Mac stays connected to the internet for a minute or two--then disconnects

I've had similar problems with I think every Mac I've ever owned. I don't know what the problem is, but it's a problem. I feel like I'm going crazy here.

It starts with a random disconnect from the internet. Internet is working fine all day and then all of a sudden, I have no internet on my MacBook Pro Retina (15-inch) because it's "not connected" to the wi-fi. Despite the fact that I have my Windows desktop running at the same time and it is successfully connected to the wi-fi.

Then I try and reconnect and it will stay connected for about a minute; I can go online and everything and then it will just disconnect again. You can repeat this process indefinitely. Turning on and off the wi-fi doesn't change anything. I have to restart the router or restart the computer--either one works. Note that this whole time, there is no change in the internet performance on the desktop.

I'm willing to accept that it's just my router--I have been using nothing but Netgear routers for a while, though I have had different ones and our service has changed as well. If it is just the router, why doesn't it ever affect my Windows machines? What exactly is going on here? Is there any way I can find out what's going on?

 

You could always buy a router from someplace like Best Buy, try it out, and return it if it doesn't solve your problem.

 

You might be right. I really cannot rule out the routher.

But I do remember a few friends having problems with their Macs disconnecting from an AT&T-provided router while their Windows-using friends were having no issues. It does make wonder if there is some sensitivity in AirPort that causes disconnections.