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Hotel Wi-Fi networks with iPad

I have now loaded my personal and corporate email (Exchange)onto my iPad (bought in Apple store in SFO about 4-5 weeks ago). Ive been travelling and have my iPhone and old PC with me. I have stayed in three different hotels so far. I have not been able to connect to Wi-Fi with the iPad in any of three hotels. The iPhone hops on immediately, the PC has no issues. The iPad sees the networks but flatly refuses to join any Wi-Fi network. At home I have an Apple 802.11n router that the iPad has no issues with and has worked flawlessly. However, I bought the iPad to replace the heavy notebook PC that I have dragged aroun the world for the past few years. Its not working out. I'm pleased I brought the PC along with me or I would have been only able to access email through my iPhone.

I'm now in a hotel in the UK and again, no access to Wi-Fi (having wasted another hour of my life trying everything possible to get it working) So much for being the ideal travelling companion. I'm disappointed.

iMac x 3, iPad and iPhone 3GS, iPhone OS 3.1.3

Posted on May 30, 2010 11:19 AM

Reply
121 replies

Jun 3, 2010 2:44 PM in response to Chris Carlson

Chris Carlson wrote:

The *so called experts* on these forums might just be the guys in the blue tee shirts... trying to make you doubt yourself. Don't be fooled by the spin. You don't need a hall monitor. If it quacks like a Duck, it's a Duck. There's lots of quackin' around here.


I getting tired of your insinuations. They are all baloney.

You are not contributing anything to the forum just bogus posts and are not offering help to anyone.

Do you work for HP?

Jun 3, 2010 2:51 PM in response to Lady Madonna

Lady Madonna wrote:
How come it's their problem?


Technically, what you describe isn't their problem or Apple's problem, but a different problem altogether.

It's the same hardware, so if the problem is that WiFi networks don't "know" new chipsets, it shouldn't have worked for either of us.


That is correct. Make sure you use the exact same settings as the other device, including login. The problem could be at Starbucks' authentication servers.

I love Apple and I'm not returning my iPad (if I don't get it working, I'll get a replacement), but blaming the WiFi providers, as someone said earlier, doesn't help at all.


No, blaming someone, Apple or anyone else, is useless. But if there is some autofill setting, or an authentication problem, then it is important to be able to identify where the problem lies. If you automatically assume the fault is Apple's then you may miss potential fixes.

Jun 3, 2010 3:00 PM in response to Chris Carlson

Chris Carlson wrote:
What propaganda!


How is it propaganda to point out that Apple users are always a distinct minority and often have to deal with hardware incompatibilities that PC users have never seen?

There are a large number of advantages that the iPad and other Apple products have over competing PC products. Seamless interoperability with the widest range of 3rd-party hardware is not one if them.

The *so called experts* on these forums might just be the guys in the blue tee shirts... trying to make you doubt yourself. Don't be fooled by the spin. You don't need a hall monitor. If it quacks like a Duck, it's a Duck. There's lots of quackin' around here.


Rest assured I do not and never have worked for Apple. All Apple employees are identified with an Apple logo under their user name. I will just let those accusations roll off of me like...like...like water off a duck's back!!!

Jun 3, 2010 3:08 PM in response to JimHdk

JimHdk wrote:
I getting tired of your insinuations. They are all baloney.

You are not contributing anything to the forum just bogus posts and are not offering help to anyone.

Do you work for HP?

------------

I don't work for HP, but my 2 HP laptops, my 2 Intel iMacs, my 2 iPhones, my iTouch and my G5 iMac all connect to my network with strong signal that DOES NOT drop. My iPad had poor signal strength, dropped connections waking up, dropped connection just sitting two feet from my router. I returned it for refund because it did not work. I really liked my iPad, and I'll purchase the second generation when APPL sorts this issue out.

I know most people don't have problems with their iPads, but there are many of us that DO have wifi problems. We are not making this problem up just to post on this board, and the fact that EVERY OTHER ONE OF OUR APPLE DEVICES has NO connection problems points to a problem with the iPad.

Jun 3, 2010 4:27 PM in response to Chris Carlson

Said like a true PC user. Hate to break it to you but none of us are Apple employees.

I remember back in 2002 staying in a hotel. My husband's pc connected perfectly to the hotel wifi. My brand new iBook did not because the hotel had configured their wifi for only windoze and IE. Here's another example of what we Mac users go through. When high speed internet came to my town, I had to borrow a friend's PC to get connected. The cable company refused to set up my internet connection with a Mac.

