Chosen Solution
My Mac Mini (late 2009 model, 2 GB Ram - 2 4 GB modules just received from Crucial, but waiting to sort this problem before installing, 10.6.8 updated a few days ago) has lately been more and more difficult in connecting to my home wifi network. Sometimes it doesn’t pick any wifi networks (but this is rare and doesn’t last long), other times (most of the time the last 2-3 days) it doesn’t connect, but it actually sees the home network, I have to choose it manually, get a request for the password, I type it down and then… most of the time I just get a timeout message, but sometimes it gets connected (but today not yet…). Or it just get connected all by itself either when I switch the Mini on or by leaving AirPort active. When it’s eventually connected the speed starts as usual, and then becomes slower and slower, until the connection is lost. I’m using a Netgear DGM100 modem/router, with a PowerMac G5 (10.5.8 as OS) physically connected to it and experiencing no problems at all.
Having to reset the network settings is an indication of a failed PRAM battery. ie, your system “forgets”. If this is the case your clock may be off when not connected to the web. Your airport card may also be failing. Try hooking up directly to your modem with an ethernet cable and see if the problem persists.
