Q: Intermittent Wifi issues with iPad 2 and WiFi

I just typed a thorough explanation adn somehow i accidently clicked to go the freaking article that I pointed my proof of example to.  so I'll just let you all read the article

go to www.tomshardware.com  and click on the article titled " why your wi fi ***** and how it can be helped"

It is a 2 part article and trust me..it's BEST to read part 1 first.  It's LONG but in the end yes you MAY get a headache..but IT WILL give you a better understanding  of how wireless internet connectivity troubleshooting and the things US CONSUMERS dont think about nor taught about in these bs specs of the products...SHOULD learn more about and stay aware of.

the ipad2 versus ipad 1st gen in particular is mentioned in one of the parts dealing with the ipad's landscape held or portrait held orientation and which one keeps more often a more dependable signal and also with the relationship of the TYPE of router.  meaning for example.  a wndr3700 n600 netgear router ( i own this one and love it) is DESIGNED AND MEANT to give the best performance OVERALL to MOST devices period when the netgear unit is standing vertically versus the Linksys wrt160n wireless n router or most linksys/cisco wirelss n routers are designed to be left at the horizonal orientation.  This whole idea meshed..deals with the part in i think the 1st article taling about orientation and/or polarization of the RF signal. 

Meaning if you hold the ipad 2 in landscape orientation, with MOST routers specially the netgear and you move to the absolute farthest distance without dropping a connection wtih the router ( let's say 40 feet) of no walls no interfernce....and Then STAND STILL.  turn the ipad2 in portrait orientation there is a decent chance..your internet connection MAY completely DROP or slow down BIGTIME.  why?  one less antenna to communicate with the 2 or 3 antenna router. 

Similar test can be performed with your cell phone.  talking to someone while lying horizontal on your bed in a house that has metal beams versus a house with only wooden beams..and/or sitting up vertically straight. 

Yeah I KNOW tech detailed troubleshooting CAN be a BIG FREAKING HEADACHE.

Hopefully I have helped someone here. If not, I'm sorry i wasted your time.  cheers.

and ftr...I WISH apple woudl have made the freaking ipad2 with a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.  would have been nice.  ohwel..gotta wait for ipad 3.  Hey jobs.  PUT THE 2ND ANTENNA back into the ipad3 will ya!

If something works well DONT FIX IT!

So I've had all the same problems with WiFi connectivity. I went into my local Apple store (Regent Street, London) a couple of days ago and spoke to two guys at the Genius bar. The conversation went:

Me: Are there any known WiFI connectivity....

G1: No

Me: You answered my question before I finished asking it.... Are there any known WiFi connectivity problems with the iPad 2?

G1: No

G2: I recommend you upgrade to 4.3.5 [I was at 4.3.4]

Does he know something Apple is not publicising?

Anyway, I've upgraded now so I'll find out over the next few days whether the problem has miraculously disappeared.

I've tried everything, within reason. The new update works just like the old one. Apple is trying to keep this quiet but they know there is a problem.

I'm having this problem too, but with my iPhone as well as my girlfriend's iPad 2.  All other computers on this network work fine.  I've read other threads that say it is an iOS problem (eg. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2780119?start=0&tstart=0) which I'm fairly sure is the case.  However, my problem isn't just with the Wireless N network as that article suggests, because my router isn't even N capable.  I'm coming to the same, unfortunate conclusion as everyone else that this is an iOS 4 issue.

I have updated to 4.3.5 and it seems to have improved the wi fi problems I have no dropouts yet only ones that seem to be attributed to loss of wi fi strength ie too far away from router too many Walls in the way etc. Does anyone else have any comments on the latest update. I really hope that this has fixed this very very basic problem if not My nearest Apple shop can expect a visit very soon

