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Poor wifi reception on new iPad

I am in a hotel with my laptop and new ipad3. The laptop wifi reception is as strong as it gets, but the iPad only registers a weak signal. Anyone else having similar problems? Any suggestions?

iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi, iOS 5.1

Posted on Mar 17, 2012 7:33 PM

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1,477 replies

Mar 22, 2012 5:10 AM in response to ihaveworms

You should only be connecting at either 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz, not both, if that makes sense. Can you clarify what your settings are. Mode, encryption type. Router manufacturer and model.


Btw, if you find that you can connect to unsecured network at normal speeds, this points to the encryption type. See whether you can log into it as an other network, and specify the encryption type. (Your school or other administrator should know it.)

Mar 22, 2012 5:20 AM in response to Sam Katz1

in my case the only way to goose it into a solid wifi connection is to toggle wifi on and off. it's a temporary fix at best; signal lock gets flaky in short order. this is connecting at 2.4ghz b/g compatible on an original (single band) 1TB TC with wpa2 encryption.


oddly, playing with it this morning a little more it seems to be holding a more steady signal lock on my ASUS RTN56U dual band router (love that thing) located on the other end of the house and upstairs from the TC. the ASUS is also 2.4ghz 802.11g with wpa2 encryption... same exact network settings as the TC.

Mar 22, 2012 5:52 AM in response to stlsteve

For some reason my ipad is randomly refusing to connect to wifi. This is occuring at home and at work but seems particularly bad on security enabled networks with zero success connecting to them. Here are the symptoms...


1) Wifi is on

2) router is reset and accepting connections from multiple devices (including iphone etc)

3) IPad sees networks with full strength

4) Try to connect to network

5) conection shows trying (spinning circle)

6) ipad connects sometimes for about half a second then starts the spin again

7) connection attempt doesn't timeout but keeps on trying

8) connectivity bar shows full strength the whole time


Troubleshooting methodology...

1) reset wifi router

2) made sure WMM was enabled properly

3) checked credentials

4) reset network connections

5) rebooted device

6) turned on and off wifi

7) tried on non-security enabled wifi


Am I missing any steps others have used to get this working until it is fixed by Apple? Any help is appreciated!

Mar 22, 2012 6:58 AM in response to Sam Katz1

I mean I have 2 SSIDs. An SSID for 5Ghz, running 802.1n which is running from an airport extream. My iMac and iPad1 work fine in my study using that, my new iPad can't maintain a connection. I also have 2.4Ghz 802.1n on a different SSID, running from the router my ISP gave me, it's a thompson box I think (I can check this evening). Again, in my study, my iPhone 4 has no trouble connecting, while my new iPad has a terrible connection.


Note that the RF space for the 2.4Ghz is conjested, I'm in an appartment block in the centre of london and see around 20 SSID when I look, all on 2.4Ghz when I last checked. The 5Ghz space is empty. However, the conjestion does not explain why:

  • iPhone 4 works fine and the iPad doesn't
  • Why the iPad1 and iMac connect to the 5Ghz SSID and my new iPad doesn't.

Mar 22, 2012 7:05 AM in response to stlsteve

I too am seeing poor wifi strength on my new ipad 16GB Wifi model. I am using a first generation Airport Extreme base station with the lastest firmware set to 802.11n (b/g compatible).


I originally had a iPad 1st gen and would most often use it in my living room (on the same floor as my router) with perfect wifi reception. My new iPad drops connection and routinely shows 1 bar in the same spot, only 40 feet from my base station. My MBA get full bars in the same spot and maintains connection flawlessly. Same with my fiance's MBP.


I did a complete restore and set up the new iPad as a new device and that did nothing to resolve the issue. The kicker is that it works great in my bedroom, which is another floor up and farther away from the router than my living room.


The only solution I found was to switch the router to broadcast 802.11n only (2.4 Ghz mode) and the problem went away. Unfortunately this is not a viable option since my PS3 which is also on my wifi network needs a b/g compatible connection.


I would really like some word on whether a software update is immenient or whether I should take it back and get a replacement to see if that fairs any better.

Poor wifi reception on new iPad

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