Security Update 2005-007 1.1 Special Report: AirPort connectivity issues

CNET staff

Sept. 2, 2009 12:06 p.m. PT

6 min read

Several users report degraded AirPort signals after applying Security Update 2005-007 1.1.

Roland Young writes:

"After about a year of no bother with Airport Express and Airport Base station, I suddenly find myself with this rather strange issue.

"After I startup my Mac I sit and watch the Airport signal go from full, to half to zero, it just weird, the solution is to once the signal is zero is to reboot my Mac.

"This issue for me only seems to have happened after Security Update 2005-007 1.1 was installed its just plain weird, as it can take a matter of 10 minutes for the signal to disappear."

In one readers case, a piggyback set-up (with an AirPort Express station receiving connection through an AirPort Graphite Base Station), the AirPort set-up software somehow did not retain the setting to treat the AirPort Express unit as a WDS remote Base Station. Changing this setting resolved the issue:

"The remote connection to my Airport Express from my Airport Graphite main base station was going wacky. What had been a strong connection from the main base station would drop to 3 bars, then 2 bars, then full, then zero (all in less than 30 seconds), then full again at the Express. Streaming music from iTunes was painful.

"Changing channels, multicasting rates, etc, etc, was not effective. Lots of reboots and resets later (soft, hard and factory resets), I discovered that using Airport Setup may have been part of the problem. Assistant was doing only half it's job. After using Setup Assistant to first (successfully) set up the main base station, and then directing it to setup the Express as a WDS remote base station, Setup Assistant failed to update the Graphite with the new WDS information -- which it reported it was, in fact, doing. I switched to the Airport Admin Utility to verify the configuration of the main base station, clicked on the WDS tab and found the "Enable this base station as a WDS main base station" unchecked. Checking this box and it's sibling 'Allow wireless clients on this base station' box fixed everything."

More solutions

Reverting to older AirPort kernel extenstions One potential workaround -- which has worked when this problem appeared with previous iterations of Mac OS X and various security updates -- involves reverting to older version of the AirPort kernel extensions.

This can be accomplished by first downloading the shareware utility Pacifist, then obtaining the AirPort 4.1 updater package.

Use Pacifist to open the AirPort 4.1 package, and extract the following files:

AppleAirPort.kext

AppleAirPort2.kext

AppleAirPort3.kext

Place these same files in the /System/Library/Extensions folder, replacing the old copies (you will be asked for your administrator password) and restart. You may need to repair permissions using Apple's Disk Utility (located in Applications/Utilities after restarting).

Crisp Hues is one MacFixIt reader who had success with this workaround:

"My original problem was AirPort causing my wireless network (Linksys WRT56G router and adapter) to stop working after 10.4.2 on my G5 dual 1.8 tower. The fix I've used is to downgrade to the AppleAirPort.kext and AppleAirPort2.kext files to the ones the ones that came with 10.4.1. and then repairing permissions. I got these files from the Apple Support Forums. Don't have the link anymore. It worked. Probably not a fantastic solution but seems good until Apple addresses this problem."

Delete then re-establish wireless network MacFixIt reader Arno reports that you may need to delete then re-establish any encrypted AirPort network configurations in order to take advantage of Mac OS X 10.4.2's enhanced automatic reconnection capabilities after sleep or restart.

Arno writes:

"I found out that is best to delete all preferred networks with encryption. And then add them again after manually connecting. Fastest way is temporarily turn on 'Automatically add new networks to preferred networks list' under 'Options' of the Airport network connection.

"After that, the problem with not reconnecting after sleep or startup was solved for me. Finally! It was most annoying with closed networks (hidden SSID)."

"Change Settings" on Base Station For some users, simply using the AirPort Setup Assistant (located in Applications/Utilities) to "Change Settings," then re-entering configuration information restores connectivity.

One reader writes:

"I had the same problem and fixed it fairly easily by running the Airport Setup Assistant and choosing 'Change settings on an existing Airport Base Station' and re-entering the previous (same) info as before."

Turn Base Station off, then on In some cases, turning an AirPort Base Station (or AirPort Express unit) off, then back on -- usually by unplugging then re-connecting to power -- re-establishes proper operation.

MacFixIt reader Scott Daniels writes:

"After installing the Mac OSX 10.4.2, I also got the error connecting to airport network message - from all three machines on the network. Fortunately, the solution was quite simple: I unplugged the two Airport Express base stations that comprise my wireless network (home), and plugged them back in again after a few seconds. Problem solved."

You may also want to try turning your internal AirPort card off then back on if you are having access issues. This can be accomplished through the AirPort menu item, or using Internet Connect (located in the Applications folder)

One reader writes:

"I have a 1Gz G4 Powerbook and following the update and restart, Airport stopped working so I turned off the Airport and turned it on again. I received a message which asked if I wished to update passwords in my keychain, when clicked 'OK' my Airport returned.. Hope this is useful."

"Keep Looking for recent networks" MacFixIt reader Jerry D reports that, in his case, selecting "Keep looking for recent networks" in the Network pane of System Preferences resolved his inability to connect to local networks.

Jerry writes:

I experienced a consistent problem in that every time I started up or restarted "I had to go into Airport Utility and run through set up each time. After fighting this for 2 or 3 weeks and futzing with settings over and over, I hit on a setting that cured this (maybe everybody already knows to check this setting, but I didn't) - In Network Preference, behind the Options Button - I had to select 'Keep looking for recent networks' under 'If no recent networks are found' - That fixed this issue."

Switching channels In some cases, switching channels on your (non-AirPort) WiFi base station can improve reception weakened by incremental updates.

Moving SystemConfiguration folder MacFixIt reader Jeff Alford reports that moving the folder "SystemConfiguration," located in /System/Library, to the Desktop then restarting resolved his connectivity issues. Note that this workaround will require you to re-enter network configuration settings and may cause other lapses in functionality.

Jeff writes:

"I also was experiencing the problem of the computer (Mac G4 Mirror door dual 867) after the security update. I tried resetting nv ram via booting in open firmware. Problem still persists. Tried unplugging my Airport Express. Problem still exists. I then remembered how this problem was cured. Simply move the folder SystemConfiguration in Library to the desktop and restart. You will have to reset the network settings. Problem solved."