Airport can't see certain open networks

About one month ago, my MBA Airport started to have problems to find open networks & hotspots that I used to connect to without any problem. For example, right now I'm connected to the internet via ethernet because when I click on Airport, it scans but does not list the open network that I used to access. However, a PC or an iPhone can see this network and connect without a problem.
I played around with different network settings, such as marking and unmarking 'Ask to join new networks' and creating a new location besides 'Automatic', but this has not helped. As a note, to date I haven't had any problems with finding and connecting to password protected networks.
I also spoke to a 'Genius' about the problem and he said that he couldn't find anything in his database about this issue - which seems strange because I've found various references to this problem on different websites. He said if the problem continued, I could change the Airport card since it is still under guarantee, but he doubted it was a hardware issue.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks.

What I have done that has so far worked with the connection ordeal is to go back to OS 10.5 from OS 10.5.6, as I stated above. That immediately got us back on line.
I then when to Apple support and downloaded 10.5.1 and then 10.5.2
So far so good. In regards to 10.5.5, we had no issues with the MBA and that particular version. Now 10.5.6 is when all of the trouble begin. It would start after waking from sleep with 10.5.6, no internet connect, yet all networks were seen.
I will keep upgrading till I get to 10.5.5 and see where we stand. I honestly believe this is a software issue with 10.5.6 and the MacBook Air alone. As none of my other computers in the house have been affected after the upgrade to 10.5.6.
As we have a good mix of Apple products on our nutty network that I have put together. Two AirPort Extremes, one N and one B/G, two AirPort Expresses for streaming and one 1 1gb Time Capsule along with all of the computers floating around here from a MacPro, MacBooks, Mini, PowerMac G5, iPhones... Just the MacBook Air is affected.
Mike

Similar Messages

G4 (MDD) with AirPort Can't See/Won't Connect to Wireless Networks

Hi all. I've seen topics/threads that get close to my question/problem, but not quite.
I inherited a PowerMac G4 (MDD)/Dual 1 GHz/1.5 GB DDR SDRAM/running 10.3.9.
I purchased a used original AirPort card from eBay, opened up the machine, and plugged it in. When I went to update the software (from a CD), my machine told me that it was up to date (though one HD is running OS9 and one running OSX -- so the software wouldn't install because the HD running OSX said it was up-to-date and the HD running 9 said it was impossible). The machine recognizes the card/shows it gray in the toolbar/says it has Firmware Version 8.70 in the System Profile.
My problem is that the AirPort can't see any wireless networks 99% of the time, even though 3 (including mine) are in range all the time. I've seen my network only flicker into possibility a few times, and even though I've disabled all security measures on the wireless router (Linksys Wireless-G, Model WRT54G), it simply won't connect. One time in 3 hours it momentarily looked like it was going to connect, then said "out of range," then disappeared completely. It has seen 0 wireless networks for the past hour.
I've read everything far and wide trying to solve this issue and am totally stuck. At first I thought I needed an antenna for the AirPort, but this is an internal card, so that doesn't seem right. I know the AirPort card (and not Extreme) is right because a) I don't have a FW800 port and b) the machine recognizes this card. Finally, I thought it may have had to do with the WPA security on the Linksys, but even with security disabled...nothing.
I'm feeling very frustrated. Any advice?
Thank you very much.

Thanks, Tom. I did as you suggested, and the Max Signal under the Log is showing a red 12, which is terrible, yes? What, exactly, does this tell me? That this is simply a case of old technology (AirPort b) struggling to communicate with new technology (Linksys g) over a medium distance (Linksys is in next room, through wall)? If plugging straight into the ethernet were an option, I'd just do it. But I can't get my G4 onto the Internet without running cords down the hallway and through my TV room, which is an obvious eyesore.
Is there a chance this AirPort card is only partly functional and I should return it? Or do I need to accept the fact that this G4 needs to either be moved closer to the Linksys router or be plugged in directly?
Thank you.

Airport Extreme green light but can't see the wifi network

Hello, coming back from the holidays I can't see my Wifi network anymore (From PS3, Phone, Computers ..etc.). My airport has a greenlight and the internet is working fine if my computer is connected with an Ethernet cable. I re-did the configuration many times and I did a hard reset of both my modem and the airport. It is not setted to a hidden connection. All the settings are basic like before. The only difference is that I did the update to 7.6.4.

