Q: Intermittent Wifi issues with iPad 2 and WiFi

I'm convinced it has to do with router configuration...

I had an old NETGEAR router than ran all of my other devices fine. I had neighbors move in next door and they left their network unsecured. I took the opportunity to test out my iPad using their network (named linksys). Their network performed fine and I didn't experience any drops.

Fast forward to last week, when I purchased an ASUS Black Diamond N dual-band router. When I replaced the NETGEAR, I noticed right away that there were no dropped connections (I have yet to drop a connection since I plugged the router in about a week or more ago). I was lucky if I could go 30 minutes with the old NETGEAR.

I'm not dismissing iPad from having an issue with wifi, as it should play nicely with all routers... But it is definitely finicky enough to require new wifi hardware with a certain configuration. Unfortunately I don't know enough of network administration to configure my old router to work. Perhaps I got lucky with the ASUS...

I'm not sure if this helps anyone, but if you are experiencing issues with your iPad using your home network, see if you can test it on someone else's. If it works there, it is probably an issue with your home router. Perhaps I'm just pointing out the obvious?

No, this isn't a router configuration problem, if the iPad is so finicky and flaky that it requires you to purchase a new router, or to completely reconfigure your existing router and disable WPA2 then it's an iPad problem. I've had the same problem with my iPad 2, and I have the latest (well not any more, they came out with a new model last month) Apple Airport Extreme. Both of my Macintoshes work fine with the Extreme (which is a nice bit of kit, if it had PoE I would have bought them for my workplace) as does my HTC Evo, my iPod touch 4G and the wireless adapter for my XBox.

I finally got my iPad to work with my Airport Extreme last night. I reconfigured the Airport Extreme and changed the SSID. I did this so the iPad would be forced to scan for a new network. I then ran a factory restore on the iPad and once it had been scrubbed connected it to my WiFi network using the new SSID. This seemed to work and I was able to surf the web last night. Now I just need to see if it will continue working when I come home this evening and wake it up.

http://www.theipadslate.com/blog/2011/05/25/ipad-2-wifi-connectivity-problems-an tenna-gate-aka-death-grip-returns-product-reviews/

http://www.applei.ph/one/component/option,com_kunena/Itemid,49/func,view/catid,6 8/id,1073823733/

I know this is a very far out question guys out of the topic in this forum. But aside from wifi connectivuty problems, I also have an issue regarding on how to download free apps for iPad. I know there are bunch of iPad apps downloads out there but as much as possible, I want to purchase apps that will cost me nothing.. Just want to compromise the expenses with my iPad and router. Can anybody help me? Anyway, sorry for the diversion. I will deeply appreciate your response.. Thanks!

ok, maybe still too new but i just upgraded my wireless router's firmware 2 hours ago and left my ipad 2 idle.. checked after 2 hours, still connecting to internet with no issues. no need to switch to airplane mode on and off any more... Before it was taking 10 mins of idle time to lose the wifi connection.

My router is Belkin F5D8235-4 and upgraded its firmware from 2.01.04 (default one when I purchased it more than a year ago) to 2.01.09 which is the latest release as of 7/14/2011..

I kept the original default settings for wireless access - still connecting to G&B&N..

Only change I did was switching from auto channel to a random one I picked.. (I picked wireless channel as 8 and extension channel as 4) thinking many people are keeping that on auto..

so far working ok.. I will monitor and keep you folks posted.. I hope I am not giving you any empty hopes... Well, I will say at least I tried!!!

Update- over 4 hours passed, still no disconnect issues.. 

I ended up talking with my friend who happens to have a great iPad Addiction http://www.squidoo.com/ipad-addiction-how-ipad-alters-the-way-kids-interact-with -technology his name is Mike who was incredibly helpful and put me onto iPad 2 free downloads http://ipad2freedownloads.weebly.com/ that shows pretty much everything I need to – especially informativeapps. And it’s all for FREE! Big thanks to him.

