PX4 QGroundControl telemetry issues

I’m using a Umanned Tech Pixhawk running PX4 1.4.2 stable release in conjunction with QGC 3.0, with telemetry via xbee wifi link as for my purposes I need short range. However, I am experiencing dropped connections, and QGC is continuously unable to retrieve parameters via the telemetry connection. Xbees are correctly configured via the XCTU software and is connected to pixahwk via telem1. QGC is running on Mac El Capitan native, or on Ubuntu via a parallels VM. same issue experienced in both setups. No issues if connected via USB.

Is anyone able to point me in the direction of how to solve this?