Weak Airport Signal

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.
Does anybody know how I can boost my Airport Express signal strength?

Hi, Mike,
I'm also a ham radio operator. One of the best things to do with your 14 computers is to turn off 13 of them and to test them one at a time. This will let you verify whether or not you have a problem with the suspect Airport cards.
Once you determine if/that all machines behave the same, or not, when operated one at a time, you should next begin to test them together in groups of, say, 4.
Next, when you are pretty sure that you have identified certain Airport cards that seem always to be "weak," try swapping the Airport cards between computers, especially between those that seem to be "strong." You'll want to keep track of this by Airport card, not particularly by computer. This way you can prove that particular Airport cards are "weak" in all installations and locations, irrespective of the computer into which they are installed. Then you will be ready to contact Apple for replacements.
One of the previous postings that mentioned unit to unit interference was headed in the right direction. This is UHF radio operating at 2.4GHz. You will find a whole lot of weird stuff going on, especially in sensitivity to location, etc., but you can also expect a lot of signal strength variation from unit to unit.
Please let us all know how you are progressing with this problem.
Jim

Similar Messages

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.

17" powerbook very weak airport signal

I had used my 17" powerbook for about a year with no problems - out of nowhere i now have to be within 2 to 3 feet of my base station to get a signal. i have three other macs in my house that work on the same airport network without any problems.
any suggestions? thanks

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 after RAM install...

I just installed a new RAM chip in my girlfriends G4 iBook and I am noticing a considerable loss is wireless signal from the airport card. The system profiler recognizes the card, and I have doubled checked to make sure I installed the card properly. Anyone have any ideas what might be wrong?

Probably the antenna wire is not properly installed into the card. Check the photos in KB 108039, Properly attaching the antenna on an AirPort Extreme Card to verify proper installation.
Otherwise... the antenna wire is probably damaged.

How can I strenghten a weak Airport Extreme (2nd Generation) signal?

I have been having a weak WiFi signal in my Airport Extreme. Even when I am in a room that is less than 30 ft away.
Here are the details:
AirPort Extreme 802.11n (2nd generation)
     Version: 7.6.1
     Wireless Mode: Participate in a WDS network
     Wireless Security: WPA/WPA2 Personal
     Channel: 6
     Connect Using: Ethernet
My Airport Extreme is on the second floor of the house and is connected to a D-Link DIR 825 router that is on the first floor.
Sometimes when I am on the second floor, I get a better signal from the D-Link router than from the Airpot Extreme.
How can I strenghten the signal?
Thanks in advance

Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on the AirPort Extreme
Information about the device will be displayed in the area to the right
The 3rd Generation product was the first Apple simultaneous dual band router, introduced in March 2009. Minor changes were made in the chipsets between the 3rd Generation and 4th Generation versions with some antenna improvements added in the 4th Generation versions as well. The 4th Generation version was introduced in October 2009.

I have Direct TV with wireless, but a weak wifi signal downstairs. Can I get a Airport (what,kind) that will improve my signal for my Apple TV

I have Direct TV with wireless, but a weak wifi signal downstairs. Can I get a Airport (what,kind) that will improve my signal so that my Apple TV will work?

If you have an AirPort Extreme now, an AirPort Express could be added to your network to extend the range of the network.
See the info about Extend an Existing Wireless Network.........http://www.apple.com/airport-express/
Install the AirPort Express approximately half way between the AirPort Extreme and the point where the Apple TV will be located. The more that you can eliminate obstructions like walls, a ceiling or heavy furniture in the signal path between the AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express and Apple TV, the better the network will perform.

Very weak Airport Extreme Base Station signal...

Hi --
I've been searching the forums here for some solution but haven't been able to find anything. I'm trying to upgrade my parent's wireless network in their home and they've had an Airport Extreme base station for a couple of years now. I recently switched them to broadband which is much faster than the crappy DSL they used to have but the problem that still exists (one that they've always had) is an incredibly weak Airport Base Station signal.
I've tried using different laptops and computers on it, but all of them register the same weak signal. Having my laptop 12 inches from the base station only gives me three bars. From three feet away it drops to two and anything over six feet is a 1 bar or nothing and that's all int he same room. Trying to access it from an adjacent room is fruitless.
Like I said, it's like this for all computers I've tested. Anyone know what's up with this? Is the base station on the fritz? I have the latest software update for it as far as I know.
Thanks.

That's a good, helpful list but we don't really have any of those potential interfereces. Like I said, this signal is down to two bars from five feet away and only three bars from literally six inches away, so there's really not a lot of room for intererence from that distance anywat.
I've seen people wondering if the latest firmware update for Airport might be causing this, but I'm wondering if the Airport base station itself is maybe in the fritz. I guess I could try getting a new one. Anyone else out there have any other ideas?

