Users Reporting Flaky Wireless Functionality on Recent iMacs, Late-2008 MacBook Pro Notebooks

by , 3:25 PM EST, November 7th, 2008

Some Mac users have reported on the Apple forums that their wireless signals are losing strength or dropping their links altogether on recent iMacs as well as Apple's late 2008 MacBook Pro notebooks, as first noted by AppleInsider.

The issue closely resembles a bug seen on the previous generation of MacBook Pro notebooks that created similar difficulties prior to being sorted out with software updates.

The exact conditions required to trigger the problem are currently unknown with some access points appear to work correctly, while others experience severe connection problems. From the reports offered, network and security settings don't appear to matter, nor do devices attached to the systems.

Current reports traits between users experiencing the issue cite that the problems began after installing Mac OS X 10.5.3 or 10.5.4 updates; others actually report problems with Apple's recent AirPort Extreme patches, including the recently-released AirPort Extreme update 2008-004, which was also released to resolve wireless connection issues and help boost signal strength on compatible systems.

Of those who've spoken to Apple technicians to address the matter, at least some report recognition of a more widespread problem. Users have currently been told to wait for a software fix, which is expected to be en route in the near to mid term future.

Apple