iphone doesn't connect automatically to strongest network

Question

Level 1

90 points

iphone doesn't connect automatically to strongest network

This in more of a nuissance than a straight up problem. Wondering if anyone else experiences this.

I have a two story house which requires separate upstairs and downstairs wi-fi networks to get good signal strength. Passwords to both are of course stored in the phone. When I go from one floor to the other, the phone stays connected to the 1st network despite struggling along with one bar while a 5 bar network is available to it. I have to manually go through settings to switch networks.

My Macbook is smart enough to choose the strongest network when I go between floors. Do iPhones just not do this?

Alternatively, is there a way to merge both floors' networks into one somehow?

iPhone 4, iOS 4.3.3

Posted on Aug 11, 2011 10:19 PM

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Answer 1

Meherally

Level 4

1,123 points

Aug 12, 2011 12:30 AM in response to jdj74

Usually iphone or even mac joins a previously known network automatically. I have not seen my mac switch automatically from one to another unless it drops the weak one due to signal strength.

Yes, you can extend your wifi through the house making it just one network. Not sure what routers etc you are using but for Apple's airport networks, you can take look at this http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Apple_AirPort_Networks_Early2009.pdf

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Answer 2

jdj74 Author

Level 1

90 points

Aug 14, 2011 8:36 AM in response to Meherally

That's what I'm hoping the iPhone would do. When the signal strength of one known network drops and another rises (e.g. going from upstairs to downstairs), I wish it would switch to the stronger one automatically. Does it cling to the original network as long as there's some shred of a signal?

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Answer 3

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Aug 14, 2011 8:49 AM in response to jdj74

jdj74 wrote:

Does it cling to the original network as long as there's some shred of a signal?

Yes. The iPhone's WiFi is not as sophisticated as the Airport card in your Mac. You should extend your network rather than have two networks.

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Answer 4

jdj74 Author

Level 1

90 points

Aug 14, 2011 9:11 AM in response to wjosten

Too bad. I find that the iPhone does the same thing with 3G. It would rather struggle with one bar of 3G signal rather than switch to a better performing Edge signal.

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