Apple announces future update for Wi-Fi issues...

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Apple announces future update for Wi-Fi issues...

+From Apple's support site+

Symptoms
A very small number of iPad users have experienced issues with Wi-Fi connectivity. This article outlines workarounds for these issues. *Apple will also address remaining Wi-Fi connectivity issues with a future iPad software update.*

Note: For general information on troubleshooting Wi-Fi connections with iPad, refer to this article.
Products Affected
iPad
Resolution
If you consistently encounter issues connecting to a specific Wi-Fi network, try the following steps to resolve your issue:

Update Wi-Fi router firmware

Verify that your Wi-Fi router firmware is up-to-date.
Note: This is important if your Wi-Fi router supports 802.11n, as it may still be using the draft specification of the 802.11n standard.
For AirPort Base Stations, refer to this article for information about firmware updates. For third-party Wi- Fi routers, check the manufacturer's website for details on updating your firmware.
Use WPA or WPA2 wireless security

Check the wireless security option of your Wi-Fi router. If WEP is being used, try using WPA or WPA2.
Some Wi-Fi routers using WEP wireless security may cause intermittent disconnects to iPad which requires re-typing a password. Using WPA or WPA2 wireless security on your network will correct this issue.
Note: WPA and WPA2 encryption protocols are newer, more effective security options for wireless networks than the older WEP protocol.

Adjust screen brightness

Check to see if your screen brightness is set to the lowest level by going to Settings > Brightness & Wallpaper. If brightness is at lowest level, increase it by moving the slider to the right and set auto brightness to off.
Note: Brightness control in the iBooks application can also be used to adjust brightness.

Renew IP address

In some larger wireless networks it may be necessary to renew your IP address. Renew your IP address using the following steps:
Tap Settings > Wi-Fi
Locate the Wi-Fi network you are currently using and tap
Tap Renew Lease
If the issue persists, try turning Wi-Fi to Off and then to On.

If after attempting the troubleshooting tips provided above you are still having difficulty connecting to a network please contact Apple.

Message was edited by: FrankPalmer

Message was edited by: FrankPalmer

Message was edited by: FrankPalmer

Posted on May 8, 2010 6:14 AM

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Answer 1

May 9, 2010 2:18 PM in response to FrankPalmer

Will this cover the issue of YouTube being unnaturally slow on the iPad? (I believe it grabs 720p videos by default)

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Answer 2

May 9, 2010 2:35 PM in response to FrankPalmer

Thanks for posting this. I'm quite surprised to see it since I went to the Apple store today to discuss the issue regarding my replacement iPad (which I received at a store visit last week) and they claimed that there is no known problem with the wifi. The guy at the Genius Bar suggested every possible explanation involving user error or network problems, but refused to acknowledge that there's an issue with the iPad. The fact that my MacBook and iPhone work fine didn't change his view. I left with the only possible conclusion: Apple lies.

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Answer 3

etresoft

Level 8

46,312 points

May 9, 2010 5:32 PM in response to Mark Levine

Mark Levine wrote:
Thanks for posting this. I'm quite surprised to see it since I went to the Apple store today to discuss the issue regarding my replacement iPad (which I received at a store visit last week) and they claimed that there is no known problem with the wifi. The guy at the Genius Bar suggested every possible explanation involving user error or network problems, but refused to acknowledge that there's an issue with the iPad. The fact that my MacBook and iPhone work fine didn't change his view. I left with the only possible conclusion: Apple lies.

There are other possibilities: user error or incompatible network hardware

There is no issue with the iPad other than a few million old, misconfigured routers that don't work properly with a brand new device. You have a router that works with 4 out of 5 devices. That 5th device works with 4 out of 5 routers. That 5th router is 5 years old and was setup by an end-user who may or may not have done it correctly. That does not constitute proof that there is anything wrong with the device.

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Answer 4

May 9, 2010 6:06 PM in response to etresoft

There's a problem.

My experience on a recent trip without my MBP (a mistake I won't make again)? DoubleTree, McDonalds, Starbucks = Fail, fail, fail. Poor signal strength = fail.

Define "old".

Enlighten me, how is a router "misconfigured"? You are saying that 20% of iPads are failing to connect and it's the router to blame.

While I don't doubt router vagaries and the rube-ness of the general public being contributing factors, I'm certainly not a rube. Even know how to read and understand both my router instruction books.

Message was edited by: jbhmacpro

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Answer 5

drjoe66

Level 1

9 points

May 9, 2010 6:31 PM in response to FrankPalmer

I have five devices on my wireless and ONLY the iPad causes frequent problems. It's a complete joke that all other devices can handle this (windows 7 laptop, MacBook air, iPhone, Internet radio, etc.), but the stupid ipad cannot.

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Answer 6

JimHdk

Level 7

28,874 points

May 9, 2010 6:43 PM in response to jbhmacpro

jbhmacpro wrote:
There's a problem.

There might be a problem with some iPads (probably a fraction of a percent) and that's certainly a problem for those iPad owners but I haven't had any WiFi problems either on my home network of at various WiFi hotspots.

Define "old".

Enlighten me, how is a router "misconfigured"? You are saying that 20% of iPads are failing to connect and it's the router to blame.

Apple identified one router misconfiguration where dual g/h routers were configured with different security settings but with the same network name. However, probably the biggest problem with routers is out-dated microcode. N routers which implemented a draft level of the 802.11n standard could be particularly problematic. It should be remembered that the 802.11n standard was given final approval only late last year.

