iPhone 3.0 Still Causing Wi-Fi Problems?
Back when iPhone 3.0 launched, we heard Wi-Fi was giving problems to some -- primarily iPod touch -- users. Various network resets or OS restores seem to have quieted that down, but now TUAW is reporting that the newly launched iPhone 3GS might be suffering Wi-Fi troubles as well:
Users note that signal strength can fluctuate between one and full bars even when standing right next to the router or when a computer nearby shows a constant signal. This goes along with a commensurate reduction in speed.
Neither Jeremy nor I have been experiencing this, but if you have, let us know in the comments, along with what type of router you're running, and what kind of speed/connection quality you're getting (or not getting, more precisely).
(Wether this is, in fact, a widespread problem and one corrected by iPhone 3.1 we don't yet).
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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My 3g runs fine on WiFi, but my new 3GS is MUCH slower...about half of the 3g when side by side. I get about 650 Kbps on a 3 Mb connection.
...and I am running OS 3.1 beta. I didnt see an improvement from 3.0 to 3.1.
I use an airport extreme, I up graded to a 3gs and gave my 3g to my wife. On the 3gs my wifi fluctuates from the dot to full bars, when the 3g consistently has a full signal strength along with my MacBook pro. I have done rests, configurations and everything else know to do, to know avail. I never had signal problems with the 3g but with the 3gs am lucky if I can get a full signal.
I have a netgear wireless n router. With my iPhone 3G the conneftion drops constantly, bars fluctuate and in most cases i cant connect. Before 3.0 i had no problems with wifi. Speed is also down
When I put 3.0 beta on my 3G I was getting a better signal and seeing a lot more hot spots when sitting right next to my girlfriend on the same 3G but 2.2.1. I also haven't noticed anything weird with my wifi on 3GS.
Just this weekend i noticed i wasnt connecting to my WIFI from my iphone 3g (running 3.0) i thought it was my router because it used to cut out alot but then my gf (who also has a 3g running 3.0) said hers was working perfectly fine. My wifi doesnt work AT ALL on my phone now (yes ive tried resetting the network settings, restoring, restoring from non back up) still doesnt work. I was actually going to go to apple today unless anyone has a fix?
When I say my WIFI doesnt work, it searches for networks and it cant find any at all when it used to come up with 2 or 3. Even in a mall it doesnt show anything.(and the mall usually has about 5 or 6 hot spots)
My 3GS has recently started forgetting my home WiFi connection. It's pretty annoying. I haven't noticed a speed slow down though, but I have noticed the reception jumping from 1 to full, which usually precedes the former issue.
Been noticing the WiFi bars bouncing up and down a lot at home, even when I have a strong signal from the Router.
Phone: iPhone 3GS with 3.0 (obviously) Router: Airport Extreme 802.11n w/ USB Printer attached
I'm 15 feet away from the router and I see signal strength bouncing around. However, for the most part it appears to be working. I've mostly ignored it, but all the reports have made me wonder.
I've experienced this problem since updated my second generation iPod Touch. It's very strange. I'll post my router information when I get home.
I have a 3g, and I've noticed in the last couple of weeks that wifi is really slow or doesn't work for me AT ALL. I have a Netgear router at home, and I have no trouble with my computer on it, but I often have trouble loading pages when I use the wireless network at my office. Sometimes I end up just turning wifi off altogether.
I have an original 2G iPhone and have never had any wifi issues until OS 3.0...since then have had daily wifi issues. Unable to connect to network, no wifi signal even when next to Airport Extreme, unable to find wifi network, etc...everything as noted in the other comments.
I am running a full Apple setup here and have never had any previous problems. Please get it together Apple...that HTC Hero is starting to look pretty good.
This could possibly explain what I have experienced:
I like to listen to NPR in the morning. I use the Public Radio Tuner. If I use the wifi, it randomly drops the stream and reconnects, 10 feet from the router. But if I use the 3g modem, it never has to re-buffer. I think there is something to this. Heat?
I can atest to loss of wifi strength of on my 3G on 3.0 It's the sheer fickleness of the signal strength that bothers me.
