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Help WiFi (Internet dropouts on Android 4.4.2

I'm a newcomer to Android on tablets. I'm running 4.4.2 on a Lenovo A10 70. I get instant good automatic WiFi connections to my network router, but whilst but whilst the router connection stays there just fine, the Internet connection drops out frequently - the browser reporting that it can't find the server. All the other devices (two desktops, a laptop, and a Galaxy S3 phone running Android 4.3) attached to the router can access the same pages on the Internet, so there is nothing wrong with the ADSL connection to my ISP. Turning the WiFi off and on again from the tablet fixes the problem. Any ideas where to start looking for the problem, please? Might it just be 4.4.2 at fault?

Regards,

Bob
 
Hi Bob
I have exactly the same problem with my new Lenovo tab A10-70 with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. It is quite frustrating to turn Wlan off and on continuously although it fixes the problem immediately. All other devices using Wlan work well. Have you already found a solution this problem or can anyone help?

Regards
Juha
 
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I haven't found an answer yet. I thought it might be connected to the upgrade to 4.4.2 as I didn't notice it before. It would be interesting to know if others get the same problem with other versions like yours, which would indicate it might relate to the tablet not the O/S. I was hoping there might be an upgrade to v.5 soon to see if that help, as there have been other comments about KitKat and WiFi. Since I posted, I even installed a WiFi repeater on another house floor to see if that helped - it made it worse if anything, possibly due to interference.
 
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Thanks. I tried to google this and found only a few material that describe this problem with this Lenovo model. I'll try to use the tab in other places and see if it works there (probably not). I guess I can always take it back to the store and ask them to figure this out. I'm afraid too that this may be mainly related to the tab. Even in cheap tabs wlan should mainly work.
 
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Hi
I think I have found more information what is wrong. As Lenovo worksi in other places and other wlans very well, it must be not broken. As my other devices work well at home, the home wlan must be working. This is true also according to Wifi Analyzer. At home I tried to use Lenovo via iPhone Personal Hotspot and Lenovo worked perfectly. So it seems that Lenovo A10-70 tablet and Zyxel ADSL modem P-661HNU are not working together for some reason. This can avoided using hotspot. May be I will change Zyxel to some other modem too and see what happens.
 
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As a P.S. to the thread, I've been in touch with Lenovo, and other than a factory reset (actually tried it, didn't help) they had no idea. They were unable to say if it would ever be upgraded to Android 5 - so waiting may or may not be an option. Either way round, any suggestions would still be welcome. If all else fails I'll wait till it is out of warranty, and then see if there is a flash ROM available.
 
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You are not alone. I'm having the exact same problem with my Lenovo tablet. When I contacted support, they were clueless. There has to be a way to correct the issue. Sure wish we could find one.

I'm not sure this will do any of us any good, but since I posted originally, I've had a lot more occasions where the same has happened. It may be coincidence, but there may be a link with streaming video. It occasionally happens for no reason, but the one time when it always happens is after disconnecting from a video stream - a YouTube video say. I'm starting to wonder if it is connected with the machine not letting go of the video stream, and hence refusing to talk to anywhere else on the web. This is nothing but a guess and a long shot at that, but it fits in with the machine remaining connected, but not talking to the internet - anyway, I thought it might be worth a mention in case anyone had seen the same thing. I don't think we're any better off if it is that, but it would be nice to know anyway.
 
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Interesting. I don't watch a lot of steaming video, but I do play a few silly games that require a live connection. From what I have noticed, it seems to me like it will only allow a certain amount of data to transfer before it "stops". It seems like if I am using lots of data (video, downloading file, etc.) it "stops" working more quickly than if I am not using as much. This would be consistent with streaming video which uses a lot of data as well.
I'll keep checking back just in case someone does come up with an answer. I wish I could update to Android 5.0!
 
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I'll keep checking back just in case someone does come up with an answer. I wish I could update to Android 5.0!

Likewise. I'm sure it is, as you suggest, the amount of data - it is certainly a factor, anyway. Lenovo techies couldn't tell me if there was to be another update or not - but it is my only chance, I have run out of other ideas to try. As it is, the tablet is not exactly useless, but certainly not usable for anything important. I got jammed in the emiddl of an online order yesterday - so I daren't use it for that any more.
 
