Poor wifi reception on new iPad

Thanks. I will watch with considerable concern. Getting a replacement here in UK will not be so easy, if that becomes necessary. And how do I know the next one will not have the same problem.
So getting to the bottom of the problem so that we know exactly what causes it and what the solution is will be a great relief. As it is, the problem may come back tomorrow. Who knows!
Regrds,

Buks.

I spoke to Apple Support today to arrange return of my second defective iPad 3 and they actually admitted to there being a known problem. So for any of you that say there isn't one, then you may be lucky, but Apple say there is.

They said the following:

• Yes, there is a known issue with wifi reception if you hold the iPad landscape with button left
• They are working on a fix
• It is a software fix
• I would have to wait a while before the courier contacted me to arrange collection as there is a big backlog due to iPad returns because of this issue.

Anyway, I somehow doubt that software would fix what looks like a hardware issue, they may be able to smooth over the cracks, like with the iPhone 4, but I'm not holding my breath!

I had the same issue but after some tweaking I have fixed my problems.

I went into my router and changed the security settings to WPA2-PSK[AES] and now my new iPad is running like a tiger. My previous settings were WPA-PSK[TKIP]+WPA2-PSK[AES].

Try that it may solve your problems.

I still have hopes about the problem being software related as watching the photos from ifixit taking apart a new iPad, there is no antenna at the place where touching makes the issue more relevant. Just the speaker and of course the display are there.

Does it the make sense to anyone that if you do a "death grip" you might be blocking the antenna or pushing it somehow? Then do not do the "death grip".

I do not have a problem with mine anywhere. But my laptop, a new HP, and my wife's ipad 2 will not connect to my in-laws old wireless b router, so do I assume it is the devices that are faulty or the router?

I called Cox cable that supplies them internet, and the tech told me that wireless b is having problem with new devices even if laptop says that it supports it. he could not fix my problems and recommend it that I buy them a new cheap -N router, which I did for $25.00. That is better than going back and forth returning perfectly working ipads.

Moral of the story, get a new router if you are using a wireless b or g, and I bet most problems will go away. Update all your firmware, drivers, and software. And try not to do the "DEATH GRIP".

Last thing, if your router is -N type that you bought before the -N guidelines were ratified, and there are many of those, those might not work with the new ipad without firmware, drivers, and software upgrade.

I did not have problems anywhere else but my home internet on my iPad was slow. Though my download speeds at my home internet is around 35mbps but I was getting less than 1mbps on my iPad. My laptop as well as my phone were getting full speed so I knew the problem was with my new iPad. Therefore I changed my router settings and it worked.

Define what is hot to you at 100% brightness (which I find incredible hard on my eyes and anyone I have shown it), but ok, and playing demanding games?

Because the term hot/warm is very subjective. My wife can eat food much hotter than I can, so what does that mean? Nothing!

I have done same tests and I get mine warm. Although if I use my Galaxy Tab while plugin and charging, it gets much hotter than my new ipad doing the tests above. So go figure! Did you hear of a "heatgate" regarding the Samsung tablets?

I agree with you. Change router settings it is working, like security settings to WPA2-PSK[AES], seem to be what this wireless chip from Broadcom likes.

OK back from Apple Store and promised to update my issue. My ipad was tested at different points in the store while downloading a youtube video. It was found to have weak signal so I was able to exchange for a new one!

They tested the new one with the same video and it had no trouble so I decided to take it home. I'm now able to go all the way to the end of my back yard about 100 feet from router and still have a good signal, where with the other one even 20 feet was a problem. The employee confirmed that Apple engineers are working on a fix and it is a known issue. They told me they don't think it's the hardware because its the same modem found in the iphone 4s.

If the problem is software, then that suggests that the ipads that "work" have different software from the ipads that "don't work." I'm having trouble processing that unless there is some patching going on in the background. Otherwise, it would seem to me that everyone is getting the same software, but something in the design or manufacturing process is creating different [unintended] versions of the hardware.

If it is software why do some iPads work in others don't? I also exchanged iPads, and the first four didnt work and fifth did. Would that not make it a hardware problem?

tbbaot

What about the "death grip" on the new vs the old one?

If the antenna is under my hand when I do the death grip, then maybe it makes sense the signal goes down.

Still weird that a handheld device becomes useless when you hold it.

Could be a hit and miss hardware problem that can be overcome with a software fix.

Maybe a driver update.

Heathclif

Can you do the death grip on the fifth?

Same here. If it was IOS 5.1 then logically every iDevice that was running it would be having a problem. I still think its an assembly or quality problem in random devices, hardware.