Wi-Fi drops after iOS 4.2.1
My goal is more to document the problem than to find a solution. I know Apple probably won't see this. I have posted the bug via the appropriate form. The problem: iPad drops Internet connection with no discernible pattern. It apparently stays connected to the network, as evidenced by the persistent Wi-Fi radio waves symbol in the upper left corner, and as confirmed in Settings>Wi-Fi. Yet, the iPad will occasionally cease connecting to the Net, getting/sending mail, or performing any other tasks on the Net, even though it's apparently still connected to the Wi-Fi. I get the "Safari can't connect to this page..." errors, or blank screens, or emails that send forever.
Here are the solutions I've tried, after which the problem persists: Restored iPad with a backup. Restored as a new iPad with native apps. Upgraded router firmware. Reset router. Reset modem. Reset iPad. Forgot and rejoined network. Reset network settings. Renewed IP lease. Changed to BootP. Changed back to DHCP. Toggled every major router setting (20MHz, QoS, WPS, Eco mode with radio off), G/B only, N only, selected manual channels, always set to WPA2), toggled all settings back to where they were before iPad had problems. Turned off all push and notifications. Wiped off email accounts. Turned fetch to manual. Powered down and powered up iPad. Turned of Cellular. I've run out of stuff to try, and if none of the above have worked, all of which Apple recommends, there's no practical chance anything else will work.
Yes, of course powering down and powering up fixes the problem -- temporarily. But, perhaps after spending some time on a game, or letting it sleep, at some random point, whether it stays actively on, or sleeps, it will again drop the Net, even though it apparently stays connected to Wi-Fi. It's better when you're showing off the iPad if you don't have to tell some one "Wait, I have to restart it before I can get the Internet working again."
You can say that the problem is not with iOS 4.2, but, trust me, I'll be getting the last laugh there. I wish it were something else. I wish there were one piece of evidence that suggested it wasn't iOS 4.2, but there isn't. If a brand new car works perfectly for two months, you take it in to a shop one day to get a bunch of modifications done, and the next day it has a problem, logic says you don't blame the road. The road is just the road. I've been driving the iPad on the same road. And you can't blame the driver who's just using the car as instructed. I know exactly what's causing the Wi-Fi drops, well, at least I know it has something to do with iOS 4.2. My hope is that Apple addresses it in the next update.
If someone has a solution I haven't tried and thinks it will work, by all means feel free to post it. There's a chance though that I already did try it and forgot to list it, but go ahead. But I won't be getting a new router. It's fairly new and has served me well with other devices and doesn't need replacing.
If anyone else has this problem, report it to Apple so it may put out a fix. I love Apple, and I love the iPad. But I hope Apple fixes this issue. It's the only one I've experienced with iPad so far. It's a fantastic device.
Here are the solutions I've tried, after which the problem persists: Restored iPad with a backup. Restored as a new iPad with native apps. Upgraded router firmware. Reset router. Reset modem. Reset iPad. Forgot and rejoined network. Reset network settings. Renewed IP lease. Changed to BootP. Changed back to DHCP. Toggled every major router setting (20MHz, QoS, WPS, Eco mode with radio off), G/B only, N only, selected manual channels, always set to WPA2), toggled all settings back to where they were before iPad had problems. Turned off all push and notifications. Wiped off email accounts. Turned fetch to manual. Powered down and powered up iPad. Turned of Cellular. I've run out of stuff to try, and if none of the above have worked, all of which Apple recommends, there's no practical chance anything else will work.
Yes, of course powering down and powering up fixes the problem -- temporarily. But, perhaps after spending some time on a game, or letting it sleep, at some random point, whether it stays actively on, or sleeps, it will again drop the Net, even though it apparently stays connected to Wi-Fi. It's better when you're showing off the iPad if you don't have to tell some one "Wait, I have to restart it before I can get the Internet working again."
You can say that the problem is not with iOS 4.2, but, trust me, I'll be getting the last laugh there. I wish it were something else. I wish there were one piece of evidence that suggested it wasn't iOS 4.2, but there isn't. If a brand new car works perfectly for two months, you take it in to a shop one day to get a bunch of modifications done, and the next day it has a problem, logic says you don't blame the road. The road is just the road. I've been driving the iPad on the same road. And you can't blame the driver who's just using the car as instructed. I know exactly what's causing the Wi-Fi drops, well, at least I know it has something to do with iOS 4.2. My hope is that Apple addresses it in the next update.
If someone has a solution I haven't tried and thinks it will work, by all means feel free to post it. There's a chance though that I already did try it and forgot to list it, but go ahead. But I won't be getting a new router. It's fairly new and has served me well with other devices and doesn't need replacing.
If anyone else has this problem, report it to Apple so it may put out a fix. I love Apple, and I love the iPad. But I hope Apple fixes this issue. It's the only one I've experienced with iPad so far. It's a fantastic device.
Intel, custom built, Windows Vista
