Problem with MacBook and TimeCapsule (with Workaround)

Question

Hi,
thought it might be helpful to post my recent experience with my new MacBook (2,4GHz) and my *Time Capsule*.
I am using the Time Capsule as my main WLAN router and for backup. Reproducible, the MacBook (with OSX 10.5.6, all Airport updates applied; TimeCapsule with most recent firmware update 4.7.1) corrupts the TimeCapsule connection when waking up from sleep. Whenever the MacBook wakes up from sleep, it tries to (re-) connect to my wireless network. The airport sign in the menu bar changes from light grey bars to dark bars and the connection time counter appears next to it; but just a second later the counter disappears again, although the Airport signal bars are staying black. The result is that there's no wireless connectivity anymore; even the Airport admin software cannot find the TimeCapsule anymore. Furthermore, all other Macs (I have an additional iMac) loose there connections as well. Only thing that helps here is to restart the TimeCapsule (by disconnecting the power cord). After that, both MacBook and iMac can access the TimeCapsule again and everything works as normal.
This whole scenario can completely be reproduced and only happens when the MacBook tries to (re-) establish its Internet connection after wake-up from sleep. When I shut down the MacBook and boot normally, the MacBook connects without any problems.
After several hours of finding a solution, I've called Apple Support - and they told me that this is a *known bug*, but they currently have *no solution* for it. According to the Apple Support guy, I was not the first to report this problem (which was somehow a relief, but on the other hand a surprise as I haven't found similar problem descriptions on Mac forums yet), but they couldn't tell when and how the problem will be fixed. (Of course, they also recommended applying the most recent software updates (which I had) and resetting PRAM (which I did) - without any success.)
As now I got the impression that this is a bug with the current Late 2008 MacBook (it has a Broadcom BCM43xx based Airport Extreme Card) which I cannot solve myself, I looked at least for a workaround. I realised that this error doesn't occur when I turn Airport off before sending the MacBook to sleep, and activating it some safe time after waking up again. With the great resources at macosxhints.com, I found a small program called "Sleepwatcher" and a scripting addition called "XNetwork". Sleepwatcher runs as a demon in the background and can execute small tasks before a Mac goes to sleep and after it wakes up. XNetwork allows you to turn on and off Airport from within AppleScript (or the OpenScript Architecture). Now I use Sleepwatcher to turn off Airport just before my MacBook goes to sleep, and use it as well to (re-) activate Airport with a safe delay of 10 seconds after my MacBook wakes up again.
As of now, this works just fine (and as it should right out of the box...) - so I can wait more relaxed until Apple comes up with a real solution for this problem!
Sorry, this has become quite a long post - but maybe it is helpful for anyone.
Cheers,
Mark

Answer 1

I believe this was the problem I was experiencing at first, but it is now worse!
TC works fine EXCEPT for the AirPort feature when also using AirPort on my MacBook (late 2008, Unibody).
At first it seemed random, but I can now reproduce the problem at will. The TC stops working and the light goes solid amber or even no light at all sometimes.
The scenario is the following:
TC works fine, I have an iBook G4 connected via ethernet and can surf the web; iPod touch (1st gen) can surf the web as well; everyone's happy. Turn on the MacBook with AirPort on, TC stops working; light goes amber or sometimes stays solid green (I configured it to flash on activity) or completely off. iBook and iPod can't surf the web. AirPort Utility does not even see the TC (hit Rescan many times, no luck). Restart TC by unplugging, waiting 20 seconds or so, plug it back, light is solid amber; AirPort Utility still does not see the TC. Repeat this a few times, waiting in between, no success. Turn off AirPort on the MacBook, unplug and plug the TC, it is now working in less than 30 seconds. iBook and iPod can surf the web; connect the MacBook via ethernet to the TC, everyone is still happy. Turn on AirPort on the MacBook, TC stops working. You get the picture. It has been 2 days now where I can reproduce this constantly.
I have an AirPort Express that I use to stream music, which extends the TC. My DSL modem/router is in bridge mode where the TC connects via PPPoE. My configuration has been the same for almost 2 years problem free. I reset the modem too but the above scenario still applies.
I did a hard reset of the TC by holding the reset button at the back until the light flashed amber rapidly. I re-entered all the configuration again, but still no luck.
I re-installed OS X 10.5.7, no luck. The firmware on the TC is 7.4.1 (74100.25). The AirPort card on the MacBook is listed as Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.38.35)
I set the log level to debug on the time capsule and entered the IP address of the iBook (which is connected via ethernet), but I could not find anything in the system.log or other logs via the Console application.
When the TC is working and I then turn on AirPort on the MacBook, this is the last entries from the logs on the TC:
Jun 11 20:20:12 Severity:5 Clock synchronized to network time server time.apple.com (adjusted +1 seconds).
Jun 11 20:20:13 Severity:5 Connection accepted from [fe80::20a:95ff:fea9:9426%bridge0]:60705.
Jun 11 20:20:14 Severity:5 Connection accepted from [fe80::20a:95ff:fea9:9426%bridge0]:60706.
Jun 11 20:29:01 Severity:5 Associated with station 00:23:6c:80:47:60
Jun 11 20:29:01 Severity:5 Installed unicast CCMP key for supplicant 00:23:6c:80:47:60
Jun 11 20:29:02 Severity:7 Public address reported as 67.55.21.207 to 192.168.1.16:5353
Jun 11 20:29:02 Severity:5 Binding added for udp, 67.55.21.207:32770 to 192.168.1.16:4500 with lifetime 3600
Jun 11 20:29:02 Severity:5 Binding added for udp, 67.55.21.207:32771 to 192.168.1.16:5353 with lifetime 3600
(Severity 5 is 'Notice', 7 is 'Debug')
I turned on AirPort on the MacBook at 20:29 and then nothing after those few lines; in this last case, the TC light was solid green but the iBook or iPod could not surf the web (it was flashing green with activity just before as I opened a web page on the iBook).
Still no solutions as of yet...