Dell Venue Pro plagued by Wi-Fi bug [Updated]

By on Nov 9, 2010 at 1:00 PM
Breaking November 9, 2010

The Dell Venue Pro, which became available on Monday, may be affected by a troublesome bug. According to several BGR readers, the new Windows Phone 7 handset from Dell is unable to connect to protected Wi-Fi networks. Affected users report that when they attempt to connect to a secured Wi-Fi network using the standard Wi-Fi utility, they receive the following message: “your phone couldn’t reach the Wi-Fi network”. Users report no such problem when connecting to unprotected wireless networks.

Dell has been contacted for comment and we will update this post with any official statement we receive.

Thanks, David!

UPDATE 1: We’ve now received reports via email that some HTC HD7 devices may be affected as well. This unfortunately could mean that the issue is a WP7 bug that isn’t limited to one particular handset. Microsoft and HTC have been contacted for comment.

UPDATE 2: Several readers have emailed us wondering whether or not hidden Wi-Fi networks are the culprit here. BGR has confirmed that in all cases reported to us directly, users were not attempting to connect to hidden networks. We’ve also gotten word that some Microsoft store locations have acknowledged the problem. One reader even commented that a helpful store in his area swapped out his phone as a result of the bug.

UPDATE 3: On Thursday morning, Dell issued an official response to our report. Dell’s statement doesn’t explain the three confirmed reports BGR has received concerning HD7 units exhibiting similar behavior, but at least Venue Pro owners now know how to handle devices affected by this bug.

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  • David Scammell

    I’m running an unlocked HTC Mozart running Windows Phone 7 and I do not have an issue connecting to secured WiFi networks. I’ve connected to them at home and at work with no issues. Wi-Fi is running perfectly!

  • TheKinMan

    We already know that no Windows Phone 7 can connect to a hidden wireless network.

    This is very bad for the security conscious, as it means everyone has to leave their SSIDs in the open. The other alternative would be to just ignore Windows Phone 7 users (as there would be so few anyway).

    Now people are having trouble getting Windows Phone 7 to log onto any secure wireless network. It’s almost as if Microsoft wants you to undo every wireless security feature, just so its phones will work.

    Windows Phone 7 has an appalling long list of missing features and shortcomings. These latest additions just add salt into the wound, and make people avoid Windows Phone 7 like the plague.

    • Haterade

      “We already know that no Windows Phone 7 can connect to a hidden wireless network.”

      Where is your proof? My Focus works fine. Plus, iPhone was worse when it first came out. It was so bad with the cpu performance that my phone always hang. Android that I had until yesterday also had same problem. The browser gets stuck and never responds to events until I hit home button. So far, WP7 is flying like a G6.

      Before you speak, at least go and touch a WP7 phone first. Noob.

      • http://thefinalprint.com Cindy

        I do think so, there’s no proof to prove that quote.

      • Anonymous

        The first iPhone was released almost 4 years ago, and at that point in time other smartphones were about 10 times shittier even despite all the issues and omissions of the iPhone.

        If your main defense of WP7 is that it is not worse than a phone from 2007, Microsoft is going to have a really, really hard time making it a success.

  • Nostradames

    I have a WP7 HD7 and I have no issues connecting to wifi….I am very suprised that DELL QA personel missed this snafu….let’s hope the bug will be fixed…

  • http://twitter.com/charlieclare Charlie Clare

    I’m in the UK with an HTC Trophy, I’ve had a replacement handset and both have the same wi-fi problems .

    This is what happens:
    turn on wifi and see my WPA secured home network, I log in and it works fine.

    But everytime the phone goes into Standby, it fails to reconnect. Even if I go into settings and rap to connect my network it no longer works.

    I have to turn the wifi off and on again and then it will connect automatically, until the phone goes to sleep again.

    It’s no good and is ruining what would otherwise be an awesome experience.

    Before the Trophy I had a Samsung Omnia 7…..I didn’t experience any problems with that at all.. Unfortantly the carriers don’t have reception in my home.

    Any help appriciated.

  • http://twitter.com/rdubmu Robert Mutton

    This is a huge red flag. Hopefully this is a software glitch and not a hardware glitch :)

  • sam_lincs

    I am having this exact issue with an 02 HTC HD7. I have home broadband on wifi from talktalk, my wife’s HTC Wildfire connects and stays connected. My HD7 connected once only since last week (even though shows 4 bar signal strength) I am inputting the correct password and i’m getting the error mesage “couldn’t connect”. Sort it please Microsoft.

  • http://twitter.com/LionelatDell Lionel Menchaca

    Maybe linking to the Knowledge Base article is holding up my comment in moderation. This time without the link:

    Sorry for not being more clear. The point I was trying to make is this: The Wi-Fi issue that affected some Venue Pro phones prevented users from accessing protected Wi-Fi networks that were not hidden. That specific problem was caused by a Dell manufacturing software issue. I was trying to say it was a software issue that was independent of the Windows Phone 7 operating system.

    Hidden networks are a different topic. Per Microsoft, Windows Phone 7 does not support connections to hidden networks. See Microsoft Knowledge Base article # 2447719 for more.

    Thanks,
    LionelatDell

  • Gglazer

    I’m in Canada. My first LG Optimus worked perfectly on all secured WiFi networks. I replaced the unit due to a faulty search button and the new one won’t connect to any secured WiFi networks. All the wireless networks I’ve tried broadcast their SSID as well.

  • Computingdynamic

    I have Samsung Focus for about a month. Originally, it would connect to an open (no password) wireless access point which is mine. Signal is very strong. My notebook on my lap connects immediately. My phone, in same spot says could not reach the network. Phone does connect to Optimum wi-fi. It stored my password. I have no idea how to delete that. Advice welcome. How do I again connect to my own net?

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