I do not understand why they would muck around with end users stability if they hadn't shown consistant improvement on a high volume of test devices. Makes me wonder if Apple sprang for more than one test device. Even a small number of users suffering from this would imply that things should have been left alone for the time being.
Huh, I just thought my wireless router was having issues. For some reason I didn't equate it to this. I used to have full wireless anywhere in my house but lately the network doesn't even show up 75% of the time now. When I do connect it fluctuates constantly between 1 and full bars.
Guess it's another thing to add to the bug list. I had just been talking about the massive lag that came along with the 3.0 update yesterday.
My Netgear router is behind my couch where I set and sometimes I get 1 bar and sometimes it's full.
I have also noticed that sometimes it find my wireless in a few seconds other times it seems to take FOREVER!
Yeah, I've got exactly the same kinda issue. I've got a 3g with a connection to a time machine network (@ 3.5mb), I could be in the room right next to it and the damn thing will drop from 3 bars to 2! To be honest I think that the whole router range by apple are of a very low standard. Even on my MacBook pro the latency is absolutely appalling. Not sure if it's the software or just really bad hardware, one things for sure apple really need to sort this out.
I have netgear wireless 624 and iphone wifi goes down continuously and broadband speed is less too happens on both 2g and 3g phones
Where did he get the DSL Reports speed app? I can;t find it anywhere on the app store. I can find the Speedtest.net app though.
No problems here:
iPhone 3G Airport Wireless Router (N) Linksys Access Point Optimum Online Boost (30MB/5MB)
Very fast performance. No signal issues.
I have a Dell wireless router. I never had problems with wifi until I upgraded my 3G to 3.0 and bought the 3GS. The connection with my 3GS now is highly unstable, regardless of where I am in relation to the router, etc. The connection drops constantly, bars fluctuate and in some cases I cant connect. Sometimes the phone can't even recognize that there is a wireless signal! This is definitely a 3.0/3GS problem.
I as well am having 3G S WiFi problems. Oddly, my 3G signal alone is amazing compared to my WiFi home network. My iPhone 2G loads speeds faster than my iPhone 3G S. I haven't tried connecting to any other networks. I'm hoping it's not a hardware issue because I still love the 3G S.
Yes I have this problem!!!! I can be right next to my router with full bars and next thing I know it's asking me for my wifi password again! It's starting to drive me crazy. Seems like if I cancel the login it still connects... iPhone 3GS with a Linksys WRT300N router.
Yup, same problem as others. With my older iPhone 3G I would get 2-3 "bars" wifi from my room. Now with the 3GS, I get 1-2, if I'm lucky. Some times I don't get any signal at all.
I also experience wide fluctuation with wifi signal strength using my airport extreme. It seems very random. It disappears and just as suddenly reappears.
I have been having problems connecting and staying connected on my new iPhone 3GS and places where I have full bars on my iPod touch v 2.2.1 and MacBook I have had to forget the network on my iPhone and reset the network all together.
My iPhone 3Gs shows full bars when connected to the wifi but when I open up safari and go to a site it never loads, it's like using an itouch without wifi...you can't view a page...no network
I am getting same problems ,3gs ,bt home hub 2.0
Both mine and my wife's G3's take about 10-30 seconds to connect to WI-FI every time they go to sleep. I didn't think anything about it till I went to a friends house and it was constant? Anyone know how to fix this?
When I am standing about 5 feet away from the router, I can get signal between 1 and 3 bars. Sometimes I also have trouble scanning for wifi networks at all. I switched on the signal strength meter in stead of the three bar and the readings were all over the place, too. It's not just the bar misreading. I am also having very annoying troubles with Bluetooth pairing. My Phone just exits and enters pairing mode, ignores pairing requests, and won't connect to anything else. I took me half an hour to pair with my computer.
I've noticed the indicator bouncing around when I'm close to my router as well. Also, I was in a hotel when 3.0 first came out and I couldn't pick up any Wifi networks even though I could see 4 different hotel networks on my PC.
