Wireless Networking FAQ

My setup is as follows:
ADSL Connection to NetComm modem
Modem connected to Time Capsule 500GB
Wireless network established to Time Capsule using Airport Utility (WPA2/Personal)/using DHCP.
Wirelessly connecting iMac 24inch and MBPro.

The line has been tested and is not faulty. All hardware has been tested (the Time Capsule functioned perfectly over 3 days at the MacShop with several devices). The modem is brand new and not faulty.

The issue I am having is that one computer tends to 'dominate' the wireless connection, causing the other computer to lose connectivity/speed. It still says it is connected, but speeds drop dramatically.

For example, I commenced a download on MBPro and was getting 120kb/s. Then my husband turned the iMac on and started browsing. As he did that, I watched the speed drop very quickly on my download, to 7kb/s and finally it just stopped. As soon as he shuts down, the download speed comes back up.

The interim solution we have is that he has plugged an ethernet cable between the iMac and the Time Capsule. I can now browse wirelessly on the MBPro without any issues, but in the near future we will be introducing 2 work laptops (PC) onto the network and need to be able to connect wirelessly without conflict.

A similar issue was addressed in another thread, and the suggestion was to change the wireless channel. Is this likely to work?

Thanks.

Yes that would be my first suggestion as well.

im having a nightmare at the moment i want to go wireless with my imac g4 1ghz using a 10mb virgin broadband but it seems theres nothing i can do, i went to applestore and they gave me the wrong airport card and then said i couldnt get one for mine, i then went to argos and bought a linksys wifi dongle which argos said was mac compatible which it blatantly isnt.i even rang macwarehouse.com and they didnt know. i just want to go wireless and cheap man!!!

AshVanguard said:

im having a nightmare at the moment i want to go wireless with my imac g4 1ghz using a 10mb virgin broadband but it seems theres nothing i can do, i went to applestore and they gave me the wrong airport card and then said i couldnt get one for mine, i then went to argos and bought a linksys wifi dongle which argos said was mac compatible which it blatantly isnt.i even rang macwarehouse.com and they didnt know. i just want to go wireless and cheap man!!!

Click to expand...

You just need a PPC Mac-compatible network card. Check this one out:

nNano 802.11 n Upgrade for USB Macs

cwa107 said:

Yes please, give that a shot. I've seen a few circumstances where just switching the encryption fixed the problem. WPA2 is stronger yet than WPA, so it's only going to benefit you in the long run.

Click to expand...

Ok, I finally got around to changing the security to WPA2 and I still have no connection to my MacBook Pro. However, like before, both PC laptops and Wii are able to connect just fine.

Is there a way I can hard-reset my wireless router and start all over from scratch? Or once it is set-up to a network will it automatically save all settings?

What about manually setting DNS addresses and/or MAC addresses? Maybe even setting up static IP address, although I know nothing about this?

Sorry to ask so many questions, I'm just missing my Mac right now

bettysurf14 said:

Ok, I finally got around to changing the security to WPA2 and I still have no connection to my MacBook Pro. However, like before, both PC laptops and Wii are able to connect just fine.

Click to expand...

Very weird. I'm starting to wonder if your MacBook Pro just has a faulty wi-fi card.

Is there a way I can hard-reset my wireless router and start all over from scratch? Or once it is set-up to a network will it automatically save all settings?

Click to expand...

Yes. Most routers have a recessed reset button somewhere on the device. Usually you'll need to press it with a paperclip or a pen tip. In most cases, this is done by unplugging the power to the router. Then, press and hold the reset button. Continue holding and insert the power cord. Hold for thirty seconds and release. It should now be at factory defaults.

What about manually setting DNS addresses and/or MAC addresses? Maybe even setting up static IP address, although I know nothing about this?

Sorry to ask so many questions, I'm just missing my Mac right now

Click to expand...

It's not a DNS or IP addressing issue if the machine just won't connect. DNS translates names to IP addresses. DHCP issues a private IP address to devices that are connected to the router.

File sharing between my G5 and my MacBookPro

Hi, is there anyone who knows the solution to this dilemma. I have looked at a lot of posts on this forum relating my scenario, and there are clearly many people with the same issue, but solutions seem to be in short supply. I recently bought a MacbookPro. I already own a G5, which is my main office machine. The MBP was bought so that I could work in another area of the house. Filesharing is the one thing I need. When I first opened the fileshare option, and for one session only, it worked, and I was able to see the G5 from the MBP. But the next time I opened up the MBP I couldn't. Subsequently, I had advice from one very helpful person but to no avail. Now I am losing the will to live! I am reluctant to FIDDLE too much as this is like sticking your hands into a wasp's nest in the dark. It will end in tears!! Is this perhaps something that Apple's help team could resolve,… at a price no doubt?
Any advice would be appreciated

The perfect connection ?

