Q: Poor wifi reception on new iPad

Adding my reply just to help document this problem is real.  I purchased a new iPad primarily in hopes of better WiFi performance over the iPad II.  Unfortunately spotty and dropped connection experience with new IPad is significantly worse than iPad II (compared side by side).  Orientation does not seem to really have that much effect.  Both are 64G,  iPad II is Verizon.  New one is ATT.  Both iPads WiFi performance is well below all other WiFi devices I own.  Love the iPad, but agree with others who have expressed surprise that Apple couldn't get this right in a 3rd gen product, especially for a feature that is so fundamental to the device's value.

Plan to return new one for exchange, but don't really expect it will help.  Will return for refund if no solution emerges before the 14 day return policy expires.

One thing I do notice is the reception fan usually (but only temporarily) jumps a notch when I remove or attach the cover.  Could Apple be throttling the radio to conserve battery?  if that's what's happening I'd sure like the option to make my own trade off decisions.  It never stays at 3 bars for more than a min or two...in fact I'm sitting 4 feet from my access point right now, with only 2 bars showing.

Just returned mine, 64g, ATT wifi/4G, without bothering with to exchange. I live 1.5 hrs from the nearest Apple Store in Tampa and would've been crestfallen to arrive back home and find the same problem(s) all over again. Decided to take It_caveman's advice and ride out an uncomfortable iPad-less period while Apple (hopefully) irons out its kinks.

And I was one of the early posters- who went to the store, and bought one, then tested another three, then finally left the store returning my iPad 3.  But I am on my way to The Grove in Los Angeles, where they have iPad 3 wifi's in stock.  I'm going to give it a try.  If it's a lottery, perhaps I'll get one w/o a wifi issue!

Many, many have this.

You are welcome to your opinion. I had the original, then it's  mailed in replacement then two from  the store. The posts here more than confirm the issue. As I'm not the only one that's multiple bad devices.  The the form the store had color issues the the other two didn't. I only stated the facts that I have experienced and the fact that I have 40 years in the IT field to back my thoughts. I was there when SJ got the Next computer and have worked on more Apples, Macs, PC's etc than iI care to remember as it shows my age. Plus I did the trouble shooting to back my diagnosis. But it's a free country think what you like.

As stated after 4 I took the refund and will go back in 30 days and try again. I get a good before long. And maybe you were lucky and I and many others weren't, who's to say at tis point but I can you one thing for certaind, I Do Not Lie.

Lastly, I did not call you anything, much less a fanboy, nothing more or less. I did state that I was not as I owned multiple devices that run Windows, Linux and OSX as well and like all of them.

Anyways, no ill will intended on my part and I wish you well with you ip3.

I had a wifi dropout problem with the original I ordered on launch day.  Exchanged it today at Apple store.  This one seems to be trouble free and working fine. 

I have the same problem. I am at a distance from my wifi signal and my IPad 1 gets a consistent 1 bar signal, while my New IPad gets none. Once in a while my New IPad will pick up the wifi sitting right beside my IPad 1 but soon drops the signal. Will there be a fix for this? Maybe I'll have to boost my wifi signal. How do I do that? Thanks...

Full bars on wi-fi signal, but keeps dropping the signal and is so slow when it is working. 3G wayyyy faster... I say 3G because I'm apparently not in the vast Verizon 4G network.  Can someone help? I have reset the network, reloaded the network, etc...

You know, some people must be always the unlucky ones.  Do you get a lot DOA's electronics, stereos quit working on you, LCD TV blows out?

My new ipad connected to my wifi right away and has not ever dropped it.  I guess I can call myself lucky, or sane, or an actual owner of a new ipad...which one buddy?

PS:  One caveat on this.  You better have a very recent -N wireless router, with the new standards.  Not the routers that came out before the -N standards were ratified.  If you have one of those, do a firmware and software update from the manufacturer.

If its not working return it and they'll give you another. Not much else you can do if all your other wifi devices connect ok.

The PS from Alaska99801 is spot on. You needed to make sure you have all current firmware updates complet on you router and don't expect top results from an old B/G router regardless.

Before I updated my router I was not connecting. Then I realized that my router was one of those -N before the wole standard was ratified and I had never done any upgrades.

It worked fine with my ipad 1, ipad 2.  It seems that the Broadcom wifi unit/antenna, is very finicky about updated firmware, etc.

And you are also right, old routers b and g's will have trouble loggin in.  But that is not just an ipad problem.  I bought a new HP laptop and it cannot connect to any wireless b router even though everyone advertises their electronics as b,g,n compatible.

I am enjoying my new ipad, especially the Medusa display!

You lucky dog. I'll get a good one before to long. In the meantime I'll keep using mt ip2. Cheers!

iPad 2 and 6 other I devices having no trouble. Just the ipad3. What gives? Any suggestions? You all think it could be a router problem still?

Not likely but check your router for firmware updates and if that doesn't work return for a replacement and try again .....