Airport problem with the iMac

[dedee]

Ever since setting up the ADSL broadband connection here the Airport has not been reconnecting to the network after sleeping.

This seems to be a known problem and I have followed many threads on the Apple Support forums pursuing a solution.
With my brain somewhat tired and fuzzed I now seem to have lost the Airport altogether. It no longer appears in system profiler nor Airport Setup assistant.

Any ideas how I can get it back?

Andy

 

[CHJ]

Sorry that I can't help Andy, not mac savvy, but judging by this lot you have loads of company with the problem.

 

[dedee]

Thanks Chas,
I'd already found that page early but thanks for trying.

Right now I would just be happy to get the Airport card visible again.

I might try to take it out of the computer altogether and re-seat it to see if that helps

Andy

 

[Chris Knight]

Andy,
You might try reinstalling the OS using the combo updater here http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ ... intel.html

It's been known to help a number of unrelated issues from time to time.

 

[dedee]

Chris,
thanks, tried that only be told that this update cannot be installed on this computer. Mines is a PPC not Intel but according the Apple info it should be OK on PPC - strange?
I am already on 10.4.10 btw.

edit
I've just found the 10.4.10 combo for PPC and will give that a go

Andy

 

[dedee]

Brilliant Chris, I've got my Airport back. That is quite a relief

Hasn't resolved the issue of why the airport can't find the WIFI network after sleeping though so back to drawing board on that.

Andy

 

[Chris Knight]

Glad it worked Andy - there's very little quite as frustrating as computer woes!

The sleeping problem occurred on my Macbook Pro for a while not long after I got it - I think it was an update that started the trouble - but it went away by itself after a while. I did muck about in system preferences a bit, telling the computer to join preferred networks first, then changing it to my specific network and so on - but I guess you will have done all that already?

 

[dedee]

Chris,
yep, tried Preferred Networks and Automatic. I've repaired disk permissions, removed redundant cache files and the odd extension from the system library (all recommendations from the Apple support forums).

I'm getting very close to drilling a hole through the floor to run an ethernet cable to the room next door. The only thing holding me back is not knowing which of the as yet unpacked boxes has my reels of cable!

Andy

 

[CHJ]

Andy, although as I said I have no Mac knowledge, as it started after the BB link up it sounds like a firewall problem of some description.

Recently had someone locked out of their network (all PC's) and in-house server because they loaded the latest version of Zone Alarm, it destroyed/overoad/deleted all the system specific dll's.

I have had similar problems with so called security enhancements when a software genius had imposed his/her own ideas of how a system should communicate and the OS and hardware were at odds.

Your loss of visibility of the card in the OS would indicate a driver/dll, corruption/deletion/wrong version issue.

Are there any firmware updates for your BB modem/firewall or card?

 

[dedee]

Chas,
again thanks for the thought.

I have been looking at the firmware of the Airport Extreme Card and it would appear to be up to date but strangely I cannot see anywhere on the Apple Support Updates site to download this firmware. Firmware updates for the Airport Extreme Base Station (external router bit) are everywhere but not the in-built Airport Extreme Card.

I'm asking around on the Apple support forums as well so something may pop up soon.

Andy

 

[Matt_S]

Andy, did you find a fix for the loss of network connection? My imac does this too...rather frustrating!

 

[dedee]

Matt,
not yet, and to be honest after spending 3 days trying to solve it I've just about given up.
There is plenty of history on the web about this including on the Apple Support forum and many others.
I reckon I've tried every suggested solution to no avail.
I had the Airport working fine with a Netgear router back in the UK but it either is not quite compatible with the Sagem that my ISP here provides or one of the Software/Secirity updates has upset the setting.

I shall buy an RJ45 crimping tool, some connectors and a reel of cable at the weekend and run a cable under the floor

Good luck with yours and if you find a solution please let us know

Andy

 

[DaveL]

Andy,

Do you still have the Netgear? If you do could it be set up as an accesses point, wired to the Sagem?

 

[dedee]

Dave,
If my I thought my IT skills were up to it I might give that a try.

Can you explain in very layman's terms exactly what would be involved?

Andy

 

[CHJ]

Dave,
If my I thought my IT skills were up to it I might give that a try.

Can you explain in very layman's terms exactly what would be involved?

Andy

Andy Just in case Dave is not about this morning, Can you connect the two with an rj45 cable so that the netgear is just another network node?

 

[dedee]

Chas,
you make it sound so easy that I will have to give it a try.

Why do I fear that there will be a raft of settings to get right on the Netgear that are waiting to trip up those with just a little knowledge (it being a dangerous thing :lol: )

It is too nice a day here at the moment to spend all morning indoors so I'll try and have a play this evening.

cheers

Andy

 

[DaveL]

erm, its not quite as easy as just hard wiring the two routers together, sorry. The Netgear needs to have the DCHP service shut down for a start. I may of just opened a big can of worms here, if the long bit of wire work for you Andy then stick with it. If not shout and I will look into how to reconfigure the netgear for you.

Chas is right, I don't get to the forum until the evenings on work days. :x