Hi all,
I'm experiencing a strange issue on an iMac with Leopard of a friend of mine.
I've configured a secure wireless connection to a netgear ADSL modem/router and it worked fine.
Trying "what if I switch off the modem ?", answer:"it was possible to continue to navigate because the iMac autonomously used one of the non-secure connections in range". In the Airport connection setting dialog-box there is a switch (can't remember the label) that seems to influence the behaviour of the imac for this kind of situation, but setting or re-setting the switch doesn't solve the issue.
Obviously it's a security issue, if the box uses a non-secure connection without asking anything.
Any idea to solve this issue ?
Thank you
Rob

nysalsa said:

Hi all,
I'm experiencing a strange issue on an iMac with Leopard of a friend of mine.
I've configured a secure wireless connection to a netgear ADSL modem/router and it worked fine.
Trying "what if I switch off the modem ?", answer:"it was possible to continue to navigate because the iMac autonomously used one of the non-secure connections in range". In the Airport connection setting dialog-box there is a switch (can't remember the label) that seems to influence the behaviour of the imac for this kind of situation, but setting or re-setting the switch doesn't solve the issue.
Obviously it's a security issue, if the box uses a non-secure connection without asking anything.
Any idea to solve this issue ?
Thank you
Rob

Click to expand...

What kind of security is the router using?

This was helpful but I bought an N router. Two of my computers are PC's and have g cards. They work fine. My Macbook which has an n card connects to internet sites (especially https sites) very slowly. The router I bought is a Netgear WNR2000. I've changed channels. The Mac works fine with and ethernet connection. One suggestion from Apple is to have the router set for g speeds (54 bit). Does this make sense? Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Elliot

emaltz said:

This was helpful but I bought an N router. Two of my computers are PC's and have g cards. They work fine. My Macbook which has an n card connects to internet sites (especially https sites) very slowly. The router I bought is a Netgear WNR2000. I've changed channels. The Mac works fine with and ethernet connection. One suggestion from Apple is to have the router set for g speeds (54 bit). Does this make sense? Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Elliot

Click to expand...

Not really, especially since unless the router is a high end model, it's already scaled back to 'g' speeds because you have other 'g' devices on the network.

Are there any settings for QoS (Quality of Service)?

Setup:

Landlord running wireless for his 2 Macs upstairs. I have my Macbook and a PC downstairs.

My Macbook is only receiving intermittent internet. All of the other computers are just fine. There are no cordless phones in the house and the microwaves are a far distance from both the routers and the computers.

I receive full signal strength, but when I try to get to a site, it doesn't load. A few minutes later, it's fine. It also crashes when I go to sleep and I have to run the diagnostics in the morning in order for it to work again.

I'd say that it crashes at least twice an hour, sometimes more. It's never down for more than a couple of minutes, but for someone who likes to stream video, it's annoying!

A similar thing happens when I am on my school campus as well. The internet crashes every few minutes, despite my having full bars.

Help!

Edit to add: I took my Macbook in and they replaced the wireless card, but didn't do extensive testing. They said everything was just fine

Edit again to add: The signal crashed while trying to post my edit. Classic.

Sounds more like the router than the the client. What brand/model is it? Is the firmware up to date? What form of security is it using?

cwa107 said:

Sounds more like the router than the the client. What brand/model is it? Is the firmware up to date? What form of security is it using?

Click to expand...

I have no idea. It is password protected though. But why would all of the other computers (including two other Macs) be ok but not me?

And why would it only work intermittently at my school too?

So I have a macbook and am having some trouble staying connected to the internet, especially while streaming videos. Whenever the connections stops, I have to click the airport icon from the dropdown menu and reselect our network. This usually makes it work but sometimes I have to turn airport off then back on again. This gets rather annoying especially when I have to keep doing every couple minutes. I live in a house with a couple other guys who have pc's and they are having no problems. We have a belkin router. I am kind of a rookie at this stuff so any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

cwa107 said:

What kind of security is the router using?

Click to expand...

Sorry for my late, the kind of security is WPA but I can't understand how does it relate to the issue that the mac autonomously connects to open wireles networks in range.
Anyway, thanks for helping me

ny

nysalsa said:

Sorry for my late, the kind of security is WPA but I can't understand how does it relate to the issue that the mac autonomously connects to open wireles networks in range.
Anyway, thanks for helping me

ny

Click to expand...

Go to System Preferences / Network

Highlight Airport on the left side
Go to 'Advanced...'
Select the Airport tab at the top
Remove all the networks listed in the box (except their own) by highlighting them and then hit the "-" button below.
To keep it from happening again, remove the check from 'Remember any network..."
Hit the 'OK' button
Back at the previous page now, put a check mark next to 'Ask to join new networks'

Folks, I'm going to close this thread, since it's not really supposed to be an avenue for seeking tech support, but rather to answer frequently asked questions. If you have an issue with wireless networking and you've already stepped through the FAQ, please create a new thread.

Thanks!