No Internet Connection - Apple, Where's The Help?

Question

I started using my MBA last week and have been unable to consistently connect to the internet through wireless networks in multiple environments (my home, my office, airport, hotels) when other Apple laptops are connecting without issue.
Right now I'm on my old PowerBook because my MBA won't connect to the internet through the same Airport wireless network.
Reading the posts on this board it's obvious that there is a systemic issue with the MBA. Multiple posters have returned MBA 2X to give up and get something else. Lots of different variables, but the same result - no internet connectivity.
I just concluded another 1 hour call with AppleCare (2 hours in total now). The support person did everything to push the problem onto my modem and internet service provider. I kept coming back to "my PowerBook works just fine". She was totally rude, refusing to acknowledge that there is any systemic issue with the MBA. I asked her if she read the forum. Can hundreds of users be wrong? She fed me some party line and sent me back to my place of purchase.
Apple, what are you doing about this issue?
Has anyone been able to resolve this issue.

Answer 1

Unfortunately with networks and ISPs Apple will always have to ask about your ISP, the Router and your modem. It's information that is needed to accurately troubleshoot the problem.
There is a few things you can check.
Open:
Applications > Utilities > Network Utility
Once in here the first screen is very informative.
The Info tab will show you many things, the pull down will let you select the interface. The wireless should be en0 or en1 . .
The things I'd look for is do you have an IP? and if you do what do you see in the Transfer Statistics? You should mostly see 'Sent Packets' and 'Recv Packets'. As long as you see numbers it's good. This shows the wireless is connected, has an IP and is transmitting.
I'm guessing that the people with the issue will not have an IP. If so there is more to check still.
(Or if they do the sent packets will be small and the Recv Packets will be minimal.)
Another spot to check is System Preferences > Network
Highlight the Airport.
You should see a 'status'
and then something like . .
AirPort is connected to YOURNETWORKSNAME and has the IP address 10.0.1.200.
If you are not connected use the pulldown menu and select your network. (Enter any password as needed.) Under the Advanced make sure you don't have a proxy UNLESS you need one.
Next make sure the network your trying to get to is reachable from a different wireless computer If you have that option.
If you have a different computer that you can connect wirelessly to YOURNETWORKSNAME and you see that your MBS's Airport is on and your password (if needed) is correct , in the Advanced section under TCP/IP you are using DHCP (Unless you have a static), and you don't have any proxies set (or it's set correctly if you need one.) and after All this you still aren't connecting. . . . you may want to bring it in . . .
Networks are fun . . . The next thing is you can be connected to a network but no route to the internet, this is usually a router problem. The other common problem is DNS not being set up right.
All this is enough to show the Apple Helpdesk people. In store they will be able to try to connect to their local net and duplicate the problem. Once they can see the problem they will fix it.
Sorry if I rambled some, Im tired and in need os sleep.