Too much static?

[Shelbyw7]

Every so often, the envelope for gmail will start flashing red to blue, I am unable to load gmail, but nothing else works as well. I contacted Apple Support and was advised that my system had too much static. To correct this is was necessary to turn off the computer, unplug it, plug it back in, and then boot the computer. Doing this helps for awhile, but then I am back to the same problem. I have had a number of computers in the past, and never had this problem before. Can someone help me with this? Any help is greatly appreciated. I am using Mojave version 10.14.6

 

[chscag]

Sorry, but I don't understand what Apple means by "Too much static". The flashing red to blue sounds more like a graphic issue not "static". Your Mac should be well grounded if it is plugged in to AC power.

But first, how about telling us which Mac you have, Model and Year?

 

[MacInWin]

The "too much static" answer was pure b***s***. From your description I suspect that maybe you are experiencing intermittent connections to the WiFi router. That problem can be caused by interference from other wireless devices, such as other computers, phones, blue tooth devices, tablets, and if you are in an apartment block, other routers in the vicinity. If it is interference, you may be able to gain some relief by changing the settings on your wifi router to use a different channel. You will have to find out how to do that from the manufacturer of the router, or from the internet service provider you use if that is where the router came from. You can see if there is interference with any of a number of scanner tools, including the Network Diagnostics you can find by holding Option and clicking on the WiFi icon on the top bar.

 

[jasongoldworthy]

I doubt its a wifi issue as they haven't had the problem before on other machines,

it could be as chscag has said that the graphics may be developing an issue.

so a machine model number would help

 

[MacInWin]

Jason, if one more person moves in next door and are on your channel, you could get interference. Wireless devices are increasing at a very high rate, all using the same frequencies. Interference is now and will continue to be a problem. The key is to use Network Diagnostics to tell you what is going on around you that might cause the problem. The red/blue isn't a graphic problem, but how the system reports if it connects to the mothership or not. The reboot helps by forcing the Mac to reconnect, maybe on a channel that isn't seeing the interference.

 

[jasongoldworthy]

but shouldn't the Mac automatically drop the connection if it's having connectivity issues and show it on the screen ?

or am I just imaging that happening ?

plus if it was interference then why would a reboot solve it ? as the channel wouldn't change on the router by rebooting the Mac

 

[MacInWin]

but shouldn't the Mac automatically drop the connection if it's having connectivity issues and show it on the screen ?

or am I just imaging that happening ?

I've never seen any message about losing wifi. I have seen Safari say it couldn't find the Internet, but no direct messages about WiFi disconnecting. Could be it happens and I've just not seen it, but I can't think of what mechanism would do that reporting.

plus if it was interference then why would a reboot solve it ? as the channel wouldn't change on the router by rebooting the Mac

Rebooting would force a renegotiation of a connection which might fix a previous connection that was compromised by interference at the time. Devices on the same frequency, but not using the protocols (wireless phones, wireless remote controls, wireless speakers, etc) will generate radio interference that can block the communications using the protocols of the router. If the router or Mac gets into some anomalous state because of the interference, a reboot/renegotiated connection can resolve that anomaly. Over time, it happens again, requiring another reboot. Sometimes the interference can be resolve by just moving a few inches on the router or Mac. Interference patterns at those frequencies are small, on the order of inches instead of feet. Moving just a few inches can take one from a deep valley to a peak signal.

 

[Shelbyw7]

Sorry, but I don't understand what Apple means by "Too much static". The flashing red to blue sounds more like a graphic issue not "static". Your Mac should be well grounded if it is plugged in to AC power.

But first, how about telling us which Mac you have, Model and Year?

The Mac that I have is a 27" iMac with retina 5k display. Intel Core 16 - 8 GB Memory - 1 TB Hard Drive. The model year is 2015. Using Chrome browser.

 

[jasongoldworthy]

hi Jake I missed some of my text out there


when I had wifi issues in the past my Mac would just disconnect from the internet and reconnect with a better signal

what I mean is wouldn't the icon go from showing white to a see through icon for the wifi icon ?


sorry my mistake for not saying that before.

and as for it being a 2015 iMac it shouldn't have problems with the internet how far away is it from the router ?

 

[chscag]

The Mac that I have is a 27" iMac with retina 5k display. Intel Core 16 - 8 GB Memory - 1 TB Hard Drive. The model year is 2015. Using Chrome browser.

Okay, thanks for the info. Can you try connecting your iMac to your router using ethernet rather than WiFi? We need to try to understand if it's a network connection problem or maybe related to a hardware problem.

Also, you might want to try a SMC reset. Real easy to do with an iMac: Shut it down completely, unplug from AC power, leave it that way for around 10 minutes or so, then plug it back in to AC power and boot the machine up.

Let us know.

 

[MacInWin]

@jasongoldworthy, let's be precise. The WiFi symbol shows when you are connected to the router, and nothing else. When you are connected you get this icon:



And when not:



But all that is really showing is that the radio signals between the WiFi hotspot and the Mac are properly connected. You then have to have a successfully negotiated IP number assigned by the DHCP server, which you can see in System Preferences/Network under the appropriate interface. Finally, the router itself has to have a connection to the broadband bringing the signal to your home and an assigned IP from their server and lastly a true connection through them to a portal to the Internet. Lots of steps to get to the Internet and any or all of them could be the culprit when things don't work.

And the modernity of the device does not impact the success of the connection. WiFi signals don't work well through too many walls, floors, pieces of furniture, people, etc. And if there are several in proximity to one another (10 M) the signals can interfere, causing hot and cold spots. Fortunately, at the frequency of the WiFi, a matter of inches may solve the problem by moving the hot/cold spot. The OP has an iMac, which isn't really portable, but shifting it 6 inches to see if that improves the signal could be a solution. Or shifting the location of the router by the same amount.

And all routers typically have a range limit of about 10 meters. Some are slightly better, and you can always get a mesh router system to provide extra coverage, but the signals are kept to a low level to avoid interfering with neighbors. In an apartment block, you might be able to see dozens of routers because of the proximity. In my suburban environment, right now I see eleven, one of which is mine.

 

[Shelbyw7]

Okay, I also have my computer connected to the router with a usb cable. I can try the shut down instructions the next time I have the problem. Right now everything is working fine....

 

[MacInWin]

USB Cable? Did you maybe mean Ethernet? Not sure how a USB cable would help.

 

[jasongoldworthy]

ok well if he is connected via an ethernet cable which from what the OP has said is the case,

then he shouldn't have any reason to reboot as that rules out wifi fully,

 

[MacInWin]

ok well if he is connected via an ethernet cable which from what the OP has said is the case,

then he shouldn't have any reason to reboot as that rules out wifi fully,

*If* it is an ethernet cable and not USB cable.

 

[jasongoldworthy]

well I don't think I've ever heard of a USB Cable network connection to a router ??

 

[MacInWin]

Neither have I, but that's what he said. Post #12.

 

[Shelbyw7]

Iam sorry t is a ethernet cable....

 

[jasongoldworthy]

ok well seeing as he is connected via ethernet then he shouldn't be getting interference


id suggest if its an option to try a different ethernet cable.

 

[MacInWin]

Iam sorry t is a ethernet cable....

Has the problem gone away?