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Painfully slow WiFi on new iPhone 5

i've had extremely slow wifi since upgrading to iOS6 on my 4S, read tons of threads on the net and tried a kajillion different things. today i finally fixed it!! here's what fixed my slow wifi...

opened up Airport Utility app for the Airport Extreme went to Wireless settings, clicked on the Wireless Options button and changed the settings to this (see pic below).

i downloaded an app from the net called iStumbler which shows all the neighbors routers and what channels they are using, based on that i selected channels that were not in use. before i did this i had both the 2.4ghz & 5ghz channels in Automatic.

wifi on 4S went from .5 mbps back up to normal which is 25 mbps :)
 

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tiggger said:
i've had extremely slow wifi since upgrading to iOS6 on my 4S, read tons of threads on the net and tried a kajillion different things. today i finally fixed it!! here's what fixed my slow wifi...

opened up Airport Utility app for the Airport Extreme went to Wireless settings, clicked on the Wireless Options button and changed the settings to this (see pic below).

i downloaded an app from the net called iStumbler which shows all the neighbors routers and what channels they are using, based on that i selected channels that were not in use. before i did this i had both the 2.4ghz & 5ghz channels in Automatic.

wifi on 4S went from .5 mbps back up to normal which is 25 mbps :)
Click to expand...
When you have a strong signal,you can overcome, to a large extent, interference from other wireless networks. Unfortunately, the current iP5 Wifi software/hardware combination isn't as sensitive as the 4S, which makes the IP5 more prone to interference from other wireless networks. The interference can be especially bad for those living in apartments or condos where neighbors on every side are running their own wireless networks. This interference reduces throughput and causes packet loss.

Until Apple tweaks its software to more effectively use the built-in Wifi chip, people have essentially four options: (1) configure your router to use a wireless channel that minimizes interference from nearby wireless networks with the help of an app like iStumbler, (2) remove your router or reposition your router's antennas so your main usage locations receive a stronger signal, (3) buy a new router with a stronger wireless signal, or (4) install a wireless repeater to increase signal strength throughout your home. Option #1 is something everyone should do, because it will improve Wifi performance on all devices, and not simply the IP5.

It would be nice if Apple could update their own wireless routers to automatically pick the best wireless channel (to minimize interference). They claim to offer this functionality when you set the wireless channel to "auto," but in my experience, this functionally doesn't work, and the Airport picks the best wireless channel less than 30% of the time.
 
Well to be honest, when surfing on Safari, it is very fast. When streaming Youtube videos, it is struggling. Same goes for downloading large apps. I have compared it VS my old iPhone 4. On SpeedTest, my speeds are around 50-300k/s (occasionally) & upload speeds are very stable and on par with iPhone 4. iPhone 4 got 900k/s down. I believe it is a software issue. None of the fixes worked on my iPhone 5 (changing DNS - Http Proxy - changing wpa2 to wpa/wep/unsecured). I will wait for iOS 6.0.1 to see if it is a hardware problem or not.
 
I have this issue also.
Browsing safari is useless for me on my wi-fi at home signal.
I will wait also to see if it's HW or SW.
 
I have this problem at my friends house. They have it so that a separate 2.4 and 5 Ghz SSID is being broadcast. I just tried renewing the lease on my iPhone and it seemed to have worked. Not sure if they are using WEP or WPA2 but renewing the lease worked. Never had this problem at my house or anywhere else though.
 
the wifi speeds on my galaxy s2 were much faster than that of this iphone5. Im sure its a software error. hopefully they fix that soon!
 
My home WiFi consists of an AT&T router coupled with an Apple Time Machine (built in Air Port). All my devices connect through the Time Machine. I did a speed check, at home, of my iP5 WiFi speed last week and was getting about 11 Mbps download. Yesterday I started noticing Safari YouTube wasn't loading videos. I checked my WiFi speed again and was getting between 0.9 and 4 Mbps, although my iMac, and wife's iPad 2 (iOS6) are getting the expected 11 Mbps. My iP3GS (iOS6) is getting about 6 Mbps, which I believe is expected for this older device, but fairing better then the new phone.

