3GS won't stay connected to wifi. yes i tried that. yes and that too...

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3GS won't stay connected to wifi. yes i tried that. yes and that too...

Got my phone in Dec 2009. every single update has been flawless. yay! Recently however, regardless of what steps i take, i cannot connect or stay connected to any wifi signal. thus far i have done the following:

Popped the sim card out and in (this works wonders when you can't get a 3G phone signal)
reset network settings
restored phone w/no backup applied to it
restored phone w/ backup applied to it
reset router
reset modem

it doesn't seem to matter if i am at home attempting to connect to my own wifi or out and about where wifi may be offered free. My wife has a 3G and she connects just fine anywhere we go. mine, nope. denied. fail.

the only time i am ever able to get some semblance of being connected to wifi is when the phone is less than 3 feet from the router. the moment i am 10' or more, i lose the signal... and my wife's 3G works just fine. It's as slow as $#17 if you try to do anything more than listen itunes music on it but other than that, hers connects to wifi.

no, i haven't dropped the phone. no, it hasn't gotten wet.

so... thoughts? did my iPhone just iFail? Of course i've got every android fanboi saying this is just Apple's way of making you upgrade to the next model. they follow how long you've been with your current phone and when they deem it time you spend more money, they fugger with your hardware. one day you're fine, next you're hosed. Of course i bring up the case of my wife's phone connecting but then i remember her phone just runs slow doing everything else she wants to try to do on it. makes ya wonder, at the least.

iPhone 3GS, iOS 5.1.1, 3GS wont stay connected to wifi.

Posted on May 12, 2012 9:24 PM

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Answer 1

MJRX8 Author

Level 1

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May 13, 2012 8:31 AM in response to MJRX8

i honestly expect absolutely no resolution to this. i've followed the "idiots guide to making a connection" as well as done everything which has been repeatedly... incessantly vomited on these forums time and again.

the closest Apple outlet is an hour away. i may go out there and see what the iDiots there have to say about it. I am tempted though in the mean time to jail break the phone and see if it works as it used to. if it does, then there is truly only one explaination and that is the android fanbois were right.

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Answer 2

KiltedTim

Level 10

231,802 points

May 13, 2012 9:10 AM in response to MJRX8

If you do decide to jailbreak it, don't bother taking it to the Apple store. They won't touch it.

As for what may actually fix the problem, check for firmware updates for your router. Try removing the security from your router temporarily and see if you can maintain a connection to it when the network is open.

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Answer 3

brad805

Level 5

7,407 points

May 13, 2012 9:40 AM in response to MJRX8

Weak wifi most often is due to Connector #6 coming loose from the logic board. This is a simple snap top connector. It can be simply pressed down back to logic board, but must be carefully lined up first, but simple to do. Genius will do this for free at my Apple Store. Before opening and during any repair of iPhone 3GS make sure it is OFF or you can damage Display Circuitry.

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Answer 4

MJRX8 Author

Level 1

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May 13, 2012 10:52 AM in response to KiltedTim

same old router i've used since before i got my phone.

my wife's phone connects to it perfectly. my laptop connects to it perfectly. my phone used to connect to it perfectly up until last week.

as for open connection, as stated in my initial email, i cannot maintain a connection anywhere there is open wifi, be it here or else where. i was at the Tilted Kilt last night, they have free wifi for all patrons. my friend who was with me has a 4 and he connected to their open wifi no prob. i put my phone down next to his and my phone didnt even see the connection, yet he had full stength.

as for jail breaking it... i can turn it and return it and if i take it in, it wont matter. they wont try to diagnose it while turned. however, if restored, they will address it as if nothing ever was amiss. regardless, the phone is long out of warranty so that entire notion is moot.

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Answer 5

MJRX8 Author

Level 1

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May 13, 2012 10:53 AM in response to brad805

@Brad805, guess i'll take a drive and have them check it. thx! will let you know when i know what i know there is to know 🙂

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Answer 6

MJRX8 Author

Level 1

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May 23, 2012 6:30 PM in response to MJRX8

went to the "Genius Bar"... the best i got was, "you've got debrise in your phone." yea, no sh!7... it's nearly 3 years old. there's dirt here on Earth. guess what? yep, it gets everywhere, like it or not. admit it or not.

So she took it apart and blew it out and returned it to me... nothing resolved. wasnt fixed but as of now, the inside is debrise-free!

So... i spoke to one of the other techs and she toddled off to hock over priced cases to some tween. showed him this thread and your recommendation about checking Connector #6. he looked at me and said, "Wow, i didn't even know there was a connector 6."

genius...

the solution is going boil down to waiting for the iPhive (i call naming rights should that get used) to come out in Oct.

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