IMac will not get a good connection to Linksys WRT54GX4

Question

I've seen similar reports as this, but nothing exactly like it, so I'm not sure if its the same problem or unrelated. I've got this Early 2006 20" Intel iMac. It will NOT connect correctly to my Linksys WRT54GX4 SRX400 Linksys router. It seems to work fine for a bit, but then I the connection deteriorates. I have a Macbook that has absolutely no problem.
The iMac connects to the network about 50 percent of the time. Sometimes it just says there's an error. When it does connect it works fine for a bit. The signal strength is great, and I can stream movies in iTunes to my Macbook. I don't know what causes it, but 15 minutes later or so, the signal strength is only showing 2 bars (the router is literally 20 feet away with no obstruction), and iTunes sharing of movies no longer works. This is crucial to my setup in my house, as I'm using the macbook as a faux AppleTV to watch movies on my TV that are stored on my iMac.
What's odd is that the macbook works perfectly from even further distances, as well as some of my roommates Windows PCs. And they work indefinitely. I noticed in the system profiler that the iMac and the Macbook have different Airport Card information. The iMac says it has Broadcom firmware, the Macbook just lists a version number.
Is Apple working on patching this?
If not, would I be able to get Apple to install a newer Airport Card in my iMac?

Answer 1

Welcome to Discussions, MikeCP66!
You ask "Is Apple working on patching this?" to which the answer is that the patch has been successfully completed. It is AirPort Extreme Update 2007-002 plus the 10.4.9 Update, and this appears to have corrected the wireless issues of most iMac users, both Core Duo and Core 2 Duo.
I'm assuming that along with your up-to-date OS 10.4.9, you also are up to date with iMac firmware (Boot ROM Version in System Profiler), SMC firmware (SMC Version), and with AirPort Extreme Update 2007-002 recently installed.
I'm also assuming your Linksys firmware has been verified to be up to date. If you're uncertain about what I'm referring to in any of this, please ask. The Linksys and both Macs must all be set for using the exact same type of encryption, of course with the exact same network name and password.
If all the above is ok, power down your computers. Power down and disconnect your Linksys. After a minute, reconnect your Linksys and power it back up. Power your Macs back up and turn on AirPort in both, using the menu bar icons.
Open the iMac's Network panel of System Preferences. Change the "Show:" selector from "Network Status" to "AirPort" and also click "AirPort" in the menu bar of that pane.
Set the "By default, join:" selector to "Preferred networks" and delete ALL networks from the list. Click the "Apply Now" button at the bottom right, after which no name should appear in that list.
Click the "Options..." button, set the "If no preferred networks are found:" selector to "Keep looking for recent networks" and uncheck the box "Automatically add new networks to the preferred networks list."
Click the blue "OK" button, again click the "Apply Now" button, and close System Preferences. Restart the iMac. AirPort will still be turned on, it will see your correct network name, although it will not be connected to any network.
Open System Preferences to the Network panel and go to "Show: AirPort" and again to the "AirPort" pane. Click the little + box and in the drop-down box select your network's method of "Wireless Security" followed by entering the network name and password.
Click the blue "OK" button, then the "Apply Now" button at the bottom right.
Your iMac's AirPort icon should shortly darken, indicating a connection, and checking it AirPort should be connected to your network, and should stay connected the same as the MacBook's does.
If not, until proven otherwise, some speculation might be suggested to Apple that the AirPort Extreme card within the iMac is not properly connected.