iMac wireless issue

[philbowell]

For the last couple of days I've been having major issues with my iMac. It's been detecting wireless networks from surrounding houses, and even detects the one in my house, yet it will not connect. Occasionally it does connect, but it doesn't seem to hold the connection for very long and there is no rhyme or reason to. I don't understand what's changed. I've not moved the modem/router and my iMac has not moved either. Any ideas? Do I have a problem with my AirPort ariel do you think? I'm at a loss on this.

[baseballboy828]

Try another user account to see if the problem still exists there. You may want to do an archive and install as well.

[philbowell]

I'll try the new user account. It's interesting it's started to happen, and I don't understand it. Sometimes it doesn't see any of the wireless networks, and takes quite a while find them. I'll go try. No doubt I will be back!

Edit: I tried a new user account and it didn't work. I got the same connection time out. Also on my main account the iMac tells me I need a WPA password, and has my password remembered. I don't know what encryption it is though, as it's a Sky modem/router and comes with it all setup.

Edit 2: I restarted the modem and it connected. Not automatically, I had to tell it but it seems to be working. I'll see how it copes tomorrow.

[houltmac]

After a large uptime routers can get themselves in a twist and cause such odd behavior - I would imagine it's this rather than your iMac. Hopefully your restart will resolve the issue.

[lucamacis]

I have actually had lots of problems very similair to you regarding my wireless internet connection. I first noticed it when i installed leopard. Majority of the time i have a strong internet connection but for days at a time i will find myself disconnected. My Mac Mini will be able to find my network however not connect. I also use a skyrouter as the modem and then a Airpoer Extreme Base Station for the wireless.

All i do is keep on restarting the box's untill i get my connection back however i also think my mac could benefit from an archive and install to remove the problem all together... Im just being lazy

[Yuiichi]

I believe 10.5.2 was supposed to resolve the wireless drop out issue. I know my problems disappeared (see this thread) shortly before the update dropped and have not appeared again. Mine was especially annoying as even after the wireless reconnected, I could not view any page (or any objects in a page) that had been stopped by the dropped connection.

[philbowell]

That's intersting Yuiichi. My problems have only happened on 10.5.2 it happened occasionally before this weekend, but I just put it down to random hiccoughs! Hopefully 10.5.3 will improve it further.

[Yuiichi]

Hmm... maybe them "fixing" this issue actually caused it for you. That's rather disheartening! I do hope that 10.5.3 does fix this for you (if it doesn't fix itself, like my problems did). Is it possible to move the iMac/Router/Modem/Networking Stuff to a place where you can use it wired while this is sorted out?

[philbowell]

More feedback. I repaired permissions on the iMac last night, not sure why I didn't try it earlier, and all seems to be working now. I guess something had got stitched up, but now it just connects first time and no issues accepting the password. I suggest you give that a try Lucamacis.

[lucamacis]

@Phil... Thanks for the advice. My connection is strong but i repaired the permissions anyways and there was a alot that needed to be done. haha. Well hopefully that will prevent any future problems :-D