Mother-in-law has bought mac mini (we are both newbies) and install in bedroom. Unfortunately the wireless connection to downstairs routers is not strong and 'comes and goes'. As an alternative we install a home plug set up so she could have, in effect, a hard wired connection. This worked fine for a few months but now the mini just doesn't like the connection. It will stay up for about 4 hours but then go. I guess the ethernet signal is just not quite strong enough. I have tried all sorts of plugs upstairs - some sort of work but most show no signal at all. Downstairs it is a little better but her mini is upstairs! The thing is - if I plug my winXP into any plug upstairs I get a strong signal an can connect straight away. If I take the mini downstairs and plug straight into the router it is 100% and it has worked 100% upstairs -for some reason it does not like it now. (I'm guessing the old house wiring and oxidised connections give too much resistance to the signal). But the winXP laptop works anywhere(!). The sets are the same, not too to do. Local/DNS server 192.168.1.1, 255.255.255.0, automatic ethernet connection etc. It works but compared to the winXP laptop the mini appears to not like the incoming (via the home plugs) ethernet signal. Is this typical for a mac mini?
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Is Mac Mini Super Sensitive?
- Thread starter quarkrad
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Create a new user and see if the problem persists. It just might be some bad files or specific to the user. It is not normal for your Mac Mini to not keep an internet connection.
Using the router as a connection, check the remote Mini (upstairs) Airport signal strength. If good or excellent, then something else is going on outside the router. Otherwise, if weak signal consider a better quality well-reviewed router (i.e. Netgear) or good wireless modem (Motorola).
I have a mini on the opposite side of the house from the wireless router. The connection strength fluctuated until I added a bridge that expands the coverage through the house. No more weak or dead zones.
My router is a Buffalo wireless WHR-HP-G54. This router is capable of being a bridge also and is very easy to set up as a router and a bridge.
My router is a Buffalo wireless WHR-HP-G54. This router is capable of being a bridge also and is very easy to set up as a router and a bridge.
If you're using a home plug set as in you network using the powergrid in your home than it is not uncommon that it's slow or if it doesn't work. Such a network is one of the most unreliable ones you can get, even crappy wireless is much more stable. You'd better not use it.
The difference between the mini and the winxp laptop is probably the location of the antenna and the antenna that both machines use. It is not uncommon that one machine needs to work it's butt off to get any reception while the other machine sitting next to it just works. Try to put the router or access point on a different spot in the house where you have a better reception in every part of the house or extend the network with one (you could use an Airport Express). You could also use a UTP cable but that since that would be "ugly" I don't think mom in law would accept that option
The difference between the mini and the winxp laptop is probably the location of the antenna and the antenna that both machines use. It is not uncommon that one machine needs to work it's butt off to get any reception while the other machine sitting next to it just works. Try to put the router or access point on a different spot in the house where you have a better reception in every part of the house or extend the network with one (you could use an Airport Express). You could also use a UTP cable but that since that would be "ugly" I don't think mom in law would accept that option
If you're using a home plug set as in you network using the powergrid in your home than it is not uncommon that it's slow or if it doesn't work. Such a network is one of the most unreliable ones you can get, even crappy wireless is much more stable. You'd better not use it.
The difference between the mini and the winxp laptop is probably the location of the antenna and the antenna that both machines use. It is not uncommon that one machine needs to work it's butt off to get any reception while the other machine sitting next to it just works. Try to put the router or access point on a different spot in the house where you have a better reception in every part of the house or extend the network with one (you could use an Airport Express). You could also use a UTP cable but that since that would be "ugly" I don't think mom in law would accept that option
Exactly. Homeplug is the worst connection type, not to be offensive, but its the truth. Personally, I would go and get some cat5 cable and run it to the mini's. That or use a Airport Express for them.
I had the same problem. I have two windows machines, a mini and 2 imacs. I was using a netgear wirless n router and some machines were hardwired and laptop and mini were not. The signal was weak and not very stable then we got a airport extreme.
Now my neighbors now pay me $20 bucks a month to use my internet! Totally worth the money I just wished they had 4 or 5 wired ports in the back
Now my neighbors now pay me $20 bucks a month to use my internet! Totally worth the money I just wished they had 4 or 5 wired ports in the back