Preferred Networks by Location in Mavericks

Back in Snow Leopard, preferred WiFi networks were stored separately, in different lists according to the location chosen.
That worked great because I have 2 routers at home, one for my ISP and one for my VPN.
When connected trough the ISP router, the DNS Servers are chosen automatically.
If I want to connect trough the VPN router, I must specify the DNS Servers, for example OpenDNS.
So I had 2 locations, one for each router.
When I chose either one of the locations, it automatically connected me to its respective router.
It also worked for assigning Static IP addresses for the computer, a different one for each router.
The problem with Mavericks is that all Preferred Networks are listed together, and not grouped by Location as it was in OSX 10.6
Now It's a mess. I have to manually choose my desired network.
The problem is that if the other network comes out first in the list, the computer will connect to it.
If it doesn't match my chosen location, I will then have incompatible IP and DNS settings for that router.oes
Does someone else have this problem?
Is there a way to revert to the way Snow Leopard handled Preferred Networks?
Thanx!

I wish I would have taken a screenshot. The "kind" option is back after a reboot. Grrr.

Similar Messages

Location-specific preferred networks lists

I would like to have a different list of preferred networks, depending on my location. I think it worked this way in 10.6.
Now, in 10.8, the networks I've listed in Location A still show up in the list for Location B.
Do I need to reset something, or is this how it works now?
Thanks.

In all honesty Apple messed up on iCloud from the very start and now can't fix it.
There might be a setting but if iCloud is like everything else Apple has done they don't give the User many setting options. Apple's way or no way.
I personally don't use it as I found it severly lacking in function. You have just pointed out another.
TechAddict wrote:
All devices are synced and using iCloud Keychain. I think that's where the networks have copied across from because when I go to remove them it says they will be deleted from the keychain for all devices. The MBP is listing every network now that my mobile devices have ever connected too. 95% of those are in different countries so it's not an 'in the area of' issue.
Going to have a rummage to see if there are any iCloud Keychain settings anywhere. You'd think theere would be an option that shows the networks that THIS computer has connected to (as the settings screen actually states) and an option to show (or copy across) all the networks that EVERY device you own have ever connected to. They are disticntly different. My MBP have NEVER connected to most of them.

How to choose the "preferred Network"

My phone automatically defaulted to "Global mode". Is this correct or should it be in CDMA or GSM/UMTS mode? Also, does this affect my ability to send text messages b/c I haven't been able to send them with this phone and tech support doesn't seem to be able to resolve my issue.
Thanks!

jaxgirl3278 wrote:
My phone automatically defaulted to "Global mode". Is this correct or should it be in CDMA or GSM/UMTS mode? Also, does this affect my ability to send text messages b/c I haven't been able to send them with this phone and tech support doesn't seem to be able to resolve my issue.
Thanks!
Hi jaxgirl3278,
You can change your preferred network to CDMA by following the instructions below:
From a home screen, select the applications tab (located in the lower left).
Select Settings.
Select Wireless & networks.
Select Mobile networks.
Select Preferred Networks.
Select CDMA.
Also make sure that Enable always -on mobile data box is checked.
Global mode does not interfere with text messaging and you should be able to send your messages. In order for our forum members to assist you please provide some more information.
Are you able to receive text messages?
Are you able to send any text messages at all to any of your contacts?
Do you use the native text messaging application or a third party text messaging application?
Have you ever added a messaging block feature to your account?
Please keep in mind that in order to resolve text messaging issues your account may need to be accessed and feature re-provisioned and our forum members may not be able to resolve this issue for you. If you prefer to send me a private message including your name and wireless number I will be happy to review

"Preferred Network" option missing from Airport tab

My computer was just joining networks, so I switched my MPB to "By Default, Join: A specific network". Now I find that I've got to tell my computer to join the wireless network at work. Since I'd like my computer to join both my home networks without interaction from me I read the help file to figure out how to do it. The help file said to choose "Preferred Networks" from the "By Default, Join:" popup menu, but the popup menu on my computer only had one choice, "A specific network".
Anyone know what might have happened to the other options in that popup menu?
Thanks,
Chris

Replying to my own post, bad form...
I don't know why "Preferred Networks" was missing from my "By Default, Join:" menu, but I discovered that I could get the option back by creating a new location and migrating my old settings to the new location.
Chris

