MacBook Pro booster connection dropping

[RichardR66]

Hey everyone, 

I have the Vodafone Pro II package with 2 additional boosters. Every device works just fine, except my MacBook Pro laptop, which consistently drops connection - but only when connected to a booster. It works just fine when connected to the main ultra hub. 

The laptop is mostly used in the office upstairs, so naturally connects to the booster. Works ok for 5-10mins then stops working, it shows it's connected to the internet, but just hangs. The only way I can get it to work is to turn the wifi on and off on the laptop. Before I got the boosters, no issues at all. 

I've been on live chat so many times to no avail and I'm running out of ideas. 

Any help would be hugely appreciated. 

[RichardR66]

Thanks @Remi. I've tried so many times on live chat and had no success. We've tried compatibility mode, using just one booster and static IP addresses - nothing works. The MacBook works fine on any other wifi connection, it works fine with the main hub (with boosters turned off) - however, it doesn't work when the boosters are turned on. The issue has to be with the boosters and the fact they simply don't like connecting to the MacBook. 

Even the community manager on here says 'you probably won't find a permanent solution.' 

Any suggestions I'd very much welcome  

[Remi]

Thanks @RichardR66, let's see if we get a response on here, it's a fantastic forum and we have plenty of users that may be able to help. 

[RichardR66]

Thanks @Remi I really hope so, I'm sat here now on my laptop hot spotting off my phone because it can't connect to my 900MB internet 🙄

[Cookie70]

Exactly my issue, I’m now beginning to think I need to buy something like a TP access point and plug it into the main router and set up a seperate network just for the MacBook Pro.. what a shame, I guess im lucky I only ever want to use it in one spot in the house and don’t need to move around with it.. Shame on Vodafone though.. they’ve never got to the bottom of the core issue.. and clearly every other WiFi supplier has.. 

[RichardR66]

Quite right, though it really flies in the face of the reason for the boosters in the first place. You shouldn't need to set up an access point. The easy option is to blame the MacBook, which is the route they go down every time I'm on live chat. Strange it's not just my MacBook though 😉

[Cookie70]

Yep it does Richard, and like you I’ve done loads of research, and it really would appear to be just the 2016 and 2017 MacBook pro’s that seem to have the issue.. so it would be very easy to blame them.. (and fyi my daughters much cheaper 2015 MacBook Air that is still going strong does not have this issue whatsoever) but I agree with you that Vodafone seem to easily say well it must be the MacBook Pro, but I just don’t see it.. if Apple did do something weird with the affected models you’d think it would be out in the public domain.. it’s so annoying as I’m sure to an real expert that would like to get involved, the fix would be something very straight forward.. 

[RichardR66]

I’ve been on Apple forums too, but no joy there either 😔

[Vim24]

As some of you mentioned, I have switched off all the boosters so that Macbook connects to main router and it works without any issue. Then I switched on boosters and it stopped working. I have taken this package with boosters as I was getting poor connectivity, now I am getting better connectivity but Macbook is not working.

I have also tried to connect Macbook through cable to booster and it works. Only booster wifi is not working. 

I had vodafone non Pro package with booster and there were no issues.

This means there is issue is with Pro boosters wifi not MacBook. Also as we can't choose whether device can be connected to router or booster, issue is still open for which no solution is suggested by Vodafone.

[markcalv]

@Vim24  This is 100% aligned with the experience I have observed too. Works fine through a wired connection or with boosters switched off. 

[RichardR66]

Interesting and really speaks to the WiFi issue with boosters rather than wired.