Help me like my mac again
September 22, 2010 4:53 PM Subscribe
Wireless works well running Windows, but spotty running OS X. Why?
I have a Macbook running Leopard with Windows XP installed so that I can indulge in the occasional old computer game. I'm the only Mac-user in my family, and I noticed when I visited my parents that I could connect to their network for a while, and then all of a sudden my computer would claim I was still connected but nothing would load. Attempts to re-connect to the network would end in a connection timeout, or in a failure to obtain an IP address. The only thing that would fix this was restarting my computer while also restarting the wireless router. My mom and dad have laptops running Windows and this never happened to them, and I never bothered to look into the wireless configuration.
I'd completely forgotten about that until today. I'm staying with a friend's mother, who has generously given me her network password but doesn't really want me messing around with her computer or network settings - so I can't investigate. But I'm having the exact same problem. Sometimes my connection will last a few hours, sometimes just ten minutes, but the only way I can fix it is by restarting my computer and her router. I booted up Windows on a whim and discovered that the internet works perfectly all day.
I should mention that in between these two living arrangements I also used my landlord's network for a year and then my roommate's for a few months with absolutely no problems (I think these were both through Comcast). I have no idea what my parents had, and I think the one now is Linksys.
What's the deal? What is OS X doing wrong? Are these routers just configured to work with Windows? It's very frustrating to be interrupted so often, and I can't just go unplug her router all the time without interrupting her work. Is there anything I can do? Obviously I don't know a whole lot about how this all works, and I hope this isn't a ridiculously stupid question. Thanks for your help!
I have a Macbook running Leopard with Windows XP installed so that I can indulge in the occasional old computer game. I'm the only Mac-user in my family, and I noticed when I visited my parents that I could connect to their network for a while, and then all of a sudden my computer would claim I was still connected but nothing would load. Attempts to re-connect to the network would end in a connection timeout, or in a failure to obtain an IP address. The only thing that would fix this was restarting my computer while also restarting the wireless router. My mom and dad have laptops running Windows and this never happened to them, and I never bothered to look into the wireless configuration.
I'd completely forgotten about that until today. I'm staying with a friend's mother, who has generously given me her network password but doesn't really want me messing around with her computer or network settings - so I can't investigate. But I'm having the exact same problem. Sometimes my connection will last a few hours, sometimes just ten minutes, but the only way I can fix it is by restarting my computer and her router. I booted up Windows on a whim and discovered that the internet works perfectly all day.
I should mention that in between these two living arrangements I also used my landlord's network for a year and then my roommate's for a few months with absolutely no problems (I think these were both through Comcast). I have no idea what my parents had, and I think the one now is Linksys.
What's the deal? What is OS X doing wrong? Are these routers just configured to work with Windows? It's very frustrating to be interrupted so often, and I can't just go unplug her router all the time without interrupting her work. Is there anything I can do? Obviously I don't know a whole lot about how this all works, and I hope this isn't a ridiculously stupid question. Thanks for your help!
I'm curious about this as well. I've had all kinds of wireless problems with OS X and my iPod Touch. They just don't seem to like certain routers. Not sure if it's a problem with the Apple drivers or with certain routers.
If the router is the type with the cable modem built-in, you could just buy a new access point (or router that can be used as an access point, most can I think) and just connect it to the router that's there and disable wireless on the router/cable modem.
I don't think there's a way you can do this without having to mess with your friend's router. Sorry.
posted by zixyer at 5:44 PM on September 22, 2010
If the router is the type with the cable modem built-in, you could just buy a new access point (or router that can be used as an access point, most can I think) and just connect it to the router that's there and disable wireless on the router/cable modem.
I don't think there's a way you can do this without having to mess with your friend's router. Sorry.
posted by zixyer at 5:44 PM on September 22, 2010
Wireless networks can pretty temperamental.
If it was just for one day that you tried using Windows and it worked fine, I'm not sure that proves anything... you might just have got lucky that day.
My guess would be that it's more likely that the problems are at the hardware level, i.e. the chipset being used for networking, rather than at the OS level. Still it boils down to that some routers have various niggling incompatibilities with your Mac / iPod Touch.
You could look to see if there are any firmware upgrades for the router(s) in question.
Otherwise there's probably nothing you can do short of trying to find a router that works well with all the devices it regularly talks to. Newer ones are probably better than older ones anyway... the iPod Touch might not have even existed when some of these routers were built.
posted by philipy at 6:57 PM on September 22, 2010
If it was just for one day that you tried using Windows and it worked fine, I'm not sure that proves anything... you might just have got lucky that day.
My guess would be that it's more likely that the problems are at the hardware level, i.e. the chipset being used for networking, rather than at the OS level. Still it boils down to that some routers have various niggling incompatibilities with your Mac / iPod Touch.
You could look to see if there are any firmware upgrades for the router(s) in question.
