E-2043

Q: iOS 8 Wi-Fi problems

WI-Fi problems on iPad Air, iPad mini with Retina display and iPhone 5S after upgrading to iOS 8.

Typical results from OOKLA Speedtest before upgrade: Ping 17 ms, Upload 21 Mbps, Download 4.4 Mbps

Typical results after upgrade: Ping 39 ms, Download 2.9 Mbps, Upload 0.47 Mbps

iPad 2 with iOS 7.1.2 get 15 Mbps download and 4.4 upload on the same network.

Resetting network settings on the iOS 8 devices did not improve the performance.

Changing band on the router from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz did give me back the speed on all devices.

However the speed occasonally drops on the iOS 8 devices, and the signal strengt can go from full til lost connection without moving the devices.

Also sometimes the Wi-Fi SweetSpots app report 0 mbps when the signal strenght is indicated as full and then suddenly go up to around 58 Mbps again.

It is almost like the device is trying to use cellular network that I do not have on the iPads before it suddenly switches back to Wi-fi nettwork again.

I am thinking about going back to my iPad 2 with iOS 7.1.2 that is working perfectly until the Wi-Fi issues are resolved.

 

Any help will be very much appreciated!

iPad Air Wi-Fi, iOS 8

Posted on Sep 20, 2014 9:17 AM

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Q: iOS 8 Wi-Fi problems

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  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Jul 29, 2015 1:42 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 6 (16,265 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 29, 2015 1:42 PM in response to Csound1

    The main problem with the 2.4Ghz band is that it is very crowded. WiFi is not the only use of the band. Portable (not cellular) phones, microwave ovens, alarms, doorbells and so on crowd the band, many poorly regulated and/or engineered. The 5Ghz band is less crowded (although you'll still find home phones and alarms in there) but is slowly getting more use. So the band with the best range is also the most crowded. Something usually gives.

     

    I live in a large house in the suburbs, not much interference other than what my own devices generate (as you post above). I have multiple APs to provide Wi-Fi throughout. My house was also prewired with CAT6 Ethernet so my A/V equipment, etc. does not rely on wireless, a plus when streaming from the web. In a crowded but small environment the 5GHz band will do quite well thus my recommendation to mattheganz. It would reduce Bluetooth interference.

     

    <Edited by Host>

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 26, 2015 1:03 PM in response to elcpu
    Level 9 (51,311 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 26, 2015 1:03 PM in response to elcpu

    elcpu wrote:

     

    The main problem with the 2.4Ghz band is that it is very crowded. WiFi is not the only use of the band. Portable (not cellular) phones, microwave ovens, alarms, doorbells and so on crowd the band, many poorly regulated and/or engineered. The 5Ghz band is less crowded (although you'll still find home phones and alarms in there) but is slowly getting more use. So the band with the best range is also the most crowded. Something usually gives.

     

    Gee... for once every thing you said is technical, not offensive, and is actually correct. I live in a large house in the suburbs, not much interference other than what my own devices generate (as you post above). I have multiple APs to provide Wi-Fi throughout. My house was also prewired with CAT6 Ethernet so my A/V equipment, etc. does not rely on wireless, a plus when streaming from the web. In a crowded but small environment the 5GHz band will do quite well thus my recommendation to mattheganz. It would reduce Bluetooth interference.

    My work requires that I pull Spectrum licenses or operate in narrowly defined ranges, defined by the FCC. That has caused me to invest in some excellent RF Spectrum Analysers which answer many questions regarding the commercial 2.4Ghz band. I use 5Ghz (with repeaters) or run cable when I want reliability.

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Jul 29, 2015 10:34 AM in response to don_wan
    Level 6 (16,265 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 29, 2015 10:34 AM in response to don_wan

    don_wan wrote:

    The list of " fixes" from Csound1 was actually posted by mmurray47 in April. My question is whether any of the quoted problems/solutions have been properly researched?

