New MacBook Pro bringing down entire network

Hi,

Well, I took the plunge and bought my second MacBook after having to return the first I got a few months ago after it had a dead pixel and a stuffed optical drive.

I got a 13" MacBook Pro, 2.53GHz CPU, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 250GB HDD. Running Snow Leopard

It's perfect. No dead pixels, no screwed optical drive (knocking on wood).

BUT I'm having network problems. The AirPort keeps disconnecting every 5 minutes or so. It still appears to be connected, but the internet just simply doesn't work. (Actually it just happened again in that last second, I'm now typing this offline and will have to reconnect when ready to post).

I've read that a lot of MacBooks have this problem and even that it may have something to do with Snow Leopard, and the problem sounds almost exactly like mine, BUT they keep saying that all of the other PCs on the network are fine. The other devices connected to the same network (even the main PC that's connected via Ethernet vs Wireless) get screwed as well! This also includes my iPhone 3GS, which always connects just fine.

I know that this issue is caused by the MacBook on some level as this network issue only begins to pop up when the MacBook connects to the network. When I turn AirPort off, the other devices come back online and are fine again within a few minutes. When I turn AirPort back on, it works for up to about 5 minutes and then all devices on the network including the MBP go down again (my iPhone as well also continues to show the wireless bars as if it's connected, but is unable to download anything or open anything in Safari).

The network security is WPA Personal, not sure if this helps. :/ I really don't want to have to return another MacBook, this sounds like maybe it's more of a software issue, so thankfully I can fix it. But this is getting really f-ing frustrating, I wish I could just get a Mac, turn it on, and go - like everyone seems to say is meant to be so easy with a Mac.

Has anyone had this happen to them? I've had PCs that had network problems before, but they never bring down the whole network with them, I have no idea what's going on.

 

It doesn't sound like your MacBook Pro is the problem. Sound more like your Airport.

I assume you've updated the software in the Airport?

 

What wireless router do you have?

Have you updated the firmwire on it? Mine did the samething until I updated it.

 

I would agree, it's more than likely a router issue that is having troubles. (Though I'm not quite sure if the OP is using an airport router or not, it's not really specified). Part of why with all the high bandwidth use in my place, we have a Core 2 Duo based router.

Are you running any p2p clients by chance? If you are, and the settings on your router aren't correct, you will get this kind of problem.

What model router are you using?

 

Hi, I believe it's a linksys router. It's my boyfriends network so not sure of any exact model numbers or anything, I'll check after work tonight as well as see if he has the latest firmware.

In terms of p2p, I'm not running anything on the MacBook but there is p2p software running on his windows machine.

Thanks for your help!

 

If it's a Linksys, and it can be flashed, put DD-WRT or Tomato on it, and change some settings for p2p to work better. If you allot more ports to be open for p2p traffic, and set tcp timeouts to less than a minute, it won't overload and bog down. Chances are, if he has torrents running, once your Mac finally gets onto the network, it opens just enough stuff to slow it down.

 

its the p2p bringing down the network. your macbook merely seemed the culprit by coincidence.

 

That's one way to jump to conclusions.

 

It isn't the p2p bringing down the network. The p2p software runs pretty much constantly on the PC with no problems. It's only when my MacBook connects that all devices on the network are unable to access the internet. As soon as it disconnects, the devices go back up. This happened consistently throughout the day.

 

Thanks, I'll pass this on to him. I guess I don't understand why about 5 devices in total have been able to connect fine for the past year or so, but my one MacBook slows it down enough to bring all other devices down when only 3 others are on it at the same time. Is this an issue with all macs in general? Why does this happen with a Mac but not PCs that connect regularly?

Either way, hopefully he'll be willing to go through the trouble of doing what you said to let me connect to his network . Thanks again for your help!

 

just a guess, no idea then.

there is a problem- that is not normal or general behavior for macbooks or os x.

 

i'll fly to your house and fix it for ya if youre the girl in your avatar.

 

He's right, it could still be the P2P causing the issue. if you allow too many incoming connections with P2P that can kill the internet connection. With the macbook connected you could just have 1 too many incoming connections. I've seen it happen a lot with DSL connections.

Here is one example of many: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Microsoft-Internet-Explorer-1054/Net-connection-loss-P2P.htm

 

I vouch for p2p assumption. At home while running p2p on a Windows desktop, my mac barely gets any incoming connection and runs way slow.

 

Probably best to kill all these p2p folks here. Personally, I have my doubts. But this is such a rare type of problem that we might as well just start grasping at straws.

