Apple have not resolved Time Capsule internet connection dropping issues

I'm experiencing much the same. I have found today that there is now another wireless network in range (it appears only periodically in the Airport menu).

Airport appears to scan for networks every so often, and when it finds the other network it gets, errr, confused.

I will look to see if there is a way to turn Airport scanning off.

I have absolutely the same problem for the past 2 month!!! I have iMac 10.5.4, iPhone and laptop PC. I lose Wi-Fi connection rendomly. I can work on my iMac and my laptop and iphone lose connection and iMac still fine.
I'm soo frustrated too!

I Have this problem with TC too. In my case, the WiFi gets killed as soon as Time Machine starts the back up.

I have posted on apple discussions on the TM forum under Leopard and also on the TC forum.

Here is the log of my console:

Dec 10 18:34:12 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[5647]: Backup requested by user
Dec 10 18:34:12 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[5647]: Starting standard backup
Dec 10 18:34:12 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[5647]: Network mountpoint /Volumes/Data not owned by backupd... remounting
Dec 10 18:34:14 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_mount: /Volumes/Data-1, pid 5653
Dec 10 18:34:15 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[5647]: Network volume mounted at: /Volumes/Data-1
Dec 10 18:34:17 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 hdiejectd[5669]: running
Dec 10 18:34:18 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: jnl: disk2s2: replay_journal: from: 76254208 to: 76357120 (joffset 0x1d0f000)
Dec 10 18:34:19 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: jnl: disk2s2: journal replay done.
Dec 10 18:34:19 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[5647]: Disk image /Volumes/Data-1/Meher’s MB Pro_002332b0b0ea.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Backup of Meher’s MB Pro
Dec 10 18:34:19 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[5647]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Backup of Meher’s MB Pro/Backups.backupdb
Dec 10 18:35:30 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 com.apple.launchd[154] (com.apple.netauth.useragent[5568]): Stray process with PGID equal to this dead job: PID 5571 PPID 1 check_afp
Dec 10 18:36:48 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: doing reconnect on /Volumes/Data-1
Dec 10 18:36:48 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect to the server /Volumes/Data-1
Dec 10 18:36:54 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_Reconnect: soft mounted and hidden volume so do not notify KEA for /Volumes/Data-1
Dec 10 18:37:39 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 Mail[5680]: Could not launch query, mds is probably broken
Dec 10 18:37:49: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
Dec 10 18:37:59: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
Dec 10 18:38:01 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 SyncServer[5682]: SyncServer: Truth vacuumed. Next vacuum date 2008-12-24 18:38:01 +0500
Dec 10 18:38:03 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect on /Volumes/Data-1 failed 60.
Dec 10 18:38:03 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect to the server /Volumes/Data-1
Dec 10 18:39:18 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect on /Volumes/Data-1 failed 60.
Dec 10 18:39:18 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect to the server /Volumes/Data-1
Dec 10 18:39:39 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 /usr/sbin/spindump[5685]: process 5680 is being monitored
Dec 10 18:39:41 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 /usr/sbin/spindump[5685]: process 5680 is being force quit
Dec 10 18:39:44 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 com.apple.launchd[154] ([0x0-0x1f21f2].com.apple.mail[5680]): Exited: Terminated
Dec 10 18:39:44 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 /usr/sbin/spindump[5685]: process 5680 is being no longer being monitored
Dec 10 18:40:14 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: doing reconnect on /Volumes/Data
Dec 10 18:40:14 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect to the server /Volumes/Data
Dec 10 18:40:20 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_Reconnect: posting to KEA EINPROGRESS for /Volumes/Data
Dec 10 18:40:20 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 KernelEventAgent[37]: tid 00000000 received VQ_NOTRESP event (1)
Dec 10 18:40:20 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 KernelEventAgent[37]: tid 00000000 type 'afpfs', mounted on '/Volumes/Data', from 'afp_0TSQUm1d9lTB00ntaN0Pyetl-1.2e000009', not responding
Dec 10 18:40:20 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 KernelEventAgent[37]: tid 00000000 found 1 filesystem(s) with problem(s)
Dec 10 18:40:20 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 loginwindow[36]: 1 server now unresponsive
Dec 10 18:40:33 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect on /Volumes/Data-1 failed 60.
Dec 10 18:40:33 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect to the server /Volumes/Data-1
Dec 10 18:40:50 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 loginwindow[36]: 1 server now unresponsive
Dec 10 18:40:51 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 KernelEventAgent[37]: tid 00000000 unmounting 1 filesystems
Dec 10 18:40:51 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_unmount: /Volumes/Data, flags 524288, pid 37
Dec 10 18:40:52 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect on /Volumes/Data failed 89.
Dec 10 18:40:53 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 loginwindow[36]: No servers unresponsive
Dec 10 18:41:48 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect on /Volumes/Data-1 failed 60.
Dec 10 18:41:48 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect to the server /Volumes/Data-1
Dec 10 18:43:03 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect on /Volumes/Data-1 failed 60.
Dec 10 18:43:03 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect to the server /Volumes/Data-1
Dec 10 18:44:18 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect on /Volumes/Data-1 failed 60.
Dec 10 18:44:18 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect to the server /Volumes/Data-1
Dec 10 18:45:33 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect on /Volumes/Data-1 failed 60.
Dec 10 18:45:33 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect to the server /Volumes/Data-1
Dec 10 18:46:48 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: connect on /Volumes/Data-1 failed 60.
Dec 10 18:46:48 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 KernelEventAgent[37]: tid 00000000 received VQ_DEAD event (32)
Dec 10 18:46:48 Mehers-MB-Pro-2 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: max reconnect time reached 601 > 600 /Volumes/Data-1

