WiFi card issues with MBP, late 2013...

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The model ID is MackBookPro 11,1 Wi-Fi card type Airport Extreme (0x14E4, 0x112), firmware version Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0, supported PHY mode 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac. The MacOS version is 10.14.5.

The card has been working just fine for the last five years or so. As of late, while the Wi-Fi icon shows connected, it can renew DHCP lease, the network apps report no internet connection. The command "host -a domain.name" works at times, while other times does not when there's no access to the Internet. The Ethernet adapter works just fine accessing the Internet, even at the times when the Airport adapter cannot. Rebooting the system remediate this issue most of the times, but not always, and sometimes just for loading couple of pages in the browser.

The access point is Asus RT-N66R that has no issues. W10 laptops, iPhones using it without any issues. For that matter, even other MacBook Pros from 2018 use it with no issues either.

Other than the standard network utilities, is there any other procedure to test the Airport card?

Everything points to the Airport card having some issues on occasions. Is there a way to replace this card, if it finally decides it had enough?

TIA...
 

chscag

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Other than the standard network utilities, is there any other procedure to test the Airport card?


I have read that the included Wireless Diagnosis just left to run for a while can be of help, but I never leally figured out how to translate the results.

Or what about using one of the USB Wi-Fi dongle's??? Some are supposed to be very good if not better than the built-in Airport wi-fi card.



- Patrick
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Thanks Guys...

The procedure to replace the Airport Card looks easy enough, I have no issues with replacing battery, HDD and now wireless card. Thanks for the link...

The results of the Wireless Diagnosis is more of a best practice information and I have no knowledge of what it was actually doing. For example, the reported stated, that the system has no access to the Internet, when it did have such access. On the other hand, wireless connection seems to be working, since this utility ran.

I'll probably opt for just getting a new Airport Card, if the issue returns. While the USB dongle is certainly a viable option, it's in the way most of the time and easy to misplace.

Thanks...
 
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I'll probably opt for just getting a new Airport Card, if the issue returns.


I don't know if it is directly related, but if your airport/wireless goes goofy again you might want to consider doing an SMC Reset.

Doing so often seems to clear up all kinds of strange happenings.

For the procedure for your Mac, just Google for 'SMC Reset' and your Mac model.



- Patrick
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