iPhone 3G / Wifi problem / 4.2.1

I went to the local Apple Store (Boulder, CO) this afternoon with the same problem. The tech at the Genius Bar told me to take my 3G home, connect it to iTunes, then do a full restore, making sure to select the option to set it up as a "new iPhone" at the end. I did all this and the problem didn't go away: my iPhone can't see any of the nearby networks, even though my iPad and MacBook Pro can do so. Interestingly, the store had previously swapped my 3G for a brand new one when the old phone developed the same problem -- right after I updated its OS to 4.2.1.

My Wifi on the 3G is totally dead. It can't detect any WIFI networks at all incl. McD and Starbucks! I have done everything. incl. resetting the phone.

I also just realized that there is a blank in the ICCID area. What happened?

I propose that everyone checks the same on the iPhone...Settings-General-About.

We have terrible after sales service in Malaysia supported by the Telco/Carrier who knows nothing. Apple do not have Genius or any representative here.

Message was edited by: Gizzi69

Is anyone else experiencing these problems with other devices running iOS 4.2.1, or is it just iPhone 3G users?

I am having enormous problems using public wifi networks on both my iPhone 3GS and my iPad. When I attempt to connect either of these devices to a reputable and reliable pubic wifi service with a strong signal they will work fine about 25% of the time, but the remaining 75% of the time I get a variety of problems including:
- Displaying a simple "Unable to connect" message.
- Connecting but refusing to send or receive any traffic, or sending and receiving so slowly that it is unusable.
- Spontaneous disconnections within a few minutes of being connected.

Both my iPhone and iPad appear to work fine on my home wifi network, but anywhere else is hit and miss to the point where it's not even worth trying.

Is this related to the problems that are being widely reported by other users, or could this possibly be a separate issue?

I had the same problem for months now.
I even sent an email to the support team and i dont get any reply up until now.

Since the Telco/Carrier cannot provide anything i try to call few local repair center and they actually want to charge me RM380 to fix the wifi. I actually google some DIY way to fix the wifi but not dare to do it by myself (heat gun and oven fix) :P

Why is it in other country they can easily get a replacement for new phone/macbook etc even if they just get a small scratch.

I am now on my third replacement iPhone 3GS, the first I had the screen died after only two days so took it to genius bar and they replaced it, the second one after a few months the wifi stopped working completely it would not pick up any networks and so I took it to the genius bar and they replaced it again, unfortunately I had the replacement in my pocket when I fell into a lake and it got very wet, I had to pull it apart and dry it out and thankfully it had no problems once dry. That was about 6 months ago and the phone has worked fine until last week when it started loosing connection to wifi and I had to keep putting in the security code to rejoin then the wifi stopped working altogether, I tried resetting network settings and that worked for a day but then it went again, then a reset and then after that a restore as a new iPhone nothing worked so I found thaws forums and saw that some people had success after putting their iPhone in the freezer, I thought what the **** and put it in a bag in the freezer last night for about 45 mins. Took it out and it connected to the wifi immediately, it has now been online for about 12 hours !! Anyone have any idea why this works ?! Is it a long term fix ? I have no warranty after my lake escapades unfortunately.

You seem to be quit tech aware Adnixon, the usage of the word shallow was not an attack on you. I apologise.

But it is rather annoying when someone constantly says it's not the software but the user or insinuates it.

Same as bugs in computers, not all are effected, if 5% of the product has the same problem then even 5% of the worlds I products is a lot. I know 2 more people with the exact problem but do not wish to troll forums looking for answers or put questions up on the internet.

Had the same problem with my iP4 after the latest upgrade - no wifi - turned off the wireless router for about 2 minutes, switched it back on and bob's your uncle!
iP4 is back on track with wifi working as it should. Don't think it is an Apple problem, more of a technology glitch!
Absolutely no problem with the iPad after the latest upgrade.

I am having the exact same problems too in that my iphone refuses to use the Wifi connection. I can connect to the wirless router sometimes and get the little wifi symbol (sometimes with only 1-2 bars, which is odd as I always used to get full bars since the wireless router is like 5 feet away from me), but as soon as I try to actually get any data, I either get a "cannot load" in Youtube or the connection switches to 3G/Edge in Safari.

I have the iphone 3G, and had perfect wifi connection with my Netgear DG834G prior to updating the iOS to 4.2. I have not changed any settings on the router, other devices still connect perfectly as normal through wifi, so it must logically be the iphone. Since this only happened after 4.2, it must be a bug in the software (unless 4.2 has somehow physically damaged the wifi receiver).

I have tried soft reset, hard reset, network reset, but nothing solves the problem.

Message was edited by: rofldinho

Just adding my frustration to this forum. Lost my wifi with the upgrade of software also. Alarm clock also stopped working. My password is correct but iphone says it is incorrect. Another user who did not upgrade can use the same password and get in. I have tried most of the suggestions in this forum with no success. Apple needs to fix this.

I am also unable to use wifi after the update. Very frustrating!

I found that my Iphone4 is getting disconnected from Belkin N+ wifi unlike all other wifi devices in my house. I tried many advices but finally the problem solved When I kept the wifi channel manual (and not auto) and I select channel 1 then 2 then 3......11 till I found one channel (channel 10) working perfect without disconnection. It seems that when iphone4 is receiving more than one wifi signal working in similar channel problem starts to connect to original network.

Message was edited by: Talab

Hi Talab

I also set my iPhone LAN IP address lease never to expire it will be either in the series 192.168.0.nn or 10.1.1.nn dependant upon your router that way you will always have the same channel and ip address. Ant..

Hi Ap41 always a good idea to cold boot all networked equipment after any software upgrade on any of the devices. Ant..

Hi Skeeterwckt

Many have reported that this symptom is a solder issue that can be resolved by reflowing the solder connections. If you search this support forum/s you will get plenty of information on how this is achieved. I also believe that a video has been posted in YouTube..Ant..

Hi radcon_san

It was reported in our National News today that the Alarm Clock issue that affects the 1st and 2nd of January is a known Apple issue and that they have reported that a bug fix will be delivered in the next days. Ant..