Leopard airport issues - Preferred Networks

I am having an Airport / Preferred Networks issue with new Macbook (Dec 07) currently running 10.5.1.
I have a Netgear wireless router that uses WPA for my local network. It has worked fine for around 8 months with Powerbooks & ibooks running Tiger, various PC's and an iphone.
My macbook however will not remember the preferred networks I set up. Everytime I wake it from sleep it says 'none of your preferred networks are available' and then asks if I want to join my local network. The password is remembered correctly and it attempts to join. Roughly 70% of the time it will then give a Connection Timeout error two or three times before connecting.
I have tried the following:
-Deleting the network location in System preferences.
-Deleted Airport Keychain entries and restarted laptop.
-Reset network location using System preferences, restarting laptop again.
-Created a new user account and still found the same issue.
Does anyone have any other suggestions or is it a matter of waiting for 10.5.2?
Thanks, Graham

The issues appear to be due to improper settings of routers and/or networking issues, which appear to be more prevalent on third party routers though can also affect Apple routers if their firmware isn't up to date. It is not an operating system specific issue, even though it can often appear to show up when upgrading. The reason for this is numerous routers haven't followed specs that are industry wide.
I suggest looking over these tips*:
http://www.macmaps.com/WIFI1048.html
As well as making sure when you upgrade to follow these tips:
http://www.macmaps.com/upgradefaq.html
to avoid the most frequently encountered problems.
- * Links to my pages may give me compensation
Message was edited by: a brody

802.11: "Preferred networks" vs. "A specific network"

I've got a new MacBook Pro and it appears that -- at least in my opinion -- has eliminiated one of the key advantages OS X networking has over Win XP.
With my G4 PowerBook, I can create a one-to-one relationship between locations and network access points. For me this is critical, as my work location has multiple access points -- some on our corporate network and some open to the internet. For the corporate nets, I have a static IP address and need various proxy configurations to be stored, whereas for the public nets, its DHCP and no proxy info needs to be stored.
On the MacBook Pro, it appears to me that I can't force network settings to access one and only one access point per location setting. Worse, I can't even change the prioirties of access per location.
This causes unpredictable behavior when my truly preferred access point is momentarily out of range. It appears that the MBP is grabbing another access point automatically. When this happens, my network settings are incorrect, and my connection is broken.
Am I missing something obvious? 'Cause this is the exact problem I've had with XP for years -- and something that has always been a ton better on Mac.
17 in MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6)
various Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Thanks for the suggestion, but the behavior described in the article is the actually the issue. Here's the problem: in my work environment, there are three VLANs with three APs, all three are always visible from my desk. According to what I'm doing, I need to shift between them a couple time per day.
Physical Location: Work
Access Points Available:
- "Internet" (closed SSID, DHCP, no proxies)
- "Corporate" (closed SSID, DHCP, proxies)
- "Development" (closed SSID, static IP, no proxies)
Location "Outside Network"
- Preferred Airport: "Intenet"
- DHCP
- no proxies
Location "Inside Network"
- Preferred Airport: "Corporate"
- DHCP
- appropriate proxy settings
Location "Development Network"
- Preferred Airport: "Development"
- static IP
- no proxies
So the "Preferred network" option would work (though less than optimum) if I could change the order based on location. It would be optimum (and better than the 10.6.4 PowerPC version) if I could change the order and add/delete netwoks according to location. Unfortunately, there seems to be only one preferred network list that is global for all locations. And that causes the unpredictability that I tried to describe.

Deleted preferred networks reappear

Upon installing Mavericks, and turning on iCloud keychain, I noticed that all wifi networks I had ever connected to appeared in the preferred network list on my Macbook.
There were quite a few I naturally wanted to delete, so I removed them. Also my devices were trying to connect to networks I thought I had removed.
It didn't take me long to notice that my Macbook was trying to connect to some of these old networks again, and upon looking at the list - all deleted entries had reappeared.
Another symptom seems to be that if I tell my iPhone not to auto-connect to a public hotspot (BT WIFI for example), if my Mac ever comes near that hotspot it auto connects - as will my iPhone subsequently.
I have tried editing the com.apple.airport.preferences.plist file manually, deleting the Mac's WiFi service and recreating, and resetting network settings on all my Apple devices.
I have even looked at the Keychain app on my Mac, but it doesn't seem to be storing my wireless networks from what I can see.
From my Google-ing, it doesn't sound like anyone else is having this issue..
Any ideas?
Thanks!

Back up all data. Open the iCloud preference pane and uncheck the Keychain box. You'll be prompted to delete the local iCloud keychain. Confirm. Also disable it on the other devices. Delete the unwanted preferred networks from all devices. Then follow one of the procedures described in this support article to set up iCloud Keychain.

