Help EVO Wi-Fi "Error"

[SMARTPHONEPC]

I remember all the issues about Wi-Fi reporting when the EVO was first released which concerned me but today on Day 29 on its 30 day return window was the first time I had any WiFi issue with it only reporting "error" when selecting Wi-Fi in Settings to try to get it to connect again after I noticed speed issues (other devices had no problem seeing or connecting same Wi-Fi).

I rebooted EVO & Wi-Fi worked again on it but was curious if this is a common occurrence or if Wi-Fi issues are still affecting EVOs?

-Thanks

 

[Mr. Ed]

never a wifi issue since day one here.

I see more router issues than phone wifi issues.... but that doesn't mean anything.

watch for a continuing issue, if you do in fact have more issues take the phone in for testing at a sprint repair center

 

[SMARTPHONEPC]

Noticed this issue again today & apparently I'm not alone:

is anyone seeing dropped/lost WiFi connections - Android Forums

As this poster mentions when the EVO is idle for an unknown amount of time, the Wi-Fi can not reconnect (although I can actually see it try to reconnect & fail in settings) without a reboot..

Is there really no better solution (only EVO is exhibiting this behavior) than requiring a reboot as it clearly can hold a connection until some unknown idle time alters its ability?

(This issue also seemed to drain my battery the other night when it was unused but not plugged in because it had ~90%, ~8 hrs later 5%)

At this point I'm not sure I can recommend an EVO to anyone aside from modding tech enthusiasts who have time to troubleshoot..

 

[RiverOfIce]

Your error is a "feature", joking aside, all wifi cards have that problem. Windows os, macs os, phones, routers, and even linux os. Your problem is a handshake issue.

When you first connect to the router, you are given a specific set of instructions for each time the phone reconnects to the router. Now in the perfect world, the device and router should communicate for any problems that should change those instructions.

It never does.

The router, will think the phone is no longer there and close the port/ip/security hole. The wifi chip will try to use it with out asking to be reset. In the best case you have to wait for the 30-60 secs for them to reconnect, the worst case, it just gets rejected. This does not have anything to do with any given phone, device, os, or wifi chip. But what combo of wifi chip/device/os you have. Because some reset better then others.

To be honest, the wifi chip in the evo is not the best chip ever made, you cant expect it to be. If you use the chip with a specific router you will get errors like yours. On the other hand, routers like mine play perfectly nice with the same chip.

If you want to blame someone, you can take it out on the chip makers that produce chips with protocols that are not fully agreed to, and with users,for demanding that they get the latest, b/g/n connection with each device, before it becomes a full standard.

There is no fix for this, there is simply nothing wrong. The firmware and router you are using is not fully working with your phone. Chances are you have a older router, or a cheaper router with a few devices connected and gone into standby. Combine a old/cheap router with a wifi chip will throw errors right and left, the majority of them will just be recoverable. BUT coming out of standby never has worked for pretty much anyone. So dont feel bad, the iphone 4 does the same thing with older routers/cheaper routers. Just do a search, all you need to do is "fill in the blank device/os" wifi error. You will get the hint.

 

[SMARTPHONEPC]

Your error is a "feature", joking aside, all wifi cards have that problem. Windows os, macs os, phones, routers, and even linux os. Your problem is a handshake issue.

When you first connect to the router, you are given a specific set of instructions for each time the phone reconnects to the router. Now in the perfect world, the device and router should communicate for any problems that should change those instructions.

It never does.

The router, will think the phone is no longer there and close the port/ip/security hole. The wifi chip will try to use it with out asking to be reset. In the best case you have to wait for the 30-60 secs for them to reconnect, the worst case, it just gets rejected. This does not have anything to do with any given phone, device, os, or wifi chip. But what combo of wifi chip/device/os you have. Because some reset better then others.

To be honest, the wifi chip in the evo is not the best chip ever made, you cant expect it to be. If you use the chip with a specific router you will get errors like yours. On the other hand, routers like mine play perfectly nice with the same chip.

If you want to blame someone, you can take it out on the chip makers that produce chips with protocols that are not fully agreed to, and with users,for demanding that they get the latest, b/g/n connection with each device, before it becomes a full standard.

There is no fix for this, there is simply nothing wrong. The firmware and router you are using is not fully working with your phone. Chances are you have a older router, or a cheaper router with a few devices connected and gone into standby. Combine a old/cheap router with a wifi chip will throw errors right and left, the majority of them will just be recoverable. BUT coming out of standby never has worked for pretty much anyone. So dont feel bad, the iphone 4 does the same thing with older routers/cheaper routers. Just do a search, all you need to do is "fill in the blank device/os" wifi error. You will get the hint.

I appreciate the reply but don't have old/cheap routers; My Wi-Fi includes the Verizon FIOS supplied Actiontec MI424WR downstairs & upstairs the Netgear 3700 (connected to Actiontec Ethernet over Coax MoCA Adapter but no other devices have an issue holding their connection) though I'll try to retest this issue downstairs & other routers. Again the EVO is the only device with this problem, iPhone 3GS & various pc notebooks do not have such issues. At least a reboot corrects it but it can get cumbersome-annoying..

 

[jimdroid]

My two Evos work perfectly with the Netgear 3700 (and with the other 4 routers, Netgear, Linksys and Cisco that I tried it with).

Next time it happens, try just turning wi-fi off then back on on the Evo (instead of rebooting the Evo).

Oh, and I'm sure you did this, but make sure the Evo's wi-fi sleep policy has been disabled.

 

[SMARTPHONEPC]

My two Evos work perfectly with the Netgear 3700 (and with the other 4 routers, Netgear, Linksys and Cisco that I tried it with).

Next time it happens, try just turning wi-fi off then back on on the Evo (instead of rebooting the Evo).

Oh, and I'm sure you did this, but make sure the Evo's wi-fi sleep policy has been disabled.

Well my Netgear 3700 is connected to an Actiontec Ethernet over Coax MoCA Adapter & while I of course did try turning Wi-Fi off & on without it correcting thus requiring a reboot, this seems like a device specific Wi-Fi sleep policy issue & it was set at default 15 minutes so now is set to "Never" as described at:

Improve Your HTC EVO 4G Battery Life : EVDOinfo.com
20 tips to improve HTC EVO 4G battery life

(This really should be in the primary Wi-Fi settings menu). I hope this corrects this issue, I'll report back..THANK YOU!!

 

[SMARTPHONEPC]

Just wanted to report that the issue appears resolved as it has not returned since changing the default 15 min Wi-Fi sleep policy to "Never" (knew there was a reason I joined this forum)

Additionally battery life has improved significantly. Thanks again jimdroid, I'm so much happier with the EVO now (was about ready to return it to BestBuy on day 30 Monday)

 

[jimdroid]

That's great to hear. Now you can concentrate on enjoying your Evo