Frustrating WiFi Issue

[scottay]

Has anyone had any connection issues between Cisco RV series (or any new Cisco/Linksys device) and iOS devices?

I replaced a business client's router with a RV220W and ever since they've been having extremely intermittent WiFi issues on their iPad 2's and 3's, as well as an old iPod (used for Pandora streaming).

-- Android devices and Windows laptops work with no issues.
-- Range is not an issue, strong signal everywhere (not a very big area).
-- I've changed security from WPA/WPA2 Mixed to WPA2 Personal only.
-- I've made it exclusively a N network, but this kills connection with an old G computer and an old iPod they have. This does, however, seem to help the iPad 2's/3's.
-- I've changed channels to ensure no interferrence.
-- I've messed with WMM settings.

I've had this problem a couple times with some new Cisco EA series routers out of the box, but after a few power cycles the issue seems to clear up. Being that this is a business that used iOS devices as part of their daily work it's pretty critical they their wireless is stable.

Anyone else experiencing any of these types of issues or know what else I can try to get things stable?

 

[Majestic]

Has anyone had any connection issues between Cisco RV series (or any new Cisco/Linksys device) and iOS devices?

I replaced a business client's router with a RV220W and ever since they've been having extremely intermittent WiFi issues on their iPad 2's and 3's, as well as an old iPod (used for Pandora streaming).

-- Android devices and Windows laptops work with no issues.
-- Range is not an issue, strong signal everywhere (not a very big area).
-- I've changed security from WPA/WPA2 Mixed to WPA2 Personal only.
-- I've made it exclusively a N network, but this kills connection with an old G computer and an old iPod they have. This does, however, seem to help the iPad 2's/3's.
-- I've changed channels to ensure no interferrence.
-- I've messed with WMM settings.

I've had this problem a couple times with some new Cisco EA series routers out of the box, but after a few power cycles the issue seems to clear up. Being that this is a business that used iOS devices as part of their daily work it's pretty critical they their wireless is stable.

Anyone else experiencing any of these types of issues or know what else I can try to get things stable?

Although you've changed channels, did you scan the channels to see if there were any other wireless networks in range on the same channel(s)? I had an issue in the past with a business where the kept getting knocked off intemittently and it ended up that there were about 15 other networks on that channels and many others on some other channels. I isolated it to the one not used to solve the issue.

There are many utilities you can use for this. I'd recommend one but tbh I don't remember which one I used. It may have been e-wifi on the iphone but I'm not sure..

Regards,

Majestic

 

[scottay]

Thanks for the reply.

I haven't actually scanned, but they are one of the only units in the complex, so by process of elimination I made the determination that they weren't conflicting. I may drop by and actually scan to be positive, but I don't think that's it.

 

[SAG]

Odd that you'd bring this up.
I was visiting a friend who works at a local datacenter yesterday and we were talking about Apple IOS devices (ipad, iphone) and connectivity problems with Cisco.
We both jokingly concluded that it's a conspiracy where Apple wants you to buy their wireless devices.
Then we took off our tinfoil hats and had lunch.

Seriously though, I have seen, on numerous occasion, where only the Apple portable devices had issue connecting to the Cisco WAP2000 devices I currently use for SMB wireless, but when I bring in an airport Extreme/Express the apple devices work flawlessly.

 

[paristotle]

What version of IOS are the devices running? There were a few WiFi problems with IOS devices around the time of the iPhone 5 launch. I think it was IOS 6. There were a few updates in rapid succession. Seems that some of the fixes brought more problems, but it was all sorted out. I had some problems with intermittent connections with Cisco and Asus AP's around that time. The updates ended up fixing the issue for my customers.

 

[kwest]

Put a $ sign in the wifi security key. It has fixed this issue for me three times in the past. Not sure why but if apple products are not connecting marketing the key more complex fixes the issue.

Let me know if that fixes the issue for you

 

[scottay]

@SAG
I don't mind wearing tinfoil hats from time to time... especially when it comes to Apple.

@paristotle
I'll look into the iOS version. That could very well be it, I don't know if they were updated when they bought them.

@kwest
I just love it when Apple decides their just going to do it their own way and just let all of us tear our hair out trying to figure out why stuff's not working. There are special characters in the passphrase, but no $. Is it something specific with the $, or just the fact that there are characters that they might like?

 

[Vicenarian]

@SAG
I don't mind wearing tinfoil hats from time to time... especially when it comes to Apple.

@paristotle
I'll look into the iOS version. That could very well be it, I don't know if they were updated when they bought them.

@kwest
I just love it when Apple decides their just going to do it their own way and just let all of us tear our hair out trying to figure out why stuff's not working. There are special characters in the passphrase, but no $. Is it something specific with the $, or just the fact that there are characters that they might like?

Well, it is Apple after all...so $$$ signs make perfect sense

 

[kwest]

Not sure but adding a $ at the beginning fixed it. It will work if you turn security off. Try that first. Of course remove wifi profile on device first

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

2x instances.

First instance about 2 years ago, used a Cisco (Linksys grade) at a little PT office with 3 computers. I forget which model, but the iPads had issues. Had done WPA2 security. Something made me try channel 1 or 11 and then it worked fine. I figured the apples were just finicky with neighboring wireless in that setup...it was in a mini mall with several other wifi's around.

Some time mid summer last year, client with a summer camp, had an RV082 or RV016 router as the edge device. They had some old failing home grade Linksys WAPsomething homegrade access point hanging off of it. With about 50x devices clinging to it, was having a hard time. I yanked it and added a couple of Ubiquiti Unifi APs to the network....great coverage, great speed. But shortly after some compliants from the Apple users that they couldn't connect. I figured it was the Ubiquiti APs...and found a thread or two over in their support forums about that. But maybe it was due to the Linksys/Cisco up at the top. Hmmmm....

 

[paristotle]

Just remembered another point. Not sure it applies to other AP's but on Sonicwall AP's link aggregation has to be disabled or the IOS and OS X won't connect. Probably not your case but it's worth mentioning.