Hi all

I too have had wifi problems seems only to affect internet browsing just hangs dont seem to have had issues with iplayer or 4od catch up so is it a wifi problem as such or a safari browser issue in any event it isnt satisfactory on a week old ipad2 so it goes back and if the second one plays up then it will be a refund if afraid shame as i really like the ipad with so many people with this issue why doesnt apple conceed at least there is an issue that they will work on if everyone asked for a replacement even out of warranty under your consumer rights ie fit for the purpose on a 500 quid iphone or ipad 1 or 2  then i think all of a sudden apple will find a fix untill then i will insist on a brand new one and will not accept a repair on it

just my thought on this issue

dave

Ok, on my D-link router, I've turned off "54g Protection" and set the 54g mode to "54g performance."  54g protection supposedly allows 802.11b devices to co-exist on the same network as newer modes, but I don't think anyone has those devices anymore so turning it off might help.  So far, it's been more stable--no drops for a few hours now.  Will post back later.

And iOS update 4.3.5 on my iPhone 4 did not help at all.

Scott Gossett wrote:

 

Ok, on my D-link router, I've turned off "54g Protection" and set the 54g mode to "54g performance."  54g protection supposedly allows 802.11b devices to co-exist on the same network as newer modes, but I don't think anyone has those devices anymore so turning it off might help.  So far, it's been more stable--no drops for a few hours now.  Will post back later.

From your previous posts you have a D-Link DSL2640B router. This is a fairly old router and hasn't had any support since 2008. Since you have had problems with two different iDevices on this router you should, if you haven't already done so, install the latest firmware for this router. The firmware is available here: http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=567 (See the Support Resources tab and select Firmware).

If you can't get this router to work reliably then you might want to consider replacing it.

Scott Gossett wrote:

 

And iOS update 4.3.5 on my iPhone 4 did not help at all.

Since there are no WiFi changes in iOS 4.3.5 or 4.3.4 that's not surprising, however, I doubt that your problems are iOS related.

Have you read any of this thread at all?  "It's not my router" is pretty much the mantra of this entire thread.  So it goes without saying that...well...it's not my router.  I did update the firmware.  And the iOS devices are the only things having problems out of the 8 other devices in this house.  Thanks for your help (genuinely) but saying "your router is old" is not a fix.

Actually, JimHdk, I take that back.  Since I am dedicated to figuring out this problem, let's assume that it is my router just being...old.  What is it about a newer router that would fix this problem?  That way, we can talk about what my router is actually lacking that will make it work so I can resolve the issue when looking for a "better" one as opposed to just laying the problem on an intangible hypothesis.  In other words, what do they have that I don't?

The problem with the D-Link DSL2640B router is that it hasn't had any support since early 2008. This router really predates mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad which use power conservation technology. Since these devices use aspects of the IEEE 802.11 protocols not used by other devices they can encounter problems that other devices don't encounter.

Since your router is no longer supported by D-Link I would investigate getting something new.

I have the newer, D-Link DIR-655 (with latest firmware), and I have connectivity problems with the iPad2. For me, it's not an issue when coming out of sleep mode, it happens while actively using the device: the signal drops even though the bars are still shown as active.

At work, we have a Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH. Unlike at home where it (the connectivity) just stops working, a window pops up every few minutes asking me what connection I'd like to use, even though it was previously connected.

There's something going on with the iPad 2 itself, not just the routers.

jmaxon wrote:

 

I have the newer, D-Link DIR-655 (with latest firmware), and I have connectivity problems with the iPad2. For me, it's not an issue when coming out of sleep mode, it happens while actively using the device: the signal drops even though the bars are still shown as active.

 

At work, we have a Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH. Unlike at home where it (the connectivity) just stops working, a window pops up every few minutes asking me what connection I'd like to use, even though it was previously connected.

 

There's something going on with the iPad 2 itself, not just the routers.

Fine, if your iPad 2 doesn't work correctly on two different networks it may very well have a hardware problem and need to be repaired or replaced. Since your iPad 2 is still under warranty I would recommend getting it replaced now.

Based on past users commenting in the forum, a new system didn't seem to help much. I thought about contacting Apple directly, but I greatly dread the hassle that's sure to follow.

Yes, it's a hassle but it still seems a better road than putting up with constant signal drops.