Q: Poor wifi reception on new iPad

The thing is that most people are reporting bandwidth degradation, but they are bandwidth degradations that don't actually matter for everyday activities in some cases. So I would suggest turning off cellular data. Connecting to wifi using the normal procedure. Does the connection stay? Walk around your house? Does it still stay? Can you surf the web? Stream video? Then you're done.

With these high speed connections, shaving a few mbps is no big deal because 6-10mbps is suitable for everyday activities. There are DSL lines that are 3-4mpbs. I share my internet connection with an entire building, and most of the time have no trouble.

Note: I am not saying that some people do not have a problem. I am just saying that the anecdotal tests are sometimes more important. I do run speed tests for end users that are concerned. There was a post earlier that said that the speed test app might have made things worse, which is unlikely, but who knows.

If the connection is dropping, it's a problem with DHCP release and renew. (esp. if you have to reboot the ipad to get the connection back.)

Routers that are dual-band may need to be seperated into two separate networks or limited to only one band.

I had the same problem with poor wifi with my IPad 3. I went through the normal fixes including full restore with no improvement. Talked to Logan @ Apple and he said the Apple did not think this was problem and DID NOT HAVE PLANS TO ISSUE A FIX. I am returning mine and getting my money back. $700 is too much to pay for something that does not work. Unless this hurts their sales, they will not fix it. Bye bye Apple!

I am also having the same issue with my iPad 3 that I ordered on the first day it was available, my macbook pro and iPad 2 do not have connection issues adn will show full strength but the iPad 3 registers only one bar and an intermittent connetction I am about to return my device unless Apple gets a FIX soon!

I've had in my possession in the past 2 weeks an iPad 1, 2 iPad 2s, and my current iPad 3 - and compared the wi-fi signal strength between them and my 2 laptops, iPd touch, and 2 mac desktops - and they were all the same.

I use a new Airport Extreme in my home so that helps, but I found no difference between the devices.  You simply have  adefective unit, but from others I know who own an iPad 3, they do not have this issue so I do not believe it is a general, widespread problem.

" I do not believe it is a general, widespread problem."

Im not sure any of us know how widespread it is. It is a problem for many of us.

It sure is for me as you can see in this video

http://youtu.be/cyPh_ZkohBc

Apple have arranged an exchange, no questions asked

Ta

As you can see by my video its a total loss of signal not bandwidth degradation in my case

http://youtu.be/cyPh_ZkohBc

Also spare a thought for those of us in rural Australia on DSL where 3MBPS would be a dream come true.

I get 1.5 MBPS on a good day so cant afford to drop much of that.

Would really be nice to have a statement from Apple that tells us what the problem is and how users experiencing it should proceed. All these returns must be costing them a fortune.

I agree that It would surely cost them a fortune, but you can't make billions of dollars without spending a little bit and giving satisfaction to the people who brought you to the top and that is your CUSTOMERS without paying for it sooner or later.

How do I test streaming video?

I have tried youtube, and the buffering stops sometimes.

Also I have been trying a ping app called  Shunra NetworkCatcher Express.

I get high packet loss ~11% against google.com when full reception to the network. Compared to my pc that never seems to lose any packets. (pc tested through cmd.exe).

No, I am sympathetic to those that find this problematic. One bar is not right. Again, I would check the encryption type and the mode of the router. I would even try swapping the router. I would try contacting your router tech support.

I am aware that this a problem for many of you, and will continue to help you as best I can.

I think that if Logan seriously told you that Apple did not regard this as a problem, he either misunderstood you and it's bad customer service. Apple can't issue a bug fix, because it's not clear what the bug is. My friend bought a ipad "new" wi-fi. It did have trouble connecting to the router we installed for him, but it had trouble connecting to the ipad 2 too. We gave it to him because he didn't have any iOS devices. For the record, his android based nook couldn't connect to that router either (which was a black netgear N, probably wnr1000 or 2000, I do not remember precisely.)

We swapped it out with a E2000 and no problems since. (Linksys makes that router.) It can connect at full signal strength.

Hi. You have already tested it. Packet loss isn't normal. 11% is atrocious. Does it happen over 3G/4G? I doubt it, but just want to check.

Latency is really hard to solve.

What router do you have? do you have any switches, repeaters? (including the airport express in extender mode)

I am concerned for those of you that have packet loss. That really is a sign that there is something wrong, and it is measurable, and a perfect thing to show apple.

Does it happen with other routers outside your house? Or just the one you are connected to?

Could those of you not having problems run a test with NetworkCatcher and make sure there is no packet loss on your end? Again, I doubt it, but I'm just checking.

--Sam

P.S Mode can cause all kinds of weird issues. So can encryption type. Make sure mode is set to N or G only depending on router. (if you can do it) what you don't want is "rangemax" mode, or proprietary additions to the standard that supposedly extend range. Encryption type once again should be (TKIP+AES) for maximum flexibility although I have been experimenting with AES only lately with OK results so far.

I have wifi only on my iPad.

100 mbit broadband connection into a cheap d-link router with dd-wrt firmware. iPad gets 25mbit up and down (if i stand close to router and don´t deathgrip. Never had any problems with the router to HP laptop.

The laptop doesnt even lose any packets to google.com if i unscrew the router antenna. If i do that then the iPad starts losing 0.6% packets to the router itself.

Im going to test it at another network now.

No problems here iPad 3rd gen 4g wifi using airport extreme with a coupe of airport express thru out my home

my battery was getting a little warm but after I let the battery drain all the way down and did a fresh overnight charge it is a lot better barely gets warm.this is my 3rd iPad

Just a btw guys - i tried the deathgrip today on my ipad 2 and it gave the same wifi loss as many of you guys claim...speed wise i can't guarantee and must test it more thoroughly...

So far, being in Hong Kong i have tested many ipad 3s with death grip and not many of them have a massive failure in signal strength.

I tested the packet loss at a new network (ADSL internet with d-link router). Zero packet loss!

Thats nice, however I can kill it entierly with deathgrip from full signal.

Meetoobaa.. and others..

I've tried 5 iPad3s so far.. (from stores in two different states) you WILL NOT see this problem standing on top of your router (or usually in the middle of an Apple store) since the signal is so strong there.. you need to test it near the edge of your WiFi "bubble", when you are down to 2 bars or less. This is where the problem will manifest itself, if you have an affected unit.

Just to rule out all the discussions/advice about this being caused by home router setups, go to a Starbucks, Barnes & Noble or any other Commercial hotspot (like AT&T, etc.) and try the "death grip"  (hold horizontally on lower half, with Home button on left.)  It really doesnt need to be a "death" grip, just a relaxed hand is generally sufficient, like you might use while reading in your lap, etc.  Also, same advice applies.. dont do it in the middle of the store.. just nearby, but "in range"..

I suspect that a lot of the 5MM new iPad owners may not have a reference to campare with, so may not realize there is even a problem...