Q: Intermittent Wifi issues with iPad 2 and WiFi

phoenixjn wrote:
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.

The number of people complaining about the problem here is actually rather modest considering that there are something over a million iPads out there. Aside from reports here, I don't actually know anybody who is having the problem. Everybody I know with the iPad2 is having the same experience that I have: the iPad2 has had rock-solid connectivity on every network that I've tried. Telling people that the problem is universal and cannot be fixed is not helpful. It is clear that a number of people have solved problems by making changes in their wifi configuration, such as turning off 40 MHz. That doesn't exclude the possibility that there is a problem with the iPad that causes incompatibility with certain routers, or vice-versa, but it should be possible to find a workaround. Of course, it is also possible that there are some defective iPads out there. If your iPad won't connect on any network, you should probably take it into the Genius Bar to see if it needs repair or replacement.

For reference, the wifi router that I've used most extensively, and that has been 100% reliable with the iPad2, is the D-Link DIR-825. I've also had good results with the DIR-655, although I haven't used it as much (but I think that others have reported good results with it as well).

My iPad 2 is only a few days old. I upgraded to 4.3.1 shortly after picking up the device. It works fine at home with a $30 router from costco but today I took it to work and had much trouble connecting to the office network with their WPA 2 security and later could not connect at all to the university wifi which my friend connects to reliably with his iPad 1. In Settings, the wifi switch would say it was on but would offer no connections. Or else, the wifi switch would not stay on at all, even after cycling airplane mode. I had to power off the unit and reboot it before the wifi would work again. Back home, I had to reboot again, then it automatically connected to my home network and has been stable for an hour.

I'm having almost exactly the same issues as described by the previous poster. Unfortunately, I've not been able to get it to work at the office since Friday. I've tried rebooting, Airplane mode, removing/re-adding the connection, and resetting network settings.

I went to chat with the Geniuses at my local Apple Store during lunch and the folks there said they'd not heard anyone with these issues. They recommended basically what I'd already done and said to come back in if it persisted and they'd likely just replace the unit.

My iPad 2 16GB WiFi started having the described issues on day 1, I tried several work arounds with my router and did not have any luck solving the issue. I called applcare and they issued a replacement unit which I picked up today. Nothing has changed, same intermittent problems brand new iPad. It's a shame that these iPads will not play nice with certain routers (Belkin wireless n+). I will be going to bestbuy tomorrow and try and find something that will work well with this iPad.

The following was posted on Apple Discussions.
On Mon Feb 07 16:17:53 MST 2011, JimHdk wrote:
Subject: Re: WiFi/Internet Incredibly slow after iOS 4.2 Upgrade

You can report bugs at http://apple.com/feedback/ipad.html



Be aware that the D-Link DSL-2740B was released against a draft version of the IEEE 802.11n standard. You should check to make sure that your router has the latest firmware which would bring it into compliance with the final version of the standard. There could well be a change in iOS 4.2.1 which is correct per the final IEEE protocol but conflicts with what is implemented in the D-Link DSL-2740B. This change in 4.2.1 may not have been present in 3.2.2 which is why it works.



Message was edited by: JimHdk

Im also having a lot of problems with my wifi, got an ipad 2 32gb wifi only. In the begining it just lost connection at times, but in the end it coundnt even load a page. I just changed my router settings to 20Mhz only, but mixed n,g and b. And it looks like it did it, at least its loading pages in safari now.

Ill write again if I start having problems again.

This is the exact problem I am having. I have excellent signal strength on my iPad2, but can only access the internet via the 3G (and pay the price for it). Any solutions?

JayCee377 wrote:
I'm having almost exactly the same issues as described by the previous poster. Unfortunately, I've not been able to get it to work at the office since Friday. I've tried rebooting, Airplane mode, removing/re-adding the connection, and resetting network settings.

I went to chat with the Geniuses at my local Apple Store during lunch and the folks there said they'd not heard anyone with these issues. They recommended basically what I'd already done and said to come back in if it persisted and they'd likely just replace the unit.

