ahostmadsen
Level 2 (282 points)

Q: Cellular data requires WiFi?

It seems that under IOS7, to setup celluar data, you need to be on a WiFi network. I have tried the following experiment several times: if WiFi is on, I can 'view account,' but if WiFi is off, I cannot. This is when I'm not on a data plan, but want to start one.

 

This makes no sense. If I find myself in a place without WiFi, I would want to start my cellular data. But I cannot do that because I don't have WiFi. A Catch 22. Can this really be true?

iPad 2, iOS 4.3.2, Verizon

Posted on Dec 3, 2013 1:16 PM

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ahostmadsen

Q: Cellular data requires WiFi?

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  • by ahostmadsen,

    ahostmadsen ahostmadsen Dec 4, 2013 1:03 PM in response to ShagCA
    Level 2 (282 points)
    Dec 4, 2013 1:03 PM in response to ShagCA

    Maybe I will try to take it to a Verizon store and ask if they can activate cellular, and see if they say that I need WiFi to activate cellular. But, seriously, it wouldn't make any sense.

  • by ShagCA,

    ShagCA ShagCA Dec 4, 2013 1:57 PM in response to ahostmadsen
    Level 4 (2,532 points)
    iPad
    Dec 4, 2013 1:57 PM in response to ahostmadsen

    I completely agree with you. You said it yourself that cellular activation used to work fine without WiFi and that's how it is supposed to work.

     

    Although I suspect that provider is the cause, it doesn't hurt to try "fixing" the problem by restarting or resetting the device first. If that doesn't help then yeah I guess the last resort is to ask Verizon. I'm interested to hear the outcome so post back when you have an update or hopefully a resolution.

  • by ahostmadsen,

    ahostmadsen ahostmadsen Dec 4, 2013 9:59 PM in response to ShagCA
    Level 2 (282 points)
    Dec 4, 2013 9:59 PM in response to ShagCA

    I went to the Verizon store. They confirmed that you need WiFi to activate Cellular. It makes zero sense to me, but that's how it is. But not how it used to be (could be iOS 7, or more likely a change in how Verizon handles account activation).

     

    Next time (thinking of getting iPad Air) I will get T-mobile. Then you always have a basic cellular connection.

  • by Tulkinghorn,

    Tulkinghorn Tulkinghorn Dec 4, 2013 10:02 PM in response to ahostmadsen
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Dec 4, 2013 10:02 PM in response to ahostmadsen

    Possibly your SIM card.  Back when I first got my (now) old iPad 2, the SIM card was bad. I was unable to get cellular activated until I went to an AT&T store and they replaced the card.  Worked fine after that.

  • by bobseufert,

    bobseufert bobseufert Dec 4, 2013 10:04 PM in response to ahostmadsen
    Level 6 (14,131 points)
    iPad
    Dec 4, 2013 10:04 PM in response to ahostmadsen

    A friend told me she dials 611 when when she has trouble with her phone's cellular service.

  • by ShagCA,

    ShagCA ShagCA Dec 5, 2013 8:40 AM in response to ahostmadsen
    Level 4 (2,532 points)
    iPad
    Dec 5, 2013 8:40 AM in response to ahostmadsen

    ahostmadsen wrote:

     

    I went to the Verizon store. They confirmