iMac Wifi Issues

[amille26]

For the past few months my iMac's wifi has been dropping or running so slow it won't load even simple webpages. If I turn off the wifi and reconnect it will speed up but only for a minute or two and go back to running incredibly slow. My macbook pro will run perfectly in the same room. I've tried all the simple things (turning off, restarting everything, turning off all other wifi devices). I am using an older airport express (g). Maybe thinking that is the problem since it seemed to happen when I updated my iMac to 10.8.2

 

[mrplow]

Using an older AE shouldn't be an issue. Though I'd make sure you're using WPA/2 encryption as many modern systems, rightly, don't like WEP protection.

Next thing to do are standard maintenance kind of things:
Make sure you have all system updates installed
Download Onyx for Mountain Lion and run the tasks on the automation tab
Make sure you have at least 10% of your hard do space free
Try the guest user and see if the same issues occur in there
Try a different browser and see if that behaves differently

 

[amille26]

Mrplow- I appreciate your quick response and suggestions. Unfortunately, they failed to solve my issue. I have tried different browsers but all behave the same (even the App Store is incredibly slow at loading up).

Any other advice would be extremely appreciated. I have to even post this from my other device because the page is so slow to load on the iMac. Yet, if I turn wifi off and back on...once it reconnects it is quicker than ever but only for a minute or so.

 

[mrplow]

You've tried everything on that list? Even the guest user? Absolutely no change?

 

[amille26]

Yup, if anything the Internet while in guest user was slower.

 

[mrplow]

If you temporarily revoke the security on your wifi and connect to that does the problem remain?

 

[amille26]

Yep, suspended the security problem remained. Reset up the express without security problem is still here. Starting to think its not looking good.

 

[mrplow]

It's beginning to sound like a possible hardware issue.

As far a networking hardware goes how are you setup?
Modem - Airport Express
Or
Modem - Router - Airport Express?

 

[amille26]

It is Modem - Airport express. Any none of the other devices in the apartment have this issue, even when next to the iMac. Any other thoughts? I really appreciate your help so far. Hope there is a fix out there.

 

[mrplow]

Ok let's try resetting your network configuration.

In Finder go to:
yourMacHD/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist

Rename the preferences.plist to preferences.old

Restart your iMac

Reconnect to your network and try again

 

[mrplow]

If that doesn't work then do the same thing but for the whole SystemConfiguration folder