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1 Mac Mini connection (wifi) problems
My Mac Mini (late 2009 model, 2 GB Ram - 2 4 GB modules just received from Crucial, but waiting to sort this problem before installing, 10.6.8 updated a few days ago) has lately been more and more difficult in connecting to my home wifi network. Sometimes it doesn’t pick any wifi networks (but this is rare and doesn’t last long), other times (most of the time the last 2-3 days) it doesn’t connect, but it actually sees the home network, I have to choose it manually, get a request for the password, I type it down and then... most of the time I just get a timeout message, but sometimes it gets connected (but today not yet...). Or it just get connected all by itself either when I switch the Mini on or by leaving AirPort active. When it’s eventually connected the speed starts as usual, and then becomes slower and slower, until the connection is lost.
I’m using a Netgear DGM100 modem/router, with a PowerMac G5 (10.5.8 as OS) physically connected to it and experiencing no problems at all.
Is this a good question?
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5 Comments
many thanks for the reply! How can I tell if it's the battery or the airport card if it will connect when plugged to the modem with the ethernet cable? It's true that sometimes I'm asked to type the network password, but the clock is ok...
by Finrod
System 10 macs will automatically connect with an ethernet cable even without a battery. Test these things separately. To test the battery, unplug the ethernet and the machine power cord and let it sit for 30 minutes. Plug the power cable back in and start. It the dates has changed replace the battery.
by mayer
I'll try the unplug trick tomorrow morning...thanks for the help and useful info
by Finrod
no, it's not the pram battery: I've left the Mini unplugged from midnight to 8am and the date/time hasn't changed... still to check if it works when physically connected to the Netgear, but it must be the airport card then, and obviously the warranty expired since mid June :-(
by Finrod
ok, yesterday I plugged my Mini to the Netgear with the ethernet... and as soon as I did it I realised it connected _also_ via wifi, with a very fast connection... ok, now it was much nearer (but then it was only a couple of meters away...). Then I tried to move it a bit farther, at the other side of my flat, about 8 meters away, and again, signal at the maximum and perfect wifi connection. My next idea was that there’s something in that corner or in the room that’s not good for wifi?!? I placed my netbook where the Mini usually sits to check this, and the netbook connected just fine, very good signal etc. Then I put the Mini back, plugged it to the external hd, monitor etc. just as before, and now it’s working perfectly. What’s different from a couple of days ago when it wasn’t connecting? Well... nothing, I’ve just plugged and unplugged everything a couple of times, moved it around the flat, cleaned it a bit of dust and nothing else. Very pleased I don’t have to buy a new wifi card but.... :-)
by Finrod