Q: Intermittent Wifi issues with iPad 2 and WiFi

I think I found a fix for BTHomeHub 2 users

I have found a problem with the 802.11n it will not hold. Stable connection
if I drop my router down to only 802.11b/g only then I can keep a stable connection when I am using 802.11n I can only get. 39 Mbps but if I drop my router to 802.11b/g only it connects at 54 Mbps I thought that 802.11n was faster not slower
Is the iPad 2 still using 802.11n draft 2.0 like the iPad 1 I had the iPad 1 and it only had problems with wifi when I updated to the 4.3 update so is it the iOS that wasn't certified for use with 802.11n and when will it be the rest of my network is running at 54 Mbps when it should be about 130 Mbps but it is the iPad that is cussing the problem

I did find this but it doesn't say what iOS Wasserstein used

http://certifications.wi-fi.org/pdf_certificate.php?cid=WFA11082

philip tomlins wrote:
I have found a problem with the 802.11n it will not hold a stable connection.

There could be a problem with your router or your particular iPad. The only way to isolate it would be to try your iPad on some other 802.11n networks to see if it works there. You could also check with your router manufacturer to see if others have reported similar problems and to see if there is a firmware update available for your router.

Is the iPad 2 still using 802.11n draft 2.0 like the iPad 1?

The iPad2 was tested using the final WiFi Alliance test suite and not the draft test suite but this subject is really a red herring and here's why.

For the subset of the IEEE 802.11n standard that the iPad1 & iPad2 +*actually implement*+ there is no difference between the IEEE802.11n-draft2 certification testing and the final standard certification testing. This has been made clear by the WiFi Alliance statement I quoted in an earlier post. This was done intentionally by the WiFi Alliance so that products could be certified early against the +*_agreed upon features_*+ of 802.11n before the final standard was hammered out. Note also that the IEEE 802.11n standard has both mandatory and optional features and the later-added features are all optional and outside of the iPad1 & iPad2 implemented feature set.

I had the iPad 1 and it only had problems with wifi when I updated to the 4.3 update so is it the iOS that wasn't certified for use with 802.11n and when will it be the rest of my network is running at 54 Mbps when it should be about 130 Mbps but it is the iPad that is causing the problem

Hard to say without knowing the cause of your problem. Do you currently have an iPad1 or an iPad2?

I did find this but it doesn't say what iOS Wasserstein used http://certifications.wi-fi.org/pdf_certificate.php?cid=WFA11082

This certificate says that the iPad2 was certified using the final 802.11 specification test suite. See : iPad 2 Final 802.11n WiFi Alliance Certification Certificate.

Given the date of certification it was quite likely done with the iOS 4.3 level which was the initial release for the iPad2. Note that the iPad1 and iPad2 are very similar for WiFi. They both run the same iOS level and both have the same Broadcom BCM 4329 WiFi/Bluetooth chip.

You should, of course, move to the latest iOS 4.3.1 if you are having problems.

Not sure if this will help but I've had issues with wi-fi and Apple and found that "Bluetooth" was the interference. Once I closed all the bluetooth devices, disconnected any other servers not in use and turned off any other devices using wireless, have had no problems after that.

Also the first issue was you have to make sure that "all" other wireless devices are at least 20 feet from the wi-fi device if they are on and that all other devices on the computer, pod or pad must have the wireless connections turned off. Hope this helps!

PS: This is from my own personal experience and help from a long time Apple product user (friend) who helped me with some of this advice here.

Another issue which no one can do anything about is "other wi-fi users" around you using wi-fi can knock you off. (including hackers) Basically it amounts to "too many people" using wi-fi at the same time in a specific area or where an area doesn't have that strong of a wi-fi single and "hackers".

Best of Luck!!

Same problem here. iPad2 3G 64GB.

Original iPad works fine. Next to each other the original has a better signal than the new white iPad2. The original never drops the signal to begin with (the iPad2 will dorp it once an hour approx). Two laptops (both Apple), one iPhone4, Two Nintendo DS and one Nintendo Wii can all access the WiFi flawlessly as can the original iPad. It's def. a problem with iPad2. I have tried all suggestions in this long thread but none worked.

Apple: if you hear me: fix this. I did not pay 800 Euros for my new iPad to have it screw with WiFi: I love it so much: I hope its a software update thing and not a hardware problem.

I'm on Time Capsule (original model) and 4.3.1 by the way.

Message was edited by: Madison

I have had big problems with the wifi but after reading all the other stuff on people with wifi problems I found out that lots of people were having success by turning off the 'N' capabilities of the router so I have now changed to B and G signal and the ipad 2 is working perfectly.

But thing is now I can no longer run my router on 'N' which is necessary for my xbox and other devices so although this fixes the problem it is only a temporary solution.

So how do I get my IPAD2 to work on the N signal?

imginy wrote:

But thing is now I can no longer run my router on 'N' which is necessary for my xbox and other devices so although this fixes the problem it is only a temporary solution.

So how do I get my IPAD2 to work on the N signal?

You could try turning off the 40Mhz option in your router. You may need to also do this on all of your other devices as well. Note that once you have turned off the 40MHz option you will probably not get any speed advantage over using 802.11g.

