WiFi slow after some minutes

[noize]

Hi all,

I have problems with my WiFi speed. First I found youtube to load videos quite slowly. After that I used "Oookla Speedtest" to check network speed. I have 6MBit DSL-connection at home, but if I use the speedtest after the WiFi has been switched on for some minutes, I only get ~1Mbits on the Xperia Z3 compact. If I switch WiFi off and on again on the phone, I get the expected ~5Mbits. This happens not only at home, but also at work and at my parents house. WiFi router types are different in all the 3 places.

The problem persists even If I stand 1m away from the router. WiFi reception is shown to be very good on the phone. My old iPhone 4S does not have this problem. Since turning off and on WiFi on the Z3 compact solves that problem for some minutes, I blame it on the phone itself. I already tried turning off and on the phone, as well as factory reset. Problem persists. Any hints?

Thanks a lot!

[noize]

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@hkuser wrote:

Bought my Z3C a few days ago and can barely use Wifi becaues of this issue. 

Absurd that this issue hasn't been fixed as I'm seeing report of it dating back to the Z1!

Will need to return this phone if not fixed soon.

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This issue IS fixed now ... maybe you don´t have the latest firmware yet ... or maybe it´s a different problem. Possibly a DNS problem with your particular router. Or maybe a problem with your particular device.

BTW, it was not a problem specific to Sony, but to Android in general (I could reproduce the issue we are talking about here on a Galaxy S4 and a LG G3). More details here http://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-Z3-Compact/WiFi-slow-after-some-minutes/m-p/861783#M1163

[hkuser]

Rickard and Noize, 

It looks like this thread is referencing 2 issues: wifi slowness when data is enabled and wifi stops functioning regardless of of whether data is enabled.

i believe the 'fix' you're referring to refers to the first one. I'm concerned that the 2nd issue may be taking a back seat since it's gettting obscured in this thread. And arguably, the 2nd issue is more serious - since wifi is not usable at all!

This is not a DNS or router issue. I do not have the issue on my S4 or iphone 5s using the same router. As well,l I've tried my Z3C on different routers.

The issue seems to happen faster when bluetooth enabled. 

Rickard, can you please address this issue specifically?

Thanks.

[hkuser]

I've found a workaround for my issue. I'm posting it here for the benefit of others, but ultimately I beleive Sony needs to fix this problem.

Issue Summary

Z3 Compact Wifi drops connection (not pingable, although the phone does show it's still connected to wifi) when Bluetooth used with my Bose speaker.  I didn't test other bluetooth devices however I see several reports online of ppl having bluetooth/wifi issues (dating back to the Z1, and perhaps other Xperia models, which I didn't search for).

Solution

I switched from my mid-range Buffalo router to a $10 Chinese TPLink router. My theory is that the Z3C wifi is very sensitive to bluetooth interference and that the TPLink router is simply broadcasting a stronger wifi single (Transmit Power is set to High in the settings). So, one would be quick to blame the Buffalo router here, but I did not have this issue with my Samsung S4 or iPhone 5S. And I beleive the phone (being the 'hub' technology and the biggest investment) should be responsible for making sure combinations of different connecting routers/deivices/technologies etc work properly.

Side Note

I've noticed that wifi routers sold here in Hong Kong are particulary low-powered (makes sense given the high population density), so if my theory is true, I suspect many others in Hong Kong will experience this issue. More reason for Sony to be on top of this issue since they heavily market the Z3 in Hong Kong. 

[JuneBob]

Hi Rickard,

I've used it on various WiFi networks. The phone is behaving as before.

I'm not really interested in spending more time debugging this, so I've gone back to my old phone and will negotiate with the company that I bought the phone from to get a refund.

Regards,

Robert

[rIpI7]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for the effort in troubleshooting and finding a solution to at least one of the issues with wi-fi.

I think I still have the issue despite having the ..77 build on my Xperia Z3 unlocked bought from Sony store.

