Techsurvivors

Welcome to Techsurvivors => Tech => Topic started by: RNKIII on July 14, 2010, 01:31:48 PM

Title: ?? dying Airport??
Post by: RNKIII on July 14, 2010, 01:31:48 PM
My white Airport (Igloo / yurt) has decided that it needs to be recycled (unplugged - wait - plugged back in) on a irregular basis...  It is about 4 - 5 years old.  whistling.gif
It will run fine for days and then will need re-booting for some unknown reason.  And then it may need rebooting for a couple of days in a row.  Does not seem to be any 'regular' time for this occurrence, may be morning, afternoon, or evening (although it happens most often when I am unavailable to perform the necessary maintance and my wife is left 'unconnected'  wallbash.gif
When it is functioning normally, it puts out a strong signal and supports wireless printing via a USB connection to our HP D7560 Photosmart printer, my wife's G4 Macbook and my 20" intel.  As far as I know it has all applicable updates applied and our 2 Macs also are running the most current updated OS available for them.

Can someone tell me if there should be 'log' entries that I can look at to see why is is going dormant (as I have not found any as of yet), or if there is any type of testing that I can do to find out if it is the Airport that is going bad????

TIA for any and all assistance.

Bob K.   rnkiii
Title: ?? dying Airport??
Post by: Xairbusdriver on July 14, 2010, 03:42:02 PM
Yes, there are logs. You can set the location and the speificity in the Airport Utility app. I would think the default location would be found using Console and perusing the lists. I can't be much more spcific since I'm several hundred miles from my iMac and can't get Judy to pull over long enough to let me get to the MBP!!! wink.gif

Coincidentally, my 'yurt' was dismantled for another nomadic journey just last Monday! This time it was a one-way trip as all it could do was flash all three lights slowly and weakly, indicating a failure to power up. Could have been the brick, also, but I needed the three extra Ethernet ports that are in the new model. Anyway, I think mine only three and a half years ago. And it worked flawlessly until the too close lightening strike last Monday. I have no idea what the MTBF on the thing is, I just try not to get too emotionally attached to any piece of electronics! smile.gif At least not one that costs less than $500. Now I usually keep a car for 7+ years or until strata breaking, whichever occurs first. rofl.gif
Title: ?? dying Airport??
Post by: RNKIII on July 14, 2010, 04:19:47 PM
OK... So this is what I, finally, found...

[attachment=1912:AP_Screenshot.jpg]

Not sure it tells me much except that my AP 'disassociated' due to 'Inactivity'??  
SO what does that mean??? There certainly are times when there is no activity on our network / internet..  (contrary to some peoples beliefs)
but I wouldn't think that that would cause the AP to 'shut down' and require a reboot?!?!?

More thoughts??

Bob K.   rnkiii
Title: ?? dying Airport??
Post by: gunug on July 14, 2010, 04:36:51 PM
I had "originally" thought this was some information release about Minneopolis/St. Paul International!  But of course that is incorrect; I would try checking out the system itself, kicking the tires, seeing where it is about permissions and such.  Then you could try a reinstall of the airport software; I'm sure it's out there on the Apple websites and you can email me via the board if you can't get it or find it!  Good luck and thanks for the "good advice" about the weather that night! smile.gif
Title: ?? dying Airport??
Post by: Xairbusdriver on July 14, 2010, 09:01:57 PM
Try this app and see what it is reporting about various signal strength, channel(s) used, other signals from around your area, etc.
<iStumbler> Be sure to download the correct OS X version.


Until you get the Airport sorted out, you might want to just use ethernet. It's faster and more secure, anyway. clap.gif
Title: ?? dying Airport??
Post by: RNKIII on July 14, 2010, 09:05:10 PM
Thanks, Gunug...  More of the same tonight!!!  73% humidity and 81 F at 9 pm...   Lots of UGLY weather about, but it's missed us so far.. eek2.gif unsure.gif  

I regularly repair permissions as a part of my SuperDuper! backups....
I will continue to 'monitor' the AP and have turned on logging in the preferences for the AP to see if that will capture more detailed info.


ABD...   have DL'd iStumbler and am running it.... get a 54% signal strength at a distance of 4 feet?!?!?!?


Bob K.   rnkiii
Title: ?? dying Airport??
Post by: chriskleeman on July 14, 2010, 11:37:30 PM
Hi Bob,

Is that the "Snow" Airport? Because if it is, I might be able to help out... with my old one that still works ok.

Lemme know,

CK