Madison @ SecretLab wrote:
Same problem here. iPad2 3G 64GB.

Original iPad works fine. Next to each other the original has a better signal than the new white iPad2. The original never drops the signal to begin with (the iPad2 will dorp it once an hour approx). Two laptops (both Apple), one iPhone4, Two Nintendo DS and one Nintendo Wii can all access the WiFi flawlessly as can the original iPad. It's def. a problem with iPad2. I have tried all suggestions in this long thread but none worked.

Apple: if you hear me: fix this. I did not pay 800 Euros for my new iPad to have it screw with WiFi: I love it so much: I hope its a software update thing and not a hardware problem.

See also post and response above: Try manually turning off wideband 40MHz in your router (if your router gives you the option to do this). The iPad and iPAD 2 seem to have slightly different WiFi operation. The iPad is certified to 802.1n draft 2.0 and the iPad 2 is 802.11n certified (There are links to both certificates earlier in this thread). Why this is so is a mystery as they both use the same WiFi chipset and iOS. However it is conceivable that there are some firmware or other differences between the two.

FastBikeGear wrote:

You could try turning off the 40Mhz option in your router. You may need to also do this on all of your other devices as well. Note that once you have turned off the 40MHz option you will probably not get any speed advantage over using 802.11g.

However, use of the 40 MHz option with the 2.5 GHz band is not recommended unless you live in a rural environment without other WiFi networks in the vicinity. If you live in a city, you are likely to find that 40 MHz provides little if any speed advantage, anyway. Microsoft also recommends turning off 40 MHz for more reliable xbox wifi connections. I don't believe that anything needs to be done to turn off 40 MHz for devices other than wifi routers/access points.

tgibbs wrote:

FastBikeGear wrote:

You could try turning off the 40Mhz option in your router. You may need to also do this on all of your other devices as well. Note that once you have turned off the 40MHz option you will probably not get any speed advantage over using 802.11g.

However, use of the 40 MHz option with the 2.5 GHz band is not recommended unless you live in a rural environment without other WiFi networks in the vicinity. If you live in a city, you are likely to find that 40 MHz provides little if any speed advantage, anyway. Microsoft also recommends turning off 40 MHz for more reliable xbox wifi connections. I don't believe that anything needs to be done to turn off 40 MHz for devices other than wifi routers/access points.

What he said. My reading of the 802.11n standard is that the 40MHz option should automatically be disabled during the authentication and re-authentication process if either 'partner' in the 'conversation' doesn't support it (The iPAD does not support it) - but this function may not always work reliably so sometimes it may be best to manually turn it off at the router.

Thanks I have turned it over to 'N' 20mhz and will test tomorrow.
So are you telling me that 20mhz is better anyway?
There is one other wireless network near me but thats it.

Thanks for your help

imginy wrote:
So are you telling me that 20mhz is better anyway?
Thanks for your help

Yes if you have interference. 40MHz gives you twice the bandwidth and can give you over twice the throughput if your devices support it. The iPAD does not support 40Mhz operation anyway.

imginy wrote:
So how do I get my IPAD2 to work on the N signal?

For 802.11n WiFi the iPad requires the WMM feature to be enabled in your router. If this feature has been turned off the iPad will not connect. This could be the source of your problem.

See this Apple document for details: Wi-Fi: Unable to connect to an 802.11n Wi-Fi network

Here's a WiFi Alliance page on WMM: WMM: WiFi Multimedia

If you're having the drop issue, please tell Apple about it through the official support channels or call them. I have done this. There's no fix for the wi-fi drop and won't be until Apple fixes it once and or all. You can try all the settings and routers you want but most users find themselves with the problem again in five minutes to a couple of weeks. Success stories are random. Don't let others scare you into thinking you're wrong or your router is the problem. You know that makes no sense and is true only in rare cases. And don't expect support from forum trolls. Many hate the idea that the iPad is the problem and will fight to make you wrong as long as you suggest it is. Many hate the idea that Apple is responsible for fixing it. Just read my question about returning it for a refund. The idea that Apple should stand behind its products really bothers some people. I once bought a DVD from Amazon and returned it a year later to Walmart for a full refund. Theres no excuse for not standing behind a product. Tell Apple about the drop issue and fight for a fix.

I don't know if this helps, I had the same issue. I tried everything everyone suggested on here ( which is great help) but it didn't help my situation. At least for me, it turned out to just be a bad router, got the Apple Extreme and resolved the issue. Hmmm... Wonder if its intention? lol.

Rafi Ahmadi wrote:
I don't know if this helps, I had the same issue. I tried everything everyone suggested on here ( which is great help) but it didn't help my situation. At least for me, it turned out to just be a bad router, got the Apple Extreme and resolved the issue. Hmmm... Wonder if its intention? lol.

Thanks Rafi we have all pretty much worked out you can solve the problem by trying multiple routers until you find one that is compatible with the iPAD...I wonder what happens if you find one that works (Mine did until the 4.2.1 upgrade) and then a subsequent Apple upgrade stops it working.

The smart thing may be to follow your good advice and buy an Apple wireless access point/router only. This way you have some come back if a subsequent software upgrade causes problems.