Q: Intermittent Wifi issues with iPad 2 and WiFi

WebGeeksUnlimited wrote:

 

I hope everyone understands that if your router is still draft N, that your vendor will have the latest firmware for the N standard without running out to buy new routers. Most routers can be updated and if they don't have an update from draft-N, I'd be asking why?

 

In any case, the iPad2 should still work even with the draft-N in the router.

If you router was sold as an 802.11n router prior to the the draft 2.0 standard it is likely that you will have compatibility issues, although it is possible that firmware may bring your router up to the draft 2.0 standard.

If it was sold as a WiFi alliance certified 802.11n draft 2.0 router it is should be compatible with devices that comply with the full 802.11n  standard. Draft 2.0 was ratified as a sort of interim standard in 2007 by the WiFi Alliance. The WiFi alliance was a vendor driven group who got frustrated with the 'slow' progress of the IEEE standards body standard, and pushed ahead with an independent standard so that they could meet public demand and sell products.

From Wikipedia

The WiFi alliance..."has affirmed that all draft-n certified products remain compatible with the products conforming to the final standards."

The choice of the word compatibile is unfortunate because while draft 2.0 devices can interoperate with fully compliant 802.11n devices under some conditions they do not support all the later features. e.g. 802.11n draft 2.0 devices only supported the legacy 802.11 Power Save and may not be capable of supporting the new 802.11 WWM Power Save Mechanisms. (See paragraph "From the WiFi Alliance below")

Compliance with the 'interim' 802.11n draft 2.0 standard this does not mean that your router will support the full features of the full 802.11n standard. Many of the draft 2.0 standard chipsets are simply incapable of supporting the full features and performance of the 802.11n standard. The Broadcom WiFi chipset used in the iPad is an example of one of these earlier chips that simply is incapable of supporting the 40Mhz channels and other features that were introduced after 802.11n. This is why the iPad is only certified as an 802.11n draft 2.0 device. However this should be enough to provide interoperability with fully compliant devices under many but not all circumstances. One of the cirucumstances where you may expericence incompatibility issues is with Power Save modes.

From the WiFi Alliance web site.

"WMM® Power Save is a set of features for Wi-Fi networks that help conserve battery power in small devices such as phones, PDAs, and audio players. The certification for both access points and client devices uses mechanisms from the recently ratified IEEE 802.11e standard, and is an enhancement of legacy 802.11 power save. WMM Power Save helps pave the way for rapid proliferation of Wi-Fi technology into devices dependent on battery power.

With WMM Power Save, the same amount of data can be transmitted in a shorter time while allowing the Wi-Fi device to remain longer in a low-power "dozing" state. With improved sleep capabilities in the chip and the opportunity to fine-tune power consumption at the application layer, device manufacturers and developers now have a robust framework to improve Wi-Fi power efficiency."

When the WiFi alliance publishes a compliance certificate they also note on the certificate if the device is only compliant with the earlier 802.11n draft 2.0 'interim' standard (Note interim is my term not theirs) and they also note if it is compliant with WMM Power Save and WMM Multimedia Support.

You will note on the WiFi Alliance's complance testing certificate for the iPad that it is only draft 2.0 compliant and only supports WMM Multimedia Support it is show it does not support the WMM Power Save.

This choice to use a 802.11n draft 2.0 standard chipset is strange given the full standard was published in 2009 well before the iPad was released. The choice by Apple to use this chipset might have been a cost based choice.

New iPad 2 arrived today. Haven't even checked ios (first Apple product ever used) but first problem found was intermittent wifi connectivity. Was okay until close lid, open it again and wifi settings lost. Reset then fine until lid closed again. Also had extreme trouble in setting email up because settings kept disappearing. So to date Apple has done nothing yet.

Weird fault though. My WAP is an Edimax (cheap brand). I have DHCP turned off but you can see some earlier settings greyed out. When the settings disappear they come back as the greyed out settings (192.168.2.116). If I renew the DHCP lease several times it changes to the correct settings of 192.168.100.3 and then works fine until lid is closed again.

