Weak Airport signal strength after MacBook upgrade to OS 10.5

Today, I finally upgraded my 13-inch 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook (2 gig RAM, 160 gig HD) to OS 10.5 from OS 10.4.11. After using install and archive to install the new system, I noticed the Airport signal was down to three bars from the usual four. After completing all the system updates to bring it up to 10.5.8, its still receiving only three bars. We're using a 2Wire wireless DSL modem for Internet service. I was getting the full four bars before the system upgrade, and my wife's 14" G4 iBook is still getting four bars.
What's going on here? Is there an available fix for this? Or am I doomed to going back to OS 10.4.11?
Roger

rmatile wrote:
Today, I finally upgraded my 13-inch 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook (2 gig RAM, 160 gig HD) to OS 10.5 from OS 10.4.11. After using install and archive to install the new system, I noticed the Airport signal was down to three bars from the usual four. After completing all the system updates to bring it up to 10.5.8, its still receiving only three bars. We're using a 2Wire wireless DSL modem for Internet service. I was getting the full four bars before the system upgrade, and my wife's 14" G4 iBook is still getting four bars.
Those bars are only an approximation of Wi-Fi signal strength. In Mac OS X 10.5 if you pull down the AirPort menu bar item while holding down an option key you'll see a value "RSSI", which is the actual signal strength. If you were using an AirPort base station, you could use AirPort Utility to see actual signal and noise levels.
In Mac OS X 10.4 I don't think that option key trick works, but you should be able to use the AirPort command-line utility, as describe in the electronic book "Take Control of Your 802.11n AirPort Network" (http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/airport-n):
- Launch Terminal
- Type this command:
cd /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/\
Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/
- Type this command:
./airport -s
You'll see the "RSSI" value in one of the columns. If you compare the "RSSI" values for both OS versions, you may find the "RSSI" values more similar than the AirPort menu bar arcs suggest.
I have no financial connection to Take Control Books.

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Loss of AP signal strength after upgrading to Clean Air on 5508's.

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After confirming our Global signal strength settings in WCS and WLC's were still at the same settings they were at prior to upgrading, we contacted our VAR for advice.
He suggested that perhaps the upgrade caused all AP's to run at a lower signal strength. He was right.
At his recommendation, we reconfigured the WCS to set two AP's to use Individual mode instead of Global mode. This is found in Radios/802.11b/g/n/Tx Power Level Assignment. Setting them to level 2 resulted in an average -15dB increase of RSSI, solving our problems in the test environment. In one case we saw an increase of -30 dB for one AP.
The signal strength loss due to the upgrade was not expected, based on the upgrade documentation. Now we must change the settings manually on the remaining 148 AP's.
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Hoping this may help you,
RS

Hi Rick,
this is not "expected" or "on purpose". It just happens that improving the RRM algorithm makes things better for 90% of the people but maybe worse for 10% of the people.
This is why you can set the Tx power treshold on the RRM or set the overal RRM algorithm sensitivity.
If you put the Tx power treshold to a louder number (=closer to 0) then the APs will reduce less their power level.
Hope this helps.
Nicolas
===
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Airport signal strength varies a lot

On my Mac Mini the Airport signal strength goes up and down. Sometimes I have 4 bars, sometimes 0. Also I often lose the connection when I restart or wake up the computer and then I have to do something manually to connect, either turn off and on airport or go into airport preferences and click apply or manually reconnect by typing in the network name and password.
I have a closed/invisible Airport network with WPA2 Personal encryption. I have an Airport Extreme on the ground floor and extend the network by an Airport Express on the first floor. The Mac Mini is situated about half a meter from the Express.
I don't have this problem with any of my other 4 Macs. The other Macs are usually on the ground floor but when I take my laptop up to the living room where the Mini and Express are I also get good signal strength even though I'm further away from the Express than the Mini is.

So the problem is that you're not getting/staying connected now, when you had no problems with 10.5.6 before?
There was an update for AirPort and AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule firmware in mid-2009 --> http://support.apple.com/kb/dl849
There was also a March 2009 update for AirPort Client on 10.5.6, but I would assume that you got that one already.
The 'bars' on the menubar AirPort icon may not be most reliable method of judging your wireless connection. When you have AirPort turned on, click on Option + the AirPort icon to see the RSSI
There are specialized programs that provide far more complete information, including channel, signal strength, and noise level of wireless routers in the vicinity.
www.koingosw.com offers a 15-day free trial of AirRadar. I'm a licensed user of AirRadar 1.2.9. It gives a better picture of a wireless connection.