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Hi
My problem seems to be time related that may be related to amount of transfered data.
For instance when I watch Netflix Lenovo disconnects practically every 5 minutes. Turning wlan off and on corrects the situation.
However, this problem occurs only at home with Zyxel, in other places wlan, Netflix etc. work well...
I have not found other solutions at home than using Lenovo via iPhone hotspot... Juha
 
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Hi
However, this problem occurs only at home with Zyxel, in other places wlan, Netflix etc. work well...
I have not found other solutions at home than using Lenovo via iPhone hotspot... Juha
I'm wondering if there may be a connection like that here. I have a new router coming soon when we upgrade to a fibre connection, so it will be interesting to see if that helps - a 5GHz connection might be the answer.
 
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Update: Galen, I thought about the above idea any tried an experiment. I had an old Linksys wireless router in the closet. I hooked it into my existing router and connected my tablet to it. That was 13 hours ago, and I haven't restarted my WiFi one time. I suggest you try a different router and see if you get the same results.

How strange - I just did the same, more or less. I've got a WiFi repeater which previously seemed to make things worse, not better. What I did was to set it up just as an access point instead of as a repeater (which is what you've just done), and make an ethernet connection to the router via my powerline adaptor set up. It has only dropped out once since and there was a known possible reason for that. I haven't yet had time to test it out to see if it is a proximity thing (I've been using the tablet quite close to the AP), or whether it is a channel factor. My router is locked to channel 13 (the quietest in our neighbourhood) and I've left the access point on auto, so it can find it is own spot (it picked channel 5). I doubt it was just the channel as previously I had problems on a different channel anyway. My guess is that you are correct and it is just some strange thing where a particular tablet (aerial maybe?) doesn't co-exist well with a particular router.

When my new router arrives prior to going over to "fibre to the cabinet" in a couple of days it will be interesting. The new router is supposed to be very good at WiFi, and fast too. As I'll have to reset everything then, who knows what will happen. However, there a very good chance I now know how to deal with it, if not why it works. Fingers crossed all round.
 
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Hey Bob,
Thanks for writing this up. I have the Lenovo A10 70 running android 5.1 lollipop and am having the exact same issue. Not sure if it is a interference problem or compatability problem with the wireless router.

I do not have his problem at home but do at my sisters house. They have a netgear nighthawk x4 AC2350 router. This is annoying since I spend so much time here. They have both a normal and 5G connection and both have the problem equally. Almost all other devices have no connectivity issues except an i pad. Which is bizarre since it has a totally different OS.

I note that there is an Xfinity wireless signal that is not password protected here for cable boxes to interact? It may be that our devices are trying to switch over to that frequently.
 
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Hey Bob,
Thanks for writing this up. I have the Lenovo A10 70 running android 5.1 lollipop and am having the exact same issue. Not sure if it is a interference problem or compatability problem with the wireless router.

Both could be a factor, but I've now come to the conclusion that it is mainly the latter. Having switched to fibre a few days ago as I mentioned above, I was sent the new router (an excellent Huawei HG633, only available from TalkTalk at the moment) and the problem has cleared up entirely - only one dropout since, and there was another possible reason for that. If it was interference, it would still be as bad as before, so my guess is it just didn't get on with the old router for some reason. I left both the router and the AP on auto for channel selection, and I've only moved one device (my phone) to the 5GHz band that I now have, so everything else is on 2.4GHz and subject to the same possible interference as before - but, of course, the improved signal strength could be the factor. Anyway, I'm delighted that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the Lenovo.

As an aside - how did you get 5.1 Lollipop onto the Lenovo? It isn't offering me any OTA updates. I'm just more curious than anything - now all is well with the tablet I'm not in such a hurry to upgrade.
 
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Well well well I have come to believe you are never truly alone, there is a support group for everything . . . my tab 2 a10 has had the very same problem for some time so will try the router change route and btw i do not have this dropped connection with an other device and neither has my wife and a summer's full house of guests. Thank you one and all for the input.
 
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