     

    don_wan, the answer unfortunately is no. There was no research to see if the “fixes” actually worked. The one about turning Airplane mode on is obviously not a fix, we know what happens when you do that. Also for instance, one of the reported fixes is by tbirdvet, a very experienced user with lots of iOS knowledge and many technical contributions to this forum. tbirdvet was quoted in the list as follows:

    tbirdvet

    Jan 16, 2015 5:13 AM

    Re: iOS 8 Wi-Fi problems

    in response to elcpu

    "The other day I bought a new TP-Link AC router and no more dropped WiFi.”

     


    If those posting the list would have researched this a bit further they could have seen that the following day tbirdvet posted the following:

    tbirdvet

    Jan 17, 2015 6:59 PM

    Re: iOS 8 Wi-Fi problems

    in response to tbirdvet

    Well issue just returned after several days of being OK with my new "AC" router so I guess unless Apple fixes iOS we are out of luck.

     


    He also followed up with these:

     

    tbirdvet

    Jan 18, 2015 6:28 PM

    Re: iOS 8 Wi-Fi problems

    in response to London Lad

    Just reinforcing what you and others have said that hardware will not fix the issue. The more proof the better and maybe Apple will do something (but I'm not holding my breath).

     


    tbirdvet

    Feb 10, 2015 4:44 PM

    Re: iOS 8 Wi-Fi problems

    in response to gadgetadam

    Apple engineering called me about 10 days ago to get more info about OSX WiFi issues.  I told them I had no OSX issues but did have IOS8 WiFi issues.  They then stated that the IOS team would contact me in 2-3 days to have me install some special software on my phone to record the issue but they never did.  From the discussion I had with them it appears they are aware of the issue.

     


    tbirdvet

    Mar 31, 2015 4:14 AM

    Re: iOS 8 Wi-Fi problems

    in response to Csound1

    I noted this before but Apple Engineering called me and stated that they see a high WIFI issue not only with IOS8 but also with Yosemite and they wanted some information from me.  I would not be surprised if the OS issue causing this problem is common between the two.  Granted since not all users have this issue it is more difficult to pin down but just for the record there is an issue for many users according to Apple so we should not argue the point in this forum.

     


    tbirdvet indicated in another post that his new router at best reduced the frequency of Wi-Fi drops but it was not a solution to the problem. Many thanks to tbirdvet for following up and keeping us informed. Hopefully iOS 9, which Apple indicates will be available in the fall, will resolve the issues.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 29, 2015 10:49 AM in response to elcpu
    Level 9 (51,311 points)
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    Jul 29, 2015 10:49 AM in response to elcpu

    So, are you suggesting that posters should not try to fix their problem?

  • by PS61,

    PS61 PS61 Jul 29, 2015 12:17 PM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 29, 2015 12:17 PM in response to elcpu

    Thank you, elcpu. Very informative summary about tbirdvet's experience. In one of his posts he states "Apple Engineering called me and stated that they see a high WIFI issue not only with IOS8 but also with Yosemite. I would not be surprised if the OS issue causing this problem is common between the two." I think he is correct. Apple replaced discoveryd with mDNSResponder in OSX 10.10.4.

  • by petermac87,

    petermac87 petermac87 Jul 29, 2015 12:43 PM in response to PS61
    Level 5 (7,402 points)
    Jul 29, 2015 12:43 PM in response to PS61

    Would not all users be seeing issues instead of just a handful?

     

    Pete

  • by wobbly_bob,

    wobbly_bob wobbly_bob Jul 29, 2015 1:02 PM in response to petermac87
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 29, 2015 1:02 PM in response to petermac87

    Pete

     

    This has been discussed several times, whilst there are millions of Apple devices, it may seem that only a small number are experiencing problems

     

    But how have taken the time to post on hear? Many are probably not aware of this forum

     

    It has been suggested that it could be the interaction between the device and some routers

     

    There was also a suggestion that there might be a batch of wireless chips that did not meet Apple's standard

     

    All of these appear in detail on previous pages

     

    And even though only a small proportion of people experiencing the problem, that is scant consolation for those that are

  • by PS61,

    PS61 PS61 Jul 29, 2015 1:08 PM in response to petermac87
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 29, 2015 1:08 PM in response to petermac87

    petermac87 wrote:

    Would not all users be seeing issues instead of just a handful?

