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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Internet Connection Very Slow Or Nonexistant

bobbygoldstein - Apr 27, 2005 - 5:55 pm

I'm new to this forum - but really need help so here we go. I'm using a PowerBook G4, osX, a Linksys router, and Comcast cable. My computer has a full signal from my router, but connects to websites either VERY slowly or not at all. Linksys says they don't support Macs and Apple says it must be my router! What can i do?????

Thanks!!!

baldprof - Apr 27, 2005 - 10:52 pm

Try connecting your Powerbook directly to your cable modem, that is, leaving out the router. Assuming that your cable modem supports ethernet, this should be easy.
Then just check your network settings to make sure it is using the built in ethernet. Your cable system probably uses DHCP (does'nt use fixed IP addresses). You will also need to make sure that is checked in your network settings.

If everything works fine, then it is the router. I used to have a Linksys router, and it is true that Linksys doesn't officially support Macs. Comcast cable may though. Anyway, the router may not be defective.
As I recall, in order to successfully connect to the internet using that router, I had to configure to "clone the mac address" , i.e. it had to mimic the mac address of the ethernet adapter in my computer. As I recall, this issue was mentioned in the manual for the router, and it isn't hard to do.
I hope this helps.
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baldprof, Mac OS X.com volunteer

bobbygoldstein - Apr 28, 2005 - 5:52 am

Thanks for the input. I have connected dirctly and it works fine, so maybe the clone idea will work. I have two other computers that are working fine, so before I do this, will this effect their connectivity? I found the users manual for the router and found the section on cloning - but do I have to do something to the setup of the computers accessing the router too? Thanks again.

baldprof - Apr 28, 2005 - 6:32 am

Well the fact that your Powerbook works fine when connected directly is actually very good news. At least you know that the problem isn't with your Powerbook. There was a chance it could have been a bad ethernet port, and you know what that would have meant. A trip to the repair shop and $$$$.

The fact that you have other computers which can connect suggests that you may not have to do the "mac address cloning". If your ISP required that, it would affect all computers connected to the router.It's possible your router may already be set to do that too, but I am thinking the cloning isn't necessary.
But to answer your question, as long as your router is set to use DHCP to distribute IP addresses, you wouldn't have to change a thing on your other computers.

Before you go through the trouble of doing the mac address cloning, let's try a few other things.
First, it's possible that there is a bad port on the router and it just happens to be the one your Powerbook is connected to. So why don't you switch ports, connecting your Powerbook to one of the other ports used by one of the computers that works. If you can connect, then you know your router has a bad port; that has happened to more than one person I know. If your router isn't under warranty, this means getting another one. If you need to do that, first check the Apple store to see which ones they offer, even if you plan to purchase locally. Then you'll have one that supports Macs.

Another possibility is a bad ethernet cable. Try a different one.

My third suggestion is that the setting in the router governing the range of IP addresses to use may be too narrow. It may be set to allow only two addresses, thus effectively blocking a third computer. Since you have the router manual, that would be easy to fix; I had to do that when I added another computer to my home network.

So try these other things before you mess with the mac address cloning.If your other computers can connect, that shouldn't be the problem.
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baldprof, MacOSX.com volunteer

bobbygoldstein - Apr 28, 2005 - 9:16 am

Actually, it's not using the ports because it's the wireless connection that's not working. The wired connection works great!

baldprof - Apr 28, 2005 - 4:20 pm

Oh, this puts things in an entirely different light. I missed the part about: "full signal from my router". Of course that means wireless. I f I understand you correctly the Airport signal strength meter shows a good signal.

I think the problem is with the browser. Download and reinstall the latest version of Safari. I had to do this once and that cured my internet access problems.
You might also try Firefox.
And while you are at it, run software update to make sure you have the latest version of the Airport software.
I think the problem is that your browser has gotten corrupted.

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baldprof, MacOSX.com volunteer

bobbygoldstein - Apr 28, 2005 - 5:02 pm

Just tried that. Removed the browser, and reinstalled it .... same issue! Arghhh. What else can we try?

bobbygoldstein - Apr 28, 2005 - 6:51 pm

Also, have done the software update .... same issues still exist. Thanks again for your input! This is driving me nuts!

baldprof - Apr 28, 2005 - 9:54 pm

Hmm. Well there is one possibility that I had not considered until now, and that is some form of interference.

If you'll check the article at this link, you'll get a good idea of the problem:

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/953511

What shows as a strong signal may actually be due in part to interference, and not actually the wifi signal. Some Powerbooks, especially the titanium ones, had Airport reception problems. The antenna is in the lid around the screen, and the metal casing created reception problems. The newer aluminum Powerbooks don't have the problem nearly as bad.

Your other computers probably won't be as susceptible to interference because of their design: the cases aren't metal, or there is a different type of antenna. Do these other computers have internal wifi adapters, or are these adapters in a card slot? If they are in card slots then the antennas are external and will get better reception.

I have three machines at home on an Airport network, one of which is a Win XP machine. I also have a printer hooked up to a wireless print server; it's a big heavy HP office type laser. I had to experiment with the positioning of the adapter antennas and the base station to get the best reception. I have my base station up high, almost at the ceiling. this cured my reception problems.

One way to confirm this as an interference problem would be to put your powerbook very close to the base station, no more than two feet away. If you don't have the acccess problem then, you have confirmed that something is blocking the signal. Perhaps that article would help you find the source of the interference.
There is also an Interference Robustness setting in Airport. That may also help.
Many I know that had "tibooks" gave up on the airport internal card and purchased compatible card slot wifi adapters which give much better reception.

If you tried the "proximity test" and still had the access problem, we have now eliminated interference as the culprit, and we have also eliminated the browser as the cause. The only thing left at this point would be a rpoblem with the Airport card or the lid antenna.

So try the proxinity test and let me know what happens.


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baldprof, MACOSX.com volunteer

bobbygoldstein - Apr 29, 2005 - 1:14 pm

Still have slow connection even right next to the router. Now, to make it even more complicated, we took the computer to the apple store, and it was lightening fast using their wireless network! Now what? Thanks!!

baldprof - Apr 29, 2005 - 2:27 pm

If I could post a smiley of a head exploding, that's probably what I would do.

Well the only thing I have left to suggest is to try a different roouter, as in not a Linksys. Perhaps there is one you could borrow. If the problem disappears, then there is something wrong with the Linksys. It may just be a little off spec, and your other computers can tolerate the deviation, but the Powerbook cannot.
If you try the other router, and the problem persists, then the only thing I could suggest would be some weird sort of localized interfrence that only affects the Powerbook.

Check out that link I provided before. Other than that I am curently at a loss.

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baldprof, Macosx.com volunteer

bobbygoldstein - Apr 29, 2005 - 3:16 pm

Success!! I upgraded the firmware on the Linksys, and it's connected!! Thanks for your help!!