Jun 3, 2010 4:51 PM in response to Tamara

Tamara wrote:
Said like a true PC user. Hate to break it to you but none of us are Apple employees.

I remember back in 2002 staying in a hotel. My husband's pc connected perfectly to the hotel wifi. My brand new iBook did not because the hotel had configured their wifi for only windoze and IE. Here's another example of what we Mac users go through. When high speed internet came to my town, I had to borrow a friend's PC to get connected. The cable company refused to set up my internet connection with a Mac.


So what you are really saying is that the industry doesn't take apple very seriously to make their equipment compatible with apple devices. This pretty much tells me apple is just a niche product and not a real game player or changer. Now it all makes sense. Apple is just a pc with training wheels.

Jun 3, 2010 5:15 PM in response to Merged Content 1

wxman2003 wrote:
So what you are really saying is that the industry doesn't take apple very seriously to make their equipment compatible with apple devices.


Not quite. No router manufacturer (or anyone else) had ever seen the iPad before. Those routers that correctly implement the various networking standards work fine with the iPad. Those routers built according to the trial and error method only work with those older devices they were tested against. Now that the iPad is out, those manufacturers will add it to their test devices and future routers will work with it.

This pretty much tells me apple is just a niche product and not a real game player or changer. Now it all makes sense. Apple is just a pc with training wheels.


That's just a silly flame bait.

Jun 3, 2010 6:58 PM in response to Kansas2

Kansas2 wrote:

I don't work for HP, but my 2 HP laptops, my 2 Intel iMacs, my 2 iPhones, my iTouch and my G5 iMac all connect to my network with strong signal that DOES NOT drop. My iPad had poor signal strength, dropped connections waking up, dropped connection just sitting two feet from my router. I returned it for refund because it did not work. I really liked my iPad, and I'll purchase the second generation when APPL sorts this issue out.

I know most people don't have problems with their iPads, but there are many of us that DO have wifi problems. We are not making this problem up just to post on this board, and the fact that EVERY OTHER ONE OF OUR APPLE DEVICES has NO connection problems points to a problem with the iPad.


First, why are you responding to a post by me that was directed to Chris Carlson. Are you really Chris Carlson?

Second, no one has said that you don't have a problem or are making it up. Apple itself has said there are some WiFi problems with some iPads and that they are working on fixes.

Third, what does this have to do with, "Hotel Wi-Fi networks with iPad"?

Message was edited by: JimHdk

Jun 3, 2010 8:10 PM in response to etresoft

etresoft wrote:
MSM126 wrote:
How is it old news?


It is two months old.

Has the issue been resolved?


No. As far as I know, Princeton's network is still jacked up.

How is it bogus? Specifics please about how the iPad WiFi issue identified by Princeton is bogus.


It never was a WiFi issue at all. At Princeton, iPads never had any trouble connecting to the network. But Princeton's network isn't just unusual, it is flat-out unique in the world. Rest assured that the "Princeton issue" has absolutely nothing to do with anyone outside of Princeton.

So iPads having a known issue with not releasing expired DHCP addresses is not an issue for anyone else outside of the Princeton network? Seriously? Your networking and communications expertise is shallow.

It's not old news at 2 months old. It's especially not old news as the issue has not been resolved. It can potentially impact any network including home networks with IP addresses assigned using DHCP, which is the majority of home networks.

Your claims in this thread that most users experiencing issues and being vocal are PC users is specious. Your constant suggestions that all the issues are "the other guys" fault and not Apple's, and your failure to recognize that there is an obvious set of issues with the iPad and it's network connectivity is ... fan-boyish.

I've been an early adopter of many technology products. The constant claims in these threads by some that issues are all due to misconfiguration and out-of-date firmware with routers is childishly (fan-boyishly?) naive.

If you're one of the unfortunate few, that has an iPad having network connectivity issues:
1. Yes, do your best with Apple Support (they're excellent and very helpful) to resolve the issue
2. If that doesn't work, exchange the iPad

Test the replacement iPad in store for very high network latency issues, poor download speeds and/or connectivity issues. If it has any of the above, ask for to test another replacement iPad. If as in my case, after testing quite a few you're not able to find a replacement in the Apple store stock without issues ... return the iPad.

Network latency for most networks with the iPad should be in the range of 50ms to 200ms (better than your iPhone). Latency and download speeds should be in line with MacBooks and PCs. If they're only a small fraction, there is clearly an issue.