Preferred Networks not found

I have a macbook I use in 2 locations - each with an Airport Extreme but with the networks named differently. Since I upgraded to Leopard, my home location picks up the preferred network each time perfectly every time I boot up but when I am at work it will not find the preferred network and I have to manually select it from the airport icon in the menu bar and then it logs in fine, remembers password etc.
I have tried everything suggested elsewhere - deleting the preferred networks, keychain entries, restarting, adding the network etc and nothing worked and it continued to work with only my home network but not the work one.
I have now deleted ALL networks, passwords etc from my system and gone for a fresh start and now it won't find either my home one or my work one automatically- both need to be selected manually.
Does anyone have any suggestions or is this just a Leopard glitch that needs to be sorted?
Thanks
David

Me too! I have the exact same issue except it was also there when on Tiger.
Bought new macbook a week ago, last year's model on sale, came with tiger installed and a leopard update disk. Initially used tiger and it connected ok to a wrt54g but everytime the macbook wakes after sleep it comes up with "None of your preferred networks could be Found" and shows the right one, if I select that it still won't connect. If however I click cancel on the "None of your preferred networks could be Found" dialog and instead go to the airport icon in the top bar and slect the preferred network from the list it connects immediately remembering the password etc.
So whatever it is seems to have been there in tiger also and I also updated to 10.5.1 which did not help. I've tried all the suggestions foudn here to no avail.
Obviously airport finds the network as I can connect immediately if I do it via the airport icon so it seems to me its that other piec of software I guess that the auto reconnect thing. Seems broken since it won't connect even when you choose the rigt network, when the icon way will.

"None of your preferred networks is available" annoyance.

The spousal unit has an iBook G3 running the latest OSX. There have been no problems up until now.
After a few days of network problems in the house which necessitated replacement of the cable modem, her computer continually pops-up the message, "None of your preferred networks is available" whenever the lid is opened. Of course, I have selected the preferred network, asked that it be remembered, etc., etc., but the problem persists, regardless of what I do. I've run permissions, erased the selection in keychain, deleted all other networks in the selection list, reset, rebooted, etc.
Surely this is a bad plst problem or some other file needs to be discarded and allowed to rebuild . . . or whatever. Anyone have any ideas?

hdansmith wrote:
Where is this .plist located?
Thanks
It's in the local user's Library->Preference folder
You drag it onto your desktop (don't trash it immediately) and then log out and back in. Rebooting is probably better - and system creates a new default .plist to replace it.
Message was edited by: nerowolfe

"None of your preferred networks are available" but I can see them!

Occasionally when I start up my MacBook I get a window saying "None of your preferred networks are available," even though my network is listed among those located. If I try to connect via network preferences it tries, but then tells me the connection timed out. I am connecting via wifi. The only thing that works is to turn the router off and restart it. As soon as it has started up again and has a network connection, I can go to the AirPort icon and connect to the network.
I have tried re-entering the network password, restarting the computer, turning AirPort off and on, removing and changing firewalls, but nothing has helped.
Any ideas?

lucysnowe wrote:
"None of your preferred networks are available"
Welcome to Apple's discussion groups.
It might help to reset the connection settings on your Mac using these steps one at a time until the problem is resolved, recognizing that, depending on your problem, not all of these steps will make sense:
1) Use the AirPort menu bar item to turn AirPort off, then on again.
2) Try to select your Wi-Fi network from the AirPort menu.
3) In the Network panel of System Preferences delete the AirPort item from the left column, then add it back.
4) In the same panel as (3), define a new location and see if you can make that work.
5) In the same panel, select the AirPort connection item, click the "Advanced" button, select the "TCP/IP" tab, then click "Renew DHCP Lease".
6) In the folder /Library/Preferences ( not <yourhomefolder>/Library/Preferences), move the folder SystemConfiguration onto the Desktop, then restart your computer. See if you can now make your AirPort connection work.
These steps may not help, but they'll only take a couple of minutes to try. Before you try these, if you have any special network settings on your Mac for things like DSL credentials, note all your network settings, because the latter steps will destroy them. If you got all the way to the last step, if things don't work any worse than before, you can trash the saved SystemConfiguration folder.

Preferred network

Hi there,
We have an wireless network at home, and also a car with remote control via wifi. When the car's wifi is selected, e.g. when you have driven in your car, you have to manually select the home network.
I don't want my iPhone to auto connect to the car's wifi, but I can't see no way to configure that, other than using 'forget this network' and and next time I want to use the car's wifi, connect again (and then forget, and connect, and forget, and so on ).
Is there any way to remember the network, but don't auto connect to it?
Regards, Dick
Using iPhone 4, iPhone 5 with iOS 7

System Preferences > Network > Airport > Airport Tab
Change from Automatic to Preferred networks
Remove all the networks except yours.
You may need to create a new location and remember never to connect to the neighbour's network again.
When she next goes to a hotel it will ask before she can connect, but she should be able to connect.
iFelix

