Problems accessing Free WiFi while running 3.1OS on an iPhone3G

Question

Problems accessing Free WiFi while running 3.1OS on an iPhone3G

I suddenly started experiencing problems accessing free public Wi-Fi networks (at places such as Starbucks, McD's, Corner Bakery Cafe, Noodles & Co, etc) a couple days ago. I re-booted my phone several times; cleared the Safari history, cookies, & cache; AND reset the network settings back to factory default. I'm still not able to successfully log on to any free public networks. In fact, I stopped into an Apple store & could not even access their free "Apple Store" Wi-Fi network.

Before scheduling a so-called "Genius Bar" appointment, I asked one of the Apple staff (many of whom are dressed in beach-bum attire these days) about my problem. She suggested that I upgrade from my current 3.1 Operating System to the current version (which I believe is 4.3).

Has anyone else experienced this phenomena AND did upgrading your software resolve the problem?

(It's sorta bizzare in the sense that I've never experienced difficulty logging on to free public Wi-Fi networks prior to this "episode").

Posted on Jul 1, 2011 11:22 AM

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Answer 1

luvlabs

Level 4

3,620 points

Jul 1, 2011 11:47 AM in response to Sound Scientist

Does your phone even detect WiFi? If it doesn't, then you have a hardware problem. If it does, the easiest thing to do before doing a firmware upgrade is to reset your phone by holding down the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons until your see the Apple logo. If that doesn't do it, do a restore from iTunes. Then, if those don't do the trick, you can upgrade firmware (although I am doubtful that will help).

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Answer 2

Jul 1, 2011 12:30 PM in response to luvlabs

My 3G device IS detecting the presence of Wi-Fi networks. It is NOT allowing me to log on to them. As already explained (above), I've already executed the re-booting/resetting process several times (simultaneously holding the off/sleep/wake button & the home button).

Perhaps I'll try the restore process (from iTunes) BEFORE resorting to the 4.3 Firmware update. ( I do NOT particularly want to upgrade the software - for my own combination of reasons. However, the Apple tech recommends doing it. I would apparently also have to do it to even have a so-called "Genius Bar" person to run a diagnostic on it ).

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Answer 3

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Jul 1, 2011 12:34 PM in response to Sound Scientist

If you restore your phone, and it is in fact an iPhone 3G, iOS 4.2.1 will be installed on your phone. You cannot restore using your current firmware. iOS 4.3.3 is only available for the iPhone 3GS & iPhone 4.

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Answer 4

Jul 1, 2011 1:00 PM in response to wjosten

To wjosten:

Thank You for advising me of those aspects.

The outstanding (unanswered) question still remains: would running an older firmware version (in itself) induce this problem? (Still seems bizarre that this problem would just spontaneously occur).

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Answer 5

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Jul 1, 2011 1:06 PM in response to Sound Scientist

Since WiFi is not grayed out, this would indicate a software problem vs a hardware problem. Standard troubleshooting steps are: Reset, Restore from Backup, Restore as New. So, I would recommend you restore your phone from backup first, if no change, restore as new.

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Answer 6

Jul 5, 2011 6:20 AM in response to wjosten

As it would turn out...

The next time I connected my iPhone 3G to my iTunes-synching-computer, iTunes yielded the following error message: "iTunes could not connect to this iPhone because an unknown error occurred (0xE800000A)."

So I was forced to place the iPhone 3G in to "recovery mode" & to initiate a restoral process.

Here are the prompts (or iTunes message updates) that I received as the iTunes restoral process was running:

*I downloaded the most recent firmware (Version 4.2.1 8C148)

*Extracting Software

*Preparing iPhone for Restore

*Waiting for iPhone

*Preparing iPhone Software for Restore

*Restoring iPhone Software

*Verifying iPhone Software

*Verifying iPhone Restore

*Restoring iPhone Firmware

Ultimately I got a message stating that iTunes had successfully restored the iPhone 3G, that I should leave the phone connected, & that it would soon appear in the iTunes "device pane."

(I'm paraphrasing because I was unable to capture a screen-shot of the exact phrasing of that dialogue box).

Now after all of that...

The problem that led me into all of this mess still does NOT seem to be resolved. The phone IS detecting/recognizing the presence of wireless networks (free public AND secured private ones). However it is NOT allowing me to log on to those free public networks. (In other words, the free networks' "confirmation page" is not launching to then allow me to confirm my desire to log on to the free public network and to start my browsing session in Safari).

I'm about to schedule an appointment with the so-called Apple "Genius Bar." However, I decided to post here first to see if anyone had additional ideas/suggestions. The problem remains as described above (except that the device is now running firmware Version 4.2.1 - 8C148).

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