My impression is that it is the same issue some of the last posts are mentioning. In average connection locations (2-3 bars out of 5) the Wi-fi connection icon will indicate it is connected but no data goes through. However other devices are able to get perfect wi-fi usage side by side.

I have just adopted some of the solutions that are mentioned in the thread (disable mobile network data whenever it is not needed, or just before doing the wi-fi reset without turning it back on, disable power management options, disable high precision location so that it only uses GPS, disable bluetooth, disable network optimization, allow wi-fi when sleep.) and will see if there is any improvement for my issue.

I may have some easy times testing this since I know a location where it happens 9/10 times. Basically in my bedroom. My router is located on the other side of the house but I still have 2-3 bars of wi-fi, however I can't even watch a short youtube video because it won't load at all. I don't seem to get this issue when the reception is 4-5 bars anywhere, or the disruption is very short timed in a way that it does not impact on the usage significantly.

It's really upsetting to have these issues in such a high end (and $$$) phone.... I hope at least something is worked for lolipop.

Why cantt my 2015 brand new Xperia Z3 connect reliably to networks that have 3/5 reception???

I'll post my experience with testing the solutions above asap, meanwhile if you have similar symptoms or other workaround suggestions I'm more than happy to try them.

[kilonova]

Xperia Z3v (Verizon) here. Got it two weeks ago. Applied an update after being prompted and wifi is basically unusable now. Mobile data is always fast. All other devices on wifi are blazing fast. There are computers, tablets, and phones all over my home, all connected to wifi simultaneously, and several people can watch Netflix, download, etc. without any interruption or speed issues. Same issue when using the wifi at my remote office. The only thing that lags is my Xperia. LOVED the phone until this became an issue. If something doesn't happen soon to fix the issue, I'll sell it and will never look back. Could be a one-time Sony smartphone owner here.

Tried turning off Stamina and goofing with other settings like others have mentioned here. Isn't helping.

[BadgerRed79]

I've been having the same problem since I got my Xperia Z3v two months ago. It won't hold a steady WiFi connection, even when I turn off the other possible sources of interference in settings (mobile data, bluetooth, NFC, I've even tried turning off location).

I use Speedtest and WiFi Analyzer to check my connection, and I've compared the results I get from my Z3v with results from my Nexus 7 (2013 edition) and my wife's LG G3. Both of those other devices maintain a strong, steady connection, while my Z3v jumps in and out.

I've tried online support chat with Sony a couple times and received absolutely no help whatsoever. It's like they're not even aware it's a problem. Meanwhile, on here, it's clear other people have had this issue dating back several months. My phone runs Android 4.4.4 with Build Number 23.0.E.1.44. The last software update I received from Sony was a week or two ago, and it didn't solve the problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Rickard]

I'm sorry to hear that.

@kilonova

You never noticed any issue before the software update of the phone?

@kilonova and BadgerRed79

Does the same thing happen if you put the phone in flight mode and then turn on WiFi?

Does this also happen if you are near the access point?

What router/access point do you have?

Does this also happen if you put the phone in safe mode? Hold the on/off button and then tap and hold the shutdown option to restart in safe mode.

[klyde_13]

@Rickard,

I'm here in the US right now. As I've said in my first post for this issue, I bought this in Philippines and it probably came from China. Still have my Philippines sim card in roaming from Globe Telecom. It's in roaming with AT&T however, when I checked again the software update, it is still not available! How do you determine which phone to update anyways? Should I change the sim card to a permanent AT&T  or other US network sim card just to get the update?

As you know I'm so frustrated with this issue already. I'm willing to buy a US prepaid sim just to get the update! WOW!

[Rickard]

Sorry to hear that you still haven't received the update.

Switching to another operator will not help in this case. When you get an update depends on where and with what operator the phone was originally sold.

Where you are located and what operator you currently use doesn't matter. Your phone has a number that says which country and operator it "belongs" to. When an update is approved in that country and by that operator we release the update for that number.