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After G

macrumors 68000
Aug 27, 2003
1,583
1
California
dr_lha said:
Looking at the forums on the Apple support page there are a lot of reports of new Mac Mini's not having their antenna's connected to the airport card. The evidence is anecdotal, but there are quite a few people reporting this, suggesting that there may be a issue with the Mac Mini manufacturing process which is causing this antenna to become disconnected.

For those who have poor reception, try opening up your Mini and making sure the antenna is connected, or taking it to a service center. It worked for my antenna.
 

Bobajobbob

macrumors 6502
Oct 11, 2005
257
175
OK I received my replacement mini today and it just works!

Anyone struggling with poor connectivity, reception, throughput etc. Anyone who has a mini which just doesn't work whilst another computer is connecting perfectly to your network just send it back and get another.

It is a hardware issue.

No amount of fudging around with the channels or b or g will change the fact that there is an issue with the wifi/bluetooth modules on a number of these units.

Updating the firmware or version of OSX is just fiddling while Rome burns.

My first mini exhibited all the issues listed here from terrible and seemingly variable reception jumping from 0 - 3 bars and back, almost non existant throughput which made loading a webpage either glacially slow or impossible. Basically the wifi was not working at all. On top of that the bluetooth was incredibly flakey unless I sat two feet from the mini and even then it was poor.

And now? Now my mini is everything I hoped for. As I turned it on I had full 4 bar reception and this has stayed rock solid ever since connecting to a Netgear wifi router. The same one which works perfectly with my Powerbook except the reception on the mini is now much stronger picking up networks the PB cannot see. I could download and install the OSX 10.4.6 update in no time at all as I woudl expect with a 2meg line and everything is working just as it should.

Even better streaming video over the Wifi works like a dream too. Even before the depressing two weeks of ownership of the broken mini I was not entirely confident that video streaming would work but it does, perfectly even in HD! After setting up a couple of aliases to my movie folder from my PC server I can use front row to find my movie library and stream it to the mini with very little delay. It really works fantastically well now that the mini is not faulty.

All I can say to all those suffering is suffer no more. Simply return the unit. Don't be tempted to compromise. Don't think that a software update will change anything. Don't believe an unhelpful apple tech if he blames it on the microwave next door. If you have the serious problems listed in most of the posts here you simply have a defective unit and the sooner you return it the sooner you will recieve a new unit that works and the sooner you feel a whole lot better.

There must have been a large batch of bodged machines out there but thankfully they can and do work perfectly when you get a good one.
 

Bobajobbob

macrumors 6502
Oct 11, 2005
257
175
If the unit is defective then you are entitled to return it after more than 10 days exspecially when it has been defective from the day that you bought it. These are your basic consumer rights.
 

OleDK

macrumors newbie
Mar 16, 2006
3
0
Problem solved for me - thanks to Linksys

Having tried almost everything, including an Apple support case number and a contact, who never gave a feedback in spite of a promise that he would contact me, a solution of the problem with the slow Airport connection to my Wireless D-Link 614+ router has appeared - at least for me

After having send the support guy a total view of my system via Capture Data.app, which was mailed to me and the results returned, we had an agreement, that he would call me back at a precise time two days later, but he never did. (His name and email is known to me, and several calls to his fellow supporters, who promised to pass the message, and mails to him have only resulted in total silence).

Then came the Apple upgrade to 10.4.6.
Hoping this was the solution, it was installed, via Ethernet of course. Some improvements, but still very slow Airport connection.

But buying a new wireless router, Linksys WRT54G, solved the problem.
Airport speed from the Intel MacBook Pro is now fast - and compares by far to the fast speed of my old Powerbook.

It's a little extra money out of the pocket, but gives a better sleep and lower blood pressure instead of having to fight for an answer from a silent and no responding guy at Apple Support.
 

iflipper

macrumors member
Jan 11, 2006
85
0
Leeds, UK
Bobajobbob said:
OK I received my replacement mini today and it just works!

Anyone struggling with poor connectivity, reception, throughput etc. Anyone who has a mini which just doesn't work whilst another computer is connecting perfectly to your network just send it back and get another.

It is a hardware issue.