I think you were right, my airport was broken and I noticed that at the end of the configuration process where there's a green checkmark it was written in the bottom that a wifi device wasn't working properly. Nothing could be done to make it work though.
I bought a new Airport Express now but I still have a major problem. I was able to configure it through wifi with my iMac without any problem and now it is connected to the internet via wifi perfectly but i STILL can't see the network with either my Android phone or my PS3 console !?
- Brand new airport express
- configured to "create a wifi network" with a WPA2 password using the simple steps of the airport utility
- Airport Utility 5.6.1
I did reset the airport express a few times with the utility and by removing the power cord. I also did reset my iMac and I can still connect to the wifi just fine with it.

Cube airport can't see my network

Hi. I have a Cube that I am trying to get up and running but I can't get the Airport card to see my wireless network. I know the Cube has an airport card installed because when I do a System Profiler I get the following:
Wireless Card Type: AirPort
Wireless Card Locale: USA
Wireless Card Firmware Version: 9.52
Current Wireless Network: wireless network not available
My base station is an Airport Extreme 802.11b/g compatible with security set to "None". It shows up just fine on my other computers but when I look for networks on the Cube it just says "No networks within range". I have tried everything I know to no avail. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Hey, never mind. I swapped out the airport card for another one and it worked. Apparently it was a hardware issue with the card itself.

My iphone can't see any wifi networks

my iphone can't see any wifi networks ... i tried to reset network setting and reset all setting and update the ios system but no way

I, too, fear it might be a hardware problem . I removed all security from my router but still no networks appear in the list nor can I connect directly by typing in the SSID. Tried two routers: Apple Airport Extreme and a Linksys something-er-other provided by Bell.
I will give HP a call tomorrow and see if they can sort this out.
Thank you for your help/advice!
Edit: almost certain it's a hardware problem: I clicked on the Help button while on that "Scanning for networks" dialog during initial setup and as one of the "helpful" suggestions, it said my Mac address was 00:00:00:etc.

Server can't see itself on network, other devices can

When I create a Network user either using Server app or Workgroup manager home folder is not created. I started digging and I found that all devices on the network can see and access server's afp, but server can't see itself on network. On everyone's computer's "server" is shown inside finder, but if I open server's finder I can only see other's computers but I can't see server.
I've tried opening afp://(IP ADDRESS), afp://(DOMAIN), afp://localhost and none of this work inside server. DNS is fine, users can log and see files, etc. The only thing not working is afp from within the server and therefore user's accounts can't be created.
As a background I have a mac mini running under Mountain Lion with OS Server. I had an issue with Open Directory on which I couldn't edit/create/delete any user so I erased the OD Database and started over again.
Any idea will be very appreciated.
Thanks All !!!

Thanks a lot for your quick response, I'm not sure if I'm doing this correctly but if I use anything with afp.XXXX I get an error saying afp.XXXX.com not found (NXDOMAIN) but also I don't have any server named "afp".
If I use it without "afp." I get:
Using domain server:
Name: 192.168.3.254
Address: 192.168.3.254#53
Aliases:
(server).com has address 192.168.3.254
or if I use 192.168.3.1 (main router) I get the public IP since everything is forwarded to that server (is the onlyone on the network).
For checking DNS I used changeip -checkhostname and I get:
Primary address     = 192.168.3.254
Current HostName    = (server).com
DNS HostName        = (server).com
The names match. There is nothing to change.
dirserv:success = "success"
When I connect my clients to VPN I don't have any DNS issues.
I also thought it was a DNS problem but FTP, Web, and everything else works within the server, within the network and for external networks, AFP is the onlything not working.
Please let me know if you need any information, I really appreciate your help since this is anoying and I can't create folders for new users even if I use "createhomedir" command.
Thanks!!

I can't see settings general network in my ipad 2 3g settings

I can't see setting>general>network in my ipad 2 settings
- ios version is 6.1.2 I am going to set a personal hotspot .
I doa reset network reset settings but I can't see network in general settings

There is no Settings > General > Network.
Try Settings > Cellular Data

I need to change the display configuration of my macbook but I can't see to open the preferences (because the configuration is wrong!) - what can I do?

I need to change the display configuration of my macbook but I can't see to open the preferences (because the configuration is wrong!) - what can I do?

(cannot update previous post, exceeded timinout)
4. In case any of the previous operations work but the settings don't "stick". There are two plists associated with the settings:
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist
~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.windowserver.XXXXX-XXXXXXX.plist
The first is global to all accounts while the second is in your home directory. The X's are a sequence of hyphaninated letters and numbers. If you can get these removed then it will probably revert to a default resolution.

