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No Wifi after iPhone 3.1 upgrade

I upgraded my iPhone 3G to the 3.1 firmware on Wednesday. Since then, my phone can't see any wifi networks. I've tried to do a restore twice, as well as rebooting the phone a couple times, and it hasn't helped. Has anyone else experienced this and found a fix? It's looking like a trip to the Genius bar 😟

iPhone 3G, Other OS, iPhone 3.1

Posted on Sep 13, 2009 12:24 PM

Reply
425 replies

Oct 24, 2009 5:32 PM in response to adnixon

To adnixon I say, upgrade to 3.1.2 and prove that your phone still has wifi!

Even when my phone sees "wifi bars", which is rare since this update, i have no service on safari, youtube, remote... nothing. I use my phone in airplane mode at home, because the cell service is not great. Since upgrading, I'm unable to get on wifi, and it definitely has been a gradual decline over the last several days.

Oct 24, 2009 9:03 PM in response to luckymike

I was an earlier poster..did not see any wifi networks after upgrading to 3.1. My iPhone was 11 months old. I took it to the genius bar/technicians and they upgraded phone to 3.1.2 without any improvement. Said they were aware of other 3.1 problems but not this one. Replaced my iPhone on the spot. New phone, same model, latest software, no problem. I can't complain about customer service.

Oct 24, 2009 9:40 PM in response to stoneskipper

To stoneskipper: I upgraded to 3.1.2 (7D11) on 1 x iPhone Model MB496X and 1 x iPhone Model MB500X both Modem Firmware 05.11.07. The only issue I had to resolve when updating to a Dlink DIR-655 802.11/g/n router that supported iPhone Wi-Fi was to update the Router firmware. Both phones are fully functional and issue free including WiFi.

Oct 25, 2009 12:18 AM in response to stoneskipper

to stoneskipper The issue with the DLink was specific to that Router which straight out of the box the iPhone could see but would not connect with. The Router Firmware upgrade remedied the issue.

When out and about where connectivity is authorised by the Router both my iPhones can see and connected without any issues [Optus + Macdonalds]. But that is not to say that there are not Routers out there which are an issue I simply have not tested each router that I has been within range.

I guess the bottom line is that 3.1.2 and/or iPHone Hardware and/or Routers can result in a loss of WiFi functionality.

Given previous posts it would appear that Apple will replace an iPhone under warranty when they cannot achieve WiFi Connectivity. This would indicate that there is an issue with some but not all iPhones. This would lead me to believe that it may well be model or date of manufacture specific.

Message was edited by: adnixon

Oct 25, 2009 2:54 AM in response to tbreilly

To tbreilly yep it's good that your supplier replaced the phone as it was only 11 months old. On reading the reports further it would seem that the problem exists on early 3G phones hence the problem people are having. Newer models have obviously had some hardware WiFi upgrade in that department therefore seem to work. The problem we are now placed in is that we can't be expected to pay for a new phone if its over 12 months now that Apple have sent out an update - although I am am sure this would help them with sales in the current climate.

When are Apple going to release a statement on this matter?

Oct 25, 2009 9:47 AM in response to wombat1010

Wanna hear the latest?

I took my iPhone into the Apple store re the wifi problem. They checked it out, said its definitely not working, and they said they could replace it on the spot!!! Fantastic!!! Faith restored!!!

Hold on, hold on. Not so fast

Because I bought the phone in Australia and I now live in the UK (been here 3 weeks), Id have to take it back to an Apple store in Aus!!! Even though its still under warranty.

They said they issue phones to customers according to regions and therefore couldnt replace this phone in this region. I asked them what will happen to this one once you issue me a new one? "We dont fix iPhones, we use them for spare parts." And yet they still wouldnt replace it!!! I just dont understand. How does that work for the customer???

Well I bit the bullet and bought an iPhone 3gs. Stay tuned.

