Q: The new iPad constantly losing cellular data connnection

I had the exact same problem. Here is how I apportion the blame:

Apple: Why do you show me a 3G signal when there isn't one?

Singtel: Why do you charge me for 3G service when there isn't any?

IDA: Why aren't you regulating Singtel?

My last experience with my new ipad3 cellular connection 3G shows: It is further unstable. After updating to 5.1.1 the situation gets better, but after abaut 10 hours the connection still gets lost despite there is enough signal, ipad not moved,  WLAN deactivated. Is this quality? (provider germany fonic/o2)

Hi,

For this case I do not think it is the coverage issue, as my iPhone 4G with SingTel as well has the full signal, but the iPad just going in loop for every few mins.  I do not know whether it is the SIM card or the iPad problem.  Looking at all the issue here, it should be the Apple issue.

I'm on the "5.1.1 is better, but not great"-train.  I would have just thought it was a carrier only issue if we all just started with 5.1.1.  And perhaps, now, it is all up to the carriers...I'm glad not to have to reboot all the time, but I'd like to see service as fluid as on my two iPhones.

I copied and pasted the last post before my trip to Puerto Rico (look below) to give people who were and still having this problem an idea of my problem. Contrary to some people who before the 5.1.1 update got their iPads to partially work with replacing sim cards or doing the pin # trick, mine never worked. Wi-Fi was the only thing working on mine. When Apple released the update I went to one of my family member’s house to use the Wi-Fi so I can run it. So far, so good; the update seemed to “fix” it. I will keep an eye on it and will constantly monitor the unit when it is in the “extended” areas. Like many of you I still can’t believe how Apple handled this, completely unprofessional!! Why didn’t they admit their mistake? Yes, they were thousands of units working from day 1, but they were also many of them that were not. I wonder how many others didn’t know they were having the problem. If it wasn’t because I had to go for my chemotherapy, which is 2 hours from home and I was in the “extended” area, I wouldn’t know about it. I hold on to it because by then I was out of the 14 days to return/exchange period. If they just simply said that they are working on an update that will take care of the problem, I would of be ok with that. Instead, here we all are trying to figure this out by ourselves! That is not how you treat your loyal customers, and it is going to be a while for me to buy another Apple product again!

Well guys I have tried every single solution that all of you have posted without results. Called Apple and talked to a tech who advised me to do a restore even though I told her that this is my first iPad so there was no back up from a previous one; that didn't work of course. Called again a week after and was passed to a senior tech and went through all settings with no results. He connected me with someone from Verizon to see if they can diagnose the problem. I know what is the problem, The iPad!!! Even the carrier update from iTunes didn't work. Wi-Fi works like a charm and 3G works as long as I stay in my "home" area (about 45 miles radius). Once I am in "extended" area my service goes to hëll. It sücks that I've been paying for a service that I haven't been able to use when I am not at home and it is not Verizon fault. I sold my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 4G/LTE which worked perfectly no matter where I go, to buy the new iPad. I'm not regretting getting the iPad, I actually love it, but it would off be nice to have something that worked from day one. I'll be out of state in a week and a half and I am pretty sure that the cellular data connection won't be working at all. I will have to find places with WiFi so I can use it. I'll be traveling light and won't be taking my laptop. This is very frustrating!!!

Guess what!

The problem came back this morning, and so bad this time that even the complete power down and back up didn't solve it. I finally ended up putting my Three data sim back in and we are back on 3G.

I am on my second device and my second DLXH serial number, so it looks like its back to Apple again for another device

Hey ho

As you know I change the IPAD in Best Buy updated the OS, The new one works perfect for 3 weeks. This sunday the 20th went to US and switch to 4g (at&t) with no problems, when change again to 3g start loosing signal, well 2 days after, loosing all conectivity from 3g or 4g or edge.

IT *****....

STILL THE PROBLEM.

Hi.

This could be an ipad problem, but is much more likely the sim card at&t installed for you.

This is the variable that changed (as well as the antennas and frequencies perhaps.)

Take it back to AT&T and ask for help.

Try this first though:

1. Hold down the home and sleep-wake button simultaneously until you see the apple logo.

If this doesn't fix it, go to General-->Reset-->reset network settings (this will lose wifi passwords.) but if you haven't done it, since going stateside it is worth doing.

--Sam

Oops! Own goal number one for me. It turns out that GiffGaff (pseudo O2 in the uk) had an outage last Wednesday morning at exactly the time I was kicking off about my iPad. So it's no wonder that even a complete power cycle didn't resolve it.

So, my friends at GiffGaff, are going to get a little note. They are a small network operation, and as a result do not have the resilience when it all goes wrong. Some say it's not their fault, others rant and rave. Let's face it, if you are paying a pittance for your data (£7.50 for 1GB month on payg with no contract), then you are not going to get the bells and whistles you get with the bigger operations.

Three on the other hand appear to have got their act together, so I think I am going to stay with them. The downside is that because they only use 3G cells, you will never know if the problem still exists with the 2G/3G handoff. But given the comments on this forum, I personally believe that Apple have now sorted that issue. I will keep a watching brief.

Goodnight & good luck

Adrian

A wise gentleman - good of you to clarify where the gaff was! Those coincidences are such fun for the hot-lines (or not)...

Good of you to point out the mistake you've made, rather than pointing it towards Apple. Hope you admission of mistake would not deter consumer confidence in Apple.

My suggestion to those who still encounter the network issue, is to further check if there's any problem with the network you're on... For me, the day 5.1.1 had been launched and updated into my iPad, I haven't encounter any more network problems.

Hi ,

I am having exactly the same issues.

I was wondering if you were able to solve the problem.

I am already using iOS 5.1.1 and it did not fix the problem.

Thanks

The thing is it was supposed to:

The release notes for 5.1.1 are below.

iOS 5.1.1

This update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:

• Improves reliability of using HDR option for photos taken using the Lock Screen shortcut
• Addresses bugs that could prevent the new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks
• Fixes bugs that affected AirPlay video playback in some circumstances
• Improved reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List
• Fixes an issue where 'Unable to purchase' alert could be displayed after successful purchase

For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

If updating to 5.1.1 has not fixed your ipad, it should have, which means apple will support it.

I would suggest a restore which may force an update via USB. if it does not, a DFU restore may be indicated, although I suggest doing a dfu restore at an apple store as it is a last resort kind of measure.

Back up your ipad and transfer purchases while right-clicking while it is plugged in.

--Sam

I solved the problem with a full restore of my iPad (connected to itunes) and I configured the divice as a new with no backup restore.

For one it seems to work all good (no signal lose, no connect error).

I had an iPad (3rd gen) exchanged for a faulty screen. The one I have got as replacement - a DLXH serial - cannot keep a 3G signal. I rarely had any "searching..." or "no service" markers with the iPad 2, and my first New iPad seemed perfect for 3G. This one drops signal quicker than a burglar dropping a screwdriver and when it IS connected I rarely see any decent speeds with it. It's the same SIM as was in my iPad 2 and first New iPad.....and it's a 3UK SIM.

I'm guessing there might be a faulty 3G antenna in this one. Side by side with my iPhone, same network, the iPad can be showing "no service" while the phone is happily surfing the web and streaming audio content. Sometimes I'm even showing full signal with the "3 3G" logo and get the popup "could not activate mobile data network"

I've had it a few weeks now but my patience has run out. I'm gonna take it back and see if they'll swap it. Again.

I'm tempted to do a tethered restore as new iPad but I've finally nearly finished Angry Birds with 3 stars across the board and can't be starting again :o(