I have been a long PC user for good reason. This iPad will be going back if a fix doesn't appear soon. I find the situation incredible.

I just want to give an update on my iPad2/WiFi saga:

After going through all (yes, all) the posts in this thread, I compiled a list of solutions/work-arounds people have suggested and started going through them one by one in order of "difficulty" - I tried the easy/simple fixes first. Here's my log:

1. Don't use the smart cover - did not help. In fact, I returned the smart cover and got another case.

2. Turn off router and turn it back on again - MY GOD, IT WORKED!

I don't know if this made a difference but I made sure the iPad2 was the first gadget that connected to WiFi after I turned my router back on.

I am now going on day 2 of continued WiFi use without dropoffs. iPad wakes up from a short sleep (a few minutes) or long sleep (overnight) and reconnects without problem. I'm able to watch movies from Netflix or HBO GO without problems. Am able to be next to the router or one floor up without problems. I am hoping that I have not now jinxed it. I will report back again in a few days to see if my fix sticks.

Now my specs:

iPad2 32GB WiFi+3G Verizon - used exclusively as WiFi, I did not get a 3G data plan, got latest iOS update as of 6/5/2011.

Netgear N-150 router, came free via Comcast, did not update firmware since installation (Dec. 2010). Broadcasting SSID, mixed b/g/n, not exactly sure what type of security I have but I think its WPA2-PSK [AES]

Has just worked (this time anyway) for me also. Will check repeatedly over the next few days. Even though it seemed to work it is a bit of a worry if you have 3 ipads in the house. Does this mean as each hooks up you have to reset the WAP as they shuffle around taking it in turns being the first on ? Sorta defeats the point or purpose of having a WAP in the first place. If this is a general fix then using ipads in a commercial environment will be a nightmare.

I am just about to ban their use on some networks I administer until this problem is fixed. Not going thru this hassle for months. This will cost Apple a heap of sales.

Hi,

The solution that works for me : I have modified the protection way of my wifi network from WAP (TKIP +AES) to WAP (AES/CCMP). Never problem now

Thanks

Add me to the list of frustraed iPad2 wifi users.  Sitting in the house with my iPad 1 side by side and the iPad2 drops the connection frequently.  You can watch it drop right from the wifi screen.  I haven't tinkered with the router yet, but come on.  Apple needs to step up.

I'd like to change the router settings, but no clue where to start.

Having the same problem. Going to the hotel to work in another city and i have no clue witch router they use, and I'm not supposed to.

Wifi dropping every 5 min. Its stuppid

Well I have played around with various WPA settings, powered WAP on and off, turned DHCP on and off in WAP and I am still having the same problems. See my problem with network settings 7 posts back. I have changed the ghost settings in the WAP and it now shows different IP's BUT the iPad comes back with same settings as shown in the original post. This is so weird. If I turn the iPad on first thing in the morning it often syncs up. Use the Renew Lease button and the iPad settings go back to weird ones as mentioned above. Same if it goes into sleep mode.

There must be something funny inside the iPad firmware causing this. I think I will try a fresh download of IOS to see if it manages to reset anything. Might take a day or so because I have spent so much time on this already.

And while fighting this issue I have found so many other things that you just cannot do with an iPad. I think that it is a niche product and a very small niche at that. And I cannot understand why they have crippled it so much (unless marketing had a hand). I had high hopes for the potential usefulness of the device taking over from my Win laptop but am going to have to think twice now. It takes longer to set something up and getting it working properly (or how I want anyway) than a Win laptop does. The next person who says to me "Apples just work" will get a smack in the face.

I might be able to use it for a couple of limited functions but not going to bother until this IP address thing is sorted.

I have a couple of friends who use iPads and thinking back now I can see how they have altered their work so that it can be squeezed onto an iPad rather than the iPad expanding their options. This has to be one of the better con jobs I have seen for a long time.

Oh and this issue has been going on for so long now but have still seen little from Apple about the issue. Usual American company denial going on because if they admit there is a problem they will probably be up for so much litigation that it is easier to keep their trap shut. Computer problems and denying they exist has wasted more hours of human productivity than that expended on the 2nd World War.