I'm having the same issues with wifi as everyone else. I upgraded from 2g to the 3gs running OS 3.0 on both. I never had the problem until 3.0 upgrade.
I havent been able to see or connect to ANY wifi networks, even public ones, I tried the ohare network and it wouldnt show up, anyone have a fix for this?
I had this problem on 3gs and 3g running 3.0. apple support escalated it and recommend new hardware. New 3gs yesterday. No change. Netgear wireless router. Issue is with all routers. Very frustrating. No help from apple. Google "strange iPhone wifi" and you'll see apple support forum thread on this. Long list getting longer! Yours in misery R
I have a touch which I recently upgraded to 3.0 and just bought a 3GS. I find that I can one in each of my hands 15 feet from the router and one can have full bars and the other a dot. 20 seconds later it reverses. Definitely something wrong with the Wifi connection on 3.0. I never had an iPhone before but had the touch for quite a while and never saw it fluctuate so much before the 3.0 upgrade.
And regular phone reception is now worse. Lucky me!
Yeah, I've pretty much given up on using Keynote Remote while teaching class. If would be nice if Keynote/Remote also supported BT.
I fluctuate between 1 and full bars all the time. Most of the time it's fine and full but then all of the sudden it'll drop to 1 bar and then slowly go back to full bars, all in about 15 seconds... sometimes a bit longer. The whole time I can be standing still next to the router. I'm on a 3GS.
I find it strange that they would mess with Wifi in the software for any reason. If it's not broken, don't fix it. Maybe it's a power save feature gone haywire. . .
I've always been able to stand next to my router and not always have full bars.
I have the netgear n router and when i got my 3gs i had all the same annoying issues. I have now SOLVED it. Go to this link and put on the latest firmware:
http://kb.netgear.com/app/products/model/a_id/2331
Instantly solved all issues and now works better than my 3g ever did.
Hmm, well my Wifi connectivity is fine and doesn't appear to go up and down. However, since the 3.0 update the speed doesn't appear to be as good. Things load much faster than 3G still, but I think they were faster. Also using the speedtest.net app and the same testing server on my laptop my iPhone 3G no longer gets anywhere near the speeds it used too. Looking at my history in the app here is what it reports.
Average speed before 3.0 (down/up) 9Mbps/3Mbps
Average speed after 3.0 3.5Mbps/2Mbps
Average speed testing with laptop (speedtest.net, same testing server as iPhone 3G) 15Mbps/5Mbps
I have Comcast cable internet and a Netgear router.
Oh yea, router is set to 'g' only devices.
Same problems here with 3g since I updated to 3.0( no problems before) and with my new 3gs, wifi drops constantly on both, poor reception and password incorrect prompts randomly popping up, have tried resets and restore with both and every fix I could find with no avail!
Try updating your routers firmware.
I have some issues with wifi on my 3GS. Like an earlier comment, when I was streaming Public Radio Tuner it would drop every few minutes and then reconnect (at which point I would have to go through the intro recording about who sponsors the programming). But I've not paid attention fluctuations in the signal strength. One thing that annoys me is the 3G service. I switched from EDGE to 3G earlier today. It connected to 3G, full strength (the tower is across the street). A couple minutes later it was dropped completely from the network. I didn't move the phone, it was just sitting on my desk. Wouldn't reconnect until I turned off 3G and back on. Then it was fine. Is this typical of AT&T 3G service? I never had an iPhone 3G so I only had EDGE to work with on my old iPhone classic.
I'm experiencing the same issue as K1. Where sometimes my 3GS will drop my home WiFi connection while my laptop and GF are sitting right next to me and they all work. Also sometimes I have to reenter the password. Since this on my home network and at work. Even when I use the correct password it'll say it's wrong and I have to keep trying and finally it'll connect. Doesn't happen frequently enough to replicate the issue to find out why exactly it is happening.
One thing I did notice, if I go into settings and go to Flight mode on and then off, WiFi will then connect again with no problem.
I had an original iPhone that never had any problems connecting and staying connects to my Linksys WRTGL router. My new 3GS on the other hand often drops to 1 "dot" on the connection icon and also loses thenconnection completely from time to time. My router is 4.5 feet away.