Cannot add preferred networks in network preference

Dear all,
I have a quite strange problem after someday. Every time I switch AirPort on, I have to choose the wireless network from the list available, and the computer doesn't join the right network automatically.
I went to Network -> AirPort -> Advanced, and I found the reason is that there is no preferred network stored there. Even I chose the option "remember networks this computer has joined", the computer couldn't remember any wireless network I joined. Then I tried to add a known network manually, but System Preferences just kept quitting unexpectedly after I clicked "OK" to save the network I just added.
Any ideas why this happened?
Many thanks,
Xiaowen

Then try a simple reset of you wireless connections. Just disconnect to any wireless connections. Then go to System Preferences (in your Dock)->Network pane and at the top of that pane use the drop-down "Location". Create a new Custom Location calling it whatever you want. Then at the bottom of the Network pane click on the 'Apply' button to save your new Location. Lastly rejoin your wireless network and see if it is add or you can manually add one.

OS X 10.5.3 not connecting to preferred networks.

I'm having a problem with the preferred networks connection on my system (Macbook Pro CoreDuo 2ghz), so when the network sometimes drops out, or I move to a location where the network is different (but still on the preferred network list) I have to reconnect manually.
I have checked, and unchecked the ask for the preferred network box a couple of times, and it still gives the same screen.
It happened from fresh install of 10.5 and still happens now I have updated to 10.5.3. It is getting a little annoying with this, because if the area is where the network is a little flakey then I keep getting the connect screen, instead of just letting the machine connect itself.

Thanks for the welcome!
Well, the network router is not the issue, as I have been and placed the machine next to one of the APs and then started it up. What I am getting is the dialogue box saying "Unable to find any of your preferred networks, please select from list below." And then the machine is has to be attached manually, even though the preferred network is saved in the configuration.
What I am trying to do is to make the machine connect automatically instead of having to select the networks every time I want to connect. It is just a little annoying, especially when it was possible to remember, and auto connect without fault in 10.4. As the option seems to be available in the sytems preferences, I am starting to think that it may be a configuration issue on my machine.

"Preferred Network" not available

Okay, I have an iBook G4 1.42MHz /w 14" screen. My Airport Extreme has been recently re-configured with WPA password. My problem is, whenever I log into the iBook, it tells me that none of my "Preferred Networks" are available and it shows available wireless networks. But my preferred network appears as one of the available networks. And when I click on it, Keychain fills in my password for me, then everything is okay. It is frustrating for my wife (who just wants things to work) needs to use the laptop and I am not here to make it work!!
I had read some threads stating that the iBook is NOT compatible with WPA2 so I checked my settings on my AE Base Station, the encryption is listed as "WPA/WPA2 Personal" so I thought that maybe this was NOT the problem.
I realize my iBook has no PRAM battery, and I've already tried resetting the PMU. The main battery is kept charged, so that is not the issue either.
So, is WPA2 the culprit or is it something I've overlooked? I could just try changing it willy nilly, but I have several devices and not much time for messing around, so I wanted to get some advice before I start.
Doug

I recommend repairing permissions and checking "automatic" in the network location.
Also in the network airport preferences, click on options and make sure that "disconnect from wireless network when I log out" is not checked. Of course it might be something with the base station if these suggestions don't fix it.

MacBook Pro 15" can't find wireless preferred network after wake-up

Hello all
I've this problem with a MBP 15" (SnowLeopard 10.6.6): it doesn't find my preferred wi-fi network after waking-up from sleep.
Settings:
- on the MBP there's a preferred Location for this wi-fi connection
- wi-fi, DHCP and DNS managed by an AVM FritzBox 7050 (not visible SSID, MAC restriction, WPA2 pw)
- the channel I've set is different from other wi-fi around the building
The same network works perfectly using an old iBook G4 and an iMac, and other Windows PCs too.
Sometimes the MBP AirPort card just can't find the preferred Fritz network, while it does sees other wi-fi in the same building. Even using NetStumbler doesn't help.
I need to try to add manually "another" network several times before the MBP joins the Fritz wi-fi.
I already deleted and recreated the preferred network.
Is this a known software issue, or it can be a faulty AirPort card ?
thanx
Gabriel

Hello all,
after a lot of testing, using both the MacBook Pro and an old iBook G4 (the latter was working perfectly), and having on both machines some wi-fi sw such as KisMAC and iStumbler (while watching the wi-fi monitor on the access point consolle), I found that:
- the MacBook Pro is much more sensible to noise;
- it is better to use a channel with little noise, even if the are other devices on overlapping channels.
Eg: I found the channel #13 was free and there was only 1 other PC on #12, but there was a lot of noise. After trying all the channels, I decided to use #4 because there was little noise, even if there were many PCs around on #5/6.
So, don't care (as one should usually do) too much about not overlapping channels; instead, search for channels with little interferences.
I hope my solution can help you
G.

Preferred Networks by Location in Mavericks

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