Omgmood

Jan 16, 2020 If your Mac is set up to connect to a Wi-Fi network, it can analyze the connection for issues that affect its performance, including its connection to the Internet. If you've followed the steps to connect your Mac to a Wi-Fi network, but the connection to your network or the Internet isn't reliable, the steps in this article might help.

Comments

• #2

  First of all. Wireless or wired?
  1. If wireless, try setting your router to automatically choose the best channel. Dlink-615 (VM router) does this.
  2. Is your router near any DECT cordless phones, or a TV? If so, try moving it. DECT phones and TV's are know to interfere with wireless routers.
  3. Have you tried using it wired only?
  4. Check your drivers on your PC
  5. Does this happen on very hot days? VM have a problem with hot weather conditions (25o and over). I have just had a 4 year old problem finally solved despite me telling them all that time that hot weather is the cause of my internet loss.
  6. If wired, check your cable is not kinked or damaged.
  7. Are using an old VM modem? if so, try calling them to get an upgrade.
  8. Call VM and pester them until they resolve the issue.
• #3

  I don't know of anything but because I have programs such as Messenger & LiveDrive running I usually get a popup telling me that the connection has dropped, and when it's re-connected.
  I have a gadget running too that gives me network info, but as I'm at work I don't know what it's called.
• #4

  What is 'dropping', the connection between your router and Virgin, or the connection between the router and your PCs?
  Your router may generate a log which shows when it needs to negotiate a reconnection to your ISP. Have a look around the internal menus.
• #5

  http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/internet/files.htm
  If you have a router, this may help monitor noise margins if it's a bad line that is causing the grief. It really depends on which bit of the whole connection linkage is dropping out
• #6

  Also download this to see if any networks near you are on the same channel as yours. Then try and change your channel
  http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider
• #7

  try something like http://www.paessler.com/info/ping_tool and set it to constantly ping a few big websites, google, msn and the likes. it should tell ya when they are not available and hopefully you will be able to identify a common factor.
  best of luck
• #8

  I should have said in my first post that I do have a wireless router, but I only connect it when my nephew or sister bring over their laptops. To keep my connection route as simple as possible (and to keep the VM agents happy when I phone), my pc is connected directly to the modem.
  I have reported the problem. After getting nowhere on the phone to VM, I posted my problem on the VM website. A tech visited a couple of weeks ago & said that my UBR was due to be upgraded on 2nd July. However my internet is still randomly dropping (it has happened 4 times since my last post).
  I have checked the wiring. It seems OK. I dont think it's temperature related. It's only about 23 deg at the moment, and I have had the problem for the last 4 or 5 months. My modem is an ntl:250, so it's not too old.
  myromeo, that looks like the kind of program I need. Something that will ping a reliable website & log any errors.
• #9

  try something like http://www.paessler.com/info/ping_tool and set it to constantly ping a few big websites, google, msn and the likes. it should tell ya when they are not available and hopefully you will be able to identify a common factor.
  best of luck

  Thanks for the link. I have downloaded & installed it.
  Well it's a pretty complicated program (for me anyway ). It took me a while to get to grips with it, but I have had it running for the past 2 hours & no connection problems yet. :rolleyes: . It's a pity that the results are stored on the web, rather than your pc.
  I will leave it running continuously for a couple of days to see if it flags up any disconnections. I have set a different audio alarm, as I nearly fell off my chair when the default one blared out!
  I had to use the http probe rather than the ping probe, as I couldn't see how to set it up to ping my choice of website. Setting up the ping probe & disconnecting my ethernet cable didn't throw up any errors, so I don't know where it was pinging (I got results between 0 and 5 ms).
  I did find a couple of really simple programs that almost did what I wanted, except that they didn't log the results.

After isolating an issue on your Mac to a possible hardware issue, you can use Apple Diagnostics to help determine which hardware component might be causing the issue. Apple Diagnostics also suggests solutions and helps you contact Apple Support for assistance.

If your Mac was introduced before June 2013, it uses Apple Hardware Test instead.

Monitor Internet Connection Speed

How to use Apple Diagnostics

1. Disconnect all external devices except keyboard, mouse, display, Ethernet connection (if applicable), and connection to AC power.
2. Make sure that your Mac is on a hard, flat, stable surface with good ventilation.
3. Shut down your Mac.
4. Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold the D key on your keyboard. Keep holding until you see a screen asking you to choose your language. When Apple Diagnostics knows your language, it displays a progress bar indicating that it's checking your Mac:
   
5. Checking your Mac takes 2 or 3 minutes. If any issues are found, Apple Diagnostics suggests solutions and provides reference codes. Note the reference codes before continuing.
   
6. Choose from these options:
   • To repeat the test, click ”Run the test again” or press Command (⌘)-R.
   • For more information, including details about your service and support options, click ”Get started” or press Command-G.
   • To restart your Mac, click Restart or press R.
   • To shut down, click Shut Down or press S.

If you choose to get more information, your Mac starts up from macOS Recovery and displays a web page asking you to choose your country or region. Click ”Agree to send” to send your serial number and reference codes to Apple. Then follow the onscreen service and support instructions. When you're done, you can choose Restart or Shut Down from the Apple menu.

This step requires an Internet connection. If you're not connected to the Internet, you'll see a page describing how to get connected.

Learn more

Mac Software Monitor Internet Connection On A Mac

If holding down the D key at startup doesn't start Apple Diagnostics:

Monitor Internet Speed

• If you're using a firmware password, turn it off. You can turn it on again after using Apple Diagnostics.
• Hold down Option-D at startup to attempt to start Apple Diagnostics over the Internet.