Q: Poor wifi reception on new iPad

I'm having the same trouble. I received my iPad on 3-16. What are my options in terms of returning it? This is ridiculous!

I have a new ipad2 running 5.1 and it continually drops the wifi connection. None of the other components on my home network - OSx, windows7, ics have the problem, only the ipad2 running 5.1. I'm not likely to buy that it's a router problem.

What do you mean what are your options?  Take it back to an Apple store if you bought it from Apple and either exchange it or get your money back. It is that simple.

I'm hoping there'll be a software update to fix. It's not debilitating to me, just annoying. I'd be interested to know if it's the recent 5.1 update or if it predates that.

Let me see if i understand what you are trying to say.  Do you have a new ipad or an ipad 2?  Because the ipad 2 has been out now for a year and 99.999% of owners have had no problems with the ipad 2 wifi connectivity.

With the "new ipad", some people are saying that they have problems with wifi.  I have written here that some routers do not work well with the new ipad, and I have given ideas on how to fix them, like I did myself.  Upgradiing the firmware, drivers and software of my router from the router manufacturer web page, not from Apple.

If you are unable or do not want to do that, then nobody can help you and just take it back and spend your money on a nice suit, whatever...

Since you already said that you won't buy that it is a router problem, how can you troubleshoot it when you already made up your mind?  My new ipad would not connect untill I did what I wrote above.

My new HP laptop will not, again, will not connect to a wireless b signal regardless how close I am to the router.  Decide and tell us which one of the ipads is the one you are talking about.

I am a long standing Apple user, I had an iPad 1 and was looking forward to improved performance and a better screen with the new iPad. I received mine last week and what a complete piece of rubbish (garbage) it is. Yes it has a better screen, and with the new processor and bigger ram, it is much quicker, if you don't loose the wifi connection by holding it 'incorrectly' (landscape button left) that is.

You would have thought that Apple would have learned something after the iPhone 4 fiasco but it seems they have not. I returned mine today for a new one at the Apple Store. I have to say that I wasn't really expecting it to work properly because this seems like a design or manufacturing issue. The new one is just the same so it's being returned.

What a shame that Apple have designed something which has such a beautiful form but which is not backed up by substance!

Don't you think that if it was a software problem that every iPad that's running IOS 5.1 would be having the same issue? There aren't, just seems like random batches for some reason and some of the ones that exchanged them got good ones (I was not one of them). Take it back and exchange it or get a refund and try again in30 days (that's what I decided to do since I am not lucky or I'm jinxed, one or the other).

Guess I got lucky.  Got mine on 3/16 via FedEx and have not had any drops.  Signal strengh is on line with my iPad 2 as well.  Using Airport Extreme Router in basement and Airport Express on first floor.  Even unplugging the express I would getting a bad signal in bedroom with ipad 2 and laptop.  iPad 3 is connecting and seems good.

Well, Alaska, my initial post includes the info that I have a new ipad2 (two).

What's more, Alaska - all those iPad2's may not have been dropping the signal, but none of them were running 5.1 until, what, 7-8 days ago?

For what it's worth my old iP2 is still blazing away. I only had problems with the iP3. All my both wifi equipment is fine as well. Like all things, stuff happens, maybe you got a bad iP2. Have you had a chance to try it anywhere but your home network?

I haven't tried it anywhere but home. Maybe I'll check that out. Anyway, it's an annoyance only. My initial post said "continually," but "occasionally" is probably closer to what's happening. Thanks for the idea, Caveman. 

Of course, but nobody has complained about the ipad 1 or 2 having problems with 5.1 until the so-called problems with the new ipad started.

I have an ipad 2 and mine is working like always.  So, many of these comments, I guarantee you, are from people that have never owned an ipad.

Why would someone go to those extremes?  I don't really know.  Maybe they are related to that virus that has gone around for ten years saying that this year is the year of the linux desktop.  Maybe is a spreadable illness.  Since Android tablets cannot dent apple's armor, they try every way possible to discredit their products.

That's an interesting theory, Alaska. Have you updated your 2 to 5.1? I like the machine otherwise. Safari is really fast on it. 

Yes, I updated my 2 the day it came out.