Weak Wifi Signal iPhone 5

ruckleapple · Sep 21, 2012, 08:30 AM

OK, first iPhone 5 problem.
I've logged into the wifi at my house and my iPhone has accepted it but if I walk 3 meters away from the router the signal bars drop down from full to nothing and LTE comes back on. While my iPhone 4 still has wifi signal with full bars.

Any ideas?

Stibbzy · Sep 21, 2012, 08:58 AM

I have exactly the same issue. It connects at very short range but drops off after a few meters. I have tried resetting the wireless settings, resetting all network settings and finally wiped everything and started again. Still no luck

TheMagicPirate · Sep 21, 2012, 09:12 AM

I can't comment on my home wifi but my iPhone 5 is on my works wifi and the range seems fine, although I can't comfirm where the wifi originates from.

HowardSmith · Sep 21, 2012, 09:15 AM

My office WiFi network is working just as good as the iPhone 4S.

ruckleapple · Sep 21, 2012, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stibbzy

I have exactly the same issue. It connects at very short range but drops off after a few meters. I have tried resetting the wireless settings, resetting all network settings and finally wiped everything and started again. Still no luck

I've tried all that too. Still no luck. If I hold the phone next to the router I get full bars of Wifi. I walk away 2.5 meters and they vanish.

This sucks.

Powrie · Sep 21, 2012, 09:17 AM

Something might be wrong with your Phones Wifi antenna.

Or its not compatible with your Wifi base station.

To test this, go get on some other Wifi.

See if it still does this with other Wifi stations.

Olivia23 · Sep 21, 2012, 09:20 AM

Good thing I'm keeping my unlimited plan so I don't have to worry about wifi.

AndrewI · Sep 21, 2012, 01:47 PM

I'm having the same problem.

macguy360 · Sep 21, 2012, 01:49 PM

I am having opposite situation. Wifi range is much better than iphone 4s. I am picking up wifi signals that are way further out than with my old phone.

motty2307 · Sep 21, 2012, 01:54 PM

Is it possible that the phone is automatically switching to the stronger signal?

I'm not sure about this and don't know, it's just a guess.

infinityharry · Sep 21, 2012, 01:59 PM

yep im getting this problem to changed channels on the routers still no luck, hopefully apple figure it out

Vundu · Sep 21, 2012, 02:02 PM

Same issue here.

Wifigate???

AndrewI · Sep 21, 2012, 02:04 PM

Any chance the few of us who are having the same problem also have guest networks with hidden SSID running? Or just guest networks?

gforce216 · Sep 21, 2012, 02:06 PM

Could it possibly be that the phone is connecting on the 5ghz band which produces a weaker penetration signal? Check your router settings to see if you have a 5ghz band active.

Chad McCan · Sep 21, 2012, 02:07 PM

Here is the thread at the apple discussion forums. I'm trying to get a genius bar appt to return my phone. It has to be an antenna problem.

https://discussions.apple.com/messag...23456#19669315

My cellular signal is dropping out constantly too.

nfl46 · Sep 21, 2012, 02:12 PM

Same issue here as well. I have my Gnex side by side with my iPhone 5 and my iPhone 5 is crawling on wifi compared to my Gnex.

AndrewI · Sep 21, 2012, 02:16 PM

I dont have a 5GHz router. My neighbor does, but I'm not connecting to his network...

----------

BTW, I have a iPhone 4s that has been updated to iOS6 and I don't have wifi problems with it.

I am on the phone with Apple support now.

Chad McCan · Sep 21, 2012, 02:18 PM

It's not a 5ghz or 2.4 ghz problem. It's an antenna issue. Within 1ft of the access point, network speed is great. 10 ft from the AP and you have no signal.

I'm in the same room as my AP and I have no signal. It's not being blocked. My 4s has full signal.

I'm tried my Airport Express, Airport Extreme and Time Capsule. All have the same problem.

Bluetooth has the same problem. I have a genius bar appt tomorrow, but I probably won't wait that long to smash this hunk of ****.

thenamesbryce · Sep 21, 2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motty2307

Is it possible that the phone is automatically switching to the stronger signal?

I'm not sure about this and don't know, it's just a guess.

I was wondering the same thing. They should turn off the cellular and keep wifi on. Then see if the wifi stays on at a further distance away.

AndrewI · Sep 21, 2012, 02:35 PM

I tried turning off cellular data, that did not work.
I tried changing router wireless channel. Did not work.
I tried disabling LTE. Did not work.
I rebooted router. Did not work.

After being on the phone with their tier 2 tech support, he told me that I tried everything and the only thing left to do is to erase all data and completely reset the phone. Set it up as new phone. Not sign into any accounts and not restore. Try WiFi and then call him back. Trying that now. Will report back.

wacky4alanis · Sep 21, 2012, 02:39 PM

Sounds to me like the antenna is not connected properly.

motty2307 · Sep 21, 2012, 02:57 PM

My second guess is that you may be holding it wrong

RyanTheGeneral · Sep 21, 2012, 03:04 PM

mine stays connected from good distance. but on speed test the 4s actually beats it

ap105 · Sep 21, 2012, 03:12 PM

Had the same issue. Went to apple store and they exchanged it. Now wifi works!

Ben C. · Sep 21, 2012, 03:28 PM

My Wi-Fi signal is actually stronger with the 5...