Poor signal strength on MacBook Pro

We bought a new AirPort Extreme 802.11n for Christmas. Setup was fairly easy. We have two Macs--an 2005 iMac which is plugged into the AE via Ethernet, and a MacBook Pro from mid-2006 that we use in other rooms.
Our problem is that the signal strength on the MacBook Pro is terrible. Even at just 20 feet away, the signal strength varies between 1 and 3 bars (most often just the one tiny bar). The wireless is basically unusable at that point because pages stop loading.
To eliminate interference as a problem, our daughter brought her 2008 MacBook Pro over and we carried it around the house. It had 4 bar strength with no problems wherever we went and held 4 bars for hours while she used it in the kitchen. So we're pretty sure the problem is not interference in our house, unless her newer AirPort card is far better at blocking it.
What could be causing the signal strength on the older MacBook Pro to be so lousy? The computer is a Intel Core Duo, 2.16 GHz, running 10.4.11. The wireless card is 0x168C, 0x86. The wireless network adapter is 802.11 a/b/g, so it's not running "n", but I can't believe that's the only reason it won't hold a good signal. The AE is set up to run "n" as well as the older ones. (Bear with me...this is my first experience with wireless!)
We've been trying everything we can think of to improve the signal but nothing works. When the bars are in the 2-3 range it runs the internet fine, but the problem is that the signal constantly shifts between 1 and 3. So is the AirPort card in the computer that weak?
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I'll bet this is a hardware/firmware card with a chunk of AEx cards. I have had the same problem with a recently purchased iMac that was assembled in early '08. I tried all sorts of fixes, but ultimately took it in to a local Apple shop. The "geniuses" spent about 30 seconds looking at the machine (failed to replicate the problem), but then recommended replacing the airport card. I just got it back today &, while I can't yet say everything's hunky-dory, I think the problem's been solved. I'll bet there's a service bulletin that the genius bar has access to that describes this issue.
I had the same AEx series you report. I had the problem with 10.5.4 & then with the 10.5.6 upgrade.
See the following lengthy thread for more similar tales of woe: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1815644&tstart=0.
I think this is hardware-related. It's a $183 dollar fix (parts & labor) -- mine was under warranty, but I think there's enough in the discussion forums to justify pushing for a free replacement, even in an older machine.

Airport signal strength for 2008 mac pro

Hello everyone,
So, I have a 2008 Mac Pro 3.0Ghz. I read on some of the threads that the airport signal is kind of weak due to the aluminum case. Is this true on all the mac pros, or only on some? I plan to get rid of the USB wireless adapter and use the internal airport option.
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The internal airport is way better, you'll be a lot happier. I had problems recently when I updated from 10.5.5 to 5.7, but after upgrading my wireless router firmware, I've actually got a stronger signal than before~
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Time Capsule/Airport Signal Strength

I have a Time Capsule serving as cable modem ethernet router for wireless internet connection to my MacBook Pro. It works fine all over the house including upstairs at the other end of the place. When I go outside (comparable overall distance), I lose almost all signal strength. I assume it is a brick and mortar problem. What can I do to boost the signal from the TC so that I can connect outside?

Welcome to the discussions!
Take a look at the AirPort Express to extend your wireless network, and if you elect to go that route, be prepared to experiment with different locations for the Express to optimize the signal strength outside.
If the room adjacent to the outside area has a good signal indoors, that might be a good starting location for the Express.
Use your laptop to get an idea of signal strength as you move around the house. Just hold down the option key while you click on the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the screen and look for the Transmit Rate.
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I'm getting very inconsistant Airport reception on my 17" MBP, which is on my desk - about 12 meters from a Netgear Router.
As I type this message I get two bars, three bars, no bars, four bars, two bars, (all within 10 seconds). My wife's Mac mini (which is approx 3ft closer to the router) has a rock solid four bars.
Looking at the signal strength in "Internet Connect" the signal's all over the place - from 0% to about 80% and all points in-between. And randomly it drops out altogether for a moment or two.
I moved the router and changed the antenna for a directional one (which improved the average strength of the signal but not the stability); I've tried different channels; I've tried facing the MBP in different directions.
It's a little annoying, 'cause if I hit a website just as the signal drops out I get a "not connected to the internet" message.
Is this just a quirk of signals strength and atmospheric pressure? Or is there something fundamental that I've missed? We don't have a microwave, and I can't think of any other sources of inteference. And to get the router any closer would require quite a bit of rewiring - which seems to be somewhat contrary to the whole point of wireless networking!
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b and g are both on 2.4GHz although b seems impacted more by cordless phones and other devices for some reason.
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For the past three years, I have gotten three of four bars when it came to signal strength. But for the past couple of months, I have only gotten two bars and my page load times are extremely long. I haven't changed anything on my end, but a couple of new networks have appeared from time to time in my Airport queue. I have tried changing channels with no effect.
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Airport signal strength seems way too low...possible for antenna to break?

