Series 3 LTE connectivity problems

[oneteam]

I'm experiencing LTE connectivity issues on my watch. It's the same problem some reviewers experience when testing the watch. Whenever there's an open unauthenticated wifi network (like Starbucks, public hotspot, etc) the watch connects/joins this unauthenticated network and drops LTE, but there's not wifi connection because it's stuck at the login page. This only happens when the watch is being used by itself with no iPhone nearby.

Is anyone else experiencing this problem? Is there any workaround?

I know Apple has acknowledged the problem and promise a fix with a software update. But not having LTE in many places kind of defeats the purpose of having an LTE watch.

Space Gray Aluminum 42mm

 

[Farrellcollie]

I am experiencing problems - or it certainly drops a lot - but I don't know if mine is related to the open wifi or not

 

[nippyjun]

Have you previously connected to those networks? If yes you probably need to forget those networks on your phone.

 

[Leica Dad]

I'm experiencing LTE connectivity issues on my watch. It's the same problem some reviewers experience when testing the watch. Whenever there's an open unauthenticated wifi network (like Starbucks, public hotspot, etc) the watch connects/joins this unauthenticated network and drops LTE, but there's not wifi connection because it's stuck at the login page. This only happens when the watch is being used by itself with no iPhone nearby.

Is anyone else experiencing this problem? Is there any workaround?

I know Apple has acknowledged the problem and promise a fix with a software update. But not having LTE in many places kind of defeats the purpose of having an LTE watch.

Space Gray Aluminum 42mm

I have not, but I think the workaround for now is to removed those WiFi hotspot from your iCloud. Or go to your iPhone and select those network then tap on forget network for each one.

 

[dave006]

I am experiencing problems - or it certainly drops a lot - but I don't know if mine is related to the open wifi or not

No workaround since Apple did not include a way to toggle Off/On Bluetooth & Wi-Fi like the way Cellular is managed.

Only way to verify if you are seeing the Wi-Fi issue is to verify it by connecting your iPhone and verify it is a Walled Garden with no Internet direct access.

Dave

 

[oneteam]

I have not, but I think the workaround for now is to removed those WiFi hotspot from your iCloud. Or go to your iPhone and select those network then tap on forget network for each one.

The problem is that I've never connected to these networks before. It happened at my gym and at a coffee shop where they have free wifi but I've never connected to their wifi. These networks are not saved in the iCloud.

 

[Fatboy71]

I have not experienced these issues. Most if not all of the public wifi are worse than useless and I would advise anyone against using an unsecured public wifi.

Not ideal, but I would advise anyone experience this issue, to go into their iPhone, Settings/General/Reset/Reset Network Settings. This should remove all previously joined wifi networks. And then see if this helps matters.

Hopefully Apple will release a software fix shortly, even if it's just a wifi turn on/off switch on the AW.

 

[Leica Dad]

The problem is that I've never connected to these networks before. It happened at my gym and at a coffee shop where they have free wifi but I've never connected to their wifi. These networks are not saved in the iCloud.

Interesting, I didn’t experience the same issue at target or Starbucks. Hopefully Apple will release a fix soon.

 

[Fatboy71]

I have not, but I think the workaround for now is to removed those WiFi hotspot from your iCloud. Or go to your iPhone and select those network then tap on forget network for each one.

I watched and commented on your useful Apple Watch Series 3 vids last night (TalsVids). Really in-depth and useful

 

[Farrellcollie]

No workaround since Apple did not include a way to toggle Off/On Bluetooth & Wi-Fi like the way Cellular is managed.

Only way to verify if you are seeing the Wi-Fi issue is to verify it by connecting your iPhone and verify it is a Walled Garden with no Internet direct access.

Dave

I don't think mine is the open wifi problem - I do not connect to public wifi - I think mine is more related to the watch dropping/not picking up the lte signal. I know these are places where my phone is fine -so I think the watch's lte is weak. And it is really slow to switch from being near the phone to lte when I leave the house/phone/wifi behind- it takes mine about 3 minutes or so.

