Yosemite on MBP Major WiFi issues?

[mentaluproar]

I think we have established that this is a widespread problem. I suspect the majority of those unaffected are still using 2.4 GHz networks.

We need to call Apple, go through the tech support dance, and request their wireless diagnostic tool. It will send them more information they can use to find and fix the problem. Tech support for operating systems is free too.

 

[markw0401]

Finally got WIFI stable, but this is not a good fix

After trying everything posted so far I finally got the WIFI to quit disconnecting. Seems that Yosemite has an issue with WPA and WPA2, First I tried with an open unsecured network and that worked, no dropped connections, then I moved up to WEP (Which is not a great solution) That also seems to be stable. Until Apple fixes the issue this is going to have to do. But after 2 days I'm just glad to have internet again. Sorry this is not a great solution, but at least it is working! Using a Cisco/Linksys router.

 

[whsbuss]

I've had success (so far w/dropouts) by setting IPv6 to local-link in the Wifi settings.

 

[mortenjensen]

How do you test the connection speed to the TM or extremes?

I can test my internet speed at speedtest.net - but how do I test the internal speed?

Also: How do I determine, if I am connected to the 2.4 or the 5 mhz band, when I use the same ssid for both?

Morten

 

[satcomer]

How do you test the connection speed to the TM or extremes?

I can test my internet speed at speedtest.net - but how do I test the internal speed?

Also: How do I determine, if I am connected to the 2.4 or the 5 mhz band, when I use the same ssid for both?

Morten

Just on your Mac press the 'option' key while clicking on the Wi-Fi icon in the Finder Menu.

 

[Dogger]

We had this issue on 2012 Macbook pro, turns out is was trying to use the same ip address of another device on the network.

 

[mentaluproar]

Creating a new location profile seems to help. I don't know why, and I don't like this solution.

edit: It defaulted to the 2.4 GHz network. The 5 still doesn't work.

 

[rokstar505]

I am having the same issues.... It doesn't matter if I use 2.4 or 5... They both disconnect after 15 minutes. It is a total bummer when trying to watch HBO GO!!!! I have to just switch between the two Network Names to get my Wifi connection back. Hopefully there is a software update ASAP.

 

[mentaluproar]

I noticed my router is giving the same IP address to my macbook, regardless of which channel I am on, or if I am using the thunderbolt ethernet or not. My mac gets the same address on all 3 unless I explicitly tell the router to give each MAC a different IP address. Other devices on the network still get unique addresses on their own. Is anybody else seeing this?

I called Apple tech support today and after some lengthy troubleshooting, we found that while we could get 5GHz working, under certain conditions, slowly and sporadically, 5GHz would not work at all on secure sites. Again, are any of you noticing this?

We ended up doing a data capture using a support program Apple sent me, and sent the samples off to them for engineering to look at. I'm going to suggest again that we call in and do this. I'm thinking if they get a larger sample set, they might be able to find patterns easier.

 

[MTShipp]

My issue is that if I connect, it works. If I power off and back on, it will not reconnect and I have to delete the profile and join again.

 

[Hevelius]

I think it's important to clarify/summarise some issues as this thread is getting long and clearly *many* people have with WiFi connectivity.

1) It's not a hardware/router issue specifically.
I've tried 4 different makes of routers, including two different versions of Firmware on my main ASUS-RT66ACU router and a direct connection to the Thomson cablemodem my ISP provides. All of them get disconnects on average around every 15 minutes (varies for me between ~5-25 mins).
The dropout frequency is the same whichever router combo I use and nothing whatsoever appears in the router logs either at the point where failure occurs.

2) It's not a 5 GHz issue specifically.
I get the exact same problem on 2.4GHz with the same frequency of dropouts and enough other people have mentioned on this thread that they get the same problem with 2.4 to prove that it's not solely a 5Ghz issue.
I'm also using Channel 36 set manually so it's not true to say that the issue can be resolved by using a lower channel than 149.

3) The disconnects don't occur with Windows or Android devices on the same network.
This is my experience and also relates to (1) above and what other people are saying on the various forums.
I do get problems with iOS 8 on my iPad Air, however, but that seems to be noticeably worse for 5GHz than 2.4 and we all know what a PoS iOS8 is for Wifi currently.

4) The problem wasn't persistent in Mavericks (except occasional issues for some people).
Again this all points to Yosemite.

BUT one further thing we need to clarify when connectivity is lost is whether it is WAN or LAN or both which get dropped.

For me it only manifests itself in a (temporary) WAN disconnect. Running OS X Wi-Fi Diagnostics repeatedly shows that each time the dropout occurs it always relates to a loss of WAN access rather than LAN access. The Wifi icon itself stays on and I retain all LAN access but for about 20 seconds the WAN access disappears. Note that if the Wifi itself disappeared (icon blanks out) I'd also lose LAN access.

So perhaps as other people report similar issues we can build up a clear case (against Yosemite) by asking the following questions each time the issue is raised.

1) Does it occur when using another router?