Have you tested connecting to the router without the p2p running?

edit:

This makes absolutely no sense. All the devices fail to connect until after the Mac disconnects. It has nothing to do with too many p2p connections. And your link shows no relevance. The router never loses its connection to the internet, just the other devices losing their connection to the router.

It's like the Macbook is a neighborhood bully.

 

It would be rare, but do you have 2 pc's with the same MAC Address. I know some change their MAC address to clone another computer so it connects by itself. This happens when the router was not setup correctly, bridge vs router.

 

Interesting.

But would that wouldn't kick off all the other devices though.

I'm still holding to my initial hunch in that the router is at fault.

 

Easy way to find out. shut down the P2P and see if it still happens. DSL and Too Many connections will cause this very issue to occur. Shutting down the P2P network and watching you get your internet connection back in 5 minutes or so. It's very like what she is describing, and it could very well be the problem. Seen it happen way too many times on DSL connections with the routers they supply.

 

Is your NB using IP6?

I've seen this cause problems with older routers.

 

The connection doesn't come back til after the Macbook disconnects. Read.

If it was a cause of too many connections, then all the devices will get kicked off and then they would reconnect one by one.

That that isn't the case is it?

 

First of all, the bf just told me that he recently started using Rapidshare instead of his previous p2p software. He has downloads queued throughout the day and it's likely that various downloads were running throughout the day as well while the macbook was connecting. He also recently gave away his Linksys router and is now using a 2Wire modem router.

Sorry about the major confusion >.<

I'll ask him to stop all downloads and try again next time I'm at his house (probably tonight, maybe tomorrow). Both with the p2p software and Rapidshare up to 5 devices at the same time have connected fine throughout the day with downloads running (two desktop PCs, 2 laptops, 1 iPhone and sometimes also a Windows Mobile phone)

The Macbook also connected perfectly fine to my housemate's network at my house last night, with no issues. Well, some minor issues with security passwords when first establishing the connection but no dropouts or anything like that once connected. Bluetooth tethering with my iphone works fine.

This is frustrating. I'm at his house more than half the time after work. I can always just leave my XPS at his to use while I'm there, but I bought a Macbook to use it, not to leave it at home :/

 

Ughhh, 2Wire routers. They just make me cringe.

I personally have had problems when trying to connect too many devices to them (3 desktops,2 laptops). As I start connecting virtual machines to my old 2Wire, it would just reset and say "no soup for you."

But a lot of people have them and seem to have better luck. I wonder if the Mac's signal is interfering with the router's broadcasts. This is such a rare problem that we all are just grasping at straws now.

Just to be clear, when your Macbook connects to your BF's router, it kicks all the devices off the network? Or does the router just lose internet connection? And your Macbook still holds its connection to the router this whole time or is it just a matter of time that your Macbook gets kicked off too?

 

Yes, it all works fine for maybe up to 5 minutes, then all devices go down including the Macbook. They still appear to be connected in the wifi signal status bar (for example both the Macbook and my iPhone still show full wireless bars), but if any downloads are running they stop and we can't open any pages via any browser on any device.

Restarting the router doesn't help. When I turn AirPort off, all devices go back up in a matter of minutes (except of course the MacBook as the airport is off). When I turn the AirPort on my mac back on, same thing happens again.

 

How about if you plug your Macbook into the 2Wire router using a cable? I am pretty sure it is either the 2wire router or your Macbook's wireless adapter that is acting up, not the p2p software.

 

That 2Wire router belongs in a dumpster. Have him find a way to avoid using it, and run a better router.

A note to everybody, when I first suggested p2p software, it was just an angle to look into, not the one and only cause. So no need to repeat through the thread.

OP; what happens when you connect to other networks at other people's houses?

 

OP says she can connect perfectly fine at another house. I would assume it's the router then.

@OP: I've got the exact same Macbook Pro as you and have had it running on my home wireless and my uni wireless without fault. One runs WEP and the other WPA2. I've not heard of this as an issue before so I'd again assume it's to do with the router.

 

when they are all connected and it goes down... you need to see if its just the internet going down, or the whole local network... so when it "goes down" just try to access computer to computer on the network. If that works, your network isn't having a problem, your router is just having a problem getting out on the internet. I've seen some routers (2wire stinks) that once you connect a certain number of things, they disable their internet connection until you get back down in number. Try taking a few other things off the network temporarily and see if it still happens.

 

^ I love that cat in the Avy.

edit:

I'm with you on the 2wire.

It seems people like repeating stuff throughout this thread. It's like Pinky and the Brain.

 

2Wire routers are very poor on a good day. The last one I looked at only has a 11b wireless, not 11g. A direct connect worked fine, with 2 users. The 2wire using house wiring was good for only checking email, and minimal surfing. They crap out under heat real bad, so multiple connections will more than likely bring it to it's knees. A old SMC v1 router performs better.

