Poor wifi reception on new iPad

This is not a problem. If you are at the extremity of WiFi reception at a particular signal strength then, of course, wrapping your hand around the WiFi antenna will cause the signal strength indicator to drop.

JimHdk..

With all due respect, while your hypothesis is true (pretty much for any wireless device), it is not the relevant/sole cause of this problem. I first noticed this problem in my new iPad3 when I could no longer read my email from my usual location (using my iPad 1). That was when I first discovered this thread and learned that I was not the only one seeing real differences in the iPad 3 and other Apple devices...

In fact my iPad 1 has substantially better performance held in the same way in the identical location. I am unable to make it lose a connection no matter how it is held when in the same physical location..If anything, I expected the iPad3 to have better performance all-round.. but at least as good in the connectivity area...

I've read most of the posts on this thread, and if you check, you will find that there are many who are having the identical problem, some within the same room as their Airport express. There are multiple videos of this some showing a change from 3 bars to none, just by holding the iPad.

In my earlier post, I merely pointed out that it is usually difficult to demonstrate this problem if you are in a very strong signal area. BTW, I've been a licensed Ham Radio operator for 50 years, so I know a little about RF and antennas.

If your iPad wifi signal strength drops from 3 bars to none when you place your hand over the antenna then it has a hardware problem which can only be corrected by getting the iPad replaced. Contact Apple support. This is not normal.

Note that the new iPad does not have it's wifi antenna in the same place as the iPad 1. In the iPad 1 the antenna is located behind the "Apple" logo on the back of the iPad.

I watched a video on Youtube about the "death grip". I immediately tried it on my recently replaced new ipad (I brough back new ipad I purchased at launch for connectivity issues last Monday) and the same thing happened to me. I hold my hand over the lower left part of screen in landscape mode and I lose wifi capability. The new ipad will go to one bar in a matter of seconds. I will be bringing this one back immediately, there is cleary a problem.

Feel free to return it; Apple's not changing the design at this point.

Ok, now I'm confused again. Do all of the new iPads suffer from the "death grip" to some extent? If the wireless signal is strong, is the degradation from the "grip" less apparent? Do older versions of iPads also suffer from the "grip" if the signal is less than optimal?

My iPad shows up on Wednesday and I'm going to assume that it will have this issue. Further, I'm almost resigned to the fact that any replacement unit will also have the same issue.

I guess I can do some testing...will post results in this forum.

This guy probably didn't know that he needs to get far away from the router.

http://blogs.aerohive.com/blog/the-wireless-lan-architecture-blog-3/ipad-3-wi-fi -performance-analysis-transmit-power

I'm having bad problems with WIFI also. It's weak and if I turn off the iPad it will ask me to re-enter the password every time. I reset my router today and the WIFI dropping off seems to have gone but it's still weak. On my iPhone 4S the WIFI in the same room has no problem streaming 1080p from YouTube. The iPad struggles and has to buffer the video before it will play. I'm thinking about returning this is iPad but I'm not sure whether it's just a bug in IOS 5.1. :(

Check for packet loss using networkcatcher. ping a random site and see whether it comes back with any packet loss.

Test multiple routers.

If the problem is with multiple routers or public spaces, consider a return.

If the problem is just with yours, consider swapping your router for a Linksys (avoid WRT160N and WRT310N as they have a separate DNS flaw as of this writing.) or for an apple airport extreme or express. There are probably other routers that work. I like the e2000 currently.

--Sam

P.S Make sure you talk to applecare or a genius.

Im also confused.

I found this youtube video of deathgrip on iPad 2. Same problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbe2agp7tOY&feature=related

So all iPad 2 and 3 have this?

Why are not ppl complaining?

I understand that if you have a really strong network it is less apparent. However I ssume most ppl don´t have that. And since they sell so many plenty of ppl would complain.

Anybody able to find two ipad (gen 2 or 3) where only one of them has a deathgrip problem on the same network?

I'm also having WiFi issues on both of my iPad 16GB WiFi's (3rd Generation, or 'The New iPad) really weak signal compared to our iPad 2 and the connection drops every 15-20 minutes. Will be going to the Apple store to see if they can help with this issue or offer a replacement.

My issue is not to do with the death grip, that can be replicated with most devices. Mine drops off then asks me for the password for the wireless router each and every time. If i shut down the iPad or leave it idle for a while, the password must be entered again. It's annoying but I'm sure it's an IOS 5.1 issue specifically with the new iPad and the new processor. I've got an appointment tomorrow to see if I can get it swapped for another. I'll report my findings here tomorrow.

Bring your router with you. That's the only way to know for sure.

Btw, I suspect that sounds like an encryption type issue.

This looks like a dhcp issue. What router do you have?

I have the Virgin Media Superhub. I'm not to savvy with router settings so if you can help I would appreciate that. :)