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Big Sur WIFI Woes

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Collywobbles

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2017
85
29
OK, I'm having issues with the wifi. Doesn't work on wake and is prone to random drop outs and reconnection failures during usage. Struggles and connects at slow speeds.
Remedies tried:
1) Remove wireless networks, reset SMC, reset NVRam. Rejoin network. Doesn't work.
2) Remove wireless networks. Add location. Rejoin network. Doesn't work.

This is a Ubiquiti controller managed network, cabled backplane (not meshed). It has around 25 to 30 other items connected to it, including iPhones, iPads, watches, Apple TV's, iMacs and Smart TVS (LG), Blu-ray players (Samsung). No problems anywhere else, with the exception for a LAN cabled Apple TV which clearly also has problems with a wake from sleep issue with the LAN cable connector.

This is a 2019 16" MacBook Pro, but it not the first MacBook Pro that's had this problem, in fact every single one has had this problem. Personally I think it has something everything to do with the power management of the wifi module, but you have no control over this in macOS.

Anybody got any suggestions?
 
C

Collywobbles

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2017
85
29
check this out... you can't see the animation but wifi is turned off and it's still searching...
 

Attachments

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C

Collywobbles

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2017
85
29
and.... the Mac is around 6 foot away form the access point.. note the transmission speed and the signal strength
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2020-11-16 at 15.49.57.png
    Screenshot 2020-11-16 at 15.49.57.png
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Prorege1

macrumors 6502
Jun 21, 2020
259
400
On the Ubiquity controller try to set the 5 Ghz band to standard 80 Mhz channel width. Set DTIM period to 3.
If you use an Apple Watch try to disable "unlock with apple watch" on MacOS.

Good luck.
 
C

Collywobbles

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2017
85
29
unfortunately I have lot's of other things that won't support 80mhz channels; I've tried it before. I will look at reducing the indicator message interval though, thanks :)
 
C

Collywobbles

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2017
85
29
just checked, it's already set to 3. the controller I'm using is 6.0.23; not the very latest, but new enough.
 
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Prorege1

macrumors 6502
Jun 21, 2020
259
400
You can leave the 2 Ghz band to standard 20 Mhz channel width. Suggest you try the above setting for the 5 Ghz band
 
C

Collywobbles

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2017
85
29
Mac refuses to connect @80mhz, not sure why, never managed to sort it out; had to revert.. I said I'd tried it before.
 
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Prorege1

macrumors 6502
Jun 21, 2020
259
400
Sorry I was unable to help - don't think it's Big Sur related.
I have been struggling with the Ubiquiti access points myself, but finally it's solid on Apple (non MacBook Pro) devices.

tempImagepLTOLx.png
 
L

lefkonj

macrumors member
Dec 12, 2016
54
87
BigSur WIFI is a major issue. iMac was upgraded over the weekend. Prior to the upgrade everything was fine now it just gets stuck. Much worse than just 'WIFI dropped' as the system has all sorts of issues with anything network related. I am sitting in front of this machine with my MBP running Big Sur and it is fine no issues, same with iPad, iPhone, Nest Cameras etc etc. This is OS related and needs to be resolved as rebooting my machine every 45 minutes is not acceptable.
 
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Collywobbles

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2017
85
29
if it's so bad, I would advise you to revert. I doubt patches will be that fast coming through.
 
L

lefkonj

macrumors member
Dec 12, 2016
54
87
Yeah not worth my time to deal with the revert process. Should of followed my gut and waited for 11.0.2. For now it will be MBP and the iMac will become a large jukebox.
 
tonyr6

tonyr6

macrumors 68000
Oct 13, 2011
1,739
733
Brooklyn NY
Lvivske said:
ive been getting wifi issues since a couple of catalina updates ago, was hoping big sur would fix it...oh boy...
Click to expand...
I came into macOS with Catalina and I had issues with Wi-Fi from the start, so I don't know if that was the start of it. Randomly my Wi-Fi will stop working for about a minute. I can go all day or even several days without issues then it can start again like yesterday when it disconnected twice once during a video call. I, too, thought Big Sur will fix it. I however am using a USB Type C Ethernet adapter but I thought I had a failing Wi-Fi seeing I am not alone at least I know I don't have to have my MacBook serviced.
 
