getting disconnected from internet while playing ffxi on macbook pro

[kentryadamscrna]

I was wondering if this issue is occurring with anyone else. I recently purchased a macbook pro and installed windows xp using bootcamp. I configured all the updates required both by microsoft and apple. When i play my ffxi i frequently get disconnected from the internet. This occurs often about 3-4 times a hour. I play using an apple wireless router. I didn't have any problems playing the game on my dell which is about 5 years old. I know this problem isn't related to my router due to the fact that i have been disconnected at other wireless locations and due to the fact that the game plays on my dell. To try and solve this problem i re-installed windows and ffxi only to have the same result occur. I currently play the game in windows mode and had the resolution high. I am not sure if either of these issues are the cause of the loss of internet signal. When i lose my signal i can easly re-establish the signal and log back on. I am not sure if this could be a windows xp issue and i should install vista. I would also note that i dont lose my signal while surfing the net in either windows (without the game running) or on the mac operating side.

 

[Sentinel]

I have the exact same problem with Windows on my MBP. I play Warcraft III and it disconnects me as well. It doesn't even have to be while playing a game; sometimes I get it while just surfing the net, although it happens more often while playing games, suggesting it has something to do with overheating or something. I re-installed Windows and nothing seems to help. I hope there's a solution to this.

 

[kentryadamscrna]

seems like u and i are having the same problem. I recently had my airport card replaced thinking this may solve the problem but it didn't. The only other solution it could be is more than likely a windows xp issue. When i hard wired into the computer i never lost my connection, it was only when i was playing wireless. When i contacted playonline they said that the game was not made to be played without an ethernet connection. He said due to the streaming data it makes it more likely of a connection loss. I don't buy this explanation as the problem doesn't occur with my 5 year old dell laptop.

 

[Sentinel]

I found a solution to it after searching on the Apple forums. I took 2 steps for it and i havent been disconnected since. I changed a setting on the wireless card and updated the driver on the wireless card. Ill give more details as soon as i can.

EDIT: Hmm cant seem to find the page on the discussion in my History.
For setting on wireless card:
1. Right-click My Computer > Properties > Hardware Tab > Device Manager > Network Adapters > Right-click Broadcom > Properties > Power Management
2. Make sure that first check box is unchecked.

I think the update on the drivers is more significant to solving the problem however. I'll try to find it right now

EDIT 2: I think I found it. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8585999

Hi,

as everyone here i also has a problems with dropped / disconnected WiFi after sending big files over the network (with Mac Book AIR and Windows XP in Boot Camp 2.1 - but i think this will work on other mac's with broadcom WiFi card). WiFi works for normal web browsing, but when i want to backup some files to my network drive (NAS) the WiFi connection was droped after few minutes, so i can't backup files properly.

I found a solution on this topis:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1478484&tstart=120

but this was for Windows Vista and i have a Windows XP.

But on http://www.hp.com there is also drivers for Windows XP on following page:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=228&lc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3650971&dlc=en#

I download drivers from this page:
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp39501-40000/sp39912.exe

and follow the instructions from original topic:

1. Execute sp39912.exe, it will be extracted do c:\SWSetup\sp39912 or other destination you select

2. Do not run the setup from that location!!!

3. Click on Start->Settings->Control Panel then on System, go to tab Hardware and then click on Device Manager button

4. Open the Network adapters and right click on Broadcom Wireless Adapter and choose Update driver.

5. If the dialog ask if you want to connect to Windows Update select No, not this time and click on Next

6. Select Install from a list or specified location (Advanced) and click Next

7. Select Don't search. I will choose the driver to install and click Next.

8. On the dialog box there is Have Disk button, click on it and then click Browse button. Navigate to c:\SWSetup\sp39912 (or the location where you extract the driver). Pick "Broadcom 4321AG 802.11a/b/g/draft-n".

9. Click OK and restart the computer.

This works perfectly to me, now the WiFi is much faster than before and i don't have a problems with dropped connection.

Should work after the driver installation. Good luck and hope it helps!

 

[atomicparker]

Exact same thing happens to me, though I know dropped wireless with the MBP is a known issue (at least to us) it seems to be much more frequent with FFXI running...I was wondering if it was something about the game too? Maybe MMO's in general? I'll try that solution to see if it works though. It's very annoying with FF though, because as soon as it senses a disconnect it shuts down the game entirely, and you need to log back in from the beginning.

 

[kentryadamscrna]

Thanks for the Info. I just updated my driver and i am test driving ffxi wireless atm. I will re-post if i am successful.

 

[Sentinel]

After a couple months after updating the drivers, the same problem still occurs, just less often.

 

[kentryadamscrna]

well i logged into ffxi the other night around 1030 central time and left the game on while i was asleep. When i woke up the next morning i had not lost my signal. My character was in a location where there wasn't much traffic so i am not sure if streaming more data wirelessly would create a problem with my connection. If i have a problem i will re-post. Thanks for the info regardless.

 

[atomicparker]

I also updated the broadcom drivers for this issue, and it fixed perfectly...the problem must be with the bootcamp drivers which are dated Oct 07...kind of old. No connection drops anymore anyway.