You can’t use AirDrop over ethernet, so if you try to connect to a wired machine, it won’t work. Kellow goes into more detail below.
I might have found the reason behind the aforementioned behavior:
The AirDrop feature is apparently a Lion/AirPort-feature, and not a Lion/network-feature, meaning, if the iMac is connected to the network through a cable (RJ45), the above described behavior is the result.
The third issue mentioned, is apparently just how AirDrop works. AirDrop needs to be “activated” by Finder, which opens a ad hoc network though the AirPort. This does limit the use cases a lot.
Now, if only Apple would consider implementing AirDrop in iOS, the use cases would make a lot more sense…
Is the AirPort Extreme worth the price?. I have used WAP from Netgear, Linksys, Dlink, Cisco and Apple. I used to set up the older UFO looking airport. So I tried the Airport Extreme when I was looking for a new WAP myself. It worked very well with a very strong signal. The problem was that I couldn’t justify spending that much money on it.
I had used the 2Wire AT&T DSL router for the last six years. That required regular rebooting and had issues when it rained. Instead of the AE i bought a $35 Netgear that works well. It is hard to tell exactly because I have a several year old Dell laptop which seems to lose the signal but it has problems with every wireless network. So I don’t suspect its the Netgear. I stream Netflix all day and for the most part it works well.
So should you get an AE? If money is no object sure. If you want performance then Cisco has a 450MB speed router that looks pretty impressive. I have also used WAP flashed with DD-WRT and those work ok as well. I didn’t find that the reliability was any better than the stock firmware. I would have bought better hardware than try to solve it with software. The older Airports with the UFO shape worked well. Out of the 3 that I bought only one had problems. However the power sometimes would brown out so I am not sure that I can blame the hardware itself.
Join the club. I had this problem with my own machine. I fixed it by reapplying the 10.6.6 combo update. Still if that doesn’t work, try what ctmurray said.
I have posted this list of things to try before, but I have updated recently. These are gleaned from reading many posts. It does not include the recent postings on reverting your Airport card driver to a 10.6.4. I strongly recommend everyone consider the first items which have been verified on this support board as solving the problem. Not all are required, each is listed because it alone solved the problem for that user(s). For some reason the updated OS is more sensitive to wifi interference – the same environment now is causing issues and does not on earlier versions, so please check out wifi interference as a option. Same with the wifi security, recent OS updates seem intolerant of WEP security.
All the fixes;
Fixes known to have solved the problem to posters on this board
1. Verify that there are no interfering signals (other WiFi units and portable phones or microwave ovens). Change channels regardless as you can’t “see” outside inference
2. Repair permissions – directions at http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1452. Use Onyx to repair to a more complete level.
3. If you have WEP security change your security to WPA or WPA2
4. Delete Keychain password http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/9078.html or create a new password on your router
5. Network Prefs – Make sure Airport is the top service on the list. Consider edititng your wifi location (remove airport service and re-install) OR create a completely new location.
6. Look for conflicting out of date or beta software (Peer Guardian, Parallels and VMFusion known issues, Sophos antivirus)
7. Make a backup and then delete network preference files, Macintosh HD -> Library -> Preferences all plists starting with com.apple.internet, then move the System Preferences folder to your desktop (as a backup) and restart your computer.
8. Flush Cache files: Navigate to this folder:/System/Library/Caches, delete all the files in this folder.
9. Mac Mini – be sure bluetooth is enabled. Confirmed disabled BT with 10.6.5 results in WIFI timeouts.
Thing that are recommended, not yet confirmed
10. Reset your PRAM– directions at http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379.
11. Reset your SMC – directions at http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964. This was suggested by Small Dog Tech Tails for many problems
12. Create a new user for the computer and set up wifi for that user
13. Network Prefs – get a new DHCP lease
14. Network Prefs – disable Ipv6
15. Manually enter your ISP DNS IP addresses in Network Preference
Troubleshooting tips to help isolate the problem:
18. Grab a Console log and post the results here, look in your system.log (viewable via Applications->Utilities->Console)
19. Set up ping to continuously poll the router as a temporary fix
20. Report bug to Apple - http://developer.apple.com/bugreporter/
You have to sign up to be a “developer” but it is free.
16. Be sure your router firmware is up to date
17. Make sure there are no IP conflicts with other devices
1. Open the Network System Preference panel 2. Delete Airport by clicking the “-” (minus) button 3. Restart your Mac 4. Open the Network System Preference panel 5. Add Airport by clicking the “+” (plus) button 6. Click “Apply”
