Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Unable to connect iPhone 4 properly to Time Capsule

I am unable to properly connect my iPhone 4 (running iOS 4.2.1) to my home network running a Time Capsule. My iPhone 4 shows the network. If I click on the network to connect, often after entering the password I am told the iPhone is unable to join the network. Sometimes, I can connect, and I get realistic values for the phone's IP address, DNS, and other items, but after a short time, I can no longer do anything that requires WiFi. The WiFi symbol still shows, and I still appear to be connected, but surfing a web page, going to Facebook, etc., just hangs.

I completely re-set the Time Capsule back to factory defaults. I've also completely wiped the iPhone clean and restored it from scratch (as well as resetting all network data, and forgetting my home network and re-adding it). None of these procedures has changed the problem behavior.

I've gone to an Apple Store and spoken with a Genius. While there seemed to be no problem with my phone, I was given a new one (great service). The problem remains.

The Time Capsule is a simultaneous Dual Band II. It runs 802.11 n only on 5 GHz, and 802.11 b/g only on 2.4 GHz. The two networks have different names [MyNet and MyNet (5 GHz)]. It runs WPA2 security. It is set for wide channels (turning this off did not help), and channels are selected automatically.

I have several Macs, an iPad (running iOS 4.2.1), an AirPort Express N, and an Apple TV (first generation), an Apple TV (second generation) that have no trouble getting on MyNet (5GHz). I also have a Blackberry Bold 9000 that has no trouble getting on MyNet (using 802.11 g).

The Time Capsule is running in bridge mode because my home internet is FiOS, and comes into the house as a MoCA cable connection without ethernet, so the FiOS router supplies the ethernet connection to the Time Capsule. The FiOS router supports WiFi, but only 802.11 b/g, so I usually turn it off and let the TIme Capsule run the WiFi. The FiOS router performs all DNS activities.

This whole setup worked flawlessly until recently. I have the Time Capsule visible through Back to My Mac everywhere I go, and all my other devices connect just fine -- as the iPhone used to do. (Could it be the recent firmware upgrade for the Time Capsule?) Everything still works flawlessly, except for the iPhone 4.

When I enable the FiOS router's independent WiFi (b/g), running WAP2 with the same password as my Time Capsule network, and have just the iPhone connect to that network, all is perfect.

I'd prefer not to have to run the FiOS WiFi network JUST for the iPhone, since I'm in a fairly dense development with LOTS of WiFi near me and want to avoid even more congestion.

Does anyone have any suggestions? The Apple Geniuses say the next step is to replace my Time Capsule, which I will do after backing up its backups, but it seems that there is a problem between iOS 4.2.1 and the new (7.5.2 Time Capsule) software. I'm guessing, since I can sometimes connect but then lose connection, that this is some kind of WAP2 problem, but all my other devices work just fine. I do not want to run a non-protected network, or a network protected with WEP or WAP, since they are older and less secure protocols.

Thanks in advance.

MBP (late 2008); MBA (original); Mac mini (late 2009) running Win 7 w/BootCamp, Mac OS X (10.6.4), Displays: Dell 30", Apple 24" LED Cinema; iPhone 3GS/32; TV; TimeCapsule 1 TB

Posted on Jan 3, 2011 10:48 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jan 3, 2011 11:44 AM

I have a Time Capsule dual band which I purchased and have been using before the iPhone 4 arrived on the release date. Since the iPhone 4 supports "N" on 2.4 GHz only, my dual band is set up as 802.11a/n (5GHz) and 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz) with my iPhone 4 connected to my 2.4 GHz "N" network, and my MBP connected to my 5 GHz "N" network. I'm using WPA2 Personal for the network encryption and I'm using an 8 character passcode.

Can you connect your iPad to either network - your 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz network? If so, the only difference with the iPad's wireless card is it doesn't require connecting to a 2.4 GHz "N" network as with the iPhone 4, so this does not lend itself to there being a problem with your Time Capsule - not unless your iPad can't connect or maintain a connection to the 2.4 GHz "N" network as well.
62 replies

Jul 30, 2012 1:32 PM in response to Linda Custer

After reading tons of posts I realised that there is a problem with TC and iphone 4s compatability. The error we are all receiving when we are attempting to connect to a secured wifi on TC are not password or encryption problems. They are pure network problems. It is very simple - iphone 4s for some reason is not accepting the dhcp settings which are provided by TC. The work around here is just to manually set the network on iphone.

Do not forget to set dns as well.


Hope this will help other people with same problem to waste time in searching for a solution.


Cheers!

Sep 10, 2012 1:49 PM in response to Linda Custer

So I was having the same issue with my iPhone 4 and TC 7.6.1 Firmware. I was finally able to get my iPhone 4 to connect to my TC wifi today after coming across this thread (thank you!).


What I did:


Had setup a second dlink router just to be able to use wifi with my iPhone. As suggested above, I changed from DHCP to static while still connected to this d-link network. I then seleced "other" from network settings on my iPhone 4 and typed in the (hidden) SSID of my TC wifi and assigned a manual IP address, subnet and DNS etc. My iPhone was now able to detect (which it never was able to for months since purchasing the TC). I entered the password and connection successful!! Note that the iPhone 4 settings defaulted back to DHCP and connection is still maintained - hope this helps those experiencing the same issue.

Unable to connect iPhone 4 properly to Time Capsule

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.