Sep 21, 2012, 09:17 AM	#6
Powrie macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2012	Something might be wrong with your Phones Wifi antenna. Or its not compatible with your Wifi base station. To test this, go get on some other Wifi. See if it still does this with other Wifi stations. __________________ Jailbroken Ipod Touch 4gen Iphone 5 Black 32gb
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 01:54 PM	#10
motty2307 macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2010	Is it possible that the phone is automatically switching to the stronger signal? I'm not sure about this and don't know, it's just a guess. __________________ White/Silver iPhone 5 32GB WiFi Retina iPad 16GB
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 01:59 PM	#11
infinityharry macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK - Cheshire	yep im getting this problem to changed channels on the routers still no luck, hopefully apple figure it out __________________ 13" MacBook Pro, 2.26GHz, 8GB RAM, 160GB HD ; iPhone 4s ; iPad 1Gen; Apple TV 3Gen; iPod Nano 6Gen; iPhone 5
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 02:57 PM	#22
motty2307 macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2010	My second guess is that you may be holding it wrong __________________ White/Silver iPhone 5 32GB WiFi Retina iPad 16GB
	1

Sep 21, 2012, 03:04 PM	#23
RyanTheGeneral macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2009	mine stays connected from good distance. but on speed test the 4s actually beats it __________________ switched to and do not plan on switching back.
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 08:30 AM	#1
ruckleapple macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Japan	Weak Wifi Signal iPhone 5 OK, first iPhone 5 problem. I've logged into the wifi at my house and my iPhone has accepted it but if I walk 3 meters away from the router the signal bars drop down from full to nothing and LTE comes back on. While my iPhone 4 still has wifi signal with full bars. Any ideas?
	4

Sep 21, 2012, 08:58 AM	#2
Stibbzy macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2012	I have exactly the same issue. It connects at very short range but drops off after a few meters. I have tried resetting the wireless settings, resetting all network settings and finally wiped everything and started again. Still no luck
	2

Sep 21, 2012, 09:12 AM	#3
TheMagicPirate macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2012	I can't comment on my home wifi but my iPhone 5 is on my works wifi and the range seems fine, although I can't comfirm where the wifi originates from.
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 09:15 AM	#4
HowardSmith Banned Join Date: Sep 2012	My office WiFi network is working just as good as the iPhone 4S.
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 09:20 AM	#7
Olivia23 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: around	Good thing I'm keeping my unlimited plan so I don't have to worry about wifi.
	1

Sep 21, 2012, 01:47 PM	#8
AndrewI macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2011	I'm having the same problem.
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 01:49 PM	#9
macguy360 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2011	I am having opposite situation. Wifi range is much better than iphone 4s. I am picking up wifi signals that are way further out than with my old phone.
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 02:02 PM	#12
Vundu macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester, UK	Same issue here. Wifigate???
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 02:04 PM	#13
AndrewI macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2011	Any chance the few of us who are having the same problem also have guest networks with hidden SSID running? Or just guest networks?
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 02:06 PM	#14
gforce216 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2009	Could it possibly be that the phone is connecting on the 5ghz band which produces a weaker penetration signal? Check your router settings to see if you have a 5ghz band active.
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 02:07 PM	#15
Chad McCan macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2012	Here is the thread at the apple discussion forums. I'm trying to get a genius bar appt to return my phone. It has to be an antenna problem. https://discussions.apple.com/messag...23456#19669315 My cellular signal is dropping out constantly too.
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 02:12 PM	#16
nfl46 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Oct 2008	Same issue here as well. I have my Gnex side by side with my iPhone 5 and my iPhone 5 is crawling on wifi compared to my Gnex.
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 02:16 PM	#17
AndrewI macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2011	I dont have a 5GHz router. My neighbor does, but I'm not connecting to his network... ---------- BTW, I have a iPhone 4s that has been updated to iOS6 and I don't have wifi problems with it. I am on the phone with Apple support now.
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 02:18 PM	#18
Chad McCan macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2012	It's not a 5ghz or 2.4 ghz problem. It's an antenna issue. Within 1ft of the access point, network speed is great. 10 ft from the AP and you have no signal. I'm in the same room as my AP and I have no signal. It's not being blocked. My 4s has full signal. I'm tried my Airport Express, Airport Extreme and Time Capsule. All have the same problem. Bluetooth has the same problem. I have a genius bar appt tomorrow, but I probably won't wait that long to smash this hunk of ****.
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 02:35 PM	#20
AndrewI macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2011	I tried turning off cellular data, that did not work. I tried changing router wireless channel. Did not work. I tried disabling LTE. Did not work. I rebooted router. Did not work. After being on the phone with their tier 2 tech support, he told me that I tried everything and the only thing left to do is to erase all data and completely reset the phone. Set it up as new phone. Not sign into any accounts and not restore. Try WiFi and then call him back. Trying that now. Will report back.
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 02:39 PM	#21
wacky4alanis macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2009	Sounds to me like the antenna is not connected properly.
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 03:12 PM	#24
ap105 macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2011	Had the same issue. Went to apple store and they exchanged it. Now wifi works!
	0

Sep 21, 2012, 03:28 PM	#25
Ben C. macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New England	My Wi-Fi signal is actually stronger with the 5...
	0

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