[scoobysnacks]

Thanks for the suggestion - it seems to have some sort of effect. I had to run DellEFI 3 times though to get it to work (everytime in safe mode followed by a reboot) : first, install all extensions and remove dsdtl.aml file, second time install all extensions and generate dsdtl.aml file. The Wifi still didn't work, so I ran it one more time, just to install the extenstions - then the wifi popped back into action.

Hope this lasts, but I must say I'm not very confident..... Seems very hit and miss

Scoobs

[scoobysnacks]

The wifi stopped working again after a couple of hours of use, and then the Mini 9 actually reported 'no airport present'. Everything worked ok the following morning, but as soon as the Mini 9 started get a little hot, the Airport died again, and I had the same behaviour the following day.

So I don't think the issue is software related at all. It seems to be a heat related issue, though it's not yet clear if it's a motherboard problem or restricted to the wifi card. As everything else appears to work ok even after the Mini 9 gets warm, I'm hoping it's just the wifi card.

I've ordered a replacement card from a seller on ebay - I hope this fixes the problem!

I'll let everyone know how this goes....

Scoobs

[TALA]

Originally Posted by scoobysnacks

Ok, I think I've found a consistent error message in the system.log. Each time the airport turns off, there is an error message appearing, for example :

Jun 26 13:32:11 scoobys-inspiron-910 airportd[143]: Error: Power unexpectedly off, bailing - Apple80211GetPower = off (0)

TADA, do you get this error message too?

I would guess that the airportd daemon is exiting because for it is either mistakenly detecting that the wifi card has powered down or maybe the wifi card genuinely has powered down for some reason?

Anyone more familiar with airportd have any comment on this? Also, how can one relaunch airportd? Anyone know? (sudo ifconfig en1 up doesn't seem to bring it back)

Scoobs

SCOOBYSNACKS,
My reinstall is still holding up after 3 days of use. So I have to conclude it was not a hardware problem . If it is for you, then this will happen to others ! Let us know if new hardware fixes your airport issue.

[TALA]

Originally Posted by scoobysnacks

Ok, I think I've found a consistent error message in the system.log. Each time the airport turns off, there is an error message appearing, for example :

Jun 26 13:32:11 scoobys-inspiron-910 airportd[143]: Error: Power unexpectedly off, bailing - Apple80211GetPower = off (0)

TADA, do you get this error message too?

I would guess that the airportd daemon is exiting because for it is either mistakenly detecting that the wifi card has powered down or maybe the wifi card genuinely has powered down for some reason?

Anyone more familiar with airportd have any comment on this? Also, how can one relaunch airportd? Anyone know? (sudo ifconfig en1 up doesn't seem to bring it back)

Scoobs

Scooby,

Spoke to soon--WIFI died today after 3 days as before--Let me know about your new card--of course DELL will not honor this because we have Hacked it.

[TALA]

Originally Posted by scoobysnacks

Ok, I think I've found a consistent error message in the system.log. Each time the airport turns off, there is an error message appearing, for example :

Jun 26 13:32:11 scoobys-inspiron-910 airportd[143]: Error: Power unexpectedly off, bailing - Apple80211GetPower = off (0)

TADA, do you get this error message too?

I would guess that the airportd daemon is exiting because for it is either mistakenly detecting that the wifi card has powered down or maybe the wifi card genuinely has powered down for some reason?

Anyone more familiar with airportd have any comment on this? Also, how can one relaunch airportd? Anyone know? (sudo ifconfig en1 up doesn't seem to bring it back)

Scoobs

I called DELL about this issue. They say it is a DRIVER problem. The driver is however a PC driver--anybody has any suggestions what I can do to install a PC driver (exe.) on a MAC

[danix]

I've got a triple boot system and I'm seeing inconsistent wireless performance in all three OSs.
I updated the BIOS to A03 and it seems better under OSX now, but it still "loses" the SSID and I have to manually enter my key each time I boot up and want to use it.

Under Win7, the wireless seems to work for a few minutes then flakes out.
Under Ubuntu, about the same.

Bad batch of cards perhaps? Warranty should still apply here, you can always restore back to the boot CDs right?

[TALA]

Originally Posted by danix

I've got a triple boot system and I'm seeing inconsistent wireless performance in all three OSs.
I updated the BIOS to A03 and it seems better under OSX now, but it still "loses" the SSID and I have to manually enter my key each time I boot up and want to use it.

Under Win7, the wireless seems to work for a few minutes then flakes out.
Under Ubuntu, about the same.

Bad batch of cards perhaps? Warranty should still apply here, you can always restore back to the boot CDs right?

I have been screaming about this on several posts. Dell wants to do an online diagnostic of the card--don't know if they will do it while I am running OSX. This has got to be a bad batch of cards. I may have to restore to Windows XP if they refuse to run it--need to figure how to do that--do you know.

TALA

[danix]

Originally Posted by TALA

I may have to restore to Windows XP if they refuse to run it--need to figure how to do that--do you know.

TALA

Reinstall using the supplied CDs via a USB cdrom drive.

I'm on the phone with Dell trying to get a resolution.

[TALA]

I found a fix that did not require a new wifi card AND posted it on another thread-WIfi drops dead after a few minutes-quasar JIM, under mini 9 Hardware issues. -DONT KNOW HOW TO CONNECT IT to this post, but if you still need to trouble shoot this, send me an e-mail--so simple to test and fix.

[danix]

I will look for it. Called Dell, apparently my Win7 partition is not a supported OS either.
Their suggested "fix" seems to be making you switch your wireless router to a specific channel. They also tried to upsell me twice, first for complete care, then for a more detailed technical support level that apparently would be OK with my "advanced configuration". I told them my company spends over $1M/year with Dell and I would speak to my business account rep instead.