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batzgam Author

Level 1

8 points

iPad 'not auto-connecting' solved!

Short version: Raise the screen brightness above the minimum setting - wifi reappears!

Long version: My iPad started the 'no auto-connecting' problems this morning after 3 days of perfect use. I was using settings specified in http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3304 and my network was working fine for other devices. I tried rebooting, forgetting network settings, and resetting my router, but nothing worked. Every time I woke the iPad up from sleep, I had to go into the wifi settings to reselect my network (though, it did retain the key).

I was looking at some pictures a few minutes ago and realized the screen was very dim and remembered that I set it to minimum brightness last night. I turn the brightness up and didn't think much of it. After a few minutes, I picked up the iPad again after it had gone to sleep and for the first time today, it immediately had a network connection.

The problem is repeatable - after I turned down the brightness to the minimum setting again and let it go to sleep - no network. Turning the brightness up a little - network retained after sleep.

In fact, when I turn the brightness to the minimum setting and let the iPad sleep, it wakes up with no network. If I increase the brightness, it immediately reestablishes the network connection as soon as I move the brightness slider - I don't even have to go into the wifi settings to re-choose my network. I don't know if this is a bug, or an undocumented power-saving feature for low-power night reading, but I'm happy with my iPad again.

iPad 16gig

Posted on Apr 6, 2010 3:52 PM

79 replies

Mazatlon

Level 1

0 points

Apr 24, 2010 6:14 PM in response to batzgam

The WIFI issue has to do with whether your router's security encryption uses WEP or WPA. Change your settings to WPA. WEP is usually the default setting for most routers. The iPad for some strange reason has difficulty with WEP. VIsit your routers manufacturer' website to learn how to change this setting. This should solve 90% of WIFI related issues.

KORG__

Level 1

30 points

Apr 24, 2010 6:33 PM in response to Mazatlon

WEP? I stop using that 4 years ago. I had iPad WIFI issues with WPA2 on the TC.
But so far so good with the brightness fix.

Message was edited by: KORG__

JRChapoy

Level 1

4 points

Apr 24, 2010 7:02 PM in response to batzgam

This fixed my issues as well. I'm also able to recreate the problem by turning brightness to absolute minimum.

Zumpan

Level 1

0 points

Apr 25, 2010 2:36 PM in response to batzgam

I can only say thanks, as this "screen setting" fix worked for me.

But for other persons with problem getting a stable wi-fi I suggest you to "lock" your routers wi-fi settings. Most routers have auto functions (to enable 802.11n/a/g/b and also a auto for 20 or 40Mhz. My conclusion is that either the routers confuse the Ipad with theis and swithch line with th Ipad all the time. Or more likely, the new Ipad have problems sticking to one att all time, and jumps between modes. Don't know, only guesses, but by locking my router to only 802.11n mode and only 20Mhz bandwidth, it now workes great, no more problems!
I also tried to lock it to 802.11a/g so my Iphone 3G could join the network (Iphone don't have 802.11n). And they both work like a sharm. Just lock your routers to a fixed setting! 🙂

// Zumpan
(a happy Swedish Ipad owner 🙂

Apr 25, 2010 5:17 PM in response to Zumpan

I won't repost my post on this thread
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2411803&tstart=0
but suffice it to say that router setting changes have improved my iPad experience w/o resorting to the brightness issues. hope it helps someone...

ThomasPK

Level 1

0 points

Apr 30, 2010 7:25 PM in response to batzgam

Thank you, thank you, thank you! You saved me a trip to the Genious bar! Obviously Im not the only one that thinks the screen is too bright, especially for bedtime use. I've had brightness at minimum for a week or so and have been banging my head against the wall all week...

sigjuice

Level 1

0 points

May 1, 2010 7:52 PM in response to batzgam

Thanks for the tip. Now that I have a non-zero brightness setting, my 3G iPad connects to my wifi network automatically after waking up. I have a WRT54GL router, running a custom OpenWRT firmware build. My household has three Macs, two iPhones, two consoles, and a wifi printer, all of which connect without any issues.

May 3, 2010 12:01 PM in response to batzgam

just got a new "3G" iPad and had the same issue, although I had not noticed it until I changed the brightness setting. It comes with auto brightness turned on so I think it worked fine at first. After playing around with some stuff I noticed when I put the iPad to sleep it would not reconnect to the wifi. After reading your post I slid the button just a hair off the dimmest setting and viola this works! As others have said you sir are the "Man" much props!

Vtskin

Level 1

0 points

May 5, 2010 7:10 PM in response to batzgam

Thank you! This works. 🙂

I see we're not the only ones who turned the brightness down when we brought this home.

kbgo

Level 1

0 points

May 7, 2010 9:34 AM in response to batzgam

It works! Thanks mate

Flight2k

Level 1

0 points

Jun 8, 2010 7:22 PM in response to batzgam

You are a rock star. Totally repeatable on my iPad. Can't believe it was related to screen brightness which I had turned all the way down. I was about to call apple on this one. Just that annoyed!

Thenks for sharing your observations.

Jun 21, 2010 7:41 PM in response to Flight2k

Worked for me too. Amazing. Apple should give you a job for this. Or an iTunes gift card.

iLoquor

Level 1

4 points

Jul 3, 2010 3:28 AM in response to batzgam

Unbelievable! Totally fixed my WiFi problem. While on a trip I turned the screen brightness completely down. After I returned home, the iPad wouldn't auto search for WiFi. Thanks batzgam!

caspar35

Level 1

43 points

Jul 3, 2010 10:04 AM in response to hendrickx

Just to echo that this tip about the MAC adddress could be worth trying, although I suspect intermittent problems might not be helped by this. I have just got a 64 iPAd and could not connect wirelessly until I told the router (Netgear 384g, the old one they seem to have sold thousands of) the machines MAC address in the router set up and it worked straight away (once I had remembered to 'apply' the setting in the router setup page). If you don't know, the MAC address is in the Machine settings on the iPad, Heaven knows where it is in your router settings. (I know about this, not because I am a techie or an anorak, but because I found it after spending 10 days ⚠ trying to get a new Dell Inspiron to log in to my network.)

New user tip - DONT give your daughter the machine and let her see your new Mah-Jong tiles app until you have finished with playing with it yourself!

Miner

Level 3

695 points

Jul 5, 2010 4:20 AM in response to Mazatlon

Tried the brightness trick - no joy. Changed from WEP to WPA and all is good. Strange that my iPhone worked fine on WEP!

iPad 'not auto-connecting' solved!