iPad mini battery drain on ad-hoc-no-internet WiFi

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4 points

iPad mini battery drain on ad-hoc-no-internet WiFi

I use an iPad mini to control two different Yamaha audio mixers using their StageMix app. One of these mixers is on a fixed network, connected to the internet. The other is used portably, and is controlled over an ad hoc WiFi network with no internet. When controlling the mixer on the network with internet, I get excellent battery life out of the iPad mini. I have run it for over 10 hours with the screen on in this configuration. However, when controlling the mixer on the no-internet WiFi network, I am lucky to get 3 hours of battery life from a full charge.

I was able to isolate the lack of internet connectivity as the problem (even though I do not need internet in this application). Using a WiFi hotspot, I ran the down from 100% to 40% in 7.5 hours with the screen on when the hotspot was connected to internet. Using the same hotspot in the same location--only disconnect from the internet this time--the iPad went from 100% to 40% battery is a little over 2 hours.

How can I set my iPad to stop searching from an internet connection? I do not need internet in this application, only access to a WiFi LAN.

Posted on May 1, 2023 5:17 AM

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Answer 1

May 3, 2023 4:39 AM in response to W4EAE

I could give you an expensive option of trading in your iPad mini for an iPad mini cellular paying extra but also losing the majority of the price by trading it in. With a cellular data plan it will have internet from the data but you can also connect to an internet connection while still using data, you will lose some battery because the iPad will be using data for internet and that can take some battery but it shouldn’t take that much battery.

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Answer 2

W4EAE Author

Level 1

4 points

May 3, 2023 6:40 AM in response to Kastaspella

I realize that getting a cellular iPad would solve the problem, but that it is an up-front dollars and recurring dollars solution. Technically speaking, it will be possible to have a simple software solution--an option for "I don't need internet, so stop looking for internet".

I know that this is not how the majority of people use an iPad; but among the people I know in pro audio, networking, and amateur radio, a majority of them do use tablets on no-internet ad-hoc networks.

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iPad mini battery drain on ad-hoc-no-internet WiFi

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