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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

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79 replies

Apr 6, 2010 4:07 PM in response to batzgam

The problem I having though is that sitting in the same spot using the device I lose connectivity....many times with my iPad show a full strength signal. Many times the only way can get it to return is by disabling the Wi-Fi connection completely and then reenabling it.....retyping the password and all.
I have not really noticed the "sleep" problem.
It is also very sporadic as it has been working great for the past few hours with no loss of connection...or signal strength. I am very frustrated because I LOVE MY iPad, but this connectivity problem makes it borderline useless.

null

Apr 6, 2010 4:27 PM in response to batzgam

Dude. You, sir, are a GENIUS. This is 100% the cause of my not auto-connecting to my Time Capsule. With the brightness turned all the way down as I normally have it, if I toggle Wifi on and off, it does NOT auto connect to my network. However, as soon as I go into the Brightness setting and move the slider even the TINIEST amount, it totally connects!!

YAY! That is the weirdest thing I've ever seen!

But thank you!

Apr 6, 2010 7:33 PM in response to gohnster

So the WiFi issues may have something to do with the power "voodoo" the iPad practices to maintain battery life. Put up the brightness, iPad needs to huff to get working, thus more power=better signal? I'm gonna try this right now.

I'd love to go to Apple tomorrow and tell the Genius about this one...

UPDATE: This didn't solve my issues. I still can barely get a signal and it drops after a few minutes.

Message was edited by: Furi0us.Bee

Apr 6, 2010 8:11 PM in response to batzgam

This worked for me as well, and I only very slightly raised the brightness which is fine. I have two things though: (1) I'm assuming that apple already knows about this because it's on here, and I'm sure somebody told them, (2) and does this mean that this problem is simply a software glitch that will be easily addressed in the next update (which I'm guessin now will be soon)?

iPad 'not auto-connecting' solved!

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