 

[Leica Dad]

I watched and commented on your useful Apple Watch Series 3 vids last night (TalsVids). Really in-depth and useful

Hey thank you so much! I love your channel too, learn a lot from it!

 

[Fatboy71]

Hey thank you so much! I love your channel too, learn a lot from it!

That's great to hear, I subbed to your channel as I found it very useful to

 

[richard371]

From my exp I feel it’s about half a bar less signal and it sometimes takes a little longer then the iPhone to get a signal. The iPhone has much bigger antennas and bigger battery etc so I expect it to perform better. I’m surprise the watch does as good as it does being so small.

 

[Leica Dad]

From my exp I feel it’s about half a bar less signal and it sometimes takes a little longer then the iPhone to get a signal. The iPhone has much bigger antennas and bigger battery etc so I expect it to perform better. I’m surprise the watch does as good as it does being so small.

That’s explain why my 42mm will get connected before the 38mm, the antennna chip inside might be the same size, but the bigger screen might provide more area to accept signals.

 

[dolphin2421]

Question: could dust, dirt & gunk on the screen affect antenna sensitivity? I’ve noticed the watch is slow to connect after I’ve gotten it really dirty.

 

[Fatboy71]

From my exp I feel it’s about half a bar less signal and it sometimes takes a little longer then the iPhone to get a signal. The iPhone has much bigger antennas and bigger battery etc so I expect it to perform better. I’m surprise the watch does as good as it does being so small.

Not too sure on the signal strength difference between the iPhone, can't say I've noticed much difference, so that says something I suppose.

Pretty impressed with how quickly the AW picks up a cellular signal. For example, in parts of my house I get bluetooth connectivity until I go to the lower floor, rear part of my house and I then lose bluetooth and get WIFI. Once I go out of the rear door and into the yard area of my house, I lose WIFI. Takes around 10-15 seconds from when the red X appears, till I see the cellular signal dots.

 

[deadworlds]

The connectivity with WiFi issue is A known issue and Apple has release a statement saying they are working on it.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I don't think mine is the open wifi problem - I do not connect to public wifi - I think mine is more related to the watch dropping/not picking up the lte signal. I know these are places where my phone is fine -so I think the watch's lte is weak. And it is really slow to switch from being near the phone to lte when I leave the house/phone/wifi behind- it takes mine about 3 minutes or so.

My coworker and I were both able to reproduce this. It's seemingly an issue where it's slow to pick up the LTE signal/doesn't switch over at all for whatever reason. Toggling Airplane mode or restarting the Watch can force the switch.

 

[Zune55]

I have not, but I think the workaround for now is to removed those WiFi hotspot from your iCloud. Or go to your iPhone and select those network then tap on forget network for each one.

Hey Leica Dad, i used your method by forgetting WiFi network which was previously connected via iPhone and now cellular is working. Thanks

 

[Farrellcollie]

My coworker and I were both able to reproduce this. It's seemingly an issue where it's slow to pick up the LTE signal/doesn't switch over at all for whatever reason. Toggling Airplane mode or restarting the Watch can force the switch.

I have been going into cellular and pushing connect -but still a hassle

 

[Leica Dad]

Hey Leica Dad, i used your method by forgetting WiFi network which was previously connected via iPhone and now cellular is working. Thanks

Hey that’s good news! There are couple of workaround until Apple fix this, but I’m glad it helps!

 

[jekim]

I’ve noticed that in most stores I have tried it in, the further back I go the signal drops where my phone would still have a bar and work most of the time. Not a deal breaker because I understand it’s not as powerful as the phone. Plus in my town, AT&T is 2 bars in most places.

 

[oneteam]

There are couple of workaround until Apple fix this, but I’m glad it helps!

So what’s another work around besides the one you already suggested?

 

[Applemacfan]

So what’s another work around besides the one you already suggested?

Toggle on airplane mode, the toggle off after few seconds?