Oct 25, 2009 5:05 PM in response to luckymike

I had similar problems with my 3G phone wifi after upgrading to 3.0. 3.1 did not improve things, so I took it to the Apple Store, who naturally knew nothing of this problem, and was given a new iphone.
That was a month ago. Earlier this week, BAM!, this new phone stopping connecting to wifi and nothing I have done gets it going again.
Oddly, the two problems occurred very differently. The first phone could not detect wifi networks at all, started out intermittent and slowly got so that I could NEVER get it to see networks. This second phone sees the network, but forgets passwords, fails to connects and doesn't see any of the wifi's network settings. And it occurred very suddenly: it was working beautifully one day, then not at all the next.
I don't know what the chances are of Apple replacing my phone a second time, but I wonder if the replacement was a refurbished phone with wifi issues in a prior life.
(And, yes, I did everything possible to test out the phone and my wifi network. I've reset/restored/reeverythinged my phone. Other iphones and laptops have no problems with my wifi and my phone can't connect to ANY wifi)

Oct 25, 2009 5:36 PM in response to luckymike

I just returned from the Apple store and they replaced my iPhone 3G on the spot. The tech at the Apple store told me that the WiFi chip probably burned out. My phone is still under warranty until April 2010. I am on my THIRD iPhone.

I love the features on this phone but after experiencing some of the techinical issues and reading some of these posts, I think I may be returning to Blackberry after my term is up. For all you Canadian cell subscribers (Rogers) tech support is useless! I would suggest dealing with Apple directly.

As long as I am under warranty I will push and argue for a new phone each and every time my phone needs to be replaced. Every one should do the same!

Oct 26, 2009 3:51 AM in response to luckymike

Well, I've found a partial solution to the problem on my home network...

I'm using a BT Home Hub router with a small pool of DHCP addresses. Initially I had 20 day leases on the addresses. And that's part of the problem. It seems that the iPhone continually spams the DHCP server (after each sleep) for new IP addresses (or that the HomeHub sees the same iPhone as multiple devices) leaving the old IP address still leased. So, what happens is that all the leases from the DHCP pool are quickly taken by the iPhone zombies and an IP address cannot be supplied = No Wi-Fi.

By increasing the DHCP pool and dropping the lease time to 1 hour I now have a Wi-Fi connection again because the zombie leases expire quickly releasing the DHCP entry for re-use.

I have attempted to set a static IP address for the iPhone within the HomeHub DHCP but it doesn't stick. I have no such issues with other devices so have to assume this is the iPhone at fault.

So, try setting your DHCP leases to the smallest setting you can and increase your DHCP pool. This may help. Of course, we have no control with external routers and it's likely that iPhone users are swamping the DHCP pools of those routers. My girlfriend's 3Gs behaves well on our HomeHub, but my 3G is causing the issues...

Hope this helps some people.

Mark

Oct 26, 2009 8:49 AM in response to Uncle Ook

Note the similar topic:
"Strange WiFi problem on iPhone 3G after 3.0 update"
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2044754
(90 pages of comments so far)

It's feeling more and more like somehow wi-fi chip was fried. 3.0 turned on the fire, 3.1 applied more heat, and 3.1.2 burned it to a crisp.

Or not. Who knows?

I'm resigned to visiting AT&T or Apple (purchased at AT&T, but can I take it to the "Geniuses?").

sigh

Oct 26, 2009 9:59 AM in response to grendelbrood

Don't waste your time on the Router, yet! First go to the menu screen on the phone and tap "Settings", then "General", then "About". Scroll down to "Wi Fi Address". If that says "N/A" then you have a WiFi brick. There should be a number there something like 00:21:E#:##:E#:F#. Similar to the Blue Tooth number below it.

Hopefully, it is still under warranty and you will have to get it replaced.

You can try putting it in a zip-lock bag in the freezer overnight. If it works for a short time till things heat back up that is just another clue. Don't tell the Genius (Stupid) Bar that though.

I took mine to the Genius (Stupid) Bar where he told me "We haven't had any problems reported with 3.1.x, it must be your phone." I mentioned the thousands of posts to the Discussion site and he said; "I don't look there, those people don't know anything" He then restored mine without asking. Then said "Yep, it is busted and yep, it is out of warranty. Two hundred bucks please." I walked down the hall to the AT&T store where the saleman said; "We been having a bunch of problems since Version 3.1 came out."

I am not a conspiracy theorist but do believe a bunch of us had bad timing luck. The clocking increase in speed by Version 3.1 (demonstrated by running hot, battery doesn't last as long) most likely cooked a component and the timing very shortly after warranty expiration is just a coincidence of thousands of these things out there at about the one year timefarme

If enough people pitch fits maybe Apple will get a conscience to us out of warranty and make an offer, but don't bet on it, because it would set a precident that the money counters wouldn't like.

Good Luck

No Wifi after iPhone 3.1 upgrade

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