Sudden loss of AirPort connectivity for iBook G4 mid-2005 series

A growing number of iBook G4 mid-2005 series owners are reporting sudden loss of Airport functionality, accompanied by trackpad behavior becoming choppy and the kernel_task process using inordinate amounts of processor time.

MacFixIt reader David Burbank writes:

"I have been experiencing this issue since purchasing my Mid-2005 iBook G4 in early September. (100 GB Hard Drive, 1.5 GB RAM). We have to be careful not to confuse this issue with other problems.

"Airport connectivity stops completely without explanation after minutes, hours or days. Also, trackpad movement becomes choppy and kernel_task process starts consuming large amount of CPU, pinning CPU usage at 100%. (Mid-2005 iBooks only.)

"Also, it looks like it only happens when:

• plugged into wall (problem doesn't happen running on battery power)
• heavy airport usage (via internet downloads or moving files on a network)
• having 1.5 GB ram installed. (1 GB doesn't seem to be a problem)

"When the problem occurs, the AirPort signal indicator in the menu bar turns gray and clicking on it reveals that there are no AirPort signals in range. Again, the trackpad behavior becomes choppy and the kernel_task process runs away with the CPU. Simply restarting the iBook restores normal functionality.

Ferdinand Klinzer corroborates:

"With some Mid-2005 iBooks, AirPort connectivity stops completely without explanation after hours or days. Seems to happen after downloading a large amount of information via the Airport connection. Seems to happen with users with more than the stock 512MB of RAM. The only solution thus far is to restart the machine."

Another reader adds:

"I have an iBook mid-2005 edition which has the problem of the airport card failing under heavy network usage. This problem seems to occur more in users with more than the 512 of default RAM. "

Potential workaround Some users have reported that changing the IPv6 configuration setting can help alleviate this issue.

Open the Network pane of System Preferences, select "AirPort," then click "Configure." Next, click on the TCP/IP tab, and click "Configure IPv6." If this setting is turned to "Off," try switching it to "Automatically."

If you are having a similar issue, please let us know.

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