iOS 9.3.1 WiFi issue with Ubiquiti

Question

Level 1

17 points

iOS 9.3.1 WiFi issue with Ubiquiti

Not sure if I should be posting this on Ubiquiti forum or Apple but there seems to be an issue here. I have a bunch of Apple devices at home on iOS 9.3.1. Network gear includes Edgerouter X on EdgeOS 1.8.0 and UniFi AP AC Lite. Im having connectivity issues with this setup. (Tried resetting network and also setting iOS device as new from a fresh install). The iOS device remains connected to the AP with a valid DHCP lease. But network connectivity drops. Device loses connection to the internet. I believe there is some issue with iOS because OS X seems to work just fine and so do other devices. This issue happens randomly and each iOS device loses connectivity at different times. A reboot on the router or AP doesn't help. I doubt its a networking gear issue because it would be all over the Ubnt forums. I plan on deploying this gear to a few SOHO setups because they are very cheap but if the latest iOS has such issues my clients will think my setup has issues. FYI setting DHCP to static solves this. I think iOS has a problem with renewing the lease. Lease is set to 1 day on the router. So every 12 hours it gets renewed and I think the issue is experienced during this time. Please someone suggest a solution. Thank you.

iPhone 6, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on Apr 25, 2016 3:28 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 7, 2017 12:00 PM in response to rohku

Thanks for telling us about this. I haven't tried this long term yet, but so far I'm back to my fast internet speeds and quick latency times, where as before, my speed test app would just get stuck on where I was or which server to pick. THANKS!

If I don't post again, that means this solution is still working for me and my wife.

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Answer 2

elcpu

Level 7

31,586 points

Apr 25, 2016 4:04 PM in response to coreai

General suggestions for Wi-Fi issues, maybe one of them will help….

1) Perform a Forced Restart: Hold down the Home and Wake/Sleep buttons at the same time for about 15-20 seconds until the Apple logo appears. Allow device to restart.

2) Reset Network Settings: Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Rejoin the Network again.

3) Reboot Router/Modem: Unplug from power for 2 minutes and plug again. Update Router Firmware (check manufacturer’s support website for a newer FW). Also try different bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and different bandwidths (20 MHz recommended for the 2.4 band).

4) Change to Google's DNS: Settings > Wi-Fi > Click on the Network, Delete all numbers under DNS and enter 8.8.8.8 or alternatively 8.8.4.4

5) Disable device prioritization on the router if this feature is available.

6) Determine if other Wi-Fi devices on network are working well (other iOS devices, Macs, PCs).

7) Try device at another Network, i.e., neighbors’, public coffee house, etc.

8) Restore the Device (ask for additional for details if desired).

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201252

9) Go to an Apple Store for hardware evaluation.

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Answer 3

elcpu

Level 7

31,586 points

Apr 25, 2016 4:15 PM in response to coreai

Regarding your DHCP concerns I have a TP-Link AC1900 router connected as an Access Point only to an AT&T Gateway. The Gateway handles the DHCP but its wireless radio is turned off. On my TP-Link its DHCP is off for obvious reasons and I am not having any issues (TP connected to Gateway LAN to LAN, not LAN to WAN). The reason I am mentioning this is that I had a Linksys AC1250 router before, also connected as an AP like above, also on a 24 hour lease meaning that it renewed every 12 hours as yours. My connections kept getting dropped over with the renewals. Extending the lease to a week or even a month kept the connections working but at the expense of a large address tie up. So in my case with the Linksys, the lease was indeed a problem. I ditched the Linksys and all is well now with the TP with normal lease times. Renewals are not a problem, they were with the Linksys even though they were configured identically.

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Answer 4

coreai Author

Level 1

17 points

Apr 27, 2016 11:14 PM in response to elcpu

Nope. tried changing the access point. tried changing the router. tried changing DHCP lease time and also DNS. problem still exists. Not a router issue. Ubiquiti makes enterprise class gear. Even cheapest solutions won't have such issues or else they will be all over the forums. This is definitely 9.3 issue. Happens only on the iOS devices (iPhone5, iPad3, and iPhone6). Mac and any other device doesn't have this issue. Im having atlas 10 devices in my network at the moment only these 4 (two iPhone5) have the issue. Any <iOS 9.3 did not seem to have this issue. Disappointed really. Currently all my devices are on 9.3.1

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Answer 5

rohku

Level 1

4 points

Oct 7, 2016 8:04 AM in response to coreai

Did you ever find a resolution to this?

I have an identical setup with the Edgerouter X and UAC-AP-Lite. I just received a replacement phone (6 plus) under warranty, and found that with the new phone, I would get kicked off the network about once an hour.

I went into Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services and turned off Wi-Fi Networking, and so far it's been solid once again.

Not sure if it will stick, but it's something to try.

ER-X firmware 1.9.0, UAP-AC-Lite firmware 3.7.17

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Answer 6

Nov 14, 2016 12:56 PM in response to rohku

Hi Rohku

Did disabling Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services and turned off Wi-Fi Networking, solve your problem long term?

Having exact same issue with iPhone 6 and AC-Lite and AC-LR Wi-Fi connection dropping.

Thanks

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