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punktlandig Author

Level 1

0 points

no persistent Wi-Fi since iOS 4.3

*Since we updated to iOS 4.3 the Wi-Fi connection is not persistent anymore.* We contacted Apple Support 2 times today with 2 different answers. We think it is an undocumented change of Wi-Fi behavior to save battery life but we are wondering if others have the same trouble.

*In iOS 4.2.1* to have push notifications over Wi-Fi instead of the carrier you can leave the iphone connected to a power source or just disable mobile data and 3G. The second way you will miss MMS but are still connected to Wi-Fi persistent even if the iPhone is in sleep mode (Display locked). According to Apple, the carrier is priorized over wi-fi for push notification.

*In iOS 4.3* there is no way to have Wi-Fi persistent. It drops the connection after about 20 seconds - with a wireless-consuming app after 5 minutes the latest. The only chance to stay wireless is to connect to a power cord (that in most cases is a wire). So persistent wireless is not available anymore.

With iOS 4.3 you therefore have to use your cell carrier for push notifications an the according mail transfers even if you are within your organization with WPA2-Enterprise and Exchange Environment. This is slower, less secure and lets not forget to say unnecessary expensive.

We just informed Apple by feedback form. How is your Experience? Can you confirm this behavior or has someone a solution for it?

Thanks
punktlandig

iPhone 4 black 16GB, iOS 4, iOS 4.3 and iOS 4.2.1

Posted on Mar 21, 2011 11:37 AM

21 replies

punktlandig Author

Level 1

0 points

May 9, 2011 11:52 PM in response to punktlandig

Just tested iOS 4.3.3 on iPhone 4 and still no persistent Wi-Fi while cellular data off.

punktlandig Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 20, 2011 1:38 AM in response to punktlandig

Persistent Wi-Fi is back with iOS 5 like it was from 4.0 to 4.2.1

Nov 3, 2011 8:12 AM in response to punktlandig

No it's not.

iPhone 4S here, iOS 5.0.0. Wi-fi disables itself automatically when the phone goes to sleep.

And since 3g data consumes WAY more battery than wi-fi, it has a BIG impact on battery life.

Would it be that hard to implement a software switch to manage the wi-fi connection policy? Come on!

punktlandig Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 3, 2011 9:12 AM in response to Firebringer

I'm sorry to hear that Firebringer. We tested it with 2 iPhone 4 16GB black iOS 5.0 (9A334). Both are ok after the update.

I assume you turn off the cellular data and 3g an let wi-fi on only and that you test it by pinging your iPhone's IP address. If the 4S is really acting different than the 4, I am pretty happy to not have one yet.

By the way. If I go to Settings, Common, Network (don't know the english menu labels exactly) there is a description right under "cellular data" describing that one has to turn of cellular data to have push etc. only over wi-fi (see my screenshot below). Do you see that to on your 4S?

Concerning the battery problem I heard today, that apple is going to bring an update for that soon. And I pray that they do not turn off the persistent wi-fi again. As you say: a switch can not be that difficult.

luis144

Level 1

6 points

Dec 27, 2011 8:30 AM in response to punktlandig

I have an iPhone 4S with iOS 5.0.1, and need to keep 3G off to save battery, so I keep my wifi on.

I've been doing a simple ping and realized that is not persistent, but it also wont stay off al the time.

The behavior is very random:

With the phone active Wifi is active (obvious)

When locked it maintains the wifi active for 20 secs

Wifi goes off for 20 secs

Wifi goes on for 20 secs

Wifi goes off for 20 secs

Wifi goes on for 20 secs

and keeps repeating that behavior...

Sometimes the cicles are longer or shorter than 20 secs, I've seen 5 secs cicles and 1 minute cicles, I really would like to know what services are waking up the wifi, or what this cicles depend on.

Hope this helps.

ehar

Level 1

0 points

Feb 26, 2013 1:56 PM in response to punktlandig

Ok, I am a new Apple iPod owner and have encountered this same problem. I have a solution that DOES work, but may be difficult (though the solution is easy) for many of you to use. However, it will work.

The issue, of course, is that once the ipod (I assume iPhone also) goes to sleep it closes down wifi. Now, it closes down provided no application is using it, which is the key. If the wifi is being used in the background the wifi connection remains open for a period of time after the final wifi use. Applications you may have running such as Skype for example will not be considered as using the wifi because no date is being passed; unless you are getting a call the software is just running, etc.

What I did that has worked is to keep the wifi alive: In fact my phone (Skype) just rang while in sleep mode and locked as I was typing.

I am a web developer. I created a blank web page, very light (white screen and one word), with a 2m 15sec REFRESH. I then visited the page using the Safari browser. That's it. Every 2m 15sec the browser (on my iPod) refreshes that page which sends data via wifi. The iPod detects these couple of packets using wifi every 2m 15sec and keeps the connection open. I have the ipod set to sleep after 2 minutes, so it does have time to go to sleep before a refresh (thus I get the power saving sleep mode).

If you are using the browser that's fine, just remember to visit the refresh page when your done. Simple.

If you have questions you can reach me at Eddie Studios web design.

no persistent Wi-Fi since iOS 4.3