I've had the same issues with my 32GB ipad v1 since the v4.x update. Lost connections, have to renew lease constantly. Router firmware is current. I've tried every workaround possible as suggested with no luck. No issues at all with v3.x There are thousands that are having the same issues and Mac is still not acknowledging this issue? Looks ripe for a class action. Apparently wifi is rocket science for mac. This is my first and last experience with mac. My wife no longer likes to use it since last fall when mac screwed it up.

Apple really needs to address this issue once and for all. It should have been resolved a few days/weeks after it became an issue. Or maybe it's as you mentioned, "rocket science".

There are many people afflicted with this wifi issue, not just a couple. I'm also loosing hope and about to dump this iPad for an Android tablet! I have an Android smartphone, and many other computer and none have this wifi issue. Don't get me wrong, for a table, the iPad is about the best, but with intermittent internet access, it kinda kills the experience.

I'm going to start a new thread on this... Dear Apple...

Tried #4 - didn't work.
Tried #5 - WORKS LIKE A CHARM Static IP address worked beautifully.

I have the same model (16gig wifi only) and I'm having the same problems. I took it into a genius bar and they basically did a firmware reinstall. It worked for the first day I had it back but now it's on the fritz again. The iPad is as useful as an etch-A-sketch to me without the wifis. This is such a massive failing on apples part. I'll be taking mine back and getting a refund. For such a cool piece of tech (not to mention blindingly expensive) this is a totally unacceptable issue but one that seems to be effecting tons of people, from what I've seen on the boards. Switching around your routers to limit it just to N is not the answer. That's like giving a spoilt child only chicken nuggets because it kicked up a fuss at the sight of some greens.
The only thing that would stop me from getting a refund is news of an update.

I have an ipad 2 wifi only and im thinking about returning it......My friend has an ipod 4g and i was with her in a hot spot...her ipod 4g worked on the wifi perfectly but my ipad 2 didnt have a single network and her ipod had 3!! I have this problem a LOT!!!!! What the heck why are ipad 2s WORSE than ipod 4s!!!!!! I love my ipad 2 and i love everything about it except the wifi issues (+ flash player)!!! Please apple fix this and give the ipad 2 owners with this problem a refund or a free fix! When i buy a $500 device i expect it to be worth $500 with the wifi faulty it is not worth the money! Please apple fix this!

Same problem here. I have ipad 2 and new mac probook. Got the mac book about a month ago and it never connected right to my home wifi. So I just used hard line. Then I got ipad2 yesterday and the same dam problem, now I know its apple and not the router. Every other device except these two works fine. I can't believe I have a 800 dollar ipad2 + a 3000 mac book that drop signal every 5-10 min. *** apple!

jon06712 wrote:
Same problem here. I have ipad 2 and new mac probook. Got the mac book about a month ago and it never connected right to my home wifi. So I just used hard line. Then I got ipad2 yesterday and the same dam problem, now I know its apple and not the router. Every other device except these two works fine. I can't believe I have a 800 dollar ipad2 + a 3000 mac book that drop signal every 5-10 min. *** apple!

Have you checked your wifi configuration to make sure that it matches Apple's configuration guidelines?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4199

Austin G. wrote:
I have an ipad 2 wifi only and im thinking about returning it......My friend has an ipod 4g and i was with her in a hot spot...her ipod 4g worked on the wifi perfectly but my ipad 2 didnt have a single network and her ipod had 3!! I have this problem a LOT!!!!! What the heck why are ipad 2s WORSE than ipod 4s!!!!!! I love my ipad 2 and i love everything about it except the wifi issues (+ flash player)!!! Please apple fix this and give the ipad 2 owners with this problem a refund or a free fix! When i buy a $500 device i expect it to be worth $500 with the wifi faulty it is not worth the money! Please apple fix this!

I have an iPhone 3gs, and its wifi sensitivity is almost exactly the same as my iPad2. I see the same networks, at the same signal strength (except that my 3gs doesn't see 802.11n-only networks). I think the iPod 4g might be a bit more sensitive than my 3gs, but not enormously so, so you should probably take your iPad2 into the Apple Store to check whether you have some kind of hardware problem.