So in an attempt to be able to work, I switched back to a wired ethernet network (my office is wired) with my BT Voyager modem connected to my TimeCapsule acting as a hub.

Guess what? The TimeCapsule STILL drops internet connection every so often, so wireless cannot be the problem.

When connection drops, I have two choices:

1. Renew the DHCP lease
2. Wait a few minutes and connection restarts by itself

I wonder if that helps with a diagnosis?

I talked with AppleCare today. I deleted some plists and she sent me a url. I hope this works, I'll know in a couple of days. Here are the library files I trashed (HD level and in home library) and I also made a new location in system preferences.
Com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
Com.apple.internetconfig.plist
Com.apple.internetconfigpriv.plist
NetworkInterfaces.plist

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1714?vi...

i have the same problem. i have 2 brand new macbook pro's, a 17" and a 15". we don't even use the time capsule feature, and if i set our airpot extreme to 802.11n @ 5Ghz, the connection is dropped within 10 minutes and then the books can't even find the signal. i've reset the thing a dozen times, and it still only works problem free if i have it set to the most basic of settings, 802.11 b/g @ 2.4Ghz.

i bought this "high tech" router specifically so that we could utilize the 5g bandwidth. basically, it's no more than a white paper weight that does the same thing every other 59.95 router does...but for much more money.

what a joke apple. get off your collective patoot's and do something before your entire company sinks yet lower into garden variety pc territory. i remember a time when your products actually did what you said they'd do.

Deleting the preference files (see earlier post) seems to have made some difference. I can turn airport on and off faster than my old location (no password necessary) to get connected again. But it still kicks out every once-in-a-while. NOT ACCEPTABLE. A weird thing happened this morning. Lost connection, tried a few different url's on my bookmarks bar, stalled on each and then hit CNN and it connects. Tried it the next time it appeared to lose, not CNN but another url connected after a couple other unsuccessful clicks. If I wait on the "stalled" one it goes to a not connected screen (but diagnostics says I am connected). I want to use Time Machine!!! The iMac works great through the same airport-- never down. That's why it has to be the macbook, not the airport- right?

The latest Mac OS X update, 10.5.6, "improves Time Machine reliability with Time Capsule." This may fix your problem. At least it's worth a try.

I have this 'server connection interrupted' problem with my time machine too. I am going to try the points raised here, however I have even brought it into work and still get the Time Machine losing connection. Completely different network, operating system and mac's. Its def something with the Time Machine. Has anyone reverted back to old firmware? Does this work?
Have tried all of the first post, with resets and network channels and its driving me crazy! Grrr
Mandy

I guess they only pay attention to their iPhone being hacked to try and fix those. But that crappy piece of sh*t you call a wireless router still doesn't work any better. Instead of just trying to make money for something which is, I agree, prettier than what other manufacturers produce. Just try and make the damn thing work. That's all I ask.

Just downloaded 10.5.6 and tried it to see if it fixed the connectivity problems I am having. No such luck! I will be talking to Apple support AGAIN!!!

Different result. I also downloaded 10.5.6 and haven't lost connection in a couple of hours. It was so bad I had to connect an ethernet cord to do the download. I hope this is a long-term change, I love surfing from my lounger!

bioteach, have you tried doing a time machine backup with the system update? That is what I tried and lost the connection to the Internet again.

iMac backup is working fine (always did). I won't turn on time machine, for the macbook, until the weekend (when I'm around for the long term copy). I did a backup (Lacie 1TB drive) with a 800 firewire, but it still wants to do the whole thing again with the usb 2.0 through the airport router.

Hi,
I have been so disappointment in Apple products, it is just unbelievable. If some body explain to me in what way I'm stupid - I'll it my words. So here is the issue.
I have TC for about year working with my PC as wireless router and home storage. I don't have any complains on this account. When I bring it home, install airport utility set it up - it work perfect. I don't mess to much with configurations just make every thing that the "assistant" ask.
So I have following configurations on it
Radio mode: 802.11n (802.11b/g compatible) - (My PC have only 802.11g wireless)
Channels: Automatic
Wireless security: WPA\WPA2
using DHCP
As I say it work alright so far. But one lucky day I got MacBook in my possessions. I really like the thing all this cool features - elegant stuff beautiful, but IT DOES NOT WORK WITH TIME CAPSULE. or works with in really abnormal way. It connects to network some times, works for while and than drops out, it works more stable when PC is on the net. I have come over several "helpful" hints in forums, such as "time out" failure. This "magic solutions" helps for another half an hour, but that's it. I download iStumbler so two see if some body works in same channels, so there is. And MacBook "use to" lose the connection when some body interferes. So might it be the case? Then why PC don't care? It might be that TC trying to switch between the wireless formats in due course, but then it must be PC to be disconnected. So could any body explain How come PC WORKS BETTER then MacBook with APPLE Time Capsule.

Re: 10.5.6. Macbook still greatly improved for Internet searching, email etc. I only have to shut off airport occasionally. Time Machine is another case. TM still runs great on my iMac with airport connection. My macbook has made it to 45 MB and then 60 MB of the 80 GB it wants before backup fails. Scanning shows in menu, but diagnostics says everything is OK and then the connection is solid again. Saturday morning I (still wonder why) installed the iPhoto small update and nothing worked for a few minutes. Restarted a second time and things have improved. AppleCare over Christmas break will get another shot at it.

After too many hours spent trying to solve this exact issue, I finally stumbled on this:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.j...

It has worked a treat for me!

Good luck, and I hope it helps.

Below is from Simon's thread above. I had RealPlayer Downloader in my Login, but I didn't have it checked. I deleted (–) it and nothing changed. I restarted and golly, gee whiz... my macbook has been running a TM back-up for the last several hours- 37.4 GB so far. Can it really be this easy?

zbuddha post at
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.j...

"An hour ago, I called Apple for the nth time in the last 6 months, and the rep heard me out (just like the previous n-1 reps). He then asked me to to System Preferences --> Accounts --> Login Items and asked if Real Player Downloader showed up in my list. Indeed it did. He asked me to remove it, and told me that Apple had just figured out that the Real Player downloader was recently found to be causing a drop in the connection between Macbooks and the TC (as well Airport Express)."

Friday night and not one drop since deleting Realplayer Downloader.

Problem solved!

Same here. Deleted Real Downloader and no more problems whatsoever.

I didn't have RPD in my login items. So I trashed the RealPlayer program itself, The problem seems solved!

guess what -- the macintosh OS X frequently continuously continually always dropping internet ethernet network connection problem is not new to 10.5 or to time capsule.

this is a long-standing years old issue that apple refuses to acknowledge, much less fix. it's not isolated to realplayer in most situations altho it may apply to this particular one.

just do a few searches on dropped internet or ethernet or network connections related to mac and OS X and if you look in the apple forums, you'll see that most are unsolved and unanswered.

I'm not optimistic at all

So 25 days and only one drop. And yes, I did use Realplayer and everything was fine. But then (a couple days later) RP called for an update.. OK, maybe it's a fix! Less than 5 minutes and a drop- Removed the "new" downloader from the Login and perfection again- no drops! That was about a week ago. At least for my macbook this is a fix and appears permanent.

No RealPlayer here, and we're having constant drops from Time Capsule. We are on a college campus, and so I can also try connecting to the local Cisco wireless router (a g network) through the university. Never a drop on the university network, so it's either a problem with Time Capsule or a problem with n networking on the MacBook Pro.

Either way, it's an Apple problem. It would be nice if they'd start looking at their products as something more than shiny toys for teenage girls. Go to an Apple store and check out their target demographic and you start to understand why they spend more time on Star Wars graphics for Time Machine than on making reliable products.

Ok I had the same massive problems and I am a trouble shooter, but not a networking guru or anything so I went through and tried all the real player stuff. I downgraded the firmware.. yada.yada..yada....Long story short....No dice.

My connectivity issues were only on devices that were enabled with the G wireless protocol. My devices with the N protocol never lost signal.

I called MacDocs in Salt Lake City, UT. These guys are great because they have high level technicians that know how to get to the bottom of things. I would highly recommend them. I got the word through them that there was actually a "Dual Band" Time Capsule that was released shortly after I purchased mine. I bought my Time Machine in December, so it was still under warranty.

I called up MacDocs, Explained the issue in about 3 minutes to a knowledgeable technician (who I was able to reach immediately). I sent in my faulty time machine, and it was replaced within 2 days.

Problem SOLVED!!!

Moral of the story...... Support your local Mac Service guys. If you don't have any, I am sure MacDocs in Salt Lake City, UT would love your business.

Cheers,
Chris

I am having similar problems. I replaced a perfectly good and functioning Linksys router becasue my wife needed reliable backup on her MacBook. I bought a Time Capsule. (oops) I have not noticed much of a problem with her Mac Book but our two PCs (one is for work) get dropped about every 10-15 minutes - which really sucks when you are trying to work via a VPN connection. It seems that each drop is preceeded by a TKIP key rotate operation. You can see in the Airport Utility log. I made sure my machines were setup with AES encryption instead of TKIP but I still had drops. It's worth noting that the machines that get dropped are wireless n, the mac book is wireless g. Hmm. I talked to a mac "genius" on the phone and I had to basically educate him on wireless protocols and encryption, so no help there. After an hour with this guy I gave up. The Shine appears to be wearing off the Apple (I should write new headlines). :)

A1185 Battery

I had a similar problem with my 500Gig Time Capsule - it'd drop the connection to all wireless clients as soon as one of the macbooks was trying to do a time machine backup wirelessly. This happened about 50% of the time, so I'd lose connection (green light on time capsule turned orange and flashed) and it'd go green and reconnect clients after a few minutes. After months of frustration, I figured maybe the problem is the hard drive - as it woke up from sleep to do the backup, it caused a surge or something which was enough to knockout the internal wireless module. I could hear the hard disk trying to wake up and then the light on TC would go orange. So, on that theory, and the fact I needed more space, I upgraded to a 1.5 TB WD Green. Now, no problems! Keeping my finger crossed - already been a few days of bliss. I had archived the existing TC disk's backups to a USB drive, which I then copied back to the new disk, and all my old backups are intact and functional. So based on this, my theory is that the problem was the hard drive electrically misbehaving enough in a tight electronic environment to cause all the problems.

Took my 500 gig in. They gave me a new one. That worked for about a day and then started dropping......so back on Monday. We will see how it goes