Before I return iPad: Is the WiFi problem software or hardware?

I have this exact same problem at home. I have verizon FIOS and am starting to think it's a router issue.

I brought the iPad to the office and have not had any issues with our Meru Wireless access points. They are using the same WPA password encryption so everything is the same except the actual router manufacturer.

I'm going to see what happens when I put an airport extreme at home and have a second wifi network and connect to that one. Both routers will be right next to each other (on different channels) so I should be able to verify whether or not it's the FIOS router.

This thing has problems with wifi just like my iPhone. It will be going back. I'm done... I've never had so much trouble with a product brand in my life. It never ends..

I haven't had any problems with mine at all and I have had it in several places all using different routers. One was even in my aunts basement where 3g is weak but the wifi was fine (her router is on the 2nd floor). Like everyone has said, try it on different wifi networks and go from there. It is possible you got a bad one. I had a problem with my Airport Base Station (dual band) and I brought it back and it has been fine.

Mine works in some places, not in others. My iPhone and laptop work where the iPad works and does NOT work. This suggests a problem with the iPad, either hardware or software, probably drivers. I need it to work wherever, especially if my iPhone wifi and laptop wifi work there.

I do know that the nite before i got my ipad Apple had mr update the firmware on my extreme and listed my express as up to date
i also had an itunes update to as well
10.5.8 on the OS & 9.1 for itunes
no problems...yet

I took mine to the Genius Bar yesterday afternoon. They "were aware" of some reported problems having read the discussions here but were unable to duplicate the issue with my machine. Suggested that I a) Restore my iPad (which I had already done) b) Reset my home router c) contact my provider (Verizon FIOS) and have them check my router and d) if the problem persists and all else seems ok they would replace my iPad in the interest of keeping me as a satisfied customer. So, in the end, they were of no real help at all.

I have a 4/09 MBP, a new Apple TV, a new iMac 21.5, a new iPod Touch and an HP Win 7 desktop and none have an issue connecting to and maintaining a wireless connection with my router so I can point to no evidence that would support the idea that the problem is with my router. Besides, there are far too many complaints here and elsewhere to lead one to believe anything other than their is a WiFi issue with the device.

I was having the same issue with my iPad. I unplugged my router, than plugged it back in. Then in the settings of my iPad, I turned Wi-Fi off, then back on and reconnected to the network. Haven't had a problem since.

I have 2 Ipads and the same problem as you, this is nuts and both are going back tomorrow, neither one can hold a wifi signal, outrageous.

And if it turns out they work just fine at the apple store?

I'd like to offer my observations. Mjne is all fixed now.

I had the intermittent dropping of the wifi connection. But even before the final fix I was able to reconnect by going to the network setting page and choosing my network, or by leaving it alone for a few minutes when it will try to reconnect by itself. Still the problem was slightly annoying.

I have had my wifi SSID and WEP password forever, and did not bother to change this combination even as I transitioned from 802.11b to 802.11g over the years, as I upgrade to newer routers (linksys and dlinks). I was just lazy.

The first thing was I upgraded to a drink 801.11n router because my 802.11g router was old and giving me other problems which are not relevant here. I initially use the same SSID and WEP, just to see. The iPad was still intermittently dropping the connection. Then I noticed that with WEP enabled, the 802.11n-capable devices, including iPad were only connecting at 802.11g speed. Cannot use WEP in 'n'. So I finally converted to WPA2 security.

Now the IPad no longer drops the wifi connection.

Of note, I also tested my old iPhone which no longer has AT&T connection, so only wifi, much like an iPod Touch or iPad. It was doing then same thing, that is, intermittently dropping the wifi connection, though I didn't really notice it before as I was using that iPhone much less often. Interestingly neither my iPhone 3GS didn't have problems. I wonder if there is another factor here where the iPad and old iPhone would drop the connection (for whatever reason) but the reconnect failure is caused by there being no backup connection, which the iPhone 3GS would have (3G cellular). The state machines for network recovery would be different in these two scenarios.

My issue (and I'm not an early adoptee of the iPad) is why people have to CONVINCE Apple Stores to do a swap? I have an iMac i7 and have found the stores (or my local store) to be especially difficult doing a return on a major purchase.

that is not an answer Im sorry to tell you. I took mine to the Genius bar and they had NO IDEA about the wifi problem and just gave me a new one, which I am returning this weekend.

All problems seem new to genius bar staff LOL. It's always the first time they've heard this or that.

Took mine into the Genius bar, after running some diagnostics they noticed some corruption in the software and did a restore. They said to try it out for the night and see if the wifi problems continue and if so to bring it back in.