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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

Reply
21 replies

Mar 21, 2011 12:13 PM in response to punktlandig

punktlandig wrote:
*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


Read your description, what you just described indicated that persistent Wi-Fi works the same in 4.2.1 as in 4.3. Plug the device into external power and Wi-Fi stays connected, otherwise disable cellular data.

Mar 21, 2011 1:21 PM in response to punktlandig

Thanks for your fast replys. I know my post is a little bit long and probably i was not clear enough. The point is that switching the cellular data off does not the trick in 4.3, only in 4.2.1.

I agree, that plug in a power cord works on both os, but that can not be the meaning of wireless.

Can you confirm, that on your iPhone 4 with iOS 4.3 the wi-fi is persistent during sleep (i.e. you receive push notification for e-mails) while wi-fi is on an cellurar data off and the device is not charging?

Mar 27, 2011 8:06 AM in response to punktlandig

I just updated 1 iPhone 4 from iOS 4.3 to iOS 4.3.1 and the problem still exists. Wi-Fi drops after 10-20 seconds after locking the screen even if cellular data and 3G is disabled.

We tested the following with cellular data disabled but no success:
- update to 4.3.1
- enable 3G (just to give it a try)
- disable 3G
- forget this network
- reset network settings
- restore to 4.3.1 (set up as new iPhone)

I am very disapointed and wondering if someone gets a persistent Wi-Fi connection with iOS 4.3.x without having the device on external power.

Apr 10, 2011 11:22 AM in response to punktlandig

Exactly the same problem for me.
Since I updated my iPhone 3Gs to iOS 4.3, my wi-fi signal is "lost". I was used to surf the web from my bedroom, 10 meters away from router, with full signal. Now I can't even see the network.....
I hoped for this bug fix (as well as the sleep button one) when 4.3.1 was going to be released.. BUT NOTHING!

APPLE DO SOMETHING, QUICKLY!!

Apr 11, 2011 4:30 AM in response to punktlandig

Thanks for all your replies. I see that we are not alone with this bug.

Since iOS 4.3.1 did not the trick, please help to inform Apple about our situation by leaving a message at http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html to request the persistent wi-fi functionality back.

Probably it is simply a switch to turn on or off wifi while in sleep. Perhaps it is the same problem with lost vpn connections after the iPhone goes into sleep mode. It is business relevant and Apple promote this feature in their advertisements.


<Edited by Host>

Apr 19, 2011 8:04 AM in response to punktlandig

Did someone had better luck with iOS 4.3.2? Here's still the same: No persistent Wi-Fi while in sleep mode and cell data off (except with plugged in power source).


It is really frustrating. I am wondering how people connect with Facetime? Do they call each other by phone to tell em: please connect your wi-fi, i am calling you soon by Facetime?

Apr 26, 2011 11:24 AM in response to punktlandig

Help, I become desperate on this situation and the only winner is the phone company billing us for unnecessary data transfer over 3g.


Please, if you read this, leave a note, if you experience the same wi-fi problem or not. Every little piece of information is very welcome. If you dont want to register, just send an e-mail to persistentwifi@mailinator.com (but be aware that everyone can see your e-mail adress).


I am squeezing all search engines since weeks, but it seams that no one else talks about this problem and according to apples advertisement, wi-fi should still be used for push notification if cellular data is turned off or not available. Because of a very short article about a (probably) similar problem with background VOIP, we tried again with the following results.



First:

- update to iOS 4.3.2

- disconnect from usb

- turn off cellular data

- send mail (push, inhouse)

= iPhone signalize new mail (audio+vibration)

- press power/sleep button

= ping lost after 20 sec.

- send mail (push, inhouse)

= no reaction from iPhone after another 10 seconds

- press home button

= no wi-fi, wi-fi re-connect after 5-10 seconds


Second:

- restore to 4.3.2 (as new iPhone)

- disconnect from usb

- turn off cellular data

- enable code lock

- configure wi-fi

- configure mail

- send mail (push, inhouse)

= iPhone signalize new mail (audio+vibration)

- press power/sleep button

= ping lost after 15 sec.

- send mail (push, inhouse)

= no reaction from iPhone after another 10 seconds

- press home button

= no wi-fi, wi-fi re-connect after 10 seconds


Last:

- DFU (Direct Firmware Upgrade) to 4.3.2 (as new iPhone)

- same procedure as Second, same results (no persistent wi-fi)



Thanks for your input.

no persistent Wi-Fi since iOS 4.3

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