Connection timeout with Apple WiFi devices

Still problems...

Did type a much more detailed lengthy reply, but unfortunately I temporarily lost connection (through ethernet cable link as the cable fell out) and surprisingly Safari in Lion completely and entirely navigated away from the 'reply' text box within the discussion thread to a completely new blank grey webpage saying only that there's no network connection. Usually the current webpage would just sit there until the user navigated away, therefore the detailed reply I typed out had completely vanished and was unfortunately presented with having to log back into my account with Apple ID for the forum - most frustrating! But in short, I'm still experiencing connection timeout problems using WiFi.

Thanks for info.

With reference to the iPhone's personal hotspot problem; the recent iOS v4.3.5 (8L1) update seems to have made the personal hotspot feature functional again from it's mysterious non-functioning behaviour after installing iOS 4.3.4 from before.

OS X 10.7.1 update may have helped the Wifi conection in general, but I have yet to test the time capsule as I kind'of gave up on it and packed it away. Although the MBP is the new 2011 model, the airport express and time capsule are the old version-1 models (non dual-band) and I'm sorry to say that the time capsule's connection has never been the best for long-term consistency.

The airport express now works, but can sometimes suddenly loose conection after some days for no reason and can't be seen/listed under the WiFi list when this happens, despite having SSID broadcasted. However in all fairness this may just be down to excessive interference in the area. Maybe at some point I'll invest in a brand new mullti-diversity, Dual-Band, 'N' standard WiFi router!

Regrettably I jumped the gun there... I'm still getting "A connection timeout occured" when tethering, via trying to connect using the iPhone's personal hotspot WiFi feature. Yet I can connect to the internet via the iPhone's USB-Sync cable no problem whatsoever, but if attempting to use the iPhone's WiFi hotspot then it's a no go.

It's absolutely important to point out that it had worked flawlessly everytime when the iPhone was running iOS 4.2.5 (or 4.2.6). But the problems regarding the iPhone's personal hotspot only started after updating from iOS 4.2.5 (or 4.2.6). The MacBook Pro model 'MacBookPro8,3 early 2011' is running OS X Lion 10.7.1 and the iPhone is less than a meter away from the MacBook Pro to ensure signal strength and an improved chance over any possible interference. Also the connection timeout problem occured in OS X 10.6.8 as well as Lion 10.7 and 10.7.1

Hate the thought of having to try and restore iPhone if Apple can't address this. The question arrises, why did the personal hotspot work flawlessly when running iOS 4.2.5 (or 4.2.6) and not after subsequent updates.

I can confirm my iPhone now currently shows the same version as yours at 4.3.5 (8L1) and no surprise, the problem still persists.

I know not of any workaround and have tried everything I can think of, however I don't suspect any immediate solution due to the problem being mentioned frequently on the net. As stated, all was perfect in iOS version 4.2.5 (or 4.2.6) I never, not once experienced a single timeout problem when using the Personal hotspot feature on that iOS version.

Amazingly Apple have allowed this problem to run-on for months now, approximately 5 months according to the first post date for the following thread created on the MacRumours site:-

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=13213034&posted=1#post13213034

Probably one of the most frustrating problems, as I found the Personal WiFi Hotspot to be a valuable feature.

Note: Initially I made the jump from the happy and working iOS 4.2.5 (or 4.2.6) to the troublesome iOS 4.3.4 (and then 4.3.5) at the exact same time I upgraded to Mac OS X 10.7 Lion; therefore initial impressions appeared to be that Lion was the cause of the timeout problems... hence this post being initially started in the Lion forum. However I later booted from an external OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard drive to test the personal WiFi hotspot feature (with iPhone iOS 4.3.5) and the problem still persited immediatelly implying to me that it was related to any iOS superseeding 4.2.5 (or 4.2.6), because iOS 4.2.5 (or 4.2.6) did not have this timeout problem when I was on OS X 10.6.8 and using personal WiFi hotspot from iPhone.

On the other hand; the intermittent problem with occassional unreliable and non-consitent nature of WiFi connection being experienced with both my Time Capsule and Airport Express does appear to have happened since OS 10.7 and therefore is related to Lion.

I envisage Apple are fully aware of this and can't imagine that they are not in light of this problem being mentioned and reported in many places elswhere on the internet.

Why they allow this problem to continue seems to defy believe and is beyond me. Although Apple have their ways and for the 'bigger picture' understandably usually keep us in the dark with regards to many issues, however in this case I believe nothing can justify why they should put us through so much pain regarding this issue. The 'personal hotspot' feature/setting is there to use - it previously did work absolutely flawelessly through WiFi (cable free with iPhone in Pocket - beautifull..!) - it still works if using the iPhone's USB Sync cable (while balancing the iPhone somewhere nearby while MacBook Pro is on your lap with cable connected)... however the WiFi connection type side of it is an absolute bag of hurt and there's really no need for it to still be not working months down the line. This problem gives a headache and I feel like I'm having my teeth pulled out.

I've even upgraded properly to the developer's iOS 5 beta 6 in a vain attempt to see if the 'connection timeout' problem has been addressed and erradicated, but unfortunately I have to report that the problem is still there and even worse so as the MacBook Pro doesn't always see the iPhone 4 straight away over WiFi in order to attempt to connect to it. When it does see it in order to attempt connection, regrettably its still the same old 'connection timeout'. Therefore all I can say is that I truly whish I didn't update the iOS on my iPhone 4 because the personal WiFi hotspot feature is a feature I use the most and all those affected are truly suffering now.