Wireless drop outs on my new MacBook Pro....?

iMacMart · 4 Jan 2009 at 12:59

Hi Guys

My router is a Netgear DG834GTv3 I have tried changing the channel but I still seem to get random drop out's?

My other half's Dell D620 (XP) works perfectly so I'm loathed to by a new router although if it cures the issue I suppose I'll have to...

Any other tricks I can try?

All drivers are up to date as far as I can tell (Well on the auto update side of things..)

Thanks in advance..

Will_3rd · 4 Jan 2009 at 13:43

Probably more to do with the Aluminium body of your notebook. Doesn't make for great wireless reception.

iMacMart · 4 Jan 2009 at 13:46

Will_3rd said:
Probably more to do with the Aluminium body of your notebook. Doesn't make for great wireless reception.

lol no fixing that then..?

Surely that can't be it?

Will keep looking me thinks..

Will_3rd · 4 Jan 2009 at 13:52

tweakinfreak said:
lol no fixing that then..?

Surely that can't be it?

Nope, it is a long running problem with the Apple Pro notebooks dating back to the first metal clad Powerbooks. Think they added plastic windows for the wireless antennas at one stage, not sure if they are present on the latest unibody machines though.

Could have a play with the angle you have your screen at, might help with wireless reception.

iMacMart · 4 Jan 2009 at 13:56

Will_3rd said:
Could have a play with the angle you have your screen at, might help with wireless reception.

haha! I wouldn't see that making much change really... no offense but if that is the answer this thing is going back or going on sale...

May borrow an 'N' series router from a mate and see how that performs...

Slogan · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:21

It has nothing to do with the hardware.

Have you updated the router firmware? Apple messed up the wireless software quite a while back and have never got round to sorting it properly. Now it seems to be overly fussy.

Will_3rd · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:21

Give the router solution a try or wait for an Airport update.

iMacMart · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:23

Slogan said:
It has nothing to do with the hardware.

Have you updated the router firmware? Apple messed up the wireless software quite a while back and have never got round to sorting it properly. Now it seems to be overly fussy.

Well I'm on 3rd party firmware at the moment which has always given faster sync speeds and stable wireless, reluctant to put the latest standard netgear firmware back on, but I'm happy to try it..

Fillado · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:25

I don't know about the unibody ones, but with the older MacBook (the one I have) they put the antenna in the monitor bezel. IIRC one going up the side and one going along the bottom.

There have been widespread reports that it's Leopard's fault with the wireless (which supposedly has been fixed in updates), but it can also depend on the router you are using. I had this Belkin access point that worked fine with Tiger, but when I eventually used it with Leopard (it's not the main access point I use) it kept dropping out and generally acting a bit crappy. I think it also happened when using my phone with it though so maybe it was just braking!

My Uni's WPA2 802.1x wireless also was a bit iffy using Mac OS X but fine when I rebooted into Windows. Haven't used Mac OS X while at Uni for quite a long time though so maybe the updates have fixed the issue I was having.

Anyway, it's most likely a problem with Mac OS X (or just issues with the wireless card in the MacBook). Your options are:

1. Install Windows on your MacBook and see if that fixes the problem
2. Buy a new access point/router
3. Return the MacBook and smite Apple forever