2) Does it occur when using a different OS or version (Win, Android, Mavericks)?

3) Does it occur when using 2.4Ghz as well as 5Ghz?

4) Does the LAN connectivity disappear as well as WAN connectivity? (ie does the Wifi icon blank out completely or does it remain active and with LAN connectivity still functional?)


I think we'll get there in the end. Just as for iOS 8, it's clear to me that there are persistent WiFi issues in Yosemite which need to be addressed but if we can nail it down then it will be easier to show that Apple needs to take action here.

 

[Ardmanz]

I'm having a problem where it doesn't actually disconnect from the network but the wifi stops working (internet pages don't load etc). Is this the same problem you guys are having?

Turning wifi off and back on solves it for a little while. Having bluetooth on makes the problem a hell of a lot worse which is frustrating as it's required for handoff.

 

[Hevelius]

I'm having a problem where it doesn't actually disconnect from the network but the wifi stops working (internet pages don't load etc).

Ardmanz, do you lose just WAN (internet) access or does the LAN become inactive also? Next time it happens, try pinging sth on your LAN when you lose connectivity to the internet.

For me, I only lose WAN access - temporarily for about 20 secs - and the Wifi icon shows an active connection throughout (the LAN connectivity stays intact). Please refer to my post above where I clarify some of these issues.

 

[Ardmanz]

Ardmanz, do you lose just WAN (internet) access or does the LAN become inactive also? Next time it happens, try pinging sth on your LAN when you lose connectivity to the internet.

For me, I only lose WAN access - temporarily for about 20 secs - and the Wifi icon shows an active connection throughout (the LAN connectivity stays intact). Please refer to my post above where I clarify some of these issues.

I will test this out when I get home and it happens next and report back.

 

[Oddbox Studio]

Try shutting off Bluetooth

Been wrestling with this issue at work since upgrading to Yosemite. No idea what settings our network has and there's no IT support for non company hardware.

I read an earlier post elsewhere where the user had turned off Bluetooth on his machine and the problem went away. I tried it as well a few hours ago and haven't dropped a connection since.

Hope it helps.

 

[Edax]

Wifi seems to work fine at home (various Airports) but same problem at work with a TP-Link wireless router; 2012 (15") rMBP.

The problem at work with my rMBP (continuous disconnecting within minutes) was solved after updating both iPhone6 and iPad rMini to iOS 8.1 and a restart of the TP-Link wireless router...

 

[mentaluproar]

Only losing WAN access here, but I'm fine on 2.4 GHz. I implore people to contact apple. Each of our issues vary a bit and I want them to find the common cause rather than just fix my mac.

 

[hinjeniero]

Seems really weird to loose WAN but not LAN because in this case would be a router problem.

You may still connected to the network and yet have no access to any device on LAN.

 

[msephton]

I've had success (so far w/dropouts) by setting IPv6 to local-link in the Wifi settings.

Thanks so much! This worked for me.

For others, it's at:
System Preferences/Network/Wi-Fi/Advanced/TCP-IP/Configure IPv6

Set it to:
Link-local only

 

[watchthisspace]

I think we have established that this is a widespread problem. I suspect the majority of those unaffected are still using 2.4 GHz networks.

We need to call Apple, go through the tech support dance, and request their wireless diagnostic tool. It will send them more information they can use to find and fix the problem. Tech support for operating systems is free too.

I'm using a 2.4Ghz network and affected.

 

[mentaluproar]

I'm using a 2.4Ghz network and affected.

So call in. That's useful information.

 

[Lubka]

I have same problem, the only temporary help: diagnostic mode.
System Preferences -> Network -> Assist Me -> Diagnostics.
Staying there helps, no more disconnections with WiFi. Can anybody explain that?

 

[mentaluproar]

I can't believe nobody has done this yet.

 

[sosull]

I had this problem early in the beta, here's the fix I've found:

1. Create a new network location.
2. Click the gear icon underneath the network service list, and select 'Set Service Order". In that list, give WiFi precedence over Bluetooth DUN, Bluetooth PAN and Thunderbolt Bridge.

I also happen to have reset my SMC and PRAM before doing these things, but I don't think it made the difference. Essentially there's a problem where Bluetooth devices become disconnected while the Mac is sleeping, and then the Bluetooth service searches for the missing device on wake. Typically it takes a minute to resolve the conflict before WiFi kicks in.

If those things don't work, just disabling Bluetooth outright might improve the situation. Hopefully this helps somewhat.

 

[Lubka]

I had this problem early in the beta, here's the fix I've found:
1. Create a new network location.
2. Click the gear icon underneath the network service list, and select 'Set Service Order". In that list, give WiFi precedence over Bluetooth DUN, Bluetooth PAN and Thunderbolt Bridge. [....]
If those things don't work, just disabling Bluetooth outright might improve the situation. Hopefully this helps somewhat.

I have been trying all of that, nothing is helping.
The only solution, as I mentioned earlier, seems to be the "diagnostic mode".