I decided to try this at work with 2 of my co-workers who have a 3GS and a 3G.
The 3GS and 3G both on 3.0 performed nearly identically on both secured and unsecured networks in terms of up, down and latency speeds.
I'm not saying some people don't have an issue, just that my test showed something quite different than the video.
Using a 3g phone with 3.0 and the original airport router here. WiFi distance has definitely been compromised. I used to connect in my back yard at full strength, a surprisIngly long distance from the router at well over fifty feet. Now I get wild fluctuation, as little as one bar from twenty feet. My MacBook Pro is not affected; it's clearly a problem with 3.0.
I haven't noticed speed issues, but I have had problems with my wireless network being forgotten and having to frequently reenter the password since upgrading to 3.0. I had somewhat similar problems way back on 2.0, but haven't had any issues since 2.1 was released. I'm using a Belkin router and an Actiontec router.
Looks like a US thing my 3gs is super fast in the uk and the wifi is full and only drops I am about 20 m away. I use a very old and crap bt router so nothing that would help the phone out?????
Same issues here with erratic home wifi connection with my new iphone 3GS . Whats weird is that my old 3G with 3.0 has a perfect signal all over the apt as does my ipod touch, but the 3GS drops down to 1 bar and suffers major speed issues (i turn wifi off as 3G signal is faster with utube etc. !!!)
So after all the troubleshooting (reset network settings , restore 3GS etc.) apple replaced with a new 3GS and I still have the same problem !!!
I have a linksky WRT150N router btw and it kills me that my 1st gen touch aswell as my old 3G get perfect wifi while the 3GS struggles ,,,very frustrating
I have had this issue since i first got an iphone 3g on os 2.0. I currently have a 3GS and am experiencing same issue. my router is a dlink dual band wireless n router. neither apple or dlink have solution. my home signal fluctuates from 1 bar to full signal.
i have been complaining about this since day one.
Same issue here from day one. Also on my 3GS cell reception is awful. I always used to have full power at my house, now I'm lucky if I have 1 or 2 bars.
I had this problem with my 3GS...I actually ended up returning it because of it. WiFi signal would fluctuate wildly, and sometimes drop the connection entirely. Interestingly enough, I have NO such problems with my 3G on OS 3.0.
I am using Asus routers running DD-WRT (build 12360).
Posted this problem on your forums days ago: http://forum.theiphoneblog.com/iphone-forum/173475-iphone-3gs-bugs-issues-3.html#post1493204
iPhone 2G user here.. My WiFi was working perfectly while in 2.2.1 version (and all the previous versions) but 3 days after I installed 3.0 it started acting weird. Now it doesnt find any network even if I stand next to my router (Speedtouch 780) Downgrading the baseband and Firmware to 1.1.4 fixes the problem but upgrading to 3.0 kills WiFi again...
hopefully apple will fix it in the next upgrade!
My 3g has had this wifi problem since i upgraded to 3.0. It is very sloooww and sometimes disconnects. Even when standing riGht by the router. Its so annoying!
3gs seems faster at everything to me than 3g is
Wifi not working at all on 3GS. I had a 3G and it stopped working as well once I upgraded. Now it doesn't even allow me to join a network. I have a linksys router.
i am having the exact same problems as freiteez... my phone will not connect to wifi even when right beside the modem... the weird thing is that my old 2g with 3.0 is working fine with the wifi.
sorry i forgot to mention that my phone is a 3g and my modem is a linksys wireless n..
I have an iphone 3g... Since upgrading to 3.0 on my iphone the remote application seems to drop connection about every 10 seconds and eventually comes back but it takes 30 seconds or more. With iphone OS 2.2.1 my connection was solid and didn't drop hardly ever. All I have at home at the moment is my MBP (use a USB broadband wifi modem) and my iphone (use 3g for internet at home) and so I use my MBP and create an adhoc network on airport and connect my iphone to that so I can control itunes using remote. It has never been this unstable.
