posted
I've attempted to google for an answer to this one, but I admit, this one defeats me.
I'm attempting to run the imac in an outdoor location utilizing wi fi for a net signal. And am having little/no luck.
- the signal shows as extremely low (understandable, however I'm right next to the building WITH the signal)
- connection is difficult and continues to disengage
- loading pages WHEN engaged is impossible
- I'm using my son's crappy pc laptop to connect to the net to get this simple message out (connection is effortless on this thing...!!) (Cody wanted this icon here and if he's happy, I'm happy. He wants his laptop back)
-shush to the pc/mac wars out there! Just... help me, ok?
I know I'm missing some blanks on this one. It has to be an easy fix. (I hope?)
Who's mac wi fi saavy? Is there a way to enhance signals?
Thank-you! (if you can help)
And for those curious, I'm really enjoying the system! Once I understandably figure stuff out.
(I'm so not computer saavy I even spelled wi fi wrong the first time.. whoops!)
[ July 27, 2010, 11:54 PM: Message edited by: Donna in BC ]
posted
I use a little reflector on my pig tail and it helps to direct and increase the signal. free antennas.com has a template you can print out and apply aluminum tape to, here is the link. http://freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html I changed the graphic as well
hope it helps Chris
[ July 27, 2010, 03:21 PM: Message edited by: Chris D Sullivan ]
-------------------- Chris D Sullivan Whitby, ON
I Like That! Posts: 27 | From: Whitby, ON | Registered: Jun 2010
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I also googled the issue and it looks like mac has an issue with dropping wi fi signals on alot of its power macs,mac book pro's, the new Ipad,and obviously from recent press releases the new iphone...sad to say it doesn't look like Jobs is going to address the issue any time soon either,...sorry but from what I gather there doesn't seem to be a simple answer other than to stick with Cody's pc until you are finished with the task at hand,...sorry Cody,....
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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that is weird- it sounds like it should be something with the wifi device, not the laptop- but then you said one works and one doesn't...
my wireless router has a very large signal area, my shop is 100 feet from the house, and I still get a full signal from the house.
I know this sounds weird, but have you tried hooking up a cable from the router to the computer in question- sometimes a hard wired connection will make the appropriate connection between the devices, unplug, then after that the wireless connection seems to work a little better... (I didn't make that up, I found it on a help site when I was setting up a wireless laser printer- sure enough, after the initial hard wired connection, the wireless part has worked flawlessly)
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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In our house it's the other way round... my Mac book has great reception of the wifi signal no matter where we go and Janis' PC has continual problems no matter what we try.... I don't know what to suggest as we have yet to figure it out here.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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If you are looking for a permanent solution to get internet to an outside building Michael has an excellant idea,...some cat cable will do the trick real quick you can buy enough cable to bury in the yard to the outbuilding fairly economically and hard wire it,.. just be sure to buy the proper exterior grade cable and have some one who has a tool(cable install guy etc) put rj45 connectors on each end
edited to add if the connection is hard wired there should be no need for the wifi connection but you may need to set up a small home network to share internet connections,...from what I hear it is very simple on macs,...
[ July 27, 2010, 08:14 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Shirl and I are fortunate..we must be blessed.
Our 2 desktops are hard wired, our 3 laptops are wireless connected. Our Slingbox is wireless. We have no problem with any connections. In Canada or Mexico. We can watch our Canadian satellite TV in Mexico...no probs.
Since you asked Donna...I won't mention which OS we use!!! LOL
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
I understood what you said Michael,...but to be specific my solution was to hard wire it permanently in order to eliminate any and all networking problems,..the network connection can always be unplugged if the need arises to use the laptop elsewhere,...
[ July 27, 2010, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Janis' PC had real reception problems which were largely cured by buying a remote antenna. They aren't expensive and hook into a USB slot. It's connected by a cable and looped up over a curtain rod which seems to work well. Every once in a while (every couple of weeks) things go awry and nothing but a reboot seems to help.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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There is little that can be done. The MAC wifi troubles are infamous. Even when right next to a router will the MAC system drop out.
