Mac OS X 10.4.10 (#6): Various wireless connectivity (AirPort) fixes; Yet another fix for audio popping

A bevy of wireless fixes; Pop goes the audio hardware.

CNET staff

Sept. 2, 2009 1:38 a.m. PT

5 min read

[10:45 AM update]

Various wireless connectivity (AirPort) fixes As previously reported, various wireless connectivity issues are apparent for some users after updating to Mac OS X 10.4.10. Most of these issues are soluble through fixes contained in our wireless troubleshooting tutorial -- a fact validated by reader reports:

Changing channels, updating firmware MacFixIt reader Aidan reports success with a combination of changing wireless channels and updating router firmare, both as recommended in our tutorial:

"After updating to Mac OS X 10.4.10, wireless connectivity would fail around once every 5-10 minutes; airport icon would still indicate I was connected, yet I could no longer ping anything on my local LAN [...in other words, the absolute standard description of the problem..] However, after two days of that performance (which was truly awful) I made two changes to my wireless LAN; a) I upgraded the Linksys 54G AP firmware from 3.02 to 3.04, and b) I changed my 802.11 WLAN from channel 6 to channel 1. Since these changes, my MacBook has been absolutely rock solid."

In some cases (especially when interference is at play) switching channels on your AirPort Base station or third-party router can improve reception weakened by various causes. In order to switch channels on AirPort Base stations, use this process (from Knowledge Base article #166641):

Open AirPort Admin Utility, located in /Applications/Utilities.

Select the appropriate (afflicted) base station and click Configure.

Enter the base station password if necessary.

Click AirPort, and then choose a new channel from the Channel pop-up menu.

Consult your third-party router's manual for information on switching channels. This can usually be accomplished by accessing the router's configuration page -- open a browser and enter the address 192.168.1.1.

Meanwhile, toggling of firmware versions (the edition of controller software stored on your wireless router) is perhaps the most successful fix for dropouts from virtually all wireless router models. By "toggling firmware," we mean trying different versions available from your manufacturer until one provides a more stable connection. In other words, a user's first attempt should always be use of the latest firmware version, but sometimes older versions provide better stability. For full details and instruction, see the tutorial.

Delete all "Preferred Network" listings then re-establish One MacFixIt reader writes:

"After the 10.4.10 update I also noticed that sometimes my fans would start to crank up to 4000-5000 rpm. Checking in Activity Monitor, I found that a process called "airport" (that's the exact name) was pulling 90+% of the CPU. The automatic connection issue was unchanged: I still had to reconnect manually. Today I tried the workaround suggested for automatic connection issues (Delete all 'Preferred Network' listings then re-establish). This seems to have resolved both issues."

Here's the process:

Open System Preferences and select the "Network" pane

Select "AirPort" and click "Configure"

In the "By default, join:" pull-down menu, select "Preferred networks"

Delete the network(s) you regularly use from the list

Launch the "Keychain Access" application located in Applications/Utilities.

Click on the "Kind" filter at the top, and look for "AirPort network password" entries. Delete them.

Restart, or log out then back in.

Repeat steps 1-3, this time re-adding your regularly used AirPort networks to the list using the "+" button.

Restart or log out then back in.

Safari 3 related? Interestingly, some users have reported that uninstalling Safari 3.0 beta has resolved wireless connectivity issues under Mac OS X 10.4.10.

Mark Schotte writes:

"I have been having a similar problem to other readers with the inability to see my AirPort Extreme 802.11n Base Station using the ?Airport Utility?. It has been particularly frustrating as I still have an active wireless connection but have an inkjet printer hanging off an Airport Express in another location and a laser printer off the Airport Extreme. Neither will work when the Extreme or Express does not show in the Airport Utility."

"This morning it finally dawned on me that the disappearance of the Extreme and Express stations in the Airport Utility was coinciding with the times that I have been running Safari 3.02. I have installed the Safari beta on three occasions and subsequently deleted it when I have encountered a problem with a site ie; my bank or with a utility that I like (Transparent Dock). So back to Safari version 2.04 and everything is OK."

Similar situation? Please let us know.

[8:30 AM update]

Yet another fix for audio popping Users continue to note, and we continue to report on an issue where "popping" noises emanate from internal or external speakers on some systems after updating to Mac OS X 10.4.10. This issue may be caused by a component of the internal audio hardware switching on and off -- perhaps a new power-saving feature introduced in 10.4.10.

The most promising fix thus far has been reversion of two kernel extensions, /System/Library/Extensions/AppleHDA.kext and /System/Library/Extensions/IOAudioFamily.kext. However, the fix has not been universally successful.

In our initial coverage, we noted that (since this issue is likely caused by audio components switching on and off) one potential workaround, albeit kludgy, is to simply keep an audio process running with non-existent volume at all times. For instance, you could persistently play music in iTunes with the volume slider in the application turned all the way down.

MacFixIt reader LWB has now identified KeepSoundAwake as a tool to to prevent the sound powering down; it "sits in the background and plays a 'silent sound' every 20 seconds, thereby preventing the audio hardware from sleeping.

The reader writes: