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User profile for user: drengfer
drengfer Author
User level: Level 1
42 points

m1 MacBook Air switches to 2.4GHz WIFI from 5GHz

M1 MacBook Air, running Big Sur (11.6.1). When connected to my home wifi network the machine consistently switches from my (preferred) 5GHz network to the (slower) 2.4GHz network. The router is 10 feet from my desk, and line of sight.


My old MacBook Air (circa 2019), also running Big Sur (11.16.1) does not evidence this behavior; it's stable on the 5GHz network.


This behavior is not evident on any of the iOS devices in the house (2 iPhones, 2 iPads).


I have deleted / re-added the 5GHz network on the Mac - same behavior afterward.


I have rebooted the router - same behavior afterward.


Help!



MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Nov 9, 2021 3:46 PM

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User profile for user: drengfer
drengfer Author
User level: Level 1
42 points

Posted on Nov 10, 2021 9:57 AM

Thanks for this suggestion! I actually think that the network-switching is a result of two things: (1) Comcast's recent network stability issues (triggering the machine to try to re-connect), and (2) my preferred-wireless-network ordering not being "sticky". In preparing for the Safe Mode test I re-checked the preferred network ordering and it was incorrect. I re-ordered the list (several times) and seem to now have it sticking to the correct ordering. During today's occasional instabilities, the machine has re-connected to the 5GHz network. So, this may be more of a problem between chair and keyboard than anything else.

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User profile for user: drengfer
drengfer Author
User level: Level 1
42 points

Nov 10, 2021 9:57 AM in response to Old Toad

Thanks for this suggestion! I actually think that the network-switching is a result of two things: (1) Comcast's recent network stability issues (triggering the machine to try to re-connect), and (2) my preferred-wireless-network ordering not being "sticky". In preparing for the Safe Mode test I re-checked the preferred network ordering and it was incorrect. I re-ordered the list (several times) and seem to now have it sticking to the correct ordering. During today's occasional instabilities, the machine has re-connected to the 5GHz network. So, this may be more of a problem between chair and keyboard than anything else.

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m1 MacBook Air switches to 2.4GHz WIFI from 5GHz

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