MacBook/MBP Wifi Compatibility Thread

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Macinjosh's picture
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MacBook/MBP Wifi Compatibility Thread

I hope it's all right if I use the 'Fritter as a place for people to talk about their MacBooks/MacBook Pros, what wireless setup they have, and if they have any issues with it?

My MacBook, and my WRT54g v1.1, tomato v1.19 hate each other, particularly whenever the MacBook is awakening from sleep. I am very inclined to by a router, hopefully N-capable, that won't have this problem. For instance, a poster on the Apple discussion boards says that he's got no issues, at all with a Linksys WRT150N; heard another saying the same about the newest AirPort extreme base station.

So, if it's all right, anyone who can, please add the following:

1) What MacBook or MacBook Pro have you got? I'm a dual 2.0 white, 1GB RAM.
2) Which Mac OS X version? (Mine's 10.5.2, God do i wish I had 10.4)
3) What router have you got? (I covered that)
4) If there's alternate firmwares available, have you tried them? (I've been to the stock Linksys firmware, DD-WRT, tomato, tried an older OpenWRT but couldnt get it working properly, WhiteRussian 0.9)
5) If you do have problems, have you had experience with a router that gave you _NONE_, that you can name? After waking from sleep? Know the model? (I've been round a WRT54GS v.5 that did the same thing my WRT54G does)

I think that about covers it; if there's any questions, or problems, let me know.

-- Joshua, "Macinjosh"
overclockedmind, Apple Discussion Boards 'handle'

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Addendum

There's so much to add, so much I've already written down, I don't even feel like writing it again, but it's all important I suppose:

--

Have tried B-only, G-only, mixed environments, no encryption, WEP, WPA, WPA2, no difference.

There are two other wireless devices here that have no problems with the WRT54G, one of them can keep a connection going 48 hours straight, with no issues.

Have been up and down the channels, all of them, from 1-11. If anything, this seems to "help," but I'm betting that is anecdotal at best; it never cures it.

MAC address filtering on, or off, doesn't matter.

Frame burst, and after burner on, or off, no positive effect.

CTS, RTS, Frag threshold set to 2304, same deal.

One antenna, or both, no dice.

EDIT: When things straighten out, about 10 minutes after waking up (it varies,) this pops into /var/log/system.log:

May 24 17:27:34 MacBook kernel[0]: AirPort: Roam (DeAuth/DisAssoc)

Basically, looks like my router kicks the MacBook off the network, and then it gets back on, and everything's fine.

Turning AirPort off, and back on to try and achieve this same thing (a reconnect/reauthenticate) rarely works, if it ever does.

-- Macinjosh/Joshua

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I've got a 2.2GHz Macbook Pro

I've got a 2.2GHz Macbook Pro with 10.5.2. I've been using a WRT54GS 2.1 with Tomato 1.19, and I've never had any problems. A few months ago I got an Airport Express and I've been using it as a WDS repeater and with Airtunes. The WRT54GS has worked fine with past Tomato versions, HyperWRT, and the stock firmware with my Macbook Pro, my Powerbook G4/G3, iPhone, and everything else.

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MacBook / MBP Router Compatibility List, v1

Works
----------
Linksys WRT54GS 2.1

Doesnt
-----------
Linksys WRT54G v 1.1
WPN824 (Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router)
Linksys wtr350n
Netgear DG834N
Linksys wrt300n
D-Link DIR-655

NOTE: Will update this post, and therefore the list, as additional information allows. If you see something about this list that looks contrary to your experiences, please post.

Also, I may, I dunno implement a "points" system whereby a router starts at 0, +1 for each working, -1 for not. Otherwise, I can already see conflicting reports being an issue.

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My Issue, Specifically

Though this probably doesn't apply to the other setups people are having trouble with, mine is flawless with 10.5.0.

I re-thought everything, and remembered m'lady asking me for the first time, "hey, where did the Internet go?" shortly after I upgraded to 10.5.1, and so I erased the hard drive and restored from the DVDs.

Like I said, I know this wont apply to 99% of other people, but it's here for informational purposes. Loads of people have seen their kit fixed by the updates after 10.5.0, not broken by it.

What do I do, though? Short term, I can stay where I am software-wise, but it would probably benefit Apple to know this. I'll have to file a bug report .. via Feedback I suppose?

-- Joshua

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??? netgear?

interesting, im having a netgear wpn 824 v3 router with latest firmware (1.0.6-1.0.7) and it works fine with last years macbooks (no matter which model) and with my old powerbook 12inch... ???

maybe you should state which version of the router you are talking about (v1, v2, v3).

cheers, chris

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MacBook / MBP Router Compatibility List, v2

Works
----------
Linksys WRT54GS 2.1
Netgear WPN824 v3, Firmware 1.0.6-1.0.7

Doesnt
-----------
Linksys WRT54G v 1.1
Linksys wtr350n
Netgear DG834N
Linksys wrt300n
D-Link DIR-655

The few routers I had listed, that weren't mentioned in this thread were grabbed from threads on Apple's Discussion boards. Since you've got more complete info than it contains, I'll go that route.

Another note: Just had my first wireless hang, in 10.5.0. Faaaantastic.

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Sigh.. at the end of my rope

... will keep working on the list. Seems though that I can't edit any post that's not my last most recent one though, so may have to move the Actual List elsewhere, hopefully a different part of AppleFritter.

I want to get an N (at least draft 2.0) router and be done with my headache; I'm finally to that point. If anyone has Macbook 3,1 with Panther and one of these that's working flawlessly, please post.

-- Macinjosh

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