I have also had the new remote update (1.3) for a few days now and it still doesn't make it better. After connecting the iphone wifi to my network and opening remote it takes a while to connect to the lib and after a short time it drops out shows this message... "Cannot connect to a local network.... you must connect to a wifi network to control itunes or apple tv" then if i wait it will reconnect and then drop out again for as long as i can be bothered to look at it.... It doesn't make a difference how far away from the computer i am either... if its 5 inches away it doesn't change anything.
The adhoc network on my MBP seems to be much more stable for the iphone 3g if I share my internet through the airport. Weird
How long was 3.0 in beta? That's the funny part.
I had the same issue after upgrading to the iPhone 3gs. I previously had the iPhone 3g. My wifi would constantly drop out. After a network reset things would work fine but when the phone goes into sleep mode the wifi fails to reconnect. I got the phone exchanged for a brand new one but it still had the same issue. Instead of doing steps separately to figure out the problem I just upgraded my routers firmware and then set the wireless mode to b/g only. I have a linksys wrt310n router. So either the n signal or the firmware was the problem. Ever since I made those changes the wifi on the iPhone 3gs works perfect!!!
I just got the 3gs and my wi-fi connection seems to connect for a split second after entering my password. However, I just gave my wife my old 2g and hers seems to connect just fine even after upgrading to 3.0. My wifi router is a AT&T 2WIRE.
I am also having the same problems. I just bought a 3gs as this is my first iPhone. I have noticed that my Wifi goes from full strength to no bars and I'm sitting right next to the router. I'm using a Linksys Cable Gateway router. I had the same problem at my friends house on his network and he is using a Linksys router too. It's not too often, but it is annoying.
Before 3.0 I would always have a constant signal in my office with no problems. After installing 3.0 signal fluctuates from full to one. Also the connection is not stable, constantly connects and disconnects when signal is weak. before 3.0 even with a weak signal my iphone would stay connected to the network.
My 3GS is having problem on my 802.11 N compatible router. When running on N/G/B (Auto mode), my iPhone will disconnect intermittently. When I stream music or videos on it, it will stop just few minutes after, never able to complete the whole thing. However, if I set my router to run on G only mode, then everything runs smoothly. It seems to me OS 3.0 has compatibility issue.
Ron Jeremy's wifi is slower on his 3gs than his old 3g also Ron's signal goes half to full limp while sitting on the can playing poker. Apple needs to fix this issue for Ron with 3.1, Ron's 3g speed is gobs faster than his wifi.....
I updated to 3.0 and my 3g is cr@p now. It will not find any any wifi networks and maps is usless as it cann't determine it's location. Iv'e made an appointment today for the Genius bar, so we'll see what they say.
I've noticed, particularly since 3.0, that my iPod touch has markedly slowed down over wifi connection. On several occasions normally stable programmes have frozen and been kicked to home screen
cheers all,
I found a solution that worked for me 100% (3G). Factory restore 3.0, activate with valid SIM. Do not (really do not) RESTORE BACKUPS. I have same wifi like 2.2.1
If you jailbreak/unlock use .072 only AFTER you have done the above.
Hope it helps!
Since i got my 3gs, i've had the same problems reported here. takes a long time to connect to wifi, low bars even when i stand right next to the router (netgear wireless g) overall bad performance.
My 3g was great with my linksys router. Anywhere in the house I had wifi. Once I downloaded 3.0 the only way I am on wifi is when I'm within 10 feet of so from the router.
Even my 3g signal strength is a bit iffy where before it wasn't too bad.
I keep beating myself up for downloaded the damn 3.0.
Anyone have a fix yet for the wifi problem?
I found that changing the channel number on my bthomehub 2 router solved the 3gs wi-fi problem.After two new iphones and a long time on the phone to apple ,not that they helped ,I had to root around the net to find info,hope this helps someone.
Purchased my 3GS on opening day. I was all excited about getting some sweet 3G performance. Back at the office my WiFi setup perfectly and same at home. (Linksys WRT600N on dd-wrt). Our CEO picked one up and is fighting tooth & nail to get the wireless going. Sometimes it forgets the SSID; sometimes it won't accept the PW; standing right at the Linksys getting signal-to-noise ratio half that of mine from a distance of 60+feet away. He gets the same performance from the exact same hardware at his house.
