MacBook keeps losing internet, while Wi-Fi is connected (Bluetooth, 5Ghz)

bluetoothinternetmacbook proNetworkwifi

I have a problem which I've faced for about 3 years and it's driving me crazy!

My Wi-Fi is connected and has very good signal but after a few minutes (sometimes few hours, hard to say) I have no internet. YouTube starts spinning, any open sites just stop reacting, everything is offline even though Wi-Fi is still connected.

To fix it, I "turn off Wi-Fi" and turn it on again. And I repeat this 50 times per day.

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I'm not even sure if this is a problem with the MacBook.

I currently have a 2017 MBP 13", basic model. I also have another 2017 MBP 13, 2015 MBP 15" and 2015 MBP 13".

I also have a PC which is connected via USB external Wi-Fi card (some cheap TPLINK) and I don't think it's that bad. It's also 2.4ghz

I have a few routers with included AP from my provider, I recently changed to Unify Lite and nothing helped. I have 2 separated Wi-Fi, 2.4ghz and 5hz (currently 40mhz band and I've tried different configs).

What I've noticed:

  • when I go to another room, also closer to the AP, it's stable
  • When I turn off Bluetooth, it seems to be better – but I don't get it since 5GHZ shouldn't conflict with 2.4GHZ Bluetooth. I have speakers, magic mouse and magic keyboard connected (v2)
  • In my office, I see this problem but not that often – also MM and MK connected via Bluetooth
  • My girl's MBP2015 15" and MBP2017 15" don't cause problems but she works from a different room.
  • Occasionally I do these tips with cleaning PRAM etc and it seems to work for few hours, but later it's the same.

Anyway, I know that the answer could be:

  • don't use Bluetooth anymore lol
  • change your room lol

I'm actually being driven crazy and I want to know WHY I have this problem so I can solve it.

What diagnostics should I run?

Best Answer

Looking at your WiFi report, I would say it is not very good overall.

When RSSI reaches 72 the OSX WiFi will try to switch to next best (on your WiFI list).

Yours is at 70 which is not good at all.

Your Tx Rate is also very low (Slow)

Resulting MCS index is to low (2)

Here is an example of excellent WiFi.

enter image description here

Clean (remove) WiFi stations on your list.

Reorder the order of WiFi AP's on your list (drag up or down)

Further improvement to the RSSI can be achieved by switching the Chanel (to avoid overcrowding from other WiFi on same channel.)

You can run this in Terminal that will show last 24 hours of why the WiFi was disconnected.

log show --predicate '(processImagePath contains "kernel") && (eventMessage contains "AirPort: Link Down")' --style syslog --last 1d

Important to know. The AirPort will keep the WiFi information on for some time (making you believe it is connected) before correcting that.

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