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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Poor wireless reception with new IMac

John harrison - Feb 10, 2007 - 1:24 pm

My new iMac (2.16 ghz intel core 2 duo with 2 gig ram) has only half the signal strength (4 bars in Internet connect) than my G$ powerbook when placed next to each other) The internet speed is also half that of the powerbook using various speed tests)

ishan - Feb 11, 2007 - 7:58 pm

The bars in Internet Connect don't tell you much. Try one of the widgets or apps you can get for free (like iStumbler) to give you accurate numbers regarding signal strength, etc for your iMac vs your PB. Armed with that info, take the iMac in (if you can) to an Apple Store. See what kind of reception you get there. If it's is bad as at home, they will fix it, no questions asked. You may just have a bad AE card, a bad antenna, etc.

If you have no Apple Store nearby, you'll have to call Apple tech support which will be a teeth-grinding experience. If you get nowhere, call Apple's Customer Relations number 800 275 2273
Press 0 at each prompt, ignoring messages.

HTH and please let us know what happens. Thanks.


HTH and please let us know what happens. Thanks.

John harrison - Feb 12, 2007 - 12:27 pm

Ishan - thanks for the advice, i downloaded istumbler to both machines and it showed that the signal strength was in fact higher for the IMac in contradiction to 'internet connect' however the powerbook was showing zero inteference while the iMac showed 13% and still has significasntly slower internet connect!

Is the inteference significant and how come it is reported differently by 2 machines in same location?

ishan - Feb 12, 2007 - 7:13 pm

The routing of the antenna for the two are different. Also, are you sure you checked "Use Interference Robustness" under the Airport menu icon? I don't think this has ever made a difference for me. Finally, switch the channel used by your Airport Extreme Base station (assuming you have one). The channel can be 1 to 11. I think-I'm not sure-that you can do the same thing for any wireless router. It may be that channel 1 (the default) is subject to some electrical interference that affects your iMac more than your PB. Also make sure that there's nothing electrical nearby, e.g., a backup battery supply. Please let us know what happens.

John harrison - Feb 15, 2007 - 7:19 am

I have tried using 'Interference Robustness' on both machines, it makes no observable difference.
I have tried channels 1 through 13 again no difference.

Other than the mains power socket their is nothing else in the room that could cause interference!

ishan - Feb 15, 2007 - 9:38 pm

It's time for a visit to your (hopefully) friendly Apple Store or third party reseller. See how their wireless network works with both of your computers. If you can reproduce the difference there, you have a very strong case for a free repair. Otherwise, they'll blame something in your network at home (and with some justification) and perhaps ask you to buy an external antenna for your iMac (expensive, but does help in these situations, Quickertek make a very nice line for most iMac models). I have no affiliation with Quickertek, just a happy (but much poorer) customer.

John harrison - Feb 16, 2007 - 3:17 am

ishan - thanks for your help. I will contact the Apple Centre at Warrington where I work and see if they will check the machine(s).

Should I close the ticket or do you want to know the outcome?

John

ishan - Feb 16, 2007 - 3:56 am

I'd like to know what they find, so let's keep the ticket open. Thanks.

John harrison - Feb 16, 2007 - 5:24 am

Booked in for next Tuesday

John harrison - Feb 18, 2007 - 6:03 am

just keeping ticket open till iMac is seen by service centre