Q: Poor wifi reception on new iPad

I just want to chime in for the first time on these forums. This iPad 3rd gen is my first iPad and apple device. This iPad has horrible issues with wifi, mainly signal drop, and strength of signal. I have my Moto Xoom right beside it, and it's lights down getting a stronger signal and never drops it.

My speed isn't anywhere near my Xoom as well. How do I determine if I should ask for a replacement. For me, and not being a typical guy that just buys apple whatever, I was hoping to utilize this as I do my Xoom, but right now, I'm not very confident with the wifi.

I too have a new range extender (Netgear) to cover the areas that my iPad does not get a signal in.  This is a good "solution" until you want to take it somewhere like a hotel.  Then we'd probably run into trouble.

You only have 14 days to return it

This is NOT just a +Wifi only model issue.  I've had my 16gb LTE unit since March 16th and I've been experiencing these problems since day 1.  I see interuptions on both my Wifi and LTE if I hold it in portrait, or even if I rest it in my lap!  Anything that uses airplay instantly starts lagging if I try to hold the ipad in portrait.  Sky Gamblers is unplayable over air play for me.  I've tried several different wireless access points on my own network.

I had issues with my wifi only iPad 3 on my Netgear. I have since switched from 5ghz to 2ghz and it's solid.

So I was able to mess with my router settings (fragmentation) as suggested by another poster and get excellent performance out of my IPAD.  That is the good news.  The bad news is that it comes at a cost.  My upload and download speeds were excellent but at cost of Ping response across my entire network getting worse for every device.

If you look at my test results in previous posts, I was getting about 1.5 times the performance out my Android phone compared to the IPAD before tweaks.  Yes I am now getting good performance but the gap of my Andriod device is still about 1.5 times better post my tweaks.  Again with expense of worse ping across my network.

Even though all my numbers are up the IPAD was still erratic and not as consistent in performance.  My Android device should not be outperforming my IPAD.

I know I am stating the obvious but there is definitely an issue with the new IPAD.  I am probably going to exchange mine tomorrow.

I was in the apple store and showed this thread. Their view was that the thread had a small number of posts RELATIVE to the volume of new iPads sold. They suggested a factory reset and/or a genius appointment . I'm unconvinced either would help. I don't want te hassle of a replacement if its no better.

That is true but it have a 1 year replacement Warranty. If it fails they have to replace it. If you have Apple Care for I it's two years. So you are good for at least a year if you exceeded your 14 days. If you bought it frome a retail chain, you may have up to 30 days to get a refund.

To be honest, while its possible it worked in your situation, it would be just mere coincidence that every wifi access point I connect to has settings wrong...which of course I don't believe.

While I might could update my home router, every other access point I connect to still shows the same issue. VERY WEAK signal, dropout, and really slow speed. Like I said, for my first apple device...it's not the experience I was hoping for.

And I didn't realize we had such few days to return. I ordered mine online..I just assumed it had a 30 day no questions asked policy and at least a 1 yr manufactures warranty with any hardware issues. If its a software fix, I would have thought Apple would have been on this already.

It has one year factory warranty. The return for refund depends on where you bought it. See previous post for details.

I too have the same problem. I bought my iPad 3 (wifi only) on March 16. After a few days i noticed that the reception strength dropped to one bar, and would occasionally lose the signal. I checked my new apple tv, and it should excellent strength, as well as my android phone. All three devices are less than 15 feet away from my router. Yet the iPad wifi strength would jump from 3 to 1 bars. Also, I noticed that my apple tv and android phone picked up 8 to 10 different wifi signals to join; my iPad only 3 or 4.

I returned my iPad to the apple store in Toronto and am not pleased with the customer service.

I was demonstrating the problem to an apple employee and the signal dropped to 1 bar, right in their store with their wiifi set up. They took it in the back and 15 minutes later told me they could not duplicate the problem therefore could not replace it. They said that I should shut it down more frequently and close down programs not in use. Yeah right, like that's the problem.

They said they could not replace it. Offered me no options.  Then i said that I was within my two weeks and am I not entitled to a refund. The employee responded "yes that's your prerogative". **** arrogance. Are you kidding me - that's your perogative. Hey apple a return policy is not a perogative.

So I left, came back after a few minutes spoke with another employee. She accepted the return and offered me another iPad, which is what should have been done in the first place.

Well, my new iPad has EXACTLY the same problem. I will be returning this one for a refund.

Joe TO wrote:

 

Well, my new iPad has EXACTLY the same problem. I will be returning this one for a refund.

You clearly do not know how to play the game.  It's now more than fourteen days and you are no longer entitled to a refund.  You should have accepted the original refund and, minutes later, made a new purchase.  That would have started a new fourteen-day timer.

I have an iPad 3rd gen, 16 gb wifi only. With all the wifi problems I wanted to go ahead and check my speeds. I had been having intermittent connection problems at school, but that may just be a result of a terrible service provider. Anyway, now that i am home for the holidays, I connected both my iPad and my 4s to the same network, and placed them both right next to me.

Ping for both of them is between 14-17 ms. Download speed for the 4s averages around 9 Mbps (last test was 8.70 Mbps). Meanwhile, my iPad averages around 7 Mbps (last test was about 6 Mbps, but I have had tests range from 5-11).

Is this normal? I don't know much about the internals of either devices and how they are supposed to perform. I assumed the iPad would and should outperform the iPhone.

I am on a cable network, and from the same spot, my mac and windows computers easily hit 30 Mbps. Should I be concerned/be making an appointment? I'm not necessarily picky, but after paying 500 dollars, I want my device to work correctly. Any help would be appreciated, thanks guys.

I guess my post was not clear. The first employee did not offer me anything, not even a refund. The second employee offered a refund or exchange. The second employee refunded my original purchase, replaced the iPad and provided me with a new receipt. So, yes I will be getting a refund.

Joe TO wrote:

 

...and provided me with a new receipt.

Yes, that's what you need.