Weird 1st Gen Macbook Pro wireless problem

Question

Heya,
Recently i went on holidays for a week and left my macbook pro at home switched off.
Before I left it was working completely fine and would happily connected to my DLINK wireless router, as it had been for the previous few years.
Upon my return, i started my laptop only to find it was having trouble keeping a connection to the router. After about an hour it stopped connecting all together.
Relevant info
1) Router has been power cycled, as has the macbook pro.
2) Router has been reset to factory default.
3) Another macbook and ipod touch can see the router and connect fine using it
4) I tried new user profile on the Macbook pro, as well as trashing the network prefs.
5) I just finished doing a clean install on the macbook pro, and still no dice.
7) I have reset NVRAM
8) Both MB and MBP are running 10.5.7
9) NO ONE TOUCHED THIS WHILE I WAS AWAY. The house was locked.
10) Although it cant see the router, it can however create a network and also connect and keep a connection to another macbooks network, including shared internet.
The last one is the real strange part of this. At first i thought perhaps it was just the Airport dying, but the fact it can create a network aswell as connect to other networks create on other macbooks is a bit weird.
My neighbors WIFI usually comes up in the list of available networks, but this macbook pro is just not seeing ANY wireless networks that is originating from routers.
I just dont know what to do
I dont have the money to repair it, not to mention buy a replacement.. and i use wireless every day.
any clues?
I have searched through the discussions, but anything similar i have found either have been unresolved or turn out to be something to do with the router.
but the router appears to be operating normally, i am current use it to write this post.

Answer 1

I am having the exact same problem with my MacBook and Airport Extreme. It seemed that once I downloaded the latest firmware 7.4.2, I am getting connectivity issues to the Airport. I have a strong signal, but the base station disappears often, even when the laptop is sitting right next to. Signal strength is good throughout the house, but connectivity to internet is spotty at best. My iPhone can connect to the Airport with no issues and is able to connect to the internet.
I did a factory hard reset and went back to the 7.4.1 firmware, but still am having same issues. Sometimes I have great connectivity, but more often then not, I am getting nothing. My MacBook appears to be able to connect to other wireless networks, i.e. the one in the Apple Store. But I haven't been able to confirm if any other computers can connect continually to the Airport. I have perfect internet connection through the ethernet ports on the Airport. Interference might be contributing, but shouldn't have any issue with the laptop sitting right next to the base.
Is there anyway to run diagnostics on the wireless card or the base? I did the PRAM reset, but nothing changed. I am glad I am not the only one who is now experiencing this. Very frustrating because a week ago, I was working great and have been for over a year and half.
Looking for any other bright ideas on how to troubleshoot.