New PB airport SUX!!!

[Temujin]

So far I have found the 15” PB to be a nice notebook. Until NOW!!!
I’m so disappointed in the airport. It really sucks. One of my classmates had his 12” PB to school today. He got online in a flash. Me on the other hand, sitting right next to him, couldn’t.

Occasionally the airport found the network, but when trying to connect I just got the “There was an error joining the Airport network” message.

Really bums me out, paying way to high a price for an inferior product.

I’ve heard of other people with the same problem, in here and other places.


So what to do, return the damn thing, or wait (hope) for a software update (if that’s a possible fix)?


Best regards

Temujin (disappointed switcher )

 

[0098386]

Which version of OSX are you using? since upgrading yesterday to 10.4.3 I've had nothing but terrible reception on my 12" PowerBook. I never had this with Panther.
Find out which version you're mate with his 12" is running too. maybe 4.3 is just bad with powerbooks and wifi?

 

[iEdd]

Could your friend possibly get the internet, then you share it using ad-hoc with bluetooth or something?

 

[ohcrap]

Words in call caps ending with three exclamation points are absolutely necessary in extreme situations like these.

That said, my PB gets great reception even further than 150ft from my TrueMobile wireless router. Nothings changed for me since 10.4.3, nothing for the worse anyways.

 

[Beck446]

powerbooks are notorious for bad wifi reception. Ibooks, on the other hand, have great reception.

 

[Temujin]

>raggedjimmi
Don't think my problem is related to the update. Other users complain about bad reception as well. And that’s before the update was released. I wont see him again for about a week anyways.

>epepper9
Sharing the connection wont fix the problem.


>Ohcrap
The problems I have aren’t present in the “old” PB. Only new PB owners have this issue.

 

[generik]

But what caused the difference?

His mate's 12" is also a PB

 

[wPod]

ive always had trouble with my 12" pb in situations when the reception isnt completely perfect! its difficult to put an antenna in an aluminum case. (for those of you who are not aware, aluminum shields radio waves (so yes, if you wear an aluminum foil hat aliens, i mean people, will not be able to read any sort of radio wave that could be emitted from your head, including very weak brain waves)) so this means it is difficult to place an antenna in the PB so it gets good reception. if you noticed the two plastic looking bars, one on either side of your screen, that is where the antennas are. im guessing in many PB reception issues that the antenna are missplaced and not in an optimal location for good reception. id take it into an apple store if its new and they can possibly check it out.

 

[Demon Hunter]

Wow the 15" PowerBook is great it has a beautiful design and runs the most advanced operating system in the world. I loved it UNTIL NOW, I can't get airport access in this elevator, what a piece of junk I'm returning it to get a superior Dell.

 

[ohcrap]

Wow the 15" PowerBook is great it has a beautiful design and runs the most advanced operating system in the world. I loved it UNTIL NOW, I can't get airport access in this elevator, what a piece of junk I'm returning it to get a superior Dell.

Add a few exclamation points and your sarcasm will be complete.

 

[p0intblank]

ive always had trouble with my 12" pb in situations when the reception isnt completely perfect! its difficult to put an antenna in an aluminum case. (for those of you who are not aware, aluminum shields radio waves (so yes, if you wear an aluminum foil hat aliens, i mean people, will not be able to read any sort of radio wave that could be emitted from your head, including very weak brain waves)) so this means it is difficult to place an antenna in the PB so it gets good reception. if you noticed the two plastic looking bars, one on either side of your screen, that is where the antennas are. im guessing in many PB reception issues that the antenna are missplaced and not in an optimal location for good reception. id take it into an apple store if its new and they can possibly check it out.

So that's what those are. As for me, I have been having problems lately, but it started a couple days before 10.4.3 was released. I'm forcing to have it go through Ethernet for my connection. Most of time it's fine, but sometime it will lose signal or just go really slow. There has to be a way to fix this. I could be right in front of our wireless router and I still don't get a full signal.

 

[Temujin]

Add a few exclamation points and your sarcasm will be complete.

I hope the sarcasm was intended, if not then thanks for the ridicule, really helpful.

 

[ohcrap]

I hope the sarcasm was intended, if not then thanks for the ridicule, really helpful.

I hope the "thanks" was intended as sarcasm also. If so, then you're welcome.

 

[Temujin]

Here is a related issue I found at apple.com

http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?14@309.MyvZaliYT2a.2@.68ba457a

anyone else had this problem?

 

[nomad01]

powerbooks are notorious for bad wifi reception. Ibooks, on the other hand, have great reception.

Bad wi-fi reception or just inferior to the iBook? I've never had a problem accessing wi-fi networks anywhere wit my 12" PB.

 

[Temujin]

I hope the "thanks" was intended as sarcasm also. If so, then you're welcome.

Actually I was referring to the other guy.

 

[Temujin]

Bad wi-fi reception or just inferior to the iBook? I've never had a problem accessing wi-fi networks anywhere wit my 12" PB.

You shouldn’t have. But when comparing the PB and the iBook, the aluminium casing makes a difference.

 

[digitalmatty]

i was having reception issues with my 12" ibook, popped the keyboard and found that the card wasn't fully attached (the wire had come loose) I found more than just myself had this problem, not sure how the a/e cards are situated now in the PBs, but perhaps that could be an issue? Especially if you are next to the wifi point and can't get a full signal.

 

[Temujin]

i was having reception issues with my 12" ibook, popped the keyboard and found that the card wasn't fully attached (the wire had come loose) I found more than just myself had this problem, not sure how the a/e cards are situated now in the PBs, but perhaps that could be an issue? Especially if you are next to the wifi point and can't get a full signal.

Had the feeling that might be the solution. As mentioned in the linked thread.
You guys know of any guides showing how to do that?


Love the All windows option in Exposé by the way, really nice feature.

 

[redeye be]

I've tested airport reception between the 12 and 15" PB. The 12" did have more signal strength (3 bars in Internet Connect).
Someone told me this was due to antenna placement.
In the 12" the antenna supposedly runs besides the screen. The 15" has the antenna tucked away under the left side of the keyboard, again: supposedly.

 

[Demon Hunter]

I've tested airport reception between the 12 and 15" PB. The 12" did have more signal strength (3 bars in Internet Connect).
Someone told me this was due to antenna placement.
In the 12" the antenna supposedly runs besides the screen. The 15" has the antenna tucked away under the left side of the keyboard, again: supposedly.

That can't be right, the Apple site shows the antenna on the right and left of the LCD as well.

I doubt they are built-in to the motherboard, they have always been removable, I thought.

 

[telecomm]

Had the feeling that might be the solution. As mentioned in the linked thread.
You guys know of any guides showing how to do that?

Try http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=95131

 

[Lau]

I've had the same problem with my college network, and I think it was the network, not my computer. Me and another guy were really worried our Airport cards were fried, as another girl could connect perfectly. We were all at the same table, they had 15" PBs and I have a 12".

About an hour later, we could all connect. Our college network is pathetic though, so that may be unique to our college. But it definitly seemed wierd that one person could connect fine but two of us got that same error message. You can try clicking the "Renew DHCP lease" button under System Preferences>Network>Airport>TCP/IP if it happens again.

 

[redeye be]

That can't be right, the Apple site shows the antenna on the right and left of the LCD as well.

I doubt they are built-in to the motherboard, they have always been removable, I thought.

I stand corrected. Reception was worse on the 15" though

 

[drlunanerd]

You can't get at the Airport cards in new 15" PBs. There's no longer an access door in the battery compartment - I was really surprised by this when I got one at work. So not sure how you check the antenna connection. It's possible I suppose that Airport is now on the motherboard and not a separate card.