Wi-Fi cuts out - have to use Diagnostics to fix it.

[xTRIGGER092x]

I've had Mountain Lion since its release in July and have been having the same problem since, even after a clean install - my Wi-Fi connection will cut out intermittently; sometimes once or twice a day, sometimes a week or two apart. The only way I've figured out how to temporarily fix it is to go to System Preferences > Network > Assist Me > Diagnostics and run the diagnostic test. Run that and it all goes back to normal (for a while, at least). I'm getting kind of fed up with it (it's happened probably 3-4 times just this weekend), so does anyone have a solution?

 

[switon]

RE: wifi diagnostics...

Hi xTRIGGER092x,

Have you tried the WiFi Diagnostics.app? (found by holding down the alt/option key while clicking on the menu wireless icon)

This app will tell you the S/N ratio and the number of other wireless routers that can be seen from your location and what channels they are on. Sometimes radio interference from other wireless routers/devices causes the radio in your unit to "cut out" for a brief time. For instance, I notice that if an older Time Capsule is placed close to a newer Airport Express, the TC's radio will stop broadcasting about four times each minute.

I suspect that you are getting radio interference issues from your neighbors -- this is the reason it appears random, as whether you have problems depends upon just how congested is the particular channel you are currently using, sometimes it is and sometimes it is not very busy: sometimes you have problems and sometimes you don't. In other words, just because your problem began last summer does not necessarily mean that your troubles are caused by ML, it could be that one of your neighbors added a router that uses the same channel as your wireless router. The WiFi Diagnostics.app will help you determine if this is your problem.

Another reason for looking into the signal strengths for your wireless and nearby wireless devices, is that sometimes problem arise not from the wireless but from a failure of the DNS service. If your wireless S/N ratios are good and there are no nearby other wireless routers on the same channels, then you might look at DNS (if you are running a DNS server). If you are running a DNS server, then try clearing the DNS cache and see if that fixes the problem ("dscacheutil -flushcache"). Also, sometimes the DHCP from your server is flaky and needs to be reset.

Good luck,
Switon

 

[s.hackler]

Sorry for the Double Post but I'm desperate!!

I've tried everything y'all have suggested and it's still not working.
My Computer:
-MacBook Pro
-13-inch, Late 2011
-Processor 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7
-Memory 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
-Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000 512 MB
-Software OS X 10.8.2

I got it in June of 2012 (I've had a MacBook since 2008) and everything worked fine on it. Well, when I moved to a different house like 5 miles away, I set up my wireless (same service provider, same router, same login and same password) and it worked fine. When I got roommates I decided to change my password and login information to something we could all remember fairly easily and because everyone around us had crazy names. On of my roommates has white Macbook from 2007/2008 and she used my wifi all the time before she moved in and everything switched over fine for her when we changed the information. Mine however will lose the signal if I close my laptop or if I let it sit for too long which is quite an inconvenience. My other roommate has no problems staying connected to the internet but she has a windows computer.
I can go over to my friends houses and my computer picks up their wifi immediately and it never loses it. I don't even have to select their wifi, its just automatically connects when I open safari.

So for some reason my computer, and my computer alone, only hates my WIFI network. I've completely deleted every wifi network from my computer and I've started over like one of the posts suggests. I turned my MTU down to 1400. I'm desperate to get this fixed. I've been kicked out of my online homework and online quizzes. Thankfully my teachers were understanding the first time but having to go up to my school library (which closes at 11PM, crazy right?!) to do my work is a pain in the butt especially when my parents spent over $1300 on a laptop for me to do my work at home

Even though I've had a macbook since 2008 and I'm a total Apple fanboy I still haven't learned all the ends and outs of my computer so if anyone has any suggestions please please please help. I've put in a service request call but I won't be able to hear from them for a couple of days between my school/work schedule and their openings. If they help me out before someone replies I'll post what they did here.

Thanks in advance!!


ETA: My internet speed works fine

 

[switon]

RE: wireless dropouts...

Hi s.hackler,

So, let me understand in a little more detail your trouble. You on your 2011 MBP and one of your roommates on her 2008 MB are attached simultaneously to your wireless, sitting close together in the same room. Suddenly your MBP will loose its wireless connection while your roommate's MB will stay connected. Is this correct?

Please use the WiFi Diagnostics.app, as I suggested above, to check on the S/N levels on both your MBP and your roommate's MB. See if they are comparable.

It is possible for your MBP to loose connection while your roommate's MB does not if you are in a different location because different locations have different radio interferences and different signal strengths, this is why you need to check with WiFi Diagnostics.app. The WiFi Diagnostics.app will also help you determine if there are other wireless routers on the same radio channels that your router is using. If so, then finding a channel that is clear may solve your problems. Are you using the 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands? Are you using G or N? If you are using G then the channels overlap and G is much more sensitive to radio interference than N. What router are you using? Does it have both G and N, and both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands?

Good luck,
Switon