 

yep. 2 wire blows. AT&T likes those for DSL connections. I hate those routers. Glad I have cable again. hehe

 

surfasb, I'll try that next time I'm there.

Modly, so far I've connected fine at my house with no problems. That's the only other network I got to try out except bluetooth tethering with my iPhone, which also worked perfectly fine.

Doh123, thanks for that, I'll try it.

Someone suggested trying to connect without any downloads running earlier. I tried this last night and had the same problem. I haven't gotten a chance to try connecting using a cable yet, will do that next time I'm at his house.

I really appreciate everyone's help and suggestions!

 

Yeah. I figured the Macbook would connect just fine to any other network...

 

Ye that is the issue. Maybe you or your BF have a spare wifi router laying around that you can plugin to the current 2wire (with it's wifi disabled) and enable the wifi in the non 2wire router. That should solve the issue.

If you do not have a spare one laying around, you could always take the one from your place and test it at his.

 

I'll see if I can convince him. I can't take the one from my place as it's my housemate's setup, but maybe he'll let me buy him a new router for Christmas

 

Then the next thing to check is the mac address. Make sure it's not doubling up for some reason. Also make sure that the IP address that the 2 wire is issuing to your mac is not conflicting with a pre-set IP address on the mac itself this will cause issues as well.

 

I don't think the IP address nor the Mac address is the issue.

DHCP isn't going to issue a pre existing IP address. Nor is DHCP going to issue its own IP address. Even with a preexisting IP address, it doesn't explain why the Macbook is the only one that can connect to the network.

Having the same burned in MAC address is almost impossible. The first three octets are unique to each manufacturer. Even if they had the same MAC address, that again, does not explain why the Macbook is the only one to hop on the network. And that does not explain why the 2Wire router gets kicked off.

edit

The least you should do is see if a different router will solve the problem. I'd hate for you to show up with a new router and the same problem decides to rear its ugly head.

I still think it's either the Airport card's or the router's signal interfering with each other. This is why I suggested you should plug into the 2Wire and see if the problem still exists.

 

Unfortunately I've seen it happen with 2wire's. And it's happened to me. hehe. It shouldn't be possible of course. but it happens. Those routers are the most temperamental I've ever dealt with. You look at them wrong and they will kill the internet connection. It was a nightmare to deal with the three I tried. It usually took about 5 reboots to get the things to take the settings I'd change. they'd run ok for a day or two, and then suddenly stop working, because the settings would just disappear. It was crazy. They drove me to drinking. hehe.

 

I like to give the benefit of doubt before proposing a scorched earth policy.

It is like recommending to someone to uninstall Norton if there is any kind of problem related to it, whether it is the fault of Norton or now.

 

Not sure if I made this clear enough in the previous posts where I tried to explain, but the Macbook is not the only one that can connect to the network. Here's what happens step by step, sorry if my previous explanations of this weren't clear:

1) Devices are fine, on network, connected to internet.
2) I come along with my Mac, connect to network via AirPort
3) All is good for about 5 minutes. We are all browsing the internet.
4) Then, devices still appear to be connected to the network in the status bars/icons, BUT cannot access internet. This includes all devices including Macbook. So the macbook can no longer access the internet just like the rest of them.
5) I turn AirPort off.
6) All devices come back on within the next few minutes (except Macbook, because I manually disconnected it). All the original devices are now working fine.
7) I turn AirPort back on
8) Macbook connects seemingly with no issues
9) All devices including macbook are now working for about 5 minutes
10) 5 minutes later, go back to step #4. All devices including macbook can no longer access internet, and so on and so forth.

Oh I'll definitely try this first, as well as checking the Mac address.

 

Ah!

So they all get kicked off the internet at the same time. I assume they are all connected wirelessly too

I still think it could be interference. Before you decide to deep six the router, plug a network cord into it and see if that kicks off all the devices.

 

No no as I mentioned at least one desktop PC which is connected via a network cable is always connected and the exact same thing happens to it as well, so it isn't just the wireless devices.

And yeah, will definitely try a network cord as you suggest.

 

Ughh, this thread is getting too long.

Yeah, I missed the desktop computer. Forget the network cord.

Definitely deep six the 2Wire. All in favor, say Aye.

 

Personally, if it was my 2Wire router, I would crack it open, hot air lift all the ICs (even though it probably only has 2MB of RAM or less...) and LEDs, then take the router out to the shooting range.

So, another Aye! for throwing that thing away, and replacing it with a router that is capable of doing work.

 

Pipe bomb could be fun too.

never had any luck with those things on Telus ADSL up here either