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Answer 7

May 9, 2010 6:54 PM in response to JimHdk

i found the page for the software update (probably 3.2.1) if its going to be released this week its prabably going to be released the 11 or the 13...cant wait
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3304

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Answer 8

etresoft

Level 8

46,312 points

May 9, 2010 7:03 PM in response to jbhmacpro

jbhmacpro wrote:
My experience on a recent trip without my MBP (a mistake I won't make again)? DoubleTree, McDonalds, Starbucks = Fail, fail, fail. Poor signal strength = fail.

Marriott, 2 different airports = success, success, success. Your "poor signal strength" is just a symptom of an incompatible network.

Define "old".

Any router that was not tested with an iPad before it was sold - all of them. Many of those routers were well made and comply with standards that were not written or finalized when they were sold. Those routers work well with devices such as the iPad that comply to those now-official standards.

Enlighten me, how is a router "misconfigured"?

It's been hacked up by every assistant store manager at McDonalds so it can run an array of peer-to-peer and gaming servers, as an example. There are literally an infinite number of ways for routers to be misconfigured.

You are saying that 20% of iPads are failing to connect and it's the router to blame.

I have no idea how many iPads fail to connect. If you added all of the replies to the "WiFi failure" threads here on Apple Discussions, it would be 0.2%. I think a more accurate number is somewhere in between. It isn't always the router to blame. Sometimes it is the user.

While I don't doubt router vagaries and the rube-ness of the general public being contributing factors, I'm certainly not a rube. Even know how to read and understand both my router instruction books.

But I gather you aren't a field IT support person for DoubleTree, McDonalds, or Starbucks.

I experienced the same kinds of problems when I first got my iBook and MacBook. Routers are cheap, break frequently, and get replaced on a regular basis. The next time you go back to those places, your iPad will probably work just fine.

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Answer 9

May 9, 2010 9:05 PM in response to etresoft

My iPad drops off my network every 5 - 10 minutes and forces me to re-enter the WEP key every time. It's cool though, I love my iPad and know Apple will address the issue. I have a Fios router and can't change from WEP to WPA2 or other. There are hundreds upon hundreds of different make and model routers out there and as an engineer you can't test them all in the lab. At some point you have to send the product out into the real world and let real world senarios happen. To say Apple lies is a little harsh. Some people will be aware of the problem and some won't. You just happened to find someone at the Apple store who didn't. What do you expect Apple to say, "a few iPads are having WiFi issues, so let's just shut down the company until it gets figured out" ? Hang in buddy, a fix will come soon.

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Answer 10

etresoft

Level 8

46,312 points

May 9, 2010 9:17 PM in response to Mad Russian

Mad Russian wrote:
I love my iPad and know Apple will address the issue.

I wouldn't count on that.

I have a Fios router and can't change from WEP to WPA2 or other.

Sure you can. You can buy any router and connect it to your FiOS router and use it instead. Then you will be using the FiOS device as just a modem. But you would get much better security and probably better speed and range.

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Answer 11

May 10, 2010 12:22 AM in response to etresoft

To suggest that there is no issue with iPad is plainly silly. How widespread and how generic the problem is, is of course open for discussion.

Based on my own experience I believe the evidence is indisputable. On the same day my iPad failed to connect to a WiFi service on a train, in an airline business lounge and later in a serviced office facility. In all three locations my MacBook and iPhone worked without a problem as they had on many previous occasions. The iPad did however connect in a coffee shop and worked perfectly as it did when I got home.

If this is not enough evidence, in the serviced office facility I was with a colleague who also had an iPad. His worked and mine did not. The setup on each iPad was identical.

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Answer 12

mva5580

Level 1

0 points

May 10, 2010 8:18 AM in response to Leslie Bonney

There's no doubt there is an issue, it's just crazy how much the issues vary. I bought a $25 Netgear router because my iPad wouldn't connect at all to my Linksys Gateway, and while I can now connect and browse as normal, I still get random situations where after I wake it from sleep the connection will have dropped, plus it's forgotten the network password. And I've used a pw with a $ in front of it, as has been suggested here.

We'll see what a software update does; hopefully that takes care of these issues. But it's pretty obvious that there is something wrong inside the hardware and "Buy a new router" should not have to be the solution.

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Answer 13

FrankPalmer Author

Level 1

0 points

May 10, 2010 9:54 AM in response to form help on ipod touch

There's no indication anywhere when it will be released. Could be days, weeks or even months away. Don't hold your breath.

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Answer 14

May 10, 2010 10:17 AM in response to FrankPalmer

We do know OS4.0 will be released this fall. That could very well be when this will be resolved. No one, but apple, knows for sure.

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Answer 15

May 10, 2010 2:58 PM in response to Merged Content 1

I'm very happy to see Apple acknowledge the WiFi problem. However the "A very small number of iPad users have experienced issues with Wi-Fi connectivity." comment was irritating but expected to prevent a negative sales impact. More and more complaints will roll in soon as iPads reach students who will depend exclusively on WiFi.

In short, I'm still pleased with my purchase even with the reproducible "WiFi drops exactly 1 minute after coming out of sleep mode" glitch. I got my iPad a few days after it was released and this just started in the last 7-10 days. The only thing that surprised me was that it took so long for me to discover bugs. This is my first Apple purchase but ALL bleeding edge technology is buggy.

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