Q: Poor wifi reception on new iPad

Ok, I have the same issue with my new iPad. I have a black 32GB wifi only.

So, wifi speed is good, but I have disconnects every 10 minutes or so and to fix it as a temporary solution

I'm going to Settings -> Wifi -> switch to OFF -> then to ON again to restart the connection

Thats very annoying! I hope this is Software issue and Apple will provide a fix soon

I don't have a 4G iPad 3, only a wifi.  And I had problems with 4 different iPad 3 wifi only.

Here too.  My iPad 3 does not show the maximum wi-fi signal.  My router is an Apple Airport Extreme with the latest firmware applied.  I don't get total drops, but the signal strength is lower than my previous iPad 1 and iPad 2.  My iPhone 4S and MacBook Pro continue to get optimal signal strength.

Please Apple resolve our issues by a software/firmware update.  Thanks!

My first day traveling with my 32GB iPad 3 Wifi model. My MacBook Air shows 5 signals, including the one I am on. the iPad shows 1 weak signal, a bar shorter than the same network as it shows on my Air. When I put in the other network by name, it says it can't find it. Reboot didn't cure it. Basically, I can't use my iPad on Wifi and actually had to set up my laptop to tether to my iPad! Crazy!

My router is in the basement and my old iPad 1 can pickup the connection ( usually 2 bars)  on the second floor, while my new iPad only have 1 bar and constantly drop connection. This issue is annoying but it not a deal breaker for me. However I wish apple can fix this like what they did with the iPhone 4  

by the way I have the 32 gb wifi version

I am using a 64GB wi-fi only model and am having similar issues.  It does not have the range that my original iPad1 has.  It has not dropped the connection, but it is very slow at about 35 feet in my house.  I have a Netgear b/g/n router and my house is old so the walls are paper thin so nothing should be impeding the signal. Hopefully a firmwear update will fix it.  

I'm having this same problem.  I assumed it was my router (an older Linksys), but then I logged on my MacBook Pro, and I had 5 bars.  My iPad (the new one) was right next to it, and it kept giving me an "Unable to connect to network."  When it does work, it constantly drops.  AGGHHHHH!!

I have the iPad 2 and my Wi-Fi is actiong up also, don't know why this is. Some days I have good Wi-Fi and others I dont'. Yesterday March 20 my iPad 2 had poor Wi-Fi and than like 10minutes later my iPad went right to 3G but I use Wi-Fi in my house not 3G but I am paying for 3G but I like to use Wi-Fi when i am at Home. And when I try to find my Wi-Fi the iPad 2 cannot find it at all but my iPhone 4 can find it. This never happened when my iPad 2 was on iOS 5.0.1 but when I updated to iOS 5.1 the Wi-Fi problem started. I hope Apple fixes this problem soon

I have been having the same issues as everyone else with the WiFi on the New IPad. I have a 32GB WiFi+4G iPad 3. A solution I found that seems to have worked. Is by going to Settings > General > Reset > And click on Reset Network Settings. This has worked for me. Try it out and let me know how it works for you guys.

I a little relieved to see that it isn't just me.  I upgraded from a 1st Gen that was as solid as a rock.  The test of the connectionon my new iPad cycles constantly.  With the same infrastructure (Linksys E4200 and Comcast cable) I get a strong signal on all of my wireless devices except my new iPad.  I hope this is a software fix as I'd really hate to begin the swapping process.

This is one solution I would recommend as well, be warned that resetting the networking settings will erase all network passwords from your device. Make sure you know them.

The fix will come in form of software update.  Other 5.1 devices have wifi issues.  Doing a reset won't resolve.

Did the network reset a couple days ago. I found it helped with the dropped signal/can't connect to network issue but not with the signal's strength, which is still significantly less than my late '07 MacBook's and iPhone 4's.  I don't like it, especially after spending close to $900 on this device, but I'm thinking of trekking 1.5 hours tomorrow to get it replaced at the Apple Store. 

I'm having problems with the Wi-Fi reception on my new iPad.

The problem is not the quality of the signal in general, but rather its consistency. I use an AirPort Extreme, and wherever I am in my house with any of my Apple devices (MacBook Air, iPhone 4S, new iPad), I max my 8 Mbps connection.

However, if I am pretty far from my router with my new iPad, it will work at full speed for a while, then suddenly stop working completely for around 5 minutes, then come back at full speed after. When the connection is having problems, my iPad is still connected to the network according to the Wi-Fi icon and will show one or two bars (as opposed to three normally) but using the Speedtest.net app gave me a result of 0.1 Mbps instead of the usual 8 Mbps. All I have to do is wait around 5 minutes, without even having to move, and the Wi-Fi icon will show 3 bars at some point and that means my internet is back at its full speed.

That never, ever, happened with any of my other devices and I've had my router for years. They never drop the connection and always max it. My iPad, on the other hand, drops its connection for a couple minutes multiple times a day, and it's definitely not normal, especially since I don't even have to move to get it back to normal. It appears that the antenna (or the software behind it) is more to blame than the aluminium case blocking signal.

I was waiting to see if it was a known issue with the new iPad or if I was an isolated case who got a defective unit.

Given that some ipad 3s running 5.1 work just fine, I would think that what we're seeing here is either an edge case bug with certain routers, or a hardware problem (antennas, etc.)

Firmware can make a huge difference, but given that swapping has helped some people, I would suggest swapping it and testing the new device as previously described in this thread.

Before you swap, please reset network settings and possibly do a restore but not from backup (it is reversible.)

You should at least report the issue before your warranty period is up.

--Sam