MAC says it is the problem with certain routers. They also deny any problems even though there are long rants on the MAC boards asking for fixes.
There are just a few things that you can try. The best one is to try a different channel if possible with your setup.
In your wifi config there is a place to set channels. Likely it is on channel 3 or so. Change it to channel 6 or 9. That may fix it ,, or not.
Also, you can try removing any wireless land line phones from the area.
Try updating the airport client too. That is all I know. I am not a MAC geek. They just too hard to deal with when they deny there is a problem when actually there is.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Donna, How many walls are between your router and the outside? Just one or is it in a couple of rooms? Sometimes, just raising the router up on a shelf can help also.
Have you just walked around the building with your mac keeping an eye on your signal strength? There may be a better spot nearby.
I have a pretty old PowerBook G4 and although I don't use it wireless very often, it seems to hook up quite well. Over the years I've picked up signals from unknown neighbors quite often. Accidently of course.
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1357 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey Donna, I set up a wireless router for my parents when I was on the great rock in the sea a few weeks ago (newfoundland). My Dad picked up a router and pointed out a "lower end" model to tell me some "sales guy" told him those did not work well and out on the patio you would not pick it up on the laptop!! I don't know what it was, but that sounds like the issue here.
posted
The PC laptop is connecting fine, so I'm trying figure out how the router could be at fault. If the signal is strong enough for the laptop, the imac should be able to pick it up as well.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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a simple solution would be a ubs wireless device guaranteed to work on a mac,..if jobs didn't fix it maybe someone else has,... there is one that will work out there somewhere,..usb stands for "Universal" serial bus,...surely the onboard wifi can be disabled and another aftermarket wifi device that functions is better than an onboard wifi that doesn't function. alot of usb wifi adapters can be bought for under $100,....if macintosh's wifi don't work try another brand,..,
edited to add alot of them are quite compact and portable designed for older laptops without built in wifi adapters.
[ July 28, 2010, 06:37 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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IT ain't the adapters Its the the code drivers within the OS.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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I'm officially back. I didn't want to announce this to the world at the time, but we went camping. The PC laptop hooked up to the wi fi system just fine. The iMac couldn't pull it off.
Honestly? This is the only demerit this system ranks so far in my book to date. Should I attempt this wi fi biz on the road again, I'll look for boosting the ability with a something or other. But I'll admit I'm disappointed that I need to.
Reason being, I'm in LOVE with this system in every other way. My expectations are simply now VERY high in EVERY area. Perfectionism even.
But I must say, watching movies in the iMac was simply fabulous. This thing was as big as my rv tv flat screen so at least I got to leave the tv at home this round.
posted
I have a netgear wireless router here in the shop, and my wireless signal in the house isn't very good.
A computer guy told me a couple months ago that you can make a signal booster from an empty pringles can by putting the wireless antenna in one end, and pointing the can toward the desired signal area. Didn't want to take the antenna out of the router, so I havn't tried it.
Might just try Chris's antenna above.....looks easy enough.
-------------------- Ace Graphics & Printing Camdenton, MO. USA
posted
Donna, if the iMac is going to give you that much trouble with wifi, and if your only access to internet is through a wifi connection, you might try a "wireless bridge". The wireless bridge would connect to the wifi, and the iMac would connect to the wireless bridge with an ethernet cable. Here is an example:
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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Donna, Something just doesn't sound right here. I'd give your Mac store a call and get this iMac checked out.
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1357 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
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Good thought Bill. It seems strange to me too. I'll ask them to see what's up. Could totally be a setting I'm not fiddling with right for all I know.
The wireless at home is just fine though. It looks as if the range of it all was the issue.
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(Cody wanted this icon here and if he's happy, I'm happy. He wants his laptop back)![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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