Wifi intermittent connectivity

scottkb2000 · Feb 14, 2014

Is it common to have wifi connection problems. It seems like every so often I will not have wifi to my two iMacs downstairs (on wifi), yet the iMac upstairs is receiving a signal (via ethernet connector). This signifies wifi connection problems. I then power off/on the Netgear combined modem/router supplied by Cox Cable and everything is OK. I have changed the router to a different channel than the default and that helped with the wifi dropout but it still occurs periodically.

chscag · Feb 14, 2014

I'm assuming your router is upstairs since you stated you're connecting your upstairs iMac by ethernet cable. If it is, the WiFi signal may be too weak or intermittent to the downstairs machines. If you have a dual band router, set it to the lower frequency. If not, you may have to relocate the router or get a signal extender for the downstairs machines.

PeterC4 · Feb 16, 2014

scottkb2000 said:
Is it common to have wifi connection problems. It seems like every so often I will not have wifi to my two iMacs downstairs (on wifi), yet the iMac upstairs is receiving a signal (via ethernet connector). This signifies wifi connection problems. I then power off/on the Netgear combined modem/router supplied by Cox Cable and everything is OK. I have changed the router to a different channel than the default and that helped with the wifi dropout but it still occurs periodically.

I get the same thing. My computer is 4 ft from my modem/router and on wireless mode, I have to either power on and off, or disconnect wifi and then reconnect and all is well. Weird, happens infrequently.

RadDave · Feb 16, 2014

PeterC4 said:
I get the same thing. My computer is 4 ft from my modem/router and on wireless mode, I have to either power on and off, or disconnect wifi and then reconnect and all is well. Weird, happens infrequently.

Hi Peter - I have a cable modem (Toshiba supplied by Time-Warner) and an AirPort Extreme router - I lose my connection about once a week (to my 'wired' iMac and our wireless devices) - I need to 'power recycle' the modem and all returns to normal. The modem is old and TW will not replace it unless it is basically dead, so each time I do diagnostics w/ them the signal obviously is working. This is a common occurrence for many of us and if by 'infrequent' you mean a couple times a month or so, then just live w/ having to repower the device (kind of clears the cobwebs!). Dave

PeterC4 · Feb 17, 2014

RadDave said:
Hi Peter - I have a cable modem (Toshiba supplied by Time-Warner) and an AirPort Extreme router - I lose my connection about once a week (to my 'wired' iMac and our wireless devices) - I need to 'power recycle' the modem and all returns to normal. The modem is old and TW will not replace it unless it is basically dead, so each time I do diagnostics w/ them the signal obviously is working. This is a common occurrence for many of us and if by 'infrequent' you mean a couple times a month or so, then just live w/ having to repower the device (kind of clears the cobwebs!). Dave

Well, touch wood, hasn't happened in the last 3 days, since I bumped my speed up a notch with my ISP. We'll see. My modem seems fairly new.

RadDave · Feb 17, 2014

PeterC4 said:
Well, touch wood, hasn't happened in the last 3 days, since I bumped my speed up a notch with my ISP. We'll see. My modem seems fairly new.

Well, good luck and if you go a week or more, then probably fine - Dave

osxx · Feb 17, 2014

One problem I see out in the field is auto channel does not seem to work for 2.4GHz select channel 1 or 6 or 11 manually which ever will have the best signal to noise and still have good signal strength.
Another thing that seems to help if you use WPA2 only on encryption (its safer) .

Wifi intermittent connectivity

scottkb2000

chscag

Well-known member

PeterC4

RadDave

PeterC4

RadDave

osxx

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