Hi,
I have a 17" aluminum Powerbook 1.33Ghz that came with built in Airport. I use it on wireless networks both at home and at work. In recent weeks, it's seemed like my connection drops a lot or I have a hard time getting a solid signal.
Right now at work I'm sitting about 15 feet and through a sheetrock wall from a Cisco Aironet 1200 wireless access point, which I understand to be a quality item...MacStumbler is showing a signal strength in the low 20s, but can sometimes jump up to around 50. It seems like the Airport menubar icon used to always show full strength at work, but lately usually shows 2-3 bars.
At home I get a signal strength in the 30s when parked right next to my Airport Extreme, and have trouble losing connection in other parts of the house. An older Powerbook one floor above gets a signal strength in the 60s.
I'm considering the following options:
(a) Take Powerbook apart and see if the antenna has somehow become detached from the Airport card.
(b) Buy an upgraded antenna for the Powerbook from QuickerTek.com
(c) Open an AppleCare ticket, but I hate to send the PB to Texas even for a few days.
or is there something else I should be doing? or is this normal?

From reading your post it sounds like Interference.
In a commercial building you will find that the Metal Studs used in the construction, will and can Interfere, not to mention Metal Bookcases. Just about anything metal.
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/1497111
Note the 3rd paragrapgh
This of course doesn't rule out that you could have a loose Antenna connection, or your Airport Extreme Card could have become unseated, or loose as well.
Remember the use of microwave, wireless phones and any number of other things can cause Interference.
Cheers Don

AirPort signal strength variation/ loss

Our 17" Powerbook G4 (Aluminum) started having connectivity problems with the AirPort Extreme base station last fall. This roughly coincided with AirPort Update 2005-001 and Security Update 2005-009. There was no change in behavior of other wireless machines (e.g. iMac G4, Powermac G4 Mirrored Drive Doors).
Often, signal strength is full after a restart or awake from sleep. After some period of use (minutes) signal strength drops markedly (at the same location, without any change in orientation of the PowerBook). Often, the machine then loses network connectivity
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Any suggestions would be appreciated. It used to be nice to use the PowerBook wireless, but now is generally an uncertain and unpleasant experience. My recent AppleCare experiences have made me somewhat pessimistic about the value of investing time with them.

This has been confirmed as a hardware problem, apparently at the lid hinge.
Being addressed via AppleCare.
The hardware problem was verified fairly rapidly at the Lenox Square Genius Bar, who authorized the repair. Booting from another startup disk, for example, rapidly ruled out any software problem.
Telephone AppleCare, on the other hand, took substantially more time with no real results. Not that it was a waste of time, but it certainly was not productive and did not isolate the problem (hardware vs. software vs. base station vs. local reception).

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I had one AE base unit, where network connection would disapear every other day. The light would still be green on the AE, but the signal from the AE could not be picked up nor seen by the computer. Only turning the AE off and back on, would make it appear and work again. I Changed the AE unit, and I dont have the problem any more. I didnt change any settings at all.
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My Airport icon in the top menu bar of my Mac Pro has always been at full bars, but recently it has started dropping, sometimes to 3 bars and sometimes none.
Is there an application or something i can download that tests speed and strenght etc?
I'm running 10.5.7 and recently switched to a BT home hub but i have a sneaky feeling the issues have come after the 10.5.7 update?

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The wireless interface adapter and antenna on current generation 17" Powerbooks are not user-serviceable. My suggestion is that you have it looked at by an Apple service center. This is not a problem that can be fixed by simply tweaking some "settings".

Weak Airport signal strength after MacBook upgrade to OS 10.5

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