S

supernet33

macrumors 6502
Jan 29, 2008
366
25
Collywobbles said:
OK, I'm having issues with the wifi. Doesn't work on wake and is prone to random drop outs and reconnection failures during usage. Struggles and connects at slow speeds.
Remedies tried:
1) Remove wireless networks, reset SMC, reset NVRam. Rejoin network. Doesn't work.
2) Remove wireless networks. Add location. Rejoin network. Doesn't work.

This is a Ubiquiti controller managed network, cabled backplane (not meshed). It has around 25 to 30 other items connected to it, including iPhones, iPads, watches, Apple TV's, iMacs and Smart TVS (LG), Blu-ray players (Samsung). No problems anywhere else, with the exception for a LAN cabled Apple TV which clearly also has problems with a wake from sleep issue with the LAN cable connector.

This is a 2019 16" MacBook Pro, but it not the first MacBook Pro that's had this problem, in fact every single one has had this problem. Personally I think it has something everything to do with the power management of the wifi module, but you have no control over this in macOS.

Anybody got any suggestions?
Click to expand...
I have the SAME issue with the same setup. I also had the issue randomly with the prior OS. What Ubiquiti APs do you have? Send me a PM and maybe we can compare settings?
 
tonyr6

tonyr6

macrumors 68000
Oct 13, 2011
1,739
733
Brooklyn NY
Just did it again. Wifi went dead for about a minute then it magically starts to work again. Really annoying. I did those useless steps like reset SMC dumb fix same as sfc /scannow in windows and partiton cache wipe in Android. Fixes nothing.

Do I have a bad Wifi adapter so is it hardware related?
 
P

Prorege1

macrumors 6502
Jun 21, 2020
259
400
There is a fresh firmware update to the Ubiquiti access points, it states:

Bugfixes​

  • [UAP-MTK] Fix wireless adoption failure, introduced in 5.43.7.
  • [UAP] Fix issue with MacBook's connecting to the 2.4GHz WLAN instead of 5GHz when High Performance Devices (no2ghz) is enabled, introduced in 5.42.0.
  • [USW] Fix DHCP Snooping rate limiting issue.
  • [USW] Disable IGMP header validation to fix IPTV issues.
 
C

Collywobbles

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2017
85
29
supernet33 said:
I have the SAME issue with the same setup. I also had the issue randomly with the prior OS. What Ubiquiti APs do you have? Send me a PM and maybe we can compare settings?
Click to expand...
sorry, I haven't received any updates on this thread. wasn't ignoring you.

so I can establish and maintain a wifi connection.... if I use a VPN. that means the VPN tunnel is keeping the connection open because it has a dead mans switch on it. so it is very much an OS issue and one that's been around for a while.

FYI, however I have controller 6.2, AP's are HD nano and a couple of AC/Pro's. this is a SOHO / heavy usage, not commercial.
HTH :)
 
C

Collywobbles

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2017
85
29
Prorege1 said:
There is a fresh firmware update to the Ubiquiti access points, it states:

Bugfixes​

  • [UAP-MTK] Fix wireless adoption failure, introduced in 5.43.7.
  • [UAP] Fix issue with MacBook's connecting to the 2.4GHz WLAN instead of 5GHz when High Performance Devices (no2ghz) is enabled, introduced in 5.42.0.
  • [USW] Fix DHCP Snooping rate limiting issue.
  • [USW] Disable IGMP header validation to fix IPTV issues.
Click to expand...
hi see the response I made to @supernet33
 
C

Collywobbles

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2017
85
29
tonyr6 said:
Just did it again. Wifi went dead for about a minute then it magically starts to work again. Really annoying. I did those useless steps like reset SMC dumb fix same as sfc /scannow in windows and partiton cache wipe in Android. Fixes nothing.

Do I have a bad Wifi adapter so is it hardware related?
Click to expand...
no it's not hardware related, see my response to @supernet33 hth :)
 
C

Collywobbles

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2017
85
29
Prorege1 said:
There is a fresh firmware update to the Ubiquiti access points, it states:

Bugfixes​

  • [UAP-MTK] Fix wireless adoption failure, introduced in 5.43.7.
  • [UAP] Fix issue with MacBook's connecting to the 2.4GHz WLAN instead of 5GHz when High Performance Devices (no2ghz) is enabled, introduced in 5.42.0.
  • [USW] Fix DHCP Snooping rate limiting issue.
  • [USW] Disable IGMP header validation to fix IPTV issues.
Click to expand...
just applied a unified controller update, no further AP updates, so they must be on the latest software. and still it drops out all the time unless I have a vpn going. the AP's are on
Model: UAP-AC-Pro
Version: 4.3.21.11325
 
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