Do I need wifi on to activate 3G.

Question

Level 2

154 points

Do I need wifi on to activate 3G.

Have had ipad 3G for 3 weeks. It said 3G with bar strength in the status bar at top of screen up until 2 days ago. I have only used it with wifi. I took the iPad to the apple store and they told me that I need to have wifi on to activate the 3G? What if I had no wifi available? Thus the reason for the 3G.

I turned off the wifi then went into "settings" , "cellular data", "view account". Error message comes up that states " cannot connect to server". "cellular data" was on when i did this too. When I turn on the wifi this error message does not appear.

iPad 3G. 16gb, Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Posted on Sep 13, 2010 1:39 PM

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Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Sep 13, 2010 2:04 PM in response to cormorant

I am a little confused. You said:
It said 3G with bar strength in the status bar at top of screen up until 2 days ago.

Then you said you tried to set up 3G. When you tried to set up 3G did the 3G wireless bars show?

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Answer 2

Mr.C UK

Level 2

410 points

Sep 13, 2010 2:10 PM in response to cormorant

Do you already have a 3G data plan or are you trying to sign up for one ? If you have a sim installed you will still get a signal reading telling you how strong the 3G is even if you haven't yet signed up for a 3G data plan. As far as I'm aware you don't need wi-fi access in order to set up a 3G data plan. In fact most networks don't even let you sign up directly on the iPad although there are exceptions.

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Answer 3

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Sep 13, 2010 2:23 PM in response to Mr.C UK

In the USA, you have to set up 3G with AT&T (at least initially) via the iPad. I search the AT&T sie and the Apple site. Both gave only instruction for setting up 3G service via the iPad. They said nothing about having wifi service available.

http://www.wireless.att.com/answer-center/main.jsp?solutionId=KB111126&t=solutio nTab
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4157

Mr.C UK wrote:
Do you already have a 3G data plan or are you trying to sign up for one ? If you have a sim installed you will still get a signal reading telling you how strong the 3G is even if you haven't yet signed up for a 3G data plan. As far as I'm aware you don't need wi-fi access in order to set up a 3G data plan. In fact most networks don't even let you sign up directly on the iPad although there are exceptions.

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Answer 4

cormorant Author

Level 2

154 points

Sep 13, 2010 5:17 PM in response to Mr.C UK

Even without paying for the 3G data plan I had the 3G icon and signal strength bars up until 2 days ago. I have a sim card installed too.

The employees at the apple store could not give me a definitive answer on this issue. They were baffled.

I think something is wrong with the 3G antenna in my iPad. Taking back to store tomorrow to seer if I can rectify the problem.

I agree that the 3G status bar should be there wether you are signed up for data plan or not. Then you know if it is available before you go to pay for it.

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Answer 5

D3 user

Level 1

20 points

Sep 13, 2010 5:46 PM in response to lllaass

Yep same in Australia,. "There is no need for wifi to activate 3G" it's all done with/through/via the carrier of the micro sim,.

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