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

The bottom line is this:

Apple has a problem which needs to be addressed and fixed.

How can they possibly expect consumers to be perpetually fiddling with network settings, frequency bands, channels, and firmware on their routers?

No other devices, Apple or otherwise (save the occasional iPhone), require these types of changes.

We're in the year 2010. Distribution of an IP Address is not groundbreaking future technology, it's standard issue. It's insulting to all of the users who happily put their faith (and money) into this product to have Apple not release a statement addressing an issue, instead offering a plethora of basic router troubleshooting.

I Have a Linksys WRT54G B/G router, that is on the 2.4 mhz range. I have no Problem with any of the WIFI Issues in my house or backyard. I went to Barnes
and Noble last night once logged in received full bars. exited and re-opened
many apps still full bars throughout. Put IPAD in sleep mode re-opened
and it keep the known connection fine. The way it looks to me it is a Dual-
Router problem with the software between the 2.4 and 5.0 mhz switch and the IPAD
does not know which one to access.

null

It's not a dual band router only problem. I have a wireless G router made by linksys which has only one radio and was having many of the same problems as described in this thread and several others...until trying some fixes others have suggested and one that I've thought of myself (which seems to have solved my intermittent wifi connection problem...although not conclusive yet).

Apple has a problem which needs to be addressed and fixed.

I've heard these same complaints about WiFi from customers and clients long before Apple delivered the iPad. Did Dell, HP, Apple, Lenova, and Asus all build defective computers? Well, it turns out that WiFi routers are easy to buy but not so easy to set up - people can configure them wrong very easily. Routers ship with the same default channel selected so neighbors can interfere with each others' signal. Routers sit on shelves until huge discounts clear them out - and their firmware is outdated with no built in way to tell the new owners they need to upgrade them.

Does Apple have a problem or is Apple the focus of a problem that belongs to someone else? Fact: a large number of people are finding their 'defective' iPad works fine at their local free WiFi hotspot or at the Apple store when they visit the Genius. That strongly suggests their problem is at home and not the iPad. Is your iPad defective? It is possible, no company enjoys a 0% defect rate but Apple cannot be held responsible for a user who has misconfigured his router or who is using a router with firmware two versions old.

Obviously there is NOT a problem with the iPad. There is 10,000 posts (I am being extremely generous). Lets say 15,000 posts. Apple has sold more than 450,000 units. That is less than 3% with a problem. That is not to say that you may have a defective unit. That is entirely possible. But odds are that it is your wireless network. There are so many variables that impact the network and how devices work.

I had a similar experience with my MBP. All my other devices connected fine, MBP would not stay connected. As it turns out, I had a faulty Extreme. That was gladly replaced by Apple and now no more issues. Before you throw this device away, check your wireless options. Can you connect to another network? Go to Starbucks or some local wifi cafe and test. Or better yet, if there is an Apple store near you, go there and connect. If you have an issue, the Genius will surely fix and/or replace if it is defective.

I Love my iPad!

I don't buy it and you're entitled to your opinion. You say it's a problem with my wireless network? Then why can my brand new iPod Touch connect and maintain a flawless connection with my so called "problematic wireless network". I don't have any problems with any of the other 6 devices I connect wirelessly.

Secondly, your suggestions on testing are the furthest from representative that I've seen. You say "Go to Starbucks . . . Go to the Apple Store". There's a big problem with this. When I was at the apple store and connected my iPod touch, it found one WLAN, Apple's. Of course there aren't going to be problems because there's no noise from other APs. Same with starbucks, where you're not going to have a bunch of resedential APs broadcasting signals. I posted in another thread that if they gathered their baseline for the WLAN card power in an isolated environment, that's not representative of what we see in the real world, which is multiple APs sharing airspace.

So here's my suggestion to you: Take your iPad to a location where there's 4 or more APs and work with it for a few days. I'd say this is a better test than Starbuck's and definitely the apple store.

But that aside, why can my touch, which probably has the same wireless software (if not, very similar), have no problems re-establishing a connection to my "problematic wireless network"?

Finally, I am in no way bashing the device, and I like it and will keep it. But I seriously doubt we're looking at a hardware issue here as I've seen posts where folks had their units replaced and are experiencing the same problem. I, as are many others, are waiting for a software update to fix the problem.

I am happy to report after several hours and several attempts to get the internet I have finally resolved the issue.
My provider is AT&T and I am using Windows 7
What I did was pretty simple and I have gotten a strong signal ever since (about 3 hours).
I went to AT&T's Diagnostic page to make sure the firmware for my router was up to date. It was so the only thing I could really find to change was the 802.11b/g
to just 802.11/g
I restarted the ipad and in settings I asked to try and connect via the OTHER option.
I then checked WEP and put in the 10 digit WEP Encryption Key.
And in seconds it connected.
So I guess I will just have to keep it. Hope this helps someone else
Crash

Hi all,
Just see this on Youtube ( see link below ) don't know if it's true I've not got an iPad but I hope it helps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwWtIG5jUxE&feature=youtube_gdata

Martin