No Wifi after iPhone 3.1 upgrade

{quote:title=adnixon wrote:}
Prove that the new 3GS will connect to a network other than your own. Or better still ask an Apple Genius to connect it to their network. If they can make it work clearly the point of failure will not be the phone.{quote}

I totally disagree with that assessment. If you've read my posts you will see that there is no problem connecting to an AirPort Extreme or Express, but I have to coax the iPhone to connect to my D-Link router, the same router than every other device I've used has no trouble connecting with first time, every time, including — and let me emphasize this — a 1st gen iPod Touch.

When people have stated repeatedly that their iPhone was fine until they upgraded, then it's clearly the software update that is the problem.

It appears to me that Apple only tested with their own routers, not with other common routers from other manufacturers. Well, networking is all about interoperability. There's no room for nepotism.

FraserPetrie for me problem solving in the IT context is to satisfy myself what exactly is the point of failure by apply a process of eliminating any related or unrelated issues. If it was my iPhone 3GS to eliminate it and/or its operating system as the point of failure I would have an Apple Genius or the re-seller prove that it can connect to a WiFi Network. When you consider the number of Wi-Fi posts as a percentage of iPhones in circulation it is a long bow indeed to draw the conclusion that the point of failure is definately the operating system. Posts to this and any other forum for that matter are guide lines not tram lines [tram lines don't necessarily get you to exactly where you want to go]. Thanks for your advice.

Tom Sheppard D-Link upgraded the DIR-655 Router firmware before my iPhone would connect. My suggestion was simply to eliminate a possible point of failure. I once observed a multi million $$ contract fail because of a $50 network card an experience which put me in a position of not accepting anything at face value. I admire you leap of faith.

Really? It seems to me it's more a hop of understanding than a leap of faith.

Many many people in this forum have pointed out:
- their iPhones have worked without problem for a long time (14 months in my case)
- shortly, often immediately, after applying the firmware update, WiFi started to degrade then fail completely
- ultimately many iPhones are showing the greyed-out "No WiFi", which clearly does NOT mean it can't read a signal from a nearby misconfigured router but rather that the iPhone cannot access the on-board WiFi functionality, since from that point on you can't even try to change the WiFi settings
- most importantly, that access to ALL formerly visible access points has failed, at the same time

Beyond the fact that it's patently obvious even to the most casual observer, surely Occam's Razor would hold that the thing that was just changed (the iPhone and its firmware) is far more likely to be at fault rather than the dozens of access points that are suddenly not accessible to me? I can't imagine you're suggesting that the hundreds of people on this forum who have found their iPhones failing within days or even minutes of applying the new firmware all have found themselves in the midst of a collection of spontaneously misconfigured routers?!?

Yes, if my iPhone had NEVER connected to my router, but did connect to others, certainly my first thought would be to look at the router. But that's simply not the case for the vast majority of people reporting their symptoms in this thread.

Clearly, Apple has a problem with the iPhone hardware, or the firmware, or a combination of the two. The only question is whether they will step up to resolve the issue for all iPhone owners whose phones are exhibiting this problem, or whether they will attempt to hide behind a 1-year warranty as though they weren't the ones directly responsible for the massive failures occurring as a result of the firmware updates they pushed out to unsuspecting users. In my case, they did the right thing and provided me with a replacement despite the fact that I was 60 days past warranty. However, the replacement iPhone is beginning to exhibit the same symptoms. (I was forced by iTunes to update the replacement phone's firmware to 3.1.2 in order to be able to do the "Restore from backup" that the "Genius" told me I should do.)

R. Jubenville you have a reasonable argument but failed to point out that the issue does not appear to affect all iPhones.

Any conclusions as to where Apple sit in relation to this issue is at best conjecture or perhaps pure speculation.

Should they so choose Apple have the opportunity of censoring any post reasonable or otherwise.

The other issue to keep in mind that is that there is NO BURDEN OF PROOF imposed on those who I assume are individuals and not bodies corporate are posting real issues in good faith rather than engaging in some other behaviour.

Hi folks,
I was fortunate to escape this major issue until part way through the 3.1 firmware I was transferring files over Italk to my computer (over wifi)
For some reason this one transfer kept failing. I noticed that the wifi kept disconnecting, but then I could not reconnect. I have tried everything...I have read hundreds of posts, updated to 3.1.2 reset everything I can, checked to make sure that my router is up to date...and nothing...

I get Unable to join network ---

But this is also the case on open networks of my neighbors!

Its not fair apple a month after apple care expires...

Is this your way of making me buy a new Iphone? Probably, because if the wifi worked I wouldn't ever consider buying another one. At this point I want a Blackberry 😟

eviolin wrote:
Is this your way of making me buy a new Iphone? Probably, because if the wifi worked I wouldn't ever consider buying another one. At this point I want a Blackberry 😟

Although it's amusing to consider conspiracy theories about Apple forcing people to upgrade by disabling certain features, I bought a new iPhone a month ago and it came with this defect. That's right, it has never worked properly with anything other than Apple routers.

I'm pretty sure it's an easily correctable bug. What bothers me is the time it's taking for Apple to fix this.