The Broadcom combo wifi chip in the 3gs sucks. Apple should have kept the Marvell chip to handle wifi.
My old 2g has this problem. I just basically use it as a touch, with bt off and in airplane mode. I like to use pandora and finetune, and dock it in my Bose soundock, but it won't keep a connection and sometimes won't connect. It had this problem before 3.0. My 3g so far hasn't had this issue. I use a linksts at work and actiontec at home. The symptom are pretty much the same as described by everyone else above.
I'm concerned...I downgraded back to 2.1.1. I'm waiting for them to fix the bug, but all of the apps are getting upgraded for 3.0, and I think that soon 2.1.1 will be obsolete. And I'm hearing that the 3.1 is not fixing this problem. This is a real hassle. Since I need my wi-fi to sync with FM Touch, which is the reason I have the Iphone, I'm worried that they won't acknowledge or fix this problem.
After upgrading my 3G to 3.0, wifi became flaky: connections become slow, freeze or drop. Indicated signal strength varies from one dot to full while near the router. I used to receive my home wireless 150 feet away from my house (WAP54G Linksys), now it is 50 feet at best. Auto-connect does sometimes not happen (my local attwifi @ starbucks) or only after a minute. Also noticed that entering BlueTooth discovery mode causes wifi to drop.
Hi i am having the same problem. We have 3 iPhones 2 3G and 1 3GS, Router i Belkin Pre N.. Its seems to only since 3.0 came out
Still got 3 solid bars on 3gs,after changing the wi-fi channel number on my router.Happy days
Same issue. Wavering bars while feet from the router. Net gear dual band. I often can go into settings and reconnect
My wifi problem is a little different. 3G works great. I can access any websites. But when connected to wifi, I can't access certain websites. Turn off wifi and bingo - I can get to them again. I can access those same websites through my wifi network using my laptop, so I'm pretty sure the issue is at the iphone level.
Yes I'm having the same problem. Only get 1 bar when connected to wifi. I sure hope they fixed this with next update.
Same issue here will not work
With my BT Home Hub 2.0 and Iphone 3G S - I was experiencing a low signal even standing next to the hub itself. I changed channel and within 10 seconds I had 3 bars. Great!
I am having the problems at work my 3g or 3gs will not connect so I thought we were having problems with the network at work. When I got home the same problems will not connect. Apple please help!!!!!!
I have an original I Phone and once I updated to 3.0 I immediately lost all wifi. It says I am connected but I get no bars and I can only function on edge. My outer is the 1terabite time capsule and my Macbook works fine off the router. This is a 3.0 issue.
I have lost my WIFI and 3G since I upgrade from 2.2.1 to 3.0 ( 20 days ago)...that´s is not compatible with normal iphone life...simple horrible have a iphone whitout Wifi/3G...I hope TIM Brasil change my phone soon..because I have tryed all receipts to solve the problem, but this is impossible...only one exit FW 3.1 !!!! At least, I hope!!!!
We've got two iPhones in our household both 3g One doesn't recognise any wifi networks anymore
(
One changes between 1 and 5 bars
Tried with different routers but using the dualband aebs at the moment!
APPLE PLEASE FIX THIS MESS!!!!!!
I have a 3G and since the OS upgrade, cannot get WIFI to work. Have tried both a network reset and a full restore. No luck.
Emmett
My 3G 3.0 first started having problems with connecting to my home and work WiFi. Than since yesterday it does not even detect any wireless networks. Never had similar issues before 3.0 update.
I upgraded to 3.0 when it first became available (I have the original $600 phone - yeah, i know...sucker!).
Recently, my phone is not recognizing my network password. It recognizes that the network is there but I cannot log on. I have not changed any password settings on the router. Just doesn't seem to recognize it anymore.
Strange...
Had no problems with 3GS at first, then last week started degrading until WiFi was useless (only 1 bar no matter where). Tried ALL recommended fixes - nada. The store saw the problem & replaced the phone. STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE on the new one!