Q: Intermittent Wifi issues with iPad 2 and WiFi

I think that is a pretty good summarization FastBike. However, I really think issue #1 can be solved with a software patch. I have fixed that issue on my iPad 2 by letting it get a random IP from the DHCP server and then setting it to fixed IP (using the same IP configuration as given by the DHCP server). That way it won't lose the connectivity, ever. I think it is pretty clear a simple software issue.

I'm havnig massive problems with WiFI on the ipad2, even with 4.3.3.

Really sad. MBP has no issues, same net.

brhow: just upgraded from 4.3.2 to 4.3.3 on my iPad 2 64GB, and now the WiFi-connection is lost each time I turn off the screen. Not the iPad completely. When I open it again, their is no WiFi. Before the connection was there all the time, 24/7.

I tried setting it up with a fixed ip and that is only a work around so that it finds the connection again once it is opened, automatically.  The big issue is that it does not keep the connection when you lock the screen. When downloading bigger apps, the download stops each time the screen locks. That is so annoying, and I am quite frustrated about this now, and also that APPLE SEEMS TO BE IGNORANT ABOUT THIS ERROR WICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PEOPLES ROUTERS OR ANYTHING ELSE NETWORK RELATED. IT IS ONLY THE VERSION 4.3.3 THAT IS CAUSING THIS ERROR ALONE!

Since the iPad is for carrying around, using different hotspots around the world, the issue and making a fix for this, is an Apple-issue only. So people, stay off your routers wich is definitely not causing this error.

I have 4 laptops, 2 logitech squeezeboxes, Xbox 360, PS3, Iphone 4´s a Wii, and all other kind of equipment using my WiFi without any problem. The iPad is the only piece of hardware that cannot keep a connection after upgrading to V.4.3.3. Stay off this version, and set your iTunes software from synchronizing to this version. APPLE MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!!

I have been using iOS 4.3.3 since it's release with no WiFi problems at all. Sometimes problems development which are coincidental with the update process itself rather than to the content of the update. Have you tried restoring your iPad?

Rather than add posts to long threads lie this which contain all sorts of problems/solutions/arguments you should start a new thread about your specific problem with details on your network and what you have tried to resolve the problem.

I am not a newbie when it comes to networking terms, and I have hav my iPad 2 for 2 month now witout any WiFi problems at all. Yesterday I upgraded to 4.3.3, made a hard reset of the connections on the iPad 2 because of this issue but without result. When out, I use my iPhone 4 as the hotspot connection for my ipad, but that is no longer possible. The connection keeps dissapearing. Now, the only thing changed since the day before yesterday, is the upgrade to V.4.3.3, so it is not rocket science to figure out where the problem is. V.4.3.3

Reading through all these forums, I am definitely not the only one with this problem. So I am saying that it is a waste of time investigating your router or anything else. Apple is the sinner in this case. No doubt about it.  I will downgrade my ipad tonight, staying on v.4.3.2.

Please do let us know once you have reverted to v.4.3.2 and if you find you no longer have any wi-fi problems.

It's odd because I recently updated from 4.3 to 4.3.3, and, so far, it's been working better. Hasn't passed the test of time though. Here's where Amazon is a much better company than Apple. It was a piece of cake returning my kindle and getting a replacement. It's pulling teeth with Apple.

Back to the original issue with the iPad randomly dropping wifi shall we? After a couple months of dealing with dropping connection and trying everything I read on the interweb. Changeing my dual band router from mixed mode to a fixed mode and turning off the router option of auto choose best freq did the trick. I was getting dropped 20 times a day randomly. Since changing my router to settings I've stayed connect for weeks now and still have not been dropped. full signal strength all over the house.

Defiantly an issue with some routers, defiantly should look at your settings if you are getting dropped all the time. Some people have to change to mixed, some have to change to fixed. For my router I think it was the auto choose best freq option that would drop me whenever something else on my network collided with my iPad. I think the solution is different depending on what router you are having problems with from all the reading I've done.

Also, this thread is about Random wifi drops.

Hi.  Have a Iphone 4 and WiFi has been very inconsistent.  Facetime barely works.  Web is hit or miss.  Different Iphone 4 on same home wifi network works fine (Linksys router set to mixed mode). I need to check IOS versions to see if they are different.  No other PC's or the playstation have WiFi issues.  I just ordered a IPAD 2 WiFi only , due to arrive next week.  Turning off WiFi on the Iphone and giving up Facetime (my only solution) is one thing.  I will not have that option should the Ipad have Wifi problems.  We're on the darn Apple site!  I don't understand how they can ingor these posts and not jump in and provide some imput.

laryfromneptune wrote:

 

We're on the darn Apple site!  I don't understand how they can ingor these posts and not jump in and provide some imput.

Its no use posting here and expecting Apple to acknowledge your problem. If you want to get some focus on this issue then give Apple the feedback on this link. http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html or call Apple Support. If they say they have never heard of the problem direct them to this thread.

FastBikeGear wrote:

Interference issues
It is also evident that some people have experienced interference issues. If you can see your neighbours network name then you could be having interference problems due to them being on the same or an adjacent channel. Normally this will only cause performance/throughput loss not connection loss. A good way to avoid this is to set your network name to something like 'channel 6' so that your neighbours will know what channel you are using and will hopefully pick a channel at least 5 channels greater or less than the one they use. However for fun I nromally use a network name  like "we_are_using_your_connection" or "please_close_your_curtains" etc

If you are in an area where there are many access points and a lot of WiFi traffic one thing you can do to improve the reliability of your connection is to change the channel width. If you have an Apple Airport Extreme you can do this via the Wireless tab by clicking on the "Wireless Options" button. My experience with disabling wide channels is that it improved the reliability of my WiFi connections without significantly degrading performance due to the fact that most of my WiFi traffic goes out over the net and is therefore limited by the bandwidth of my cable or DSL connections. This is a great summary, thanks for posting it.

you got it right!!!

Update. The 4.3.3 patch didn't do the trick after all. Last night, I was trying to stream a video on the Lynda.com app, but it stopped playing. Reboot the iPad and tried again. Worked for a little while, but stopped again. Just to test that it wasn't the app alone, I jumped on Crunchyroll; had the same problem. I really don't want to go through the hassle of fighting with Apple Support, but that might be the only way to go. This device is close to useless without a working internet connection :-(

I fought the intermittent WiFi dropout problem for several months.  My conclusion is that the iPad is not compatible with all routers.  I tried all the suggested router configuration changes in this thread with no success.  Replacing the iPad didn't work either.  I wound up changing the router.  No drops for over three months.

Based upon my experience and others on this thread, it's definitely an iPad problem, not a router problem.  The common  symptom is that a wide range of other WiFi devices work fine with a user's router and the iPad doesn't want to stay connected. 

If you have tried all the other recommended fixes with no success, try another brand/model router.