I've seen it mentioned to change the DNS for the device from the default to 8.8.8.8 as a possible workaround for iP5 slow WiFi issues. I've tried this a couple of times and my iP5's download speeds have over doubled to about 11 Mbps, matching that of the iMac and iPad 2.

I know very little about this kind of stuff.

Is it safe to use a public DNS such as 8.8.8.8?

I would like to use it as it currently over doubling my home WiFi speed as long as there are no security concerns I need to be aware of.

Since my iP5 can attain the same WiFi speeds as the Mac and iPad under the right conditions, I trust and hope this will be a forthcoming fix on an iOS or Air Port update.
 
I think it is safe.

Just tested the WiFi at another place & the speed is fast and consistent so I guess that my iP5 has some compatibility problems with my network. I believe that it is a software issue. Will do some more testing with my iP4 so that I can compare.
 
I had an issue with WiFi but it seems to have disappeared which is just weird.

Using iPhone 5 with ATT for cellular and a 100Mbits home network WiFi.

Although WiFi issue is gone, I am primarily using LTE which is still a LOT faster than my home WiFi.

WiFi gets around 10-15Mbits down and LTE gets around 30-40Mbits down.
 
I suspect as others have that the speed is impacted by interference in the wifi signal. The iPhone 5 is super sensitive to noisy wifi and therefore runs slower than molasses when it encounters some. If you can broadcast a loud, strong, clean wifi signal I think your iPhone will be better performing over network. Signal conditions are probably better today for you guys. I'm looking forward to shipment of the ASUS RT-N66U router I ordered the other day as it is supposed to be one of these strong-signal routers. I don't care if it messes with the neighbor's wifi signals.. just as long as my iPhone 5 will be happy. :)
 
bencjedi said:
I suspect as others have that the speed is impacted by interference in the wifi signal. The iPhone 5 is super sensitive to noisy wifi and therefore runs slower than molasses when it encounters some. If you can broadcast a loud, strong, clean wifi signal I think your iPhone will be better performing over network. Signal conditions are probably better today for you guys. I'm looking forward to shipment of the ASUS RT-N66U router I ordered the other day as it is supposed to be one of these strong-signal routers. I don't care if it messes with the neighbor's wifi signals.. just as long as my iPhone 5 will be happy. :)
Click to expand...

You're absolutely correct. :)

I have just solved my wifi problems. :)

Up until an hour ago, I had all of the wifi issues many are reporting, ie. poor range, erratic performance, inconsistent speeds, in my house due to what seemed like a weak, fluctuating signal that had trouble penetrating obstacles, clearly the 5 wasn't making or keeping a very solid connection with my linksys N dual band, while my 4s did pretty well. I had tried every setting/tweak I could on the router to no avail.

I could even get my bars to drop from 2-3 to one by placing my finger over the top glass strip on the back. My signal was fluctuating between 1 bar, with poor throughput, to 2-3, but it would bounce back and fourth between 2-3 a lot, staying mostly on 2 unless I was really close to the router, and you could see it struggling to maintain a strong connection. Especially as I moved to parts of the house further away from the router, where it would bounce between 1-2 bars with erratic speeds.

So, I just hooked up the highly regarded Asus RT-N66U router, and holy crap! Instant fix. Any wifi issues I had are TOTALLY gone, and I have the best performance I've ever had, I'm not saying the 5 isn't partly to blame, but I am saying if you have weak and erratic wifi performance in your home with the 5, if you hook up this router, your problems will be solved.

And, I don't even have the router in a good spot, it's low and blocked by a TV, and still, it's 100% fixed, as if my wifi issue never existed. I'm sure it'll improve all our other wireless devices as well. It wasn't cheap at 179, but to me, worth every penny.

Either this router is phenomenal, or my linksys N dual band was crap, or, a little of both.

