How to fix AirPort Extreme dropping wireless?

lloydsj · 21 Apr 2008 at 10:22

Hi,

I've google for this and searched these forums but thought i would now ask here for the answer.

I've got a brand new black macbook (the latest model that came out). I connect to my internet (and also remote desktop to my windows machines) via my USR wireless router (g speed). The macbook connects to it very badly most of the time and remote desktop frequently just drops and then reconnects. I've never had this before. So i thought i would dual boot the macbook, put xp on it with the bookcamp drivers, and see how remote desktop worked then. In XP, i can see that my wireless is only connecting at 18mb, drops to 11, and then to 2mb after a while (i'm sat 2 meters from my wireless router at the time). I found a note from google that said that when 2 wireless devices struggle to communicate they lower the speed until the they can communuicate successfully. This sounds like whats happening, but its only the macbook that has these problems (as I use other laptops with zero probs).

Is this a hardware or software issue with macbook (as its happening in both osx and xp with the bootcamp drivers)? and how do i fix it? or when are Apple going to fix it?

lloydsj · 21 Apr 2008 at 12:09

I'm pretty sure im running the latest patches in OSX, and i'm using the bootcamp drivers on the leopard install cd in XP (not sure if there's newer ones on the website?).

I'm also assuming this isn't just an incompatibility with my USR wireless, as there seems to be a lot of threads on the internet about similar problems with macbooks but no real answers/fixes.

lloydsj · 21 Apr 2008 at 12:37

I dont think there are any updates for the USR as its fairly old now. The last update was couple of years ago.

So are you saying im unlucky that its happening to me and if i had a different wireless it would probably be spot on. I have been thinkin about buying an apple airport express but am reluctant if its going to have the same problems

lloydsj · 21 Apr 2008 at 14:44

Ok, i'll have a look for a new firmware for my current wireless later.

When I googled for it there's a LOT of hits tho, so figured it'd be a known problem. Just doesn't seem to be any answers/fixes hence why i asked on here.

How do I get to see what speed my wireless is connecting at in OSX?

Cheers

lloydsj · 21 Apr 2008 at 15:05

OK cheers for the updates... few more questions then..

1) how soon is 5.3 due out then? do we have confirmed dates or anything?
2) where do i get hold of the pre 802.11n drivers for OSX?
3) where do i get hold of the pre 802.11n driver for XP then? as i'll need that too (as i get the same problem in both XP and OSX).