     

    Pete

     

    Not necessarily. There are many instances of faulty technology affecting a subset of users. As an example, someone mentioned here that a certain brand of air bag inflators has been recalled but not all vehicles equipped with the inflators have exploded. As tbirdvet said "since not all users have this (iOS WiFi) issue it is more difficult to pin down but just for the record there is an issue for many users according to Apple".

  • by Suli99,

    Suli99 Suli99 Jul 29, 2015 1:11 PM in response to E-2043
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 29, 2015 1:11 PM in response to E-2043

    have you tried restoring it.

     

    Thanks

  • by don_wan,

    don_wan don_wan Jul 29, 2015 2:27 PM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 29, 2015 2:27 PM in response to elcpu

    elcpu, good bit of research and well presented. With the simple fact that resetting the phone / router / ap / network etc, usually does provide a temporary respite from the Wi-Fi issue, taking a post of a 'fix' at face value is fundamentally flawed, if that post has not been followed up with a later confirmation that the issue had indeed been resolved. Unfortunately a forum of this type does not lend itself to this kind of audit in the same way as a normal type of fault reporting system would,

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 29, 2015 2:30 PM in response to PS61
    Level 9 (51,311 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 29, 2015 2:30 PM in response to PS61

    PS61 wrote:

     

    petermac87 wrote:

    Would not all users be seeing issues instead of just a handful?

     

    Pete

     

    Not necessarily. There are many instances of faulty technology affecting a subset of users. As an example, someone mentioned here that a certain brand of air bag inflators has been recalled but not all vehicles equipped with the inflators have exploded. As tbirdvet said "since not all users have this (iOS WiFi) issue it is more difficult to pin down but just for the record there is an issue for many users according to Apple".

    Just as there is evidence that a subset of the affected subset of users did something and fixed their problems. Different fixes = Different problems.

  • by petermac87,

    petermac87 petermac87 Jul 29, 2015 2:46 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 5 (7,402 points)
    Jul 29, 2015 2:46 PM in response to Csound1

    +1

     

    Pete

  • by don_wan,

    don_wan don_wan Jul 29, 2015 2:51 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 29, 2015 2:51 PM in response to Csound1

    Csound1 wrote:

     

    So, are you suggesting that posters should not try to fix their problem?

    elcpu simply looked at what you had posted as a collection of definitive 'fixes' for iOS 8 Wi-Fi-Fi problems and presented his findings. To speculate there was a hidden motive is off topic

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 29, 2015 2:57 PM in response to don_wan
    Level 9 (51,311 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 29, 2015 2:57 PM in response to don_wan

    don_wan wrote:

     

    Csound1 wrote:

     

    So, are you suggesting that posters should not try to fix their problem?

    elcpu simply looked at what you had posted as a collection of definitive 'fixes' for iOS 8 Wi-Fi-Fi problems and presented his findings. To speculate there was a hidden motive is off topic

    It's a question, even you should be able to see that.

  • by don_wan,

    don_wan don_wan Jul 29, 2015 3:59 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 29, 2015 3:59 PM in response to Csound1

    Csound1 wrote:

     

    don_wan wrote:

     

    Csound1 wrote:

     

    So, are you suggesting that posters should not try to fix their problem?

    elcpu simply looked at what you had posted as a collection of definitive 'fixes' for iOS 8 Wi-Fi-Fi problems and presented his findings. To speculate there was a hidden motive is off topic

    It's a question, even you should be able to see that.

    I did respond earlier but Csound1's subsequent response to my reply got deleted by the moderator, so my initial reply became a victim. As Csound's original post is still here, I assume I can respond again. All I said was that  elcpu posted his findings after researching the list of 'fixes", however Csound1 did not ask a question about elcpu's post, rather the question that was asked was speculation about why elcpu had posted.

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