I'm finally very pleased with my 5. :)

If you have the wifi issue, and are due for a router upgrade, I highly recommend you try this router. I'd bet dollars to donuts you'll find your wifi issues are not just gone, but even better than you've ever experienced. If not, hey, return the router the next day. But I'm pretty sure you won't. :)

Happy camper here. Just have to figure out how to explain this to my wife. :)
 
I'm pretty sure I'm losing wifi when my phone is in my pocket as pretty much whenever I pull it out there is the GPRS circle showing
 
Megalobyte said:
If you have the wifi issue, and are due for a router upgrade, I highly recommend you try this router. I'd bet dollars to donuts you'll find your wifi issues are not just gone, but even better than you've ever experienced. If not, hey, return the router the next day. But I'm pretty sure you won't. :)

Happy camper here. Just have to figure out how to explain this to my wife. :)
Click to expand...

The iPhone 5 just forced a recurring issue in my household to be dealt with anyway...with the wifi-crappy D-Link DIR-655 I have used for like 6 years.. that it needed to be replaced. :)

I noticed that ASUS router is now $10 more at Amazon since my order on Saturday. Hopefully it arrives soon.

Did you have to do the firmware update that the first few comments on the Amazon page were talking about?
 
bencjedi said:
The iPhone 5 just forced a recurring issue in my household to be dealt with anyway...with the wifi-crappy D-Link DIR-655 I have used for like 6 years.. that it needed to be replaced. :)

I noticed that ASUS router is now $10 more at Amazon since my order on Saturday. Hopefully it arrives soon.

Did you have to do the firmware update that the first few comments on the Amazon page were talking about?
Click to expand...

Bought it today at best buy, all I did was hook it up. It's working so perfectly I'd just as soon NOT change its firmware unless and until I have a problem. If it ain't broke... :)
 
I just got my 5 today, my 4 is perfect with wifi as always but the 5 was fine for a few hours. Now it wont even connect. Ill wait few more days see how things go.
 
In a distant bedroom before I hooked up the Asus, my 5 would get anywhere from 5 to 15 Mbps. All over the place. Averaging 10-12, with visible dead spots/drop outs.

With the Asus router, same phone, same location, it's like this every time.

null-3.png
 
Its great that folks are getting good results with new routers. But as much as I love an excuse to buy a new toy, its seems a bit unreasonable as a valid fix when other devices demonstrate the old cruddy router works fine. The obvious problem is what are you suppose to do when you are out and about only to find that your favorite hotspots do not have the latest and greatest mega-router?

I did get my IP5 on release day. I was fortunate in that it was cosmetically perfect save 1 small spot where the anodize did not take to the bezel. However, my wifi did not work. After resetting the network and toggling it several times, it works at home fine now. But has connection issues anywhere else.

Like many I am waiting to see Apple's response to this to decide on a course of action. My question to those that are waiting for a new version of ios6 with a fix...what happens if they do not get one out before the 30 day window you have to return your phone? Are you going to take the gamble on it being 100% software in lieu of official word of the cause?

Personally I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I do not find it encouraging that Cook will only acknowledge the window dressing while side stepping core functional issues or build QC. I understand they dont want users to stress test their wifi and potentially generate more returns, but it suggests they cant address this or won't. My benefit of the doubt goes exactly 28 days for me as I am not a gambler.

Come day 29, I will be at best buy to return this thing and have them reactivate my crusty old 3GS unless they can clearly respond with a solution before then. I doubt I am alone in that thinking.
 
Looks like some over at the Apple Support Forums (start at pg. 75) have linked Wifi problems to the Wifi chip set. Apparently the chip sets are manufactured either by Apple or Intel. It seems that most problems are stemming from the Apple manufactured chip set (ironic). They outline how to check which chip set is in the phone. I have the Apple chip set and have been having erratic Wifi and cellular behavior. Now it's just a matter of whether there's an actual hardware problem or if iOS 6 has better drivers for the Intel chip than it does for the Apple manufactured chip (again, ironic).
 
Yup. I'm currently participating in that discussion (qkpham). Mine is an Apple chip too.. :rolleyes:
 
No issues on my iPhone 5 or my previous 4S that was running iOS6 so I haven't experienced any hardware or software WiFi problems.

I'm on a Cisco modem/router all-in-one at home and an old Linksys at work. Both lines are being maxed out at 25Mbps and 10Mbps respectively.
 
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