Q: Poor wifi reception on new iPad

Looks like you got a good one. It's like there is some little something that happened to some components or durring assembly that causes the wifi issues. I've seen good ones as well, unfortunately I don't own one of them (yet).

Keep us posted as you test more on it.

I have and iPhone 4, a 4S, a iPad2, MB Air, Apple TV, some Windows devices etc.etc. All the "I" devices were updated to IOS 5.1 and had no issues with wifi or anything else afterwards. So if people are having the issue after the update to 5.1 on devices maybe they have borderline hardware that caused the issue when the update was applied. Not trying to argue, just trying to point out that not everyone had issues with the software and since 5.1 is 5.1 and it works on one device and not the other then something other than the software has to be the root cause. Now that being said, it is possible another update may mask the true issue and bring the affected devices back to "normal" but the root cause is still there. Slight variances in chip mfg process or some type of difference in assembly process, or similar Any way ( as stated before) I believe apple will get it sorted out, one way or the other.

DSowell

IT Eng, cert ET, 40 years in the field

Unix, Mac OS, Windows, AS400 systems, and so on

Like all of you my ipad3has very poor wifi reception.  I am currently in my hotel room and for several days, my wife has neen getting 3 bars on her IPad 2, while I have been getting 1 or none on my iPad 3.  In fact, I had to borrow her iPad 2 in order to send this reply.

I would try releasing and renewing the IP address or if you want to go for the nuclear option, resetting network settings in order to connect and see whether that fixes it.

--Sam

I'm sifting through this whole thread, and found this setting: "Ask to Join Networks".

I vaguely recall setting that to off when I configured my WiFi, and other than the "death grip", I've had zero problems.  I don't have my iPad here, but it might be worth checking...

It_caveman wrote:

You have tried the 5ghz band that most everyone uses. You only used the 2.4 ghz band.

Reminder to try different bands.  I disabled 5GHz on my router a couple of years ago, since I found 2.4GHz worked better for my router (DLINK DIR-825).

That is a really good setting to remember. The iDevices like to try to latch on to the strongest signal they see. By keeping this off it work be looking at wifi signals and just stay on the one you've connected to. This is really good if there are a lot of wifi signals in the building or area you're located in. The down side, if it's even one, is that if it can't connect to you set wifi it will (if you have it) try to use cellular data. Just something to keep in mind.

Have many people tried the "fix" of turning off "Ask to Join Networks"? Did it make any difference for more than a few minutes?

Not really a fix, just an option if you are located in an area that has many wifi signals present. I don't thinks would be a fix for anything else but will help with congestion.

Just an update, my iPad, ordered on the first day of pre-orders, engraved, 68g wi-fi only is still having NO wi-fi problems,can easily get my old router, the neighbor's router, the across the street and down local paper office, and I have a hard time holding it so it will drop signal strength of any amount.  My thoughts are return the bad ones, either get an exchange or refund and buy later.  Lots of traffic here about the problems but I doubt if most of the new iPads are having any problems, we are just too busy enjoying/using ours to post.  

maggimia wrote:

 

Just an update, my iPad, ordered on the first day of pre-orders, engraved, 68g wi-fi only is still having NO wi-fi problems,can easily get my old router, the neighbor's router, the across the street and down local paper office, and I have a hard time holding it so it will drop signal strength of any amount.  My thoughts are return the bad ones, either get an exchange or refund and buy later.  Lots of traffic here about the problems but I doubt if most of the new iPads are having any problems, we are just too busy enjoying/using ours to post.  

Maggimia,

Can you do me a favor and try the following at your convenience.  Hold the iPad in landscape mode with the home button to the left.  Grab it firmly with your palms resting on most of the edge in a position where your thumb is resting over the home button.  You should see some signal loss (some signal loss may even be actually normal). In some circumstances, I can make the iPad reach one bar or even loose wifi altogether.   Try this at varying distances from your router - 10ft, 15ft, 20ft.

Thanks.

I took my iPad 3 to the Apple store yesterday. It's been having connection issues since I got it. I also have a first generation iPad which has comparitively excellent wifi receiption.

The genius bar staff member tried connecting to various wifi networks in the store. He connected to one where he said the access point was just behind the genius bar wall. The signal showed full bars, but then almost immediately dropped to 1 bar.

He said it probably has a bad anntena, and promtpy replaced my iPad with a new one. I got it home, but this replacement iPad is still dropping the wifi signal, where as my first generation iPad has a full signal.

I will have to take it back again, and hopefully the 3rd time will be lucky, and I'll get a good one.

I think I got myself a good one, 32 GB WiFi only, white. I ran speedtest and got the same results for new one and my 'old' iPad 2, both on 5GHz-only network (30-35 down, 25 up). Range of connection is also the same, with new one doing a bit better. Couldn't reproduce death grip and any orientation impact on connectivity.

The good iPad manufacturing week is 3 (January) factory DL (China Foxconn).

Woohoo. Another good one!!!!! My turns comming!

Mine seems fine, except for "death-grip" (presumably body size, exact grip and orientation re: router are relevent):

Name: iPad 3

Group1: iPad

Group2: WiFi

Generation: 3

Machine Model: iPad3,1

Model introduced: 2012

Production year: 2012

Production week: 8 (February)

introduced test: GOED

Family name: Become a pro user to see this information. (sorry)

Screen size: 9 inch

Screen resolution: 2048x1536 pixels

Colour: Black

Capacity: 16GB

Factory: DL (China - Foxconn)