No amount of fudging around with the channels or b or g will change the fact that there is an issue with the wifi/bluetooth modules on a number of these units.

Updating the firmware or version of OSX is just fiddling while Rome burns.
How could you know? I'm pleased you've got yours working but software is just likely as hardware to be culpable for these issues. I'd advise people download the update and see if that works before spending time sending something back.
 

miniConvert

macrumors 68040
I also just got my replacement Mac mini and this one has none of the Airport problems the previous one did. What's interesting, though, is that it was absolutely fine before AND after the 10.4.6 update :) So, for anyone still having Airport difficulties, get a replacement.
 

XIII

macrumors 68040
Aug 15, 2004
3,449
0
England
miniConvert said:
I also just got my replacement Mac mini and this one has none of the Airport problems the previous one did. What's interesting, though, is that it was absolutely fine before AND after the 10.4.6 update :) So, for anyone still having Airport difficulties, get a replacement.

I don't wanna send my iMac away... :(
 

snak-pak

macrumors newbie
Jan 19, 2006
20
0
XIII said:
I don't wanna send my iMac away... :(

I hear ya... I didn't want to send my MacBook Pro away either, but I had to. It was only gone for three days, and now the network is rock solid. If there is a local Apple Authorized Service place near you that's the fastest option.

snak
 

flyingteddy

macrumors newbie
Mar 18, 2006
3
0
MBP locks up my Linksys router!

:confused: I've been having the same issue with MBP locking up the Linksys router. It still locks up my router even after upgrading the OS to 10.4.6. I also called apple tech support 3 times talking to product specialists, of course they are clueless. Ended up getting a replacement MBP and also replaced router 4 times. I'm lost big time. So much for the proud MBP. Past 10 yrs of using laptops I've never seen a laptop computer with so many bugs.
Does anyone know how to fix this problem?
 

generik

macrumors 601
Aug 5, 2005
4,116
1
Minitrue
flyingteddy said:
:confused: I've been having the same issue with MBP locking up the Linksys router. It still locks up my router even after upgrading the OS to 10.4.6. I also called apple tech support 3 times talking to product specialists, of course they are clueless. Ended up getting a replacement MBP and also replaced router 4 times. I'm lost big time. So much for the proud MBP. Past 10 yrs of using laptops I've never seen a laptop computer with so many bugs.
Does anyone know how to fix this problem?

Is it your router locking up or is it just the MBP?

As in, do you actually have to turn the router off and back on again due to the evil bits stream out of the MB's antennas? I think what most of us experienced is lousy reception, REALLY lousy reception, and super duper lags when surfing web pages. If the router actually crashed due to your MBP's Apple flavoured packets I think it really has some big issue with it.
 

flyingteddy

macrumors newbie
Mar 18, 2006
3
0
:(
generik said:
Is it your router locking up or is it just the MBP?

As in, do you actually have to turn the router off and back on again due to the evil bits stream out of the MB's antennas? I think what most of us experienced is lousy reception, REALLY lousy reception, and super duper lags when surfing web pages. If the router actually crashed due to your MBP's Apple flavoured packets I think it really has some big issue with it.


It's just the router locking up. T.T Stupid product specialist tried to give me
a lesson on how wi-fi works and was trying to tell me MBP can not lock up therouter. Rather than listening to me, his was trying to make me believe that it's only a very few case and information posted here and apple.com was justa unreliable information from people. It's just a same thing as saying MBP owner are not smart enough! I'm sick and tired of power cycling the router.I suppose, with your info, apple should be able to resolve the issue with simple software update, but then again will they do it? I'm lost~! T.T
 

jamaha

macrumors newbie
Apr 16, 2006
1
0
Simpler solution

I found a simpler solution for my problems with D-link 614+

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=1952204#1952204

Works for me.

OleDK said:
Having tried almost everything, including an Apple support case number and a contact, who never gave a feedback in spite of a promise that he would contact me, a solution of the problem with the slow Airport connection to my Wireless D-Link 614+ router has appeared - at least for me

After having send the support guy a total view of my system via Capture Data.app, which was mailed to me and the results returned, we had an agreement, that he would call me back at a precise time two days later, but he never did. (His name and email is known to me, and several calls to his fellow supporters, who promised to pass the message, and mails to him have only resulted in total silence).

