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iPhone5 issues with WPA2/AES Wifi

I am using a Dual- Band Linksys E2500 router with WPA2 Personal (WPA2/AES) enabled. None of my other apple products (iPhone4S, iPhone4, iPad2 and the New iPad) have had problems connecting to my router. But everything changed when I got my iPhone5.


Basically the iPhone5 is capable to connect to the WPA2-Personal wifi network but after 1-2min starts to drop network packages, hence, I cannot browse any page (not even the router page 192.168.1.1) even though I still have a valid IP and the wifi icon is shown on my top screen.


I pinged the phone from my router diagnostics page and while I can browse the web with the iPhone5, I can see no packages lost. However after 1-2min the iPhone5 cannot open any websites while still connected to the wifi, it starts to show network packages lost.


A workaround that I found was to create a "Guest" network (which is not WPA2-Personal) or even WEP. There are no issues when connecting to these alternate networks.


Can anyone out there confirm this issue?? Is it software or hardware related?? It seems to me there are issues with WPA2-Personal (WPA2/AES)


Thanks in advance,

C

iPhone 5, iOS 6

Posted on Sep 23, 2012 6:50 AM

Reply
544 replies

Sep 24, 2012 8:58 AM in response to C4RLOCO

Apple have recognized the 802.11n WPA2 encryption issue! I have just received phone calls from various members of applecare and their iPhone issue department and apple now know there is an issue. I have been asked to return and swap my phone tomorrow, my old iPhone5 will then be isolated and taking away for testing to see if they can find the issue.

Hopefully they do and its something that can be easily fixed via a software update, even if it cant at least they have admitted there is a problem.

Sep 24, 2012 9:01 AM in response to C4RLOCO

I just got off the phone with Apple support. The rep was a little rushed with me but said that this is a known issue, and that Apple is working on a software fix for it.


I told her this was contradictory to what I'm seeing here with everyone getting replacement phones but she insisted this is software related and that a fix will be forthcoming and that I will not need to get my phone replaced.


I have an appointment for a Macbook issue on Thursday at my Apple store so I'll see what the local geniouses have to say then.

Sep 24, 2012 11:06 AM in response to C4RLOCO

Folks,

Is very important to report this problem to Apple Support. The more people complaint about it the faster this problem will be solved.


CNET and MacRumors are putting us in the spotlight so we can have a chance to be heard. I would like to hear from Apple if this is a software or hardware issue. I don't mind waiting for an iOS6 update but I do mind waiting and hear is a hardware issue and then find out that my replacement will be a refurbished one by the time the acknowledge the issue.

Sep 25, 2012 3:20 PM in response to C4RLOCO

hey guys... so i started having this issue right away on friday when i tried to start up the phone for the first time. i didnt have a backup to restore from, so it was right away a fresh phone. thanks to you guys, i eventually narrowed it down to this particular issue, and went to the apple store to see the genius. they replaced the phone... but that phone had the same issues with AES encryption. all other encryption seems to work fine. so i returned to the apple store, and got a second replacement. that one also is having the same issue with AES encryption!


the genius that gave me the second replacement told me that applecare was aware of the issue and the engineers were working on figuring out the issue, but could not see anything conclusive at the time. Theories ranged from certain models of serial numbers to specific wireless routers being the source of the problem. I was instructed to call Applecare and tell them my issue, so that they can compile more data to lead them to the source of the problem. So you should all do that too.


The applecare person, after i explained all my previous steps in detail, eventually managed to find a thread from her supervisor regarding the work the engineers were doing, but did not have any definite conclusive evidence yet, nor any timeline on when a solution would be found. We decided to hold onto this faulty phone for now, but have them call me back in a week with whatever information the engineers may have discovered. Apparently the more people that have this problem reported to applecare, the quicker they will work to find a solution.


In the meantime i have downgraded my home wireless network to TKIP encryption, which temporarily solves the problem, but applecare even mentions on its support faq that TKIP is not as reliable as AES and should be avoided, which the applecare specialist agreed with. Of course this does not fix any issues i may have with other wifi routers set to AES encryption that i cannot access to change the settings. They will continue to monitor the issue so that we can determine a proper course of action and go back to AES, hopefully by the time they call me back next week.

Sep 27, 2012 6:58 PM in response to C4RLOCO

ordered iphone5 on launch day for wife. Received iphone5 on Sept 26th. wifi issues seen immediately in the evening. tried reset. did not work. reserached online. saw people getting replacements that work. went to apple store today evening. after a little bit of delay(they ensured we were not fake) apple geniuses checked and verified phone was dropping connection. got a replacement. 2nd phone also has the same issue. I have wpa-2/aes wireless security (using verizon fios routers). My iphone4s/imac and other equipment in the house works flawlessly except this new iphone5.


will call apple care now to find out if this is indeed a software or hardware issue. if they cannot explain/confirm will return phone. wife will go back to using 3gs. will wait a few months for this to get sorted out.


btw did a test with att network by turning wifi off. iphone 5 is blazing fast. iphone 4s is stupid slow.


lowering my rating of iphone5 (and apple) from 5 stars to 4 stars.


cheers

iPhone5 issues with WPA2/AES Wifi

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