How can I fix Wi-Fi dropping off issues on my 2015 MacBook Pro?

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Level 1

121 points

How can I fix Wi-Fi dropping off issues on my 2015 MacBook Pro?

Yesterday Ziply installed a new Wifi7 router and extender to my office on the 2nd floor. Most of my devices are working fine, but the MBP (2015 retina 13") all of a sudden has forgotten its job! It's been working perfectly for ever. Since installing this new router system my browser works for about five minutes and then looses touch w/ the server. I have to turn the Wifi off and on, it reconnects for five minutes or less and then I have to do that all over again.

I've tried Firefox, Chrome, Safari...and get the same results. I've rebooted, flushed the PRAM and nothing is working. I've called Ziply and said to please bring back the old router and hope that clears it up... very frustrating... any ideas?

Thanks team!

g

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: WiFi 7 and a 2015 MBP keeps dropping out

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.6

Posted on Jun 24, 2025 11:16 AM

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Answer 1

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George Mauro Author

Level 1

121 points

Jun 24, 2025 2:31 PM in response to George Mauro

OKAY, after much torture and rebooting of all things routers & such... I am back up and running... No longer using the extender... that was probably the issue.. but now my old MBP is staying on line... but I still have to run an Ethernet cable up the stairs and into my office when I need to collaborate with my fellow musicians to keep the latency down low... that was the WHOLE reason I tried this extender thing... sheeesh...

Next, I may try this MoCa adapter and use the CoAx cable running through my house that NO ONE USES anymore... Ha... :-)

Thanks everyone for your help

cheers

g

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Answer 2

Jun 24, 2025 12:19 PM in response to George Mauro

Wi- Fi Radio Signals from your router fall off as the cube of the distance if you have clear line of sight and no competition from neighbors' Routers or known interference producers like microwave ovens.

All others need to do a more careful analysis to find out what is happening.

Wireless diagnostics:

Hold down the Option key while you click on the Wi-Fi icon on the menubar to open up the tools for investigating and fixing Wi-Fi issues

First is "Open Wireless diagnostics", which opens the wireless diagnostics Assistant, but does not proceed.

There are about eight different things you can do from here, but the top-level is to choose Diagnostics off the Window menu, or simply click continue, to do a quick check for Gross misconfiguration or operating problems. Your Admin password will be required. If any recommendations are shown, you should consider then seriously.

Next is to hold down the Option key and click the Wi-Fi icon as before. The screen that opens shows operating parameters of your network. Screenshot, transcribe, or photograph the results and post back in a reply on the forums. Looks like this older one.

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Answer 3

Jun 25, 2025 12:10 PM in response to George Mauro

One of the many different access points I am using is a 'wireline' Router. it camps its Ethernet signal on the AC Power lines, and pulls then off in an outbuilding 100 feet away from the house. Mine runs the link at Gigabit Ethernet speeds, and can typically achieve 200 M bits/sec throughput over the wireline portion.

A similar approach may work for you as well.

In Europe and the UK with 240 volts single-phase power, this can work well.

In the US, this is somewhat more complex because of the widespread use of Two-phase Power. Best results are when the source power outlet and the destination power outlet are on the same power phase. But I am used to fiddling with power phases over power-line baby monitors.

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