Otherwise there's probably nothing you can do short of trying to find a router that works well with all the devices it regularly talks to. Newer ones are probably better than older ones anyway... the iPod Touch might not have even existed when some of these routers were built.
posted by philipy at 6:57 PM on September 22, 2010
What kind of encryption is the router using? If it's WEP, that's your problem. OSX and WEP don't always get along. Switch to WPA or WPA2 and you'll be fine.
posted by ndicecco at 9:20 PM on September 22, 2010
posted by ndicecco at 9:20 PM on September 22, 2010
Try updating the firmware on the router.
Also, as a counterpoint, I have never had a hardware issue with Linksys routers.
posted by wongcorgi at 11:24 PM on September 22, 2010
Also, as a counterpoint, I have never had a hardware issue with Linksys routers.
posted by wongcorgi at 11:24 PM on September 22, 2010
Seconding support for Linksys routers, they've made duds like any router manufacturer but they're still some of the best on the market...I have two on hand they've been working for years with no problems (of course the firmware got replaced with tomato). This doesn't appear to be a router specific issue though as you've seen it happen in two places. This is rather an issue of Windows vs OSX in regards to how they handle wireless connections.
Next time you're visiting, I'd try running iStumbler (or Netstumbler for the windows side) to see if there are any networks interfering on the same channels. It's possible Windows does a better job at ignoring interference or cross-over traffic. If possible, have them change their wireless channel to a different one not close to any neighborhood channels. Cordless phones, microwaves, etc can also cause interference if they are around the same Ghz level as the router, so changing channels can help there too.
posted by samsara at 5:52 AM on September 23, 2010
Next time you're visiting, I'd try running iStumbler (or Netstumbler for the windows side) to see if there are any networks interfering on the same channels. It's possible Windows does a better job at ignoring interference or cross-over traffic. If possible, have them change their wireless channel to a different one not close to any neighborhood channels. Cordless phones, microwaves, etc can also cause interference if they are around the same Ghz level as the router, so changing channels can help there too.
posted by samsara at 5:52 AM on September 23, 2010
I was just researching this issue for myself this morning. Weird. Haven't found the solution yet, but everything I've read has been saying it's not the router, it's something to do with the Airport or it's settings. (The problem I have is the same, but my temporary solution is different - I need to turn the Airport off, then on again and connect to the network and it'll work for a small amount of time before I need to do it again).
posted by coupdefoudre at 7:33 AM on September 23, 2010
posted by coupdefoudre at 7:33 AM on September 23, 2010
I don't think there are any brands of router that work well for everyone or with all equipment, and there are no brands that are duds for everyone.
My current router is a Belkin, a brand that comes in for a bit of derision, and I had some qualms about buying it in the first place. But it's been working like a dream. This is one of those things where it's highly likely that YMMV.
posted by philipy at 12:33 PM on September 23, 2010
My current router is a Belkin, a brand that comes in for a bit of derision, and I had some qualms about buying it in the first place. But it's been working like a dream. This is one of those things where it's highly likely that YMMV.
posted by philipy at 12:33 PM on September 23, 2010
Response by poster: What kind of encryption is the router using? If it's WEP, that's your problem. OSX and WEP don't always get along. Switch to WPA or WPA2 and you'll be fine.
ndicecco - This was a very enticing answer. Unfortunately, looking at my preferred networks history, while my parents' network was WEP encrypted, so were several other networks that worked perfectly well. The network that's currently giving me trouble is WPA.
You could look to see if there are any firmware upgrades for the router(s) in question.
I will definitely try that, if this person lets me.
It's true that I may have gotten lucky. I've been using OS X on her network for a few weeks now, and it's consistently bad, and the two days I've used Windows, I haven't had problems. I've noticed that if I keep it active and constantly load things it will last a few hours and that letting it idle for even a few minutes means it's going to die. (This may just be paranoia.) Constant streaming or downloading does not substitute for refreshing though.
The problem I have is the same, but my temporary solution is different - I need to turn the Airport off, then on again and connect to the network and it'll work for a small amount of time before I need to do it again
Ah, lucky! That didn't work at all for me.
Next time you're visiting, I'd try running iStumbler (or Netstumbler for the windows side) to see if there are any networks interfering on the same channels.
I will try this.
posted by ke rose ne at 3:06 PM on September 23, 2010
ndicecco - This was a very enticing answer. Unfortunately, looking at my preferred networks history, while my parents' network was WEP encrypted, so were several other networks that worked perfectly well. The network that's currently giving me trouble is WPA.
You could look to see if there are any firmware upgrades for the router(s) in question.
I will definitely try that, if this person lets me.
It's true that I may have gotten lucky. I've been using OS X on her network for a few weeks now, and it's consistently bad, and the two days I've used Windows, I haven't had problems. I've noticed that if I keep it active and constantly load things it will last a few hours and that letting it idle for even a few minutes means it's going to die. (This may just be paranoia.) Constant streaming or downloading does not substitute for refreshing though.
The problem I have is the same, but my temporary solution is different - I need to turn the Airport off, then on again and connect to the network and it'll work for a small amount of time before I need to do it again
Ah, lucky! That didn't work at all for me.
Next time you're visiting, I'd try running iStumbler (or Netstumbler for the windows side) to see if there are any networks interfering on the same channels.
I will try this.
posted by ke rose ne at 3:06 PM on September 23, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:23 PM on September 22, 2010