HELP - moved iMac to college - airport can't "see" wireless network

I am a relatively new mac user and therefore, pretty clueless as to what's wrong/how to fix it.
At home, it picked up our secure network right away.
I moved it to college (University of Maryland) and the airport can't pick up ANYTHING, but my windows laptop picked up the network right away.
No clue what the problem is....any insights would be HUGELY appreciated.
Wireless card type: AirPort Extreme
Firmware version: 405.1 (3.90.34.0.p18)

Hello Madimad!
I assume you have tried the basics:
1. Click on Airport Icon and make sure it's actually ON
2. Click on Airport Icon and Click on Other > see if the network you are trying to connect with is listed, if not try typing it in...
You can also go to System Prefs > Network > Location: Automatic and Show: Network Status... let us know what it says
Good luck, Rick

AirPort Extreme / Green Light ON / Can't see it on network

My Setting
Airport Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi (4th Gen) and Motorola Surfboad Model SB6120 with Comcast service
Solid Green Light is ON / Internet is working with LAN line connection on Airport Extreme.
Problem
I can not see it from wireless.
Attempts
Scan with Airport Utitity from my MacBook Pro
Scan with Airport Utility from iPhone 4
Scan with other PCs.....

Your problem might stem from having your Airport create a "private" or "hidden" network or by having turned off the wireless functionality of the AE.
If you think you might have setup a private network, but don't know the name, or turned off the wireless, you can:
- connect your MBP by ethernet cable; then,
- adjust the WiFi settings to enable wireless clients; or
- adjust the Wireless security to disable a hidden or private network.
If all else fails, perform a hard factory reset by holding down the physical reset button in the back of the AE with a paperclip, and redo the setup.
Good Luck.

My airport express can't see my wireless network

I am bringing up a new AE in my wireless network. I have set all the internet and wireless configurations. I am trying to add it as a client, initially connected to my router via ethernet. After tweaking several settings I am now down to what seems like a critical problem: Airport Utility tells me that my AE cannot see the wireless network. This is a bit amusing since I unplugged the ethernet and am communicating with it solely via wireless.
My config: static IP addr reserved in my router, WPA2 encryption, ethernet clients allowed, using my router as the default DNS server. Running the latest firmware and Airport utility according to Apple Software Update this afternoon. Router is an SMC Barricade N with latest firmware.
Any and all advice greatly appreciated.
Roger

Thanks for the ideas, but alas those are not the cause.
I am broadcasting SSID and I am running mixed b/g/n mode. FYI Airport Utility finds my network OK, as do the many other pieces of networking equipment in my house (4 computers, a NAS, an SMC wireless client, etc etc etc.) Even my son's Touch, after going through very similar games with Apple, solved by an OS upgrade a couple months later...but I digress.
Spent an hour with the Apple expert on the phone verifying everything was right on the AX and then took it to my local apple store where they were able to connect it to their G router as a client - thus eliminating wrong AX config and broken HW as a cause.
Here is what I know: it has to be able to see my router because when I bring it up my router sees it and issues it an IP address. I might reserve the IP and then set it to always use that. That is one of the things we did to get the Touch working initially.
Again, thanks and any new ideas appreciated.
Roger

Can't see public wifi network

Hi!
I want to connect my macbook pro with an open and free internet network in my neighborhood. I could always connect to it with older mac's + istumbler (but that software doesn't work anymore with snow leopard) and with windows xp (which uses a realtek software to control de wireless card of that computer).
Now that I have this new notebook, I can't see that network on the airport list that appears when I click the airport icon ... but it does appear when I look at the System Profiler list of surrounding networks.
Another information that could help, is that the name of this hidden free and open network, is exactly the same as another that does have a wep encryption. Maybe airport extreme has to choose one of them and preferes the one with more security? Is there any way to access to that open network without the needing of extra softwares as istumbler? Any ideas?

Hello loadix. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
Have you tried selecting "Join Other Network" from the AirPort dropdown list, and then, entering the Network Name (aka SSID) of this network. If there are more than one with the same name, AirPort should be able to connect to the unprotected one. However, I would be a bit cautious to the extent of using "free" networks as they could actually be Ad-Hoc networks instead where your data communications will be unprotected.

My 13in Macbook Pro can't see a wireless network but my friends Macbook Pro can

Me and my friend both have identical 13 in Macbook Pro's except he has 250 gb and I have 350gb. Everything else is the same even the wireless card. The problem is, he can see and connect to a unsecured wireless network but i can't. Why is this ?
Our computers can see the same networks on the list but my Macbook does not see one network, the unsecured network !!!