The dsl reports iPhone browser speed test page will work across iPhones, iPads, Macs and PCs. It's not perfect, but is a reasonable tool. Don't be concerned about small differences in latency or download speed. In my experience, the differences are stark. With iPads with network issues I saw latency 10 to 100 times as high as other devices. Download speeds of 1/10 to 1/1000 of other devices. One benchmark is not that meaningful. Do a number of them and if over the course of 5 or 10 you're seeing consistently fractional performance with the iPad, chances are good that there is an issue.

Unlike the some of the posters in this thread, Apple Genius employees in store will have no issue whatsoever exchanging or returning an iPad that is showing fractional network performance or poor connectivity.

My recommendation is to not simply assume it is a software issue that will resolve itself with a new update. Take advantage of Apples excellent customer care and support. Yes, work with them for a time to see if there is a configuration issue that resolves the problem; but after doing so, if the issue is not resolved ... exchange the iPad (test the replacement) and or return the iPad.

Message was edited by: MSM126

Jun 4, 2010 3:00 AM in response to Tamara

As far as being a Mac user...

When I returned my iPad to the APPL store. They didn't even charge me the 10% restocking fee, because I'm such a good customer.

BTW, how come 3 MacBookPros, 3 iPhones, 1 iMac, and 1G5 Dual Tower connect perfectly every day in my home? Probably, because they "just work". That is what the brand is all about.

I don't need any expert advice in my home..(like you).. because everything works. The one thing that didn't .... well that was returned for a refund.

When the fix is made, I'll go buy another iPad.

To everyone else, don't doubt yourself. Tune out the static. No words on this forum will fix iPad's networking woes. Apple will have to make that fix.

BTW, HP is for printers only.. they make computers that look like the George Foreman grill 🙂

Jun 4, 2010 4:42 AM in response to Maldives Man

Lol I love how etresoft says "the WORST thing you can do is blame Apple." it's like it's his worst nightmare. Anyway, like you said etresoft, no company had seen the iPad beforehand. Nobody could've foreseen the crazy new wifi technology embedded into the iPad that would only work with certain routers and certain networks.

Yet the blame isn't Apple. It's not their fault that they kept secret about the iPad. The network companies should've stolen the iPad months ago so they could prepare their technology for the routers.... And honestly people.... That 2 month old router is OUTDATED... And seriously... FiOS? Who cares about FiOS users.

/end sarcasm.

Jun 4, 2010 5:17 AM in response to dubgiant90

dubgiant90 wrote:
... Nobody could've foreseen the crazy new wifi technology embedded into the iPad that would only work with certain routers and certain networks.


The iPad uses the Broadcom BCM4329 chip for WiFi & Bluetooth communications. This is the same chip that is used in the current iPhone and iPod Touch. The BCM4329 implements WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n with very low power consumption. This same chip is used in many other devices. There is no "crazy new wifi technology" in the iPad. That's why most iPad users aren't having any WiFi problems.

In any event, some Hotel and other "free" WiFi services utilize web browser sign-on pages or terms-of-use agreement pages which must be gotten through to get internet access. This sort of thing is not a part of the WiFi standard and is a bit of a kludge. It is known that the Safari "Autofill" feature can interfere with some of these and turning it OFF may get around this. However, if there is something in this type of implementation which looks for a specific browser type (like Internet Explorer) or uses something not implemented on the iPad (e.g., Flash, Java, etc.) then the service may not work with the iPad.

I haven't had any problems with public WiFi hot spots with my iPad but, of course, I've only used a small fraction of them.

Jun 4, 2010 8:38 AM in response to Maldives Man

Ran more test last night and came up with some interesting results. I connected my Airport Express Router to the network. Then connected the iPad to the Apple Wireless network. Ran Safari and it took me to the Airport Lounge Login Page, but this time it went through and I could access the Internet. Where I thought it was a Nomadix (Authenication Server) problem it turns out it's probably a Cisco Access Point problem (we have 3 CISCO 801.11A/G AP INT RADIOS ANTS D CIS-AIR-AP1131AG-A-K9). Going to run further tests this morning. I'll let you all know what I find.

Chris

Jun 4, 2010 12:48 PM in response to Maldives Man

Hi there. Posting from a Starbucks... and from my iPad. The autofill workaround worked fine, so thank you guys.

Just to clarify, I don't blame Apple. But when all devices but one (that, as someone said, has the same chipset as the iPhone) work and disabling a feature makes this one work, I think the problem is on Apple's side, not the (many) WiFi providers.

But I'm sure they will solve it soon, and disabling autofill is something that I can live with.

Hotel Wi-Fi networks with iPad

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