Holy Cow. 10.5.8 totally messed up internet connection !

To preface: Using MacBook Pro (Summer 2008) and Airport Extreme on 10.5.8

So I've been experiencing extremely slowly browsing and downloading speeds for the past week, and didn't relate it at all to the latest 10.5.8 update but.. Someone else here had suggested that the MacBook be plugged in to power in order to achieve regular browsing speeds.

Lo-and-behold... I did some tests with the MBP both plugged in and not. Here are the (disturbing) results :

The first two are with the MBP plugged in. First test is from speedtest.net and the second is from dslreports.com (java test)

The second set of tests are with the MBP unplugged

And believe it or not, that last test from speedtest.net unplugged, is actually a VERY generous (and rare) speed. It's usually much less than that, even !

Apple needs to address this immediately IMO. I have yet to try testing with the CAT 5 plugged directly into the MacBook. Might do that tomorrow though.

Would everyone whom has updated to 10.5.8 please confirm this as well please ?

Doug

Wow, BIG difference for sure. For the fun of it I am going to check my iBook with 10.5.8 and see if it's confined to the Intel MB/MBP or all Macs with an Airport Extreme card. Will post my results.

Thanks for sharing.

Also I am wondering if it's affecting just some Intel MBP's or all of them? Maybe different revisions of the Airport Extreme card.

One other question just in case, what browser are you using? Firefox? Safari?

Ah yes, the browser. Silly of me to have left that out.

Firefox v3.5.2

I bought my Airport Extreme router at the same time as the MBP. Also of interest to note, while in the middle of the test while the MBP was unplugged and it was crawling, I plugged the magsafe back in for a second, and it automatically jumped into action, right back into full swing. Unplugged, and flopped right back down again.

Doug

Is it possible to downgrade to 10.5.7 until they fix this issue ? If so, where would I go for that ?

Doug

Edit: Can I simply download and install the 10.5.7 combo update without complications ?

Going backwards in OSX is not an easy thing. You can not simply get the 10.5.7 Combo and install it.

The only time I went back which was back in the Panther days due to a problem with one router I owned was ages ago. You have to put in the OSX DVD and be sure to choose Archive and Install. That will keep all your settings, then run the 10.5.7 updater and any other updates but say no to the 10.5.8 when offered.

I have no issues on the iBook but I had a feeling I would not. I am sure it's on certain MBPs with certain Airport chipsets. My guess anyway.

Good luck!

By now it is widely known that the 10.5.8 update can cause issues with wireless connectivity when running on battery.
When you are connected to a power source all is well.

Issue seems to be located in 2 .kext files which can be recovered from a 10.5.7 backup and copied into the extensions folder in your library ( At your own risk )

MacFixIt has an article on Workaround for OS X 10.5.8 wireless problems - MacFixIt

I Ihave tried everything except replacing the .kext files ( that water is too deep for me ) so ... waiting for Apple.

Cheers
McBie

By now it is widely known that the 10.5.8 update can cause issues with wireless connectivity when running on battery.
When you are connected to a power source all is well.

Click to expand...

Okee dokee. So I just wonder how long it will take Apple to respond. This will be interesting.

Doug

From what I have experienced with Apple, it will only be if the problem becomes large enough. So, it depends how many people have that problem.

I have a mid-2008 MB but I do not use an AE. I'll give it a try later to see how bad the speed differences are and whether or not this is limited to Macs connecting to an AE.

I just did a speed test plugged in and not plugged in. The up and down speed differences were negligible but the ping response time was considerably higher when not plugged in. This was on a early 2008 MB.

Well, I'm certainly grateful for warnings like this one.
I also have a mid-2008 MBP and will wait for more word on the 10.5.8 update.
Does this only affect internet browsers other than Safari or are Safari users susceptible to the same issues?

I've got 10.5.8 running on my March 2008 MacBook and just ran the test. Very little difference either way. However, I'm not using an AE.

Regards.

MYmacROX said:

Well, I'm certainly grateful for warnings like this one.
I also have a mid-2008 MBP and will wait for more word on the 10.5.8 update.
Does this only affect internet browsers other than Safari or are Safari users susceptible to the same issues?

Click to expand...

I didn't test Safari but are you using an Airport Extreme? It appears that the problem is specific to those using an AE.

Have a MacBook and done everything except replacing the .kext files, does this the workaround linked under the MacFixIt-article work? (I have no TimeMachine-backup :/)

I tested 3 of my computers for speeds through my Airport Extreme (Dual-N). I used a PowerMac G5 (Dual 2.3 running OS X server 10.5.8), a 2008 MacBook (2.4 running 10.5.8) and a Windows XP computer (SP3 connected w/ 54mb/s D-Link adapter).

Results:

PMG5 (Ethernet): Down: 1100 kB/s Up: 120 kB/s
MacBook (Plugged in, Wireless N): Down: 800 kB/s Up: 90 kB/s
MacBook (Unplugged, Wireless N): Down: 86 kB/s Up: 76 kB/s
WinXP (Desktop, Wireless G): Down: ~100 kB/s Up: ~100 kB/s

I admittedly have no idea why the Windows Computer slowed down too, but all of the wireless enabled stuff in my house slowed down a couple of days ago.

Edit: After applying the update in the link above me my speeds increased to 890 kB/s (Plugged in) and 646 kB/s (unplugged) while both of the Up speeds went to 130 kB/s. Also the windows desktop must have been acting weird because it is back up to around 500 down and 100 up.

Great news. Anyone having problems, Apple has addressed the bug and there is an software update available. I just did it and am now running without the mains plugged in. Here are the results:



Word to your mother.

Doug

vansmith said:

I didn't test Safari but are you using an Airport Extreme? It appears that the problem is specific to those using an AE.

Click to expand...

No to the AE question. Using a D-Link router. Seems there is a software update now, so maybe I'll give it a shot in a day or two if no other issues come up. Just to be on the super safe side.

I would recommend updating as the update is supposed to fix this very problem. More info here.

Doug b said:

Great news. Anyone having problems, Apple has addressed the bug and there is an software update available. I just did it and am now running without the mains plugged in. Here are the results:



Word to your mother.

Doug

Click to expand...

Very good news for sure. Thanks for the heads up Doug.