WPA2 now labelled as ‘weak security’ - iPad Pro M1 connects to very weak WPA3 instead.

WPA2 now labelled as ‘weak security’ - iPad Pro M1 connects to very weak WPA3 instead.

I have set up a network extending system based on mainstream (TP-Link) WPA2 3-pin 240V mains circuit physical devices that plug into my domestic mains electricity circuit here in the UK, so it’s our big 3-pin thing.

The ‘Transmit’ or Tx end, is cabled into my Sky Q box, this Tx unit takes the ethernet cable output and converts it into a signal using the mains as a carrier wave. The ‘Receiver’ or Rx unit, is another plug that in this example, happens to be through 2 doors and a fairly impenetrable wall away, the kitchen. It takes the transmitted ethernet and puts it out as a WiFi signal in the room it is located.

Every room, has its own Rx unit. So it RECEIVES the ethernet over the mains cable, but transmits out a WiFi signal in the room it is in.

This has worked really well until recently, around the time I updated my iPad Pro M1 to iPadOS 17.xx.

Now, the iPad point-blank refuses to connect to what is patently a much stronger wifi signal in the kitchen, transmitted by the TP-link wifi extender.

This has been stable and working for several years, but of course these units are all WPA2.

As Apple’s website clearly advises using WPA3 wherever possible, for maximal security, I have to take it that my TP-link WPA2 units in every room are now on the second-best domestic security level of wifi.

The problem is, the iPad is now 100% REFUSING to connect to this strong signal. I used to have to switch the ‘settings’ and ‘wifi’ on/off, off and back on, and ipad would latch onto the nearest strongest signal…no more.

Now, this wifi off/on soft switching makes no change - ipad determinedly connects to the much-weaker (uselessly so) wifi signal from my Q box under the tv, 2 rooms away. This signal is too weak to operate anything, hence the wifi extenders using mains electricity cabling.

EFFECT OF THIS ‘PREFERENCE’ BEING ENFORCED BY IPAD

The effect is to entirely negate my wifi extender system. It represents an investment if hundreds of pounds, and a lot of labour. The network so extended, covers the house and then with a different name, a garden area. All without laying ethernet cables. A shed happened to have mains cabling, and this was really useful. Rain or shine, I just turn off the wifi on my Apple device and back on, and they would connect to the strongest signal.

Now, this is all gone.

It’s a ‘quiet deprecation’ in that it has never been mentioned this would be the effect. I make every wifi unit have the same name as the main wifi, but this should have made transition from room to room seamless, but never did hence the wifi off/on requirement in ‘settings’. This is a nothing, I accoet it in return for an excellent signal everywhere on the property except it dies by the front pavement, which is fine, it stops passers-by grabbing the name of my wifi without trespassing.

QUESTION

What is the solution? Is there a switch to make this ‘preference’ of iPad for a WPA3 wifi output, be a lot less determined? Only the Q box by the tv seems to do WPA3.

The result is not a single extender works, because a faint signal for a further-away better device may be found - and some of these, are not even ours, they are neighbours’ boxes that happen to output WPA3. Obviously, useless to me.

I’ve done the ‘forget this network?’ thing, and put in the weird password for the wifi, but still iPad only flicks to the strong in-room signal for mere seconds, then clearly having examined the signal and found it is not WPA3, rejects it and opts to connect to the Q box 2 rooms away, which is too weak to actually do anything with.

Solutions appreciated. Some of us work at home, and there are students. I’d rather not have to replace half a dozen devices, there is a high cost and a lot of effort. It’s a bit left-of-field is all. Had I known this was a condition of updating to the latest OS (late versions of 17), I’d have remained on the early version of 17.

This is critical to my wifi network, these extenders. Without it the wifi is useless. To have ipad steadfastly reject the use of them, is a dealbreaker.

Open to suggestions.

Thank you anyone.