Q: Intermittent Wifi issues with iPad 2 and WiFi

Same issue here. After messing wity my router settings for longer than I care to admit, I realized that this had nothing to do with the router, since my iPhone 4 and thinkpad both work fine.

Strangely, I find that holding the iPad upside down (so home button is at top of frame) or holding it so that the home button is on the right side will help with the "reception." I wondered if the smart cover may be affecting reception, but I'm not technically gifted enough to analyze such effects, if any. Has anyone else experienced this too?

After simply restarting my router I have had solid wifi for several weeks.  It is a simple task that may work for some of you.  Seems to be a lot of different issues around this wifi problem and Apple needs to get on it.

garethfromyork wrote:

 

I got a 32gb ipad2 as a surprise present 3 days ago and have suffered from this widely reported issue from the moment I started using it. I connect laptops, desktops (XP, Vista, W7), HTC android smartphones, PS3, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo 3DS without any issue whatsoever through my Linksys WAG120N wireless router. I thus categorically discount any issues with my router or internet service provider.

 

This issue is evidently very  widespread - this thread alone is at 75 pages as I write, and there are many other similar experiences reported on Internet. And it appears to have been an issue for several months.

 

My IPad will thus be returned tomorrow for a refund. A big shame, putting this issue to one side for a moment, I have been very impressed with it. But I cannot tolerate working with it like this, and will thus replace it with an

 

The fact that Apple hasn't appeared to have done anything about it for such a long time makes me fearful that they can't actually resolve it.

There are definately some deeper issues with router connections etc but you sound like me to have an issue with the iPad itself.    While I was at first deeply disappointed with it constantly cutting out and was (as I wrote) on the verge of taking it back for a refund, however since turning the auto-brightness off I have had none of the constant disconnects.  If I leave the iPad in a non-use state and the screen dims accordingly then sometimes this may kick you off the network but that doesnt seem to be a constant problem.   I have though noticed a lower wi-fi signal strength than other devices but be careful comparing your iPhone since I get the feeling the iPhone just defaults to data download from the cellular network if it struggles with wi-fi...obviously my iPad doesnt have this backup so you notice it more.   I can though comment on finding wifi at work which seems much better on my iPad than iPhone so i'm really confused.

Try turning off your auto-brightness and see if that works.  I suspect a bug in the iOS update recently that is powerign down to save battery and d/cing the wifi to save power as well.  A fair strategy to get battery life extended in my opinion so just make sure to be aware of this and you can deal accordingly.

@Djbungo: Thanks for the tip on the autobrightness. Will try it. I also think the Smast Cover to have a negative influence in some cases. Overall the problem with wifi is a little unclear and hard to pinpoint. Hope we can all resolve it somehow and continue with otherwise a wonderful product.

I think this did the trick. Turning the auto brightness off has eliminated this problem for me so far.

Funny thing is that my iPad didn't have issues at all in the office even with auto brightness. Having said that, my office tends to be a lot brighter than home (where I was experiencing these wireless problems, hence the needless messing with my router settings) and the lighting more or less stays at the same degree.

Anyways I hope apple addresses this in a future update iOS 5 perhaps?

Having the same problem. Removing smart cover doesnt fix, auto brightness off doesnt fix. Ipad 1 , Iphone fine on same network.

so, Apple. The wifi on Ipad 2 is faulty. This thread has had quarter of a million views, 76 pages of user questions and debate, yet no response from Apple.

ps re holding it upside down helping, I FOUND WAVING THE ENTRAILS OF A DEAD CHICKEN OVER IT SOMETIMES WORKED

I finally gave up and went to the Apple Store. A Genius did all the same gyrations discussed in this and other threads. After an hour I was offered a new iPad 2 64 MB with Verizon 3G. When I saw the unit in a cardboard box, I questioned the "new" reference. I asked if it was new or a refurbished iPad. They admitted that it was a refurbished unit, but it came from their QA lab, not from a previous customer. No matter how I tried, I was not getting a truly new unit. Now that I had my "better than new iPad" for a week, I noticed a few dark pixels... dead center of the screen. It's like an itch you cannot scratch.

I gave up my webOS tablet for an iPad. I just went on ebay and got a new one for a faction of the original price.

I suddenly started having a weaker signal and sometimes very slow wifi.  I have no idea why. I was awesome when I first bought it for the first few months.

