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The new iPad constantly losing cellular data connnection

My new iPad (3rd gen), 4G (AT&T) cannot seem to maintain a cellular data connection. The AT&T signal meter is still there (and shows 3 bars), but the "4G" disappears, and I get a "could not activate the cellular data network" error. I know it's not my location because it happens both at work and at home, and because my iPhone 4S and 1st gen iPad don't have the problem. I have already toggled cellular data on and off, restarted the iPad, reset network settings, and restarted again. No luck. Each time I restart, the connection works for about 30 seconds, and I can check my email, but then it immediately goes out again. Has anyone else had this problem?

iPad, iOS 5.1

Posted on Mar 19, 2012 1:50 PM

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606 replies

Apr 11, 2012 12:19 PM in response to Keisari

Hi again,

other information from Italy. Today due to good quality of mobile network in the work place my Ipad has maintained for all day the 3G connection with TIM Carriers and no problems happened. When i returned to home the 3G signal was poor and the device switched to EDGE network. When Ipad has switched again on 3G network the device stopped to work in Internet.

Rebooting the Device it started to work again.

Apr 11, 2012 12:55 PM in response to Skip Dodson

Take a look at these stats


For the fleeting moments that my iPad was able to hold a connection, below are my connection results:


New iPad - AT&T 64GB - SPEEDTEST.NET Results - Ping 123 ms Download 3.91 Mbps Upload 1.51 Mbps - Location Cherry Hills, CO April 5th, 1:13pm



A colleague of mine ran a similar test on both his new iPad and his 2nd generation device and posted the following results:


New iPad - Verizon 64GB - SPEEDTEST.NET Results - Ping 48 ms Download 18.56 Mbps Upload 12.5 Mbps - Location Vernon Hills, IL April 5th, 12:35pm


iPad 2nd Generation - Verizon 64GB - SPEEDTEST.NET Results- Ping 299 ms Download 2.18 Mbps Upload 0.26 Mbps - Location Vernon Hills, IL April 5th, 12:35pm


I decided to order a new unit as continually resetting the network settings provided less than a minute of connection before the signal was dropped. AT&T suggested contacting Apple to trouble shoot the problem. The issue appears not to be carrier specific at this point. I would be very interested in hearing what is interferring with sustaning a data connection despite the existance of a strong signal.

Apr 11, 2012 12:57 PM in response to scholarwilliams

Apparently Rogers still has to sort some things out on the LTE network where I live and they also said that the manual switching to LTE may be because of the Rogers plans and the still new technology waiting for bugs to be sorted out. Apparently the plans haven't been set up properly to gain full LTE access. Anyone else heard of their provider saying something similar?

Apr 11, 2012 1:08 PM in response to scholarwilliams

I have the same issue with my iPad 3 in Switzerland on Swisscom. Using different SIMs, numbers or carriers didn't help.


Same SIMs work perfectly in other devices. My iPad 3 issue was also experienced during my Easter trip in France. Regularly lost cellular connection on roaming with Orange or SFR. Never had issue when connected over WiFi (eg. Hotel).


I am convinced it is a HW or SW issue with the new iPad 3. Looking at all the posts I don't feel confident that Apple gives this problem the right level of attention.


Apple: pls start to communicate and resolve on that issue in a professional way. We are not in Prod Dev phase where hiding might be the right strategy.

Apr 11, 2012 6:49 PM in response to scholarwilliams

My new Ipad did the same thing here in Oklahoma City, USA. Once I did a reboot however, the AT&T LTE signal showed up again and all was good. I toggled back and forth between WiFi and Cell, with no issues. Put it to sleep, woke it up, and no issues. At this point I'm thinking just a sporadic issue that a reboot possibly(?) cures. On another note, I bought a new ipad a week ago, and then a second one for the wife yesterday. I am using the same log-in information on both ipads, and can use the data plan. I've seen nothing to say I shouldn't be able to do this, and because I don't use much data (less than 50 Mb/month is gonna be my guess) I don't see a need to support (2) 250 Mb plans. Has anyone else done this?

Apr 11, 2012 9:18 PM in response to owen-b

Apple just offered me a replacement iPad if I take it in this weekend, and if trying a new sim card doesn't work. I doubt a sim card will make any difference as this problem is clearly a worldwide issue - are the worlds sim cards suddenly all error prone? - and I'm thinking a replacement iPad won't solve it either...



Owen-b : please post and let us know if the replacement iPad solves the issue or not. We all like to know if this is hardware or software problem.

Apr 11, 2012 9:34 PM in response to jodyfanning

jodyfanning

Looks like there are two slightly different problems (maybe related).


In the rest of the world we can't get 3G to work at all after using WiFi without a reboot. And in the US there seems to be some more limited problem with LTE. Of course the rest of us don't have LTE to switch off at all.



Good observation jodyfanning. This seems to be the exact issue people are having. I'm in Canada on Rogers LTE/3G.

My issues is weaker 3G connectivity when radio switches from LTE.

Apr 12, 2012 10:28 AM in response to scholarwilliams

Hi, guys! Same problems in Moscow, Russia! It was a hard deal to change ipad- they are not oficially presented in Russia yet( the seller tried to repair it at official apple service- but they denied even to have a look at it- again because it is not presented in Russia. After that seller although change it to other ipad from USA- same problem!(( So i sold second ipad to my friend and after bought third from Korea.... But again 3g drops!!!((( but- yesterday i read some post on russian ipad forum- one guy had same problems, he called to carrier Megafon and they ran an update program for 3g for his number- and problem was solved! So todays morning i called to Megafon- they perform an update and asked to turn the device on- off to re-register in cell. So more than 6 hours problem is not observed... But i feel it early to be happy... But there is hope))

The new iPad constantly losing cellular data connnection

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