I never said there wasn't an issue, just that blame could not be assigned based on what we know now and that there are many more people not having problems with Leopard and WiFi than those that are.
In my circle of associates I know of literally hundreds of Mac owners, of which approximately three are having WiFi issues.
I know how frustrating it is to be one of those afflicted - my stories of constant WiFi drops for the first six months I owned my MBP have been recounted in several threads.
But it's just as frustrating to read how Leopard is just plain broken when in fact I've not seen a single WiFi drop in Tiger or Leopard since February 2007.
This is also why I've continually urged people experiencing the problem to open an AppleCare case - it's only then that Apple Engineering can find the commonalities in cases where WiFi is failing and either fix their driver or notify the router manufacturer of their bug.
Are there bugs with AirPort in Leopard? Of course, and I even know of one that affects me on occasion that's known, and that's a failure to reassociate with a known network when waking from sleep. The workaround is simple - toggle AirPort off and back on - but it's a known issue nevertheless.
But each of these threads addresses an individual problem, and among the numbers of people experiencing difficulties, few report that their Mac sees no wireless networks, and that's what the advice I've given in this thread is geared towards.

Can't see iMac on network from PC's

I just received a replacement iMac with all the current software updates. My HD was migrated/mirrored from the “dead iMac” to the new iMac. Before the replacement I was able to see and share files between my iMac and 2 PC’s running XP Pro. (I had the iMac HD mapped to my PC’s for quick file access.) Now I can see and access the PC’s from my iMac but I can’t see or access the iMac from my PC’s.
In the network preferences on the iMac workgroup is correct and selected.
In the sharing preferences screen sharing, file sharing and remote login are selected.
I’ve spoken with Apple Care to check settings and everything seems to be in order.
I have turned off or unplugged all computers and network components and rebooted everything with no success.
Has anyone else had this problem and how did you resolve it?
Any help would be appreciated!

Update:
After more hours of research and more phones calls to Apple Care with no success I wiped and reinstalled Snow Leopard.
After the wipe and reinstall I am having a similar problem. I am able to see and access my iMac user directory in network places on the PC. What I can’t do is open the sub folders from my account user directory. (Desktop, Documents, Downloads etc.) I get an error message stating I do not have the proper permissions.
Trying to troubleshoot I have:
Turned off both firewalls - No success
Turned off and unplugged all network components including both computers and AirPort - No Success
I have tried to rename the iMac’s workgroup name from workgroup to home - No Success. (The PC see’s the Imac in both the Home group and the Workgroup group.)
Prior to the switching iMac’s I was able to access both the iMac and PC entire HD’s from either computer at any time. The only change made was the iMac that needed to be replaced and reinstalling Snow Leopard.
If anyone has any ideas what else I can try to regain connectivity please let me know.

Utility Airport can't see Airport Express on my MacPro, although the same AE operates properly with a MacBook Pro

I've unsuccefully spend almost three days on the web to find the solution to a particular problem.
The configuration I'm running is as follow:
- one Airport Express attached to the Orange box to communicate through internet
- one printer attached to the AE through USB
Two Mac :
- one MacBook Pro : it operates with no problem using the AE and the printer, internet is fine since I write this message with that Apple. The two machines may operate simultaneously under different or identical softwares.
- one Macpro : two points:
* the Airport utility does not see the Airport Express, but the AE logo is fully active on the computer and I can read information with Preferences/Network.
* the Network diagnostic, launched from the MacPro, yields GREEN from Airport to FAI included steps ( green LED), but fails at the Internet step (red LED)
The computers are in the same bench, the AE being at 2 meter distance with no shield in between.
The Orange box is proved fine since all the internet communications are OK when I use the MacBook Pro . The phone is fine as well.
There are no other WiFi in the neighbourg.
The problem occured on Sunday evening for an unclear reason, while I was trying to connect a window XP based PC to link to the printer using the same wireless network ( I miserably fail as well, although the PC sees the Airport Express, but no way to connect to the printer : this is another issue )
The full network is running permanently for a couple of years with no issue, no fault, no reset, no slow down, just fine !
Both machines use the same OSX 10.6.8.
Information system returns the same data when reading the Airport network file.
Of course, the Airport Express yields solid Green light .
I've already checked the trouble shoot procedures as recommended by Apple with no success.
Well, this is a major issue since I do need my MacPro to handle work that must go through the internet.
Any advise and/or recommendation will be highly appreciated.
Michael

Hello,
Finally, I solve the issue by re loading the mDNSResponder which has been deactivated for an unknown reason. The system is back to normal operation.Thank so much to the Krypted.com site to provide the appropriate command to handle theplist file.
Michael

Airport can't see certain open networks

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for