I'm a little worried because my toddlers use it quite a bit and it does suffer minor drops on carpet. But, I do have a case. Could something have knocked loose to create a weaker and sometimes slower signal?  It doesn't sound reasonable for a drop to partly damage something internally without breaking it all the way.

I would take it in to an Apple store but I'm a 5 hour drive from the closest one. : (

I have a 16GB 3G/WiFi iPad 2 and I'm having the same issue with the wifi. Seems to have started when I upgraded from a b/g router to a b/g/n router.

After reading through this thread I just changed my router to g/n and things seem better. The only thing using 802.11b was my PSP and I can live without that having wifi if I need to.

The problem with the iPad is not being able to lock on a signal and keep it. In a high density AP area everyone has overlapping channels and they are all using the default ip of 192.168.0.1. Even though you iPad has authenticated with you AP it seems to get confused by the other signals.

I have fixed this first by changing the channel an my ip address to a 10.x.x.x. This worked great. I then found Microcenter sellingTenda APs for $14.99. I bought three and place them in different locations in the house. They all have the same SSID but different channels; 1,6,11. The ip address is a 10.x.x.x and I have no problem. I can walk through the house and see the iPad change APs without missing a beat.

You may not want to do my last solution so change your ip and channel (like 2) and your problems should go away.

I am having a wifi issue with my iPad 2 that I so far have not seen mentioned on the forum.  I stay in many hotels and 8 times out of 10 when I try to connect to the hotel (or other public connection) the text box comes up for the password and the blue text indicator line is in it flashing. When I try to type nothing happens. Typing does work in other areas such as notes, I have occasionally been able to type the passwords in notes and copy paste them to the wifi text box. My apple store have now supplied my third iPad 2 due to this problem and on each one the same issues occurs - the store tell me they have not experienced this before. If anyone could assist I would be very grateful. Thank you.

If your IPad is still under warranty you have a right to a new one.  You need to call the 800 number and complain about how you were "handled" at the store.  Obviously, they gave you one that is also faulty.  Don't stand for that.  And a previous post also that said she doesn't really need wi-fi.  Really?!  That's a significant part of the cost and purpose of the IPad.  You can't download new apps from the app store without being connected, for goodness sake!  Get that one replaced while you're still under warranty.  When you outgrow this device you may be able to sell it on EBay, but only if the Wi-Fi works.  My problem with the grayed-out Wi-Fi was determined to be a faulty antenna and I was sent a brand new IPad2.(Packaged New).

I have been having some of the same problems. I got an iPad 2 back in May of this year. I took it on a trip during the summer and I was having wifi issues but I thought it was due to the bad wifi we were experiencing at the hotel. Now that I'm using my iPad more, I have realized that the wifi signal ***** and I'm using the wifi at my University. But the signal I have on my Macbook Pro is lightning fast. I also, realized that if I turned my iPad upside down the wifi works. I think it has some of the same signal issues as the iPhone 4. It's just when you hold it on the bottom corners.

It looks like this discussion has been going on for awhile.  I am having a problem with all mobile devices.

My son is home with his iPad 2 and my wife just got a blackberry torch 9850.  The ipad connects to the wifi network, but reports no Internet connection available. The torch also connects to the wifi network, but reports no IP address assigned.

My macbook is connected and accesses the Internet without issue.  I have also connected my wife's Linux based computer without a problem.  I updated the firmware on the linksys WAP54G Access Point which is connected to the cable company's modem.  I have changed security protocols from unsecured, to WPA, WPA 2, and now WEP

Always the same result,  Internet works fine on Macbook Pro OS X 10.6.8 , but can not connect with iPad or Blackberry.

My problem persisted after resetting and leaving wifi network open and unsecured with default ssid linksys.

I do not know what is going on with the mobile devices.   So I will be interested in following this discussion.

I recently purchased the iPad 2 16GB WiFi only device. One thing I noticed, the WiFi will only work for a short while, then completely stop. I have to disable and enable the wireless to get it working again. Anyone else having this issue?

yes! I bought the IPad 32GB  from the online Apple Store and have exactly this problem. signal shows two or even all 3 bars. I have to constantly turn the iPad off then on to get it to connect .Very upsetting as I bought it as traveling companion and it won't function properly in hotels, condos, etc. And I can't change their routers!  My Droid phone works flawlessly in the same spaces picking up their wifi signals. Just want to be on the record as another victim. Will visit an Apple store soon for their suggestions.