Macbook Internet randomly cuts out

Sometimes when working on my Macbook, the internet randomly cuts out. Adium still "seems" to work, but Safari and Opera do not. I get the error "Not connected to the internet". After I wait for a little bit it starts working again, but i'm wondering what is the cause and fix for this problem?

 

This isn't a new problem we recieve here at the forum, or pretty much anywhere else on the internet.

One of the main issues we found was the wireless access point people were using apparently there are certain routers that work well with Macs out there and some that are paperweight. Over the time I've been at this forum I've gotten a good idea of what does, it seems that no one here has any issues with NetGear as their wireless point, however it's found that whoever has D.Link's have issues with their wireless keep dropping, so it's recommended if this is your case to keep this in mind.

The first thing I would do if I were you is make a new location, and have it set for home (or whereever you are) and use that location and see how it goes, if it keeps going then check out macfixit.com for more suggestions.

Now, if this is all over your ethernet cord, you might have a problem with your ethernet port. However make sure you check your diagnostic account (we usually like to assume people who visit this forum that they follow our suggestion in the Mac Users Sticky about account setups, which is located in the Maintenance and Security part of the thread) this account is basically never used, so you should be easily able to tell if its a hardware or not using this account.

If all fails with everything I've said, and yes there is a quite a bit you could do personally, then you're gonna have to call Apple.

-Matt

 

Could also be interference. If you have a lot of other networks available in your area they could cause problems. Setting the computer up to connect to your network only will help that out. Also, try changing the channel on your router, maybe move your router, especially if it is near a cordless phone. Cordless phones and cell phones can cause a lot of problems. You see Wi-Fi runs on 2.4GHz, which is unregulated, so there are all kinds of devices that use it. Any one of those devices, if they are in the right place could knock you off.

 

I have a Netgear router and I had to put a $ sign when entering the WEP key to have it work. I think it may be something to do with the router or interferance then, because it seems to work fine at school. Thanks for the help.

 

i have a macbook connected to netgear router. it does not do what u described. unless if i were in my bedroom (where i usually put this notebook) it frequently dropped the signal. coz the macbook detects multiple router in near my bedroom (the neighbours's) dammit! **** intereference!

oh well, next year is MIMO year anyway

 

That may be the problem. Sometimes I pick up a signal called "Untitled" and that's usually around when the signal drops out.

EDIT

Ok i'm almost 100% sure that this is the problem. My internet just cut out and there was the signal called default. Then is disappeared and now my internet is working again.

 

Could be interferance from a wireless phone

 

Well, try changing to a different channel on your router, that should help a bit.

 

Ya you think interference is bad now, wait til MIMO is widespread. Draft-N causes MAJOR interference. Basically it hogs all the channels. Pre-N did not have this problem, you can thank Broadcom for having the spec changed in Draft-N.

 

If I change it to a different channel, then will that affect anything? Will I have to adjust my Macbook and other computers that connect to the internet at my house?

 

Nope, your other computers should adjust to compensate, when they search for the wireless they'll know its on a new channel and adjust themselves. All OS'es do this.

 

I tried changing channel and I still get the random d/c.