Then came the Apple upgrade to 10.4.6.
Hoping this was the solution, it was installed, via Ethernet of course. Some improvements, but still very slow Airport connection.

But buying a new wireless router, Linksys WRT54G, solved the problem.
Airport speed from the Intel MacBook Pro is now fast - and compares by far to the fast speed of my old Powerbook.

It's a little extra money out of the pocket, but gives a better sleep and lower blood pressure instead of having to fight for an answer from a silent and no responding guy at Apple Support.
 

DCBass

macrumors 6502
Jan 23, 2004
312
3
Washington, DC
This thread is not dead yet....

Alright,

I'm kind of peeved. In the past week, my 1.5 month old 17 intel imac will basically refuse to connect to the internet. but other things work.

what won't work:
safari, camino, firefox, ichat, google earth.

what will work:
mail (for downloading my gmail), software update.

this is not a signal strength issue. It appears that i get full strength and always has. however, actual internet usage was never perfect.

ANOTHER WRINKLE: I recently got my 12" pb back from repair. before I sent it out, the wireless internet worked fine. Now? doesn't work! sometimes a page will load, but veeerrryy slowly if at all. actually, it has the same behavior i listed above. the only difference in the laptop is that apple repair put tiger on it, even though I only had panther before.

What's going on???
 

imacintel

macrumors 68000
Mar 12, 2006
1,581
0
Bs

My iMac Core duo works completely fast when using airport. Just like my old Compaq laptop, wireless card in it never let me down!whether I am 65 feet away or 5, it works quite well
 

milo

macrumors 604
Sep 23, 2003
6,891
523
On the mini, this turned out to be a hardware problem. Mine had OK airport after a replacement of the airport card and antenna. Supposedly they've changed the design of both BT and airport antennas.

In many cases, a software fix won't make a difference. If you're having problems, send it back for repair.
 

DCBass

macrumors 6502
Jan 23, 2004
312
3
Washington, DC
update

alright, i think my netgear is wacky.

my wife brought home a pc laptop from work and it was having troubles too. called up comcast, figured out how to connect it with the cable modem to get a new ip address and what not, and it works fine.

mid-term solution: hardwiring my pb to the cable modem and turning on internet sharing. now the intel imac flies like never before.

on a side note: i had a d-link that crapped out after one year, and this netgear has only lasted two years. are you people having similar problems? i'm seriously not impressed. Any recommendations?

Thanks,

DCBass
 

alxths

macrumors 6502
Apr 3, 2003
353
0
I'm having this problem with a 12" powerbook... it's actually something that has happened off and on over the past year; but it's never been this severe. I'm sitting here surfing the net at 2 bars and my connection drops every 5 minutes or so.

Running the latest version of tiger...

Oddly enough, sometimes the computer will not reestablish the connection unless I actually movie it around a bit.
 

jwalts37

macrumors newbie
May 16, 2006
1
0
I just recently got the mini intel duo,
it recognizes my wireless network, but it does not connect to it, i am in range and in fact my girlfriends macbookpro will connect to my network just fine in the same room as my mini, do you think i need to crack this thing open and check the antenna or something??
-Josh
 

MarkCollette

macrumors 68000
Mar 6, 2003
1,559
36
Toronto, Canada
DCBass said:
on a side note: i had a d-link that crapped out after one year, and this netgear has only lasted two years. are you people having similar problems? i'm seriously not impressed. Any recommendations?

Is your netgear on a surge protector, for both electricity and the cable? Does it have adequate air flow on a hard surface like a desk, or do you have it on carpet or in a corner? Is it sufficiently far from other antennas? Because it can actually damage the antennas if they're too close, such as less than a foot or two apart.
 

Nar1117

macrumors 6502
Apr 15, 2006
313
5
So if ive been reading this thread correctly:

A fair # of intel-based iMacs and Macbook Pro's are having speed problems with their airport connections.

Most, if not all, problems have been solved by going to an apple store or sending the computer in, am i right?

Im buying a Macbook pro soon(ish) and would like to be assured that if there is a problem, it can be fixed.
 
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