Please don't get me wrong. I'm not saying they intentionally make parts or programs to fail as many other businesses do. I really like apple's products. I am very frustrated that I foolishly upgraded to 3.1 If I knew that it would kill certain features that I bought the phone for, I would have been quite content to stay with 3.0

I guess I learned my lesson. I know Apple allows us these updates at our own risk (if we are out of warranty) In the future, I need to read many blogs, posts and decide if the upgrade will do more good then harm.

I really hope that this is a software issue that gets patched up so that all of us loyal customers won't be so disappointed.

I've got this problem with 3.1 just over a week ago until the the 3.1 worked just fine! Now i've updated to 3.1.2 still i've got the same problem. Unable to connect to wireless networks. Sometimes the iPhone can't even see them. Two of the networks i normally use is even based on Airport Extremes and even these networks doesn't work.

Is anyone else experiencing same problems with wifi in the 3.1.2?

I've triede to reinstall iPhone software.
Reset network settings
Reset one of the wireless networks

Any other suggestions?

I had major wifi issues too after upgrading to iPhone 3.1.x. What happens is it connects to the router okay. Then when you try to access a page it might download what appears to be a small amount, then it flipped back into EDGE/basic mobile connection. It would keep connecting then dying over & over. My MacBook & a house PC works fine wirelessly so I know it's not the router.

I'm using a iPhone 2G and it has been a great experience before this. I tried the network restore & the iPhone restore neither of which worked.

Possible FIX:

However this morning I just tried restoring WITHOUT recovering the last backup and now my wifi works perfectly again - maybe that will work for some others?

Apparently, the problems have not been fixed.
Just updated to the 3.1.2 on my iphone 3g, and the wifi bombed.
to make matters worse, my warranty have expired.
just to add, this's my 3rd replacement set of the iphone. software hitches have been prevalent on the phone.

version 3.1 is supposed to provide
"Better iPhone 3G Wi-Fi performance when Bluetooth is turned on"
reckon that's where the problem lies.

My experience has been exactly as described by others. 3.1 caused intermittent failure of WiFi Connectivity, increased battery drain and extreme heating of the device within minutes of the upgrade (3G Model MB048LL. The reset instructions provided intermittent relief.

I stuck it in a zip lock bag in the freezer over night and it worked for several minutes until it heated up. We all SHOULD know that the components are not identical so variation in performance is expected. That explains why some do and some don't. It would be interesting to see a rackup of failures versus model number. There are probably multiple supplers of theoretically "identical" chips and model number or even serial number versus failure would be interesting.

I was told, by a first level support person, that 3.1.2 would solve the problem. It did, the intermittent problem became permanent. The "Settings/General/About/WiFi Address" no longer shows an address it just is "N/A", where previously the address would pop in and out. (Indicative of intermittent component failure.) That rules out the Router theory.

There is a high level of confidence based on my experience that the original 3.1 Firmware overclocked a component, driving operating temperatures to a failure mode. When 3.1.2 was loaded the operating temperatures are now much lower, battery life is a little improved, but the components have likely failed or at least are in a reduced functionality situation. The release of "point 2" so soon after the original is indicative of a known problem.

Also, after 3.1.2; 3G connectivity failed and on a complete Restore there were two error messages indicating firmware crashes that were transmitted to Apple during the re-install process. (wish I would have recorded the details.)

I was able to get through to the second level of Apple support who would not deny my theory but still kept offering the company line. 3.1 is the culprit with a high level of confidence. Oh yeah, warranty expired 1 week prior to download, not good customer service to bail with "It will cost you $199.99 to fix."

Keep bugging the Support people, maybe someone will offer something in response.

I got the same problem after update to 3.1.x (.2). Just before the update everything working ok, then after update Wifi connects for a bit then cuts off and finally after 10mins no access and now fails to find networks at all. It also struggles to find networks at work and other cafes. There is no h/w fault as the device was working perfectly well just prior to the update.

I have contacted the supplier who said that as my warrantly has run out (1 month ago) they cant replace it and had I done the basics e.g. check my WiFi network - pardon I do work in the IT industry and work for a T1 supplier and vendor and know just a bit about networks.

When are Apple going to take this issue seriously after all the same customer reports of problems to get them to issue an OS update to fix the problem or offer a recall to customers' devices they may have fried with the recent update. I for one want a straight answer before I throw the UK Sale of Goods Act (free of defects) at the Apple supplier I purchased the device from. I am a long standing Apple technology and software user and very disappointed at the lack of appreciation of the issue!!!!

Hi. I have the same problem as most users. I had 2.2.1 on my 2G iPhone and wifi worked great. I "mistakenly" upgraded to 3.0 and the wifi was going on and off like crazy, loosing signal very often. Now i upgraded to 3.1 thinking that Apple would have fixed that problem in the update but obviously they didn't. So i see you found a solution, but as I am not technically inclided i was wondering if you could get into a step by step explanation as to how you set that up on your router. I have Cisco Router WRT54GS, but i don't see where i can reserve an ip address for the iphone and i don't know how to do a "static ip (w/gateway (router) and dns)". So could u please give me some steps as without wifi it's just the same has having a nokia 3310 from 10 years ago.

same problem here after upgrading to 3.1.2: failing connection to crypted wifis, connection to open ones until data flows... garantee expired two weeks ago 😟