Wifi issues with MacOS on 2018 Macbook Pro M1 on Ventura 13.6.3

Hello

I permanently lose connection completely randomly but sometimes within minutes apart from each other.

I can get back to a connection by “switching off” Wifi on my Macbook and re-activating it. Then chose either my 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz Wifi SSID, but this will be again only for a couple of minutes.

Interestingly: this does NEVER happen when my Macbook is connected using a 4G mobile hotspot and ONLY when connected to Swisscom Home Wifi.

I have other devices (Android, Windows, Smart TV, PS4, etc..) and all of them behave fine and never lose connection over WIFI - so what is the catch?

My Mac is on the latest supported OS

My router was rebooted several times (IB3)

I have one WLAN-box per floor for increased/better connectivity.

I am literally at 5 meter distance from the WLAN box.

Only the MAC behaves like this.

I’m getting frustrated!

Best regards,

David

This could be a client roaming issue. Unify the 2.4 and 5GHz networks under the same SSID.

Thanks for your suggestion. I had before a single SSID and had to split them because I had some devices (smart home devices like my combi steamer) who had troubles with 5Ghz and would not “catch” the 2.4Ghz they need when under the same SSID.

But now that you are saying this, it can really be that my issues started when I split the SSID in a 2.4Ghz SSID and a 5Ghz one… Will double check and give you feedback.

Now, why would a Macbook have specifically “client roaming issues”? it would not be able to cope with a specific SSID or a specific frequency?

It’s not that it can’t cope. It’s just more proactive in searching better connection and that causes disconnects.

I am off for the next 14 days but will try upon my return and give feedback over here

3 months later

Hello,

Have re-unified my 2.4 and 5Ghz Wifi under the same SSID.

Same results - internet connection drops randomly.

Only workaround: deactivate/reactivate WIFI in the taskbar…until the next drop.

Looks like this does NOT happen when I am using my MacBook connected to “Wifi” over my Hotspot/5G connection from Salt. Here no drop. So the issue seems really linked to my Swisscom Internet Router 3.

Try to switch the WLAN-boxes off and test with just IB3 on. Only to narrow down the potential cause of the problem.

6 days later

not doable: IB3 is in the basement, I am getting no WIFI from it, unless I remain stuck there to wait for it to happen 🙂

How are the WLAN-Boxes connected to it. Wired or wireless?

23 days later

Wired throught the walls, directly from the Router, via Cable Connectivity Kit from Swisscom

Try to reduce the WiFi power to 50%. I’m suspecting that you’re devices is connecting to the Internet-Box, or remains connected to the “wrong” WB, instead of connecting to the WLAN-Box offering the best signal.