Feel better now after that rant.

good on you alwaysdis for having your rant.

I am just amazed everyday when I see new links about this dumb ipad issue appearing in my mailbox and all the techie stuff that people are playing around with in order to try and fix this issue.  it's an APPLE ISSUE!

I clearly belong to a different generation that has an expectation that a new item must function properly or else be returned to vendor for refund or replacement.

I am amazed that so many people will go to such great lengths to try and get this product to work. Just TAKE IT BACK TO APPLE.

No point in whingeing about apple on this forum because apple don't read it. If it makes you feel better to try and fix the wifi issue yourself - then go ahead and fiddle around with this bit of software and that bit of hardware. I wouldn't waste my precious time. I wasn't going to try and do apple's work for them.  Anyway when I took my ipad back to the Genius Bar at apple - even they couldn't fix it!! - and replaced the ipad.

and good on YOU, Donna -

I too agree this is 101% an Apple issue - NOT one for the owner to worry about and try numerous router settings.

As I have posted before - I spoke with Apple very early on when the same issue happened to me (mid-April).  Within 210 days I had my replacement iPad2 and it has worked flawlessly.  I never once opted to look at my router settings since I knew that THAT was something beyond my control the instant I left the confines of my home and I assuredly was not going to just use the iPad at home.

I wish I knew what the solution is, but in my case there is NO question that the unit I had was faulty, and obviously there seems to be a seriously large manufacturing run with defective antennae (or bum wifi components in the chip sets).  I have no issues seeing any network anywhere whether in a hotel lobby hotspot or in the air on a Southwest flight.  At one Studio it instantly sees the dozen or so wifi networks buzzing around and at my workplace it also seamlessly jumps on either of the two enterprise networks available to me and those required the installation of security certificates form our IT department (again, no issues).

Keep pounding on Apple until you get what you paid for.  I was a pest until I got someone at Apple Care who really listened and agreed that I had exhasuted all possible options (and ONLY with regard to the settings on the iPad2 and NOT by trying assorted home router configurations).  The unit can and does work......if only it ran Flash.     sigh.

I swapped my SMC n router for a new NETGEAR N150 routers and both Ipad2s in my house have not had a signal drop in the past week since it's been installed.  I had a net gear G router prior to the SMC ROUTER and my iPads never dropped either.  APPLE JUST has a problem (read ... APPLE HAS A PROBLEM) with certain routers.  Until they get it fixed you can fix your problems by getting one of the routers mentioned in this thread that work (unless you happen to have a faulty ipadnwhich after reading all this thread I believe therento be those out there as well). Good luck.

I had the "drop after sleep" problem and I tried all of the "setting" fixes listed in this tread and nothing worked except setting the router for zero security (no password), which was not acceptable to me.

I wound up going through three different brands of routers until I solved the problem.  My present router is a Netgear WNDR3700-2.  Not one drop in the month since I got it.

Even though a new router solved it, I'm convinced it's an Apple problem.  It's always the iPad that has problems and all of the user's other devices work fine.  I have four other WiFi devices that worked fine with all three routers.

I think all iPad users should ask Apple to publish a list of wireless routers and access points that the the iPad is compatible with so that iPad users could point hot spot operators to it. This list could even be published and easily updated as a free App.

Maybe Apple could introduce their own certification program and test and certify third party wireless routers and access points for a small fee (that they would charge the router manufacturers). They could then issue compliance certificates and a compliance mark. Third party vendors could then advertise their products as 'Apple Wireless Certified' and display Apple's compliance mark on the outside of their retail packaging and be included in the list in the above described App. Hot spot operators who use Apple certified wireless access points could also use this mark in their advertising.

I think this would really help.

Whereas I don't really have an issue with changing my home WAP (if it turned out that this was the only WAP the iPad didn't work with) what about the potentially 100's of WAPs that are "out there" that I might also want to connect to ?

Changing your home WAP isn't a viable solution unless you only EVER plan on using the iPad at home.