I hope by sharing to you this link will help you also in purchasing suchfree apps that you might just need in your iPad.

ok, 24 hours now and no disconnect at all. Updating my router firmware has resolved my problem at home. No need to switch to G only, N only or any other craps mentioned by others..  I am running router on all bands - B/G/N with wireless channel not set on auto but 8.. all other settings are at default.

I was lately having similar disconnects on my IMAC and Macbook and they are fixed as well together with Ipad2. 

But this does not fix the problem on Apple's end. I still have similar disconnect issues at my friend's house. We can not force everyone to upgrade their router firmwares for Ipads..

Apple help us out here....

bbalkis wrote:

 

But this does not fix the problem on Apple's end. I still have similar disconnect issues at my friend's house.

When you fix a problem by updating router firmware you are correcting a bug in the router firmware that prevented your iPad from working correctly. The bug is in the router microcode not in Apple's code. There is no way for Apple to fix the router problem.

Many times people conclude that because some other device can connect to a router that there must be no problem in the router. However, this is not the case, since not all devices use the exact same features of the WiFi protocols. One device can encounter a bug that another never sees.

bbalkis wrote:

 

We can not force everyone to upgrade their router firmwares for Ipads..

 

Apple help us out here....

If the router firmware contains a bug there is no way for Apple to solve this problem. Router manufacturers regularly provide firmware updates on their support web pages to fix these sorts of problems. The router makers recommend that you periodically check for updates and install them.

By the way this is a user-touser technical help forum. Apple is not reviewing these forum for suggestions. To make a suggestion go to http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

I'm pretty sure the issue has to do with the auto channel settings. That's what seems to have fixed most people's issues as well as mine anyways.

It is a totally unreal expectation to expect at least 90% of the router population out there to suddenly decide to upgrade to latest firmware. I would venture a guess that 98% of router owners NEVER bother to upgrade their firmware. And that means that expecting to be able to use your iPad on 98% of routers is a dream - making an iPad virtually useless unless only used at home.

Any solution that comes about by fixing your home router only makes sense if that is the only place you will EVER use the iPad. Since about 80% of my usage was expected to be out of my home it means that I am open to a lot of disappointment - actually not disappointment but ACUTE frustration. I have already started looking for a new laptop as a probable replacement for my iPad relegating the iPad to being something I can play solitaire on while watching TV AT HOME.

Whatever the iPad is doing when working with routers, whatever specific facility or feature that Apple has chosen, for some reason, needs to be turned off or made optional.

At the moment using an iPad is like viewing an iceberg. The 10% that is visible looks great but the other 90% underneath is nothing but a disaster.

I have wasted a week and a half trying to fix my problems. In the end I did the following and it seems to work, at home anyway.

1. Reinstalled 4.3.3

2. Updated firmware in my router (the wireless N router)

3. Added a second router for wireless G (for my current laptop)

I did all these on the same day so don't know which one, or all 3, fixed the problems but now everything is working OK. I currently use the wireless N router for connectivity to the iPad but it works equally as well on the wireless G.

I am banning all iPad's from my customers networks until I see that this issue has been ACKNOWLEDGED by Apple and a fix publicised.

I was having wi-fi problems where it would suddenly disconnect.  I had also been having problems with the VPN connection.  Yesterday, I updated to the new 4.3.4 firmware.  Although they say it is only targeted at security and jailbreak issues, both my wifi and VPN seem to be better behaved.  I am hoping there is a causal relationship, and that this isn't just a temporary coincidence.

By the way, does anyone else get really annoyed at how it changes words like "causal" to casual?

I FIXED MINE! Nothing in the support forums helped! Wifi Settings DHCP look there, router reporting address there? Mine wasn't. So I opened the STATIC Window, opened my iPhone System wifi settings and copied the settings from my iphone to the STATIC windows. It worked! After awhile, I checked DHCP settings and it was all there. The Ipad is supposed to get the router address when it starts up but doesn't. I am using the Airport Extreme and didn't find anything in it's settings that would cause the problem. So that is it just copy your wireless phones settings to the STATIC window on the wifi system that is listed. That little blue right facing arrow takes you to the wifi settings.