Airport Extreme (5 Gen) suddenly very weak Wifi signal

Hello, everyone. I have a 5th generation Airport Extreme that was working fine until a few days ago. My power had gone out, and since then I am getting a very weak Wifi signal. The network still appears and connects on all of my devices. However, it is dreadfully slow (0.3 MB/s per Speedtest.net), whereas before it was 50 MB/s. I have tried resetting to factory settings and opening up the option to 5GHz. The 5 GHz wireless network works just fine on my iMac. It doesn't show up as an option on my iPhone, though, and that's what's really bugging me.
I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem and can help me out. Of course, my phone support expired a few months ago and now they want $19 for a tech call. Any help here would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Reset to factory again.
Setup again using all short names, no spaces and pure alphanumeric. If you were doing this make sure you use different names. Empty all the old names from the clients so they start over with fresh clean setup for wifi.
Use a different name for 5ghz.
Use fixed channels.. try 1, 6, 11 for 2.4ghz and try 36, and 150 for 5ghz.. around about.. exact channel is not such a big thing for 5ghz.
Check the link speed and make sure it is full speed if you are in the same room as the AE.
Test by copying a file on the local lan.. rather than testing to internet which could be a totally unrelated issue.
Test by using ethernet only on a computer plugged into the AE to see if the internet link has gone slow.

Weak/no signal when starting

I have a new 24" iMac and Airport Express. Whenever I start the computer or wake it from sleep my Airport signal is weak if not completely non-existent (0 - 2 bars of strength). I need to turn the Airport ON and OFF repeatedly via the Airport icon in the upper right corner of the screen. I may have to do this as many as a dozen times before the signal reaches full strength. Once the signal is strong it is fine until I put the computer to sleep or turn it off. Then it's back to square one. The iMac and Airport are located in the same small room and are not obstructed. There are no other wireless devices in the room either. Very annoying. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

It seems to have been fixed in the 10.5.6 update. I downloaded it several days ago and after sleeping and waking my Mac many times since then, I haven't run into the problem. Download the OSX 10.5.6 update and see what happens.
P.S. The release notes for 10.5.6 cryptically mention that they have improved AirPort connection stability.

Airport signal blinking and others WIFI problems

I have a serious problem with my MacBook Pro. The WIFI signal is pretty weak compared to my old iBook or PowerMac G5, and sometimes, the Airport signal is lost and the Airport signal goes from 5 bars to 0, like a blinking.
I have this message in the Console " Feb 2 21:57:27 ordinateur-de- /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport: Error: WirelessAssociate2() = 88001006 for network Airport. The operation timed out. "
I have no problem with the iBook or the PM G5 on the same WIFI network.
What can I do ?

if you are having a reception issue, you may be having some sort of environmental interference.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58543
also, you can organize your network ports to have airport as your primary. this may help
open system preferences > network
- change the Show: to network port configuration
- drag airport to the top of the list
- click apply now , in bottom right
- restart
hope this helps

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.
Thanks,

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~
People having issues, should check with their router as well. It's not always the card, even if a different computer is getting a great connection. I think it's a case by case kinda thing.
Anyway Highly recommended

MacBookPro weak Airport reception

Airport signal strength on new MacBookPro is marginal or unusable. Signal strength is full on old iBook in same location. Is this MacBook faulty or is this a problem in general?
MacBookPro Mac OS X (10.4.6) Multiple Macs

Hello there, not sure I am posting in the most appropriate place.
I have noticed the problem when I have tried configuring the wi-fi network using WDS on two Airport Express base stations, one of which attached to a DSL modem operating as a main station and the second one on the same network as a relay.
I was finally able to distribute the internet from the two AE but the Air Tunes has been a nightmare.
The two bases are less than 50 feet away one from the other, with only tiny wall in between (and an open door!)
Still I cannot get airtunes working without major drops in the room where I am not sitting with the laptop.
I have thoughts it was an AirTunes issue but just today I figured that it is not.
If I move with the laptop from one room to the adiacent one after long time the airport signal goes down weak... takes very long time to pick up the signal of the second AE and then it pops up again to almost full scale and there you go, also the speakers start playing through Airtunes... while the ones in the previous room that were working while I was sitting next to their AE stop working!!!
In the passage between one room and the other internet connection slows down and APPS such as Skype gets disconnected.
I think that this means that I am loosing signal from previous AE and is taking long time to pick up from the closest one...
I do repeat that even at the fartest point from either AE I am no more than 50 feet away from the other... so I should be able to have a very clear signal from both of them no matter where I am with the laptop...
I am starting to think that the problem is really with the Laptop Airport set in both broadcasting and receiving... any clue on what I should do?
Any suggestions? doubts?
Should I bring it in until is still under warranty? I want to add that on this MBP I have had to:
- change superdrive
- change keyboard
- change battery
.-.- What else should I do???

