell me it can't find the server or not load some elements, such as pictures, even though they work fine on my other computer.

I've heard rumblings of wireless issues with Leopard and have searched the Apple Discussion boards with little results.

Have any of you experienced anything similar or know of any information that might provide some comfort in this hour of need? I'd be grateful!

[Jugger Grimrodd]

Have you confirmed that the problem is with your MacBook? I had a D-Link DI-624 that did the same thing. Maybe look for a firmware update for your router? I ended up buying a AEBS because of it.

Data packet collisions? I think that is what they called it.

For as long as I had my MBP and Leopard, I never had a dropped connection.

I sure hope you find a resolution, it's things like that what cause insanity...

[houltmac]

I'd agree with Jugger in this case. While it's easy to blame everything but the Mac, it's usually easier to update and basic troubleshoot routers for a couple of days before having to hand the machine into an Apple Store.

Check for updates to the router, try restarting it, if it continues then swapping it out is a good idea if you can. How often does this happen? Is is easily reproducible at the Genius Bar if worse comes to worse?

[Yuiichi]

@Jugger and Matt - I do have other devices connected to the router and they experience no problems. I'll see if there's a firmware update for my router (which is a WRT54G).

I was looking up the changes in the 10.5.2 update, and it specifically highlighted issues with the MacBook Wireless:

Originally Posted by AppleInsider (emphasis mine)

The Cupertino-based Mac maker reportedly asked those developers to focus their testing efforts on an expansive list of components running some 37 items long. Among them were Data Detectors, the Mac OS X Dock, the Finder, grammar checking, iCal, iChat, Mail, Parental Controls, Quick Look, Rosetta, Safari, Time Machine, and Leopard's 802.11 AirPort implementation (which has troubled some MacBook users.)

That's why I really don't think it's hardware. It was fine before the 10.5.1 update and only seems to do this when I'm really actively using the network, as has been described in some cases. If worse comes to worse, I'll take it to the genius bar and see if I can reproduce it there. For now, I'll just wait patiently till 10.5.2 drops!

EDIT: I just checked if there was a firmware update - I have the latest firmware. I've changed the wireless channel, as I've noticed that there are a lot more wireless signals that I'm picking up. Could be some interference? I'll see how this goes for now.

EDIT 2: So far, so good. Not one drop this morning and I've been trying to visit as many things as possible. Maybe channel was the fix?

[Jugger Grimrodd]

I think it's your router, yeah..that's it. Your router is broken. Now you HAVE to buy a Time Capsule, yeah...no choice in the matter.

[Yuiichi]

Heh heh, good excuse for me, no? I think I'll be picking up a Time Capsule regardless. It's just so tempting.

Besides, having a backup is always nice

[houltmac]

Just make sure you keep your old router around. If you have an issue with the drive inside you will loose your router too!

[Yuiichi]

@Matt - yeah, for sure! It's always good to have a backup (heh, I guess that works in 2 ways with this decision). I do hope that my "fix" for right now continues to work as this issue has been driving me nuts!

[houltmac]

I think it probably will. Channels can be a real pain and cause all kinds of odd issues. When you see these issues it can very well be on one device more than others, so I'd say that's a good call.

[Yuiichi]

Mmm, not quite.

The strange thing is that the computer doesn't even show that it's dropped the connection. Just kind of does. My Gmail notifier is currently saying that it can't find the host, and I can't get onto gmail even though I can on my other computer. It was checking at the wrong time, I guess.

Too bad really.

Can't wait for 10.5.2!

EDIT: For anyone that still cares, I changed my encryption to WPA2 out of desperation, and it has been going well for a while now. I've been tracking the wireless in iStumbler, and it seems pretty solid. Still the occasional drop though. I did find a really interesting thread on the Apple Discussion board though.

The poster relates that his MacBook would occasionally not be able to load certain site (definitely after a drop in connection, just like me). He found that an Apple router actually solved the issue, claiming incompatibility with his older router. I think that this is a pretty good explanation, and all the more reason for me to get a Time Capsule soon!

Here's the thread: click here.

It could be why you haven't experienced any issues, too, Matt.