Is anyone else having Wifi disconnect issues with M3ProMax machines on 6e networks?

[vfontjr]

I think there's a problem either with the 6e network hardware or software in my 16" M3ProMax MacBook. Actually, there are two issues that could have a root cause in either or both.

My MacBook loses its connection regularly from WiFi on my Asus 6e mesh system. It happens the most when I'm using Zoom. Zoom will lose the internet connection every 15-20 minutes and I have restart the WiFi by disabling/enabling it. When not using Zoom, I can stay connected for a couple of hours before the restart process. For Zoom, I shut WiFi off and hardwire to my router.

I'm a software engineer and in my experience, these symptoms point to an unplugged memory leak, but it's only a guess.

The second problem seems more hardware related. When I bring this MacBook anywhere near my M1 iPad Pro, it kills the iPad Pro network connection and you can actually here RF static and interference.

What I am asking is this a common issue with the MacBooks or does mine need to see a Genius?

 

[dmccloud]

I've never heard of an issue such as you described, so I don't think this is a "common issue" at all. If you do take the MBP into the Genius Bar, I would also take the iPad with you so that the RF interference issue can be observed as well.
One other thing you did not mention - is the firmware for the ASUS system updated to the most recent version?

 

[Slartibart]

My MacBook loses its connection regularly from WiFi on my Asus 6e mesh system.

Try setting the MTU on your Macbook to 1460 instead of the default 1500

The second problem seems more hardware related. When I bring this MacBook anywhere near my M1 iPad Pro, it kills the iPad Pro network connection and you can actually here RF static and interference.

this is a strange one, never heard something like it - and I am involved in the administration and daily help of quite a large number iPads and Macbooks. If this occurs location independent, go and visit a Genius bringing bot devices.

 

[vfontjr]

I've never heard of an issue such as you described, so I don't think this is a "common issue" at all. If you do take the MBP into the Genius Bar, I would also take the iPad with you so that the RF interference issue can be observed as well.
One other thing you did not mention - is the firmware for the ASUS system updated to the most recent version?

Yes, the firmware is updated. I work in information technology at an executive level. I'm fanatical about keeping my systems current. LOL!

The way I learned about the RF interference is because of gaming. I sometimes connect to my PS5 downstairs and use iPad for gaming through PS Remote. It's a high throughput application running on the M1 iPad. I could be wrong, but I think the M1 iPad is pre-6e.

I usually do this when I'm getting comfortable at night. I noticed when I would pickup the laptop and set it on my lap to check email, the PS Remote video would suddenly start faltering and pixelating. Then a message would popup on PS Remote saying the internet connection is getting lost and the connection to the PS5 downstairs is broken.

While this is happening you can hear the static in the iPad speaker, and if you're familiar with the sound, you will recognize it as RF interference. But is it RF interference caused by hardware or something fixable by a software update?

The process is repeatable and consistent, but the iPad needs to be under gaming stress. This only happens on the iPad while gaming. Continuity works fine if I want to use the iPad as a second screen and the issue hasn't been exposed through streaming on the iPad. This is such a specific use case, a Genius Lab may not have ever encountered it before with this particular Apple Silicon combination.

I'm about to cross post my question in the Apple Community. I am not using the WiFi at present except for very short periods and light duty. I can't use it with Zoom and that's a large part of my IT consulting business. Right now, the laptop is tethered to a very long Ethernet cable.

Everything suggests these issues may be fixable by a software update. The iPad issue is such an edge use case, it may be easier to chalk it up to an annoyance than launching a major investigation for a root cause. Everything else functionality wise works.

Thanks for your insightfullness. You've just helped me write part of my Apple Community post.