Can anyone tell me or give me a link to the latest response from Apple regarding very real weak wifi signal on what seems to be a batch of both the new ipad and the earlier Ipad2. I have just bought a 2nd hand ipad2 and it has a very weak wifi signal

Over the last week or so I have been trawling the internet looking for references to weak wifi signals on the Ipad2 and was staggered by the sheer quantity of people who seem to have identical issues, not just with the ipad2 but also with the new ipad. What annoyed me most from reading the reams upon reams of comments made on the Apple community forum is the fairly large number of people who seemed to believe that 'these' people were either just moaners and wingers or else they must have something wrong with their router set-up rather than a serious fault with their ipad and it seems all because there ipad in question works like a dream.
Obviously I can only speak from my experience, and that is, I have an ipad2 32GB with wifi, purchased about 6 months ago and it works like dream with a good 2-3 bar wifi signal through 2 thick stone walls over 30 feet away. My router is a standard one supplied by my broadband supplier compatible with all 'g','b' and 'n' equipment. However, over a week ago now I bought second hand genuine ipad2 16GB with wifi from a close friend who has just purchased a new ipad3 to replace his old ipad2 (had it for over a year so no longer under warranty). When I started it up downstairs from my router, where I always use my other ipad2 which has a very strong wifi signal, I discovered that the new secondhand ipad2 I had purchased couldnt find a network signal at all. So after doing network resets and all other 'fixes' on the device recommended, I took it upstairs to my office where the router is based and found that the device could now locate the network, but the signal was lost over only 12 feet from the router!
I quizzed my good friend about this issue and he informed me that it has always been like this since he first purchased it and he never thought that it was a fault, it was just the way it was. When he first aquired the device he did think at the time that this distance was poor, but thought nothing of it as he didnt have any other ipad to measur ethe signal strength against, and as his router was in his living room anyway he nothing of it. Fair enough.
So, there we have it. One ipad2 with a very good wifi signal and another ipad2 with a very poor wifi signal running off the same router, both with the same IOS 5.0. ?
As well as all of the other isues that customers have picked up on, such as 'death grip' (which I must say does appear to happen, but personally i dont think that this is a serious issue if you are aware of this issue and have a strong signal anyway), my experience seems to be a good example of a 'duff' wifi ipad versus a 'great' wifi ipad', an issue confirmed by complaints from a fairly large number of customers who have also reported the same or similar weak wifi signals with both the ipad2 and the ipad3. So, as this shows the weak wifi signal is a very real issue it seems on a batch of ipad2 and 3's, which to my logic is obviously a hardware issue on a batch of early ipad2's and not a software one, otherwise all ipad's would suffer this problem! So, is it a faulty antenna or a faukty network card in an early batch?
So, the bottom line now is, of course, firstly, how can I get Apple to fix my other ipad2 when the warranty has run out? Any suggestions anyone?
Personally I think good Apple customer service should offer a recall with a replacement on this apparent batch of ipads, dont you?

Greetings,
I've never seen this issue, and I handle many iPads, of all versions. WiFi issues are generally local to the WiFi router - they are not all of the same quality, range, immunity to interference, etc. You have distance, building construction, and the biggie - interference.
At home, I use Apple routers, and have no issues with any of my WiFi enabled devices, computers, mobile devices, etc - even the lowly PeeCees. I have locations where I have Juniper Networks, as well as Aruba, and a few Netgears - all of them work as they should.
The cheaper routers, Linksys, D-Link, Seimens home units, and many other no name devices have caused issues of various kinds, and even connectivity.
I have no idea what Starbucks uses, but I always have a good connection, and I go there nearly every morning and get some work done, as well as play.
You could try changing channels, 2.4 to 5 Gigs, changing locations of the router. I have had to do all of these at one time or another over the many years that I have been a Network Engineer.
Good Luck - Cheers,
M.

Imac 24-Why does my airport signal keep changing??

my airport signal keeps changing??
right next to my imac i have my powerbook 17
and it's signal is full...where my IMac signal is not??
signal on my imac is 2 bars from full most of the time!!
is this a IMAC thing or what??

No real help but this is a common problem for c2d machines it seems. They have the new "n" protocol wireless card in which willl be faster and further than the g with the new apple extreme base station. It will also be very good for streaming video (iTV). This is just consolation for an iffy wireless link. These boards have many threads on this topic (eg macbook pro area). Do a search any you will find the others with the problem and maybe a solution.
Cheers

When iBook G4 wakes up, it drops Airport signal temporarily

My wife and I both have iBook G4s and we share the same Airport Extreme network. We have the most current software updates. When her iBook wakes up after being asleep, it temporarily drops the Airport signal. The signal reappears within a few seconds, but it takes 10-15 seconds to actually be able to access a website. Until then it comes up as "unavailable," which suggests the computer is logging into the network every time it wakes up, and that's the delay.
My laptop doesn't have this problem. It keeps the signal when it falls asleep. What might be causing this problem with hers?

Thanks for the link. When I started working through the process, I remembered that I had changed the "by default join" setting from "Automatic" to "Preferred Networks" a while back. I was having trouble with my laptop joining networks I didn't want it to. So I did some research and shifted to "Preferred Networks" and removed the networks I was unintentionally joining. My guess is it is this change, and not the 10.4.11 upgrade that caused my issue.
When I realized this, I didn't finish the steps on the link. I just changed back to "Automatic" and that seems to have taken care of it. If I find I'm having trouble with the Automatic setting, I'll try removing my encrypted network and then adding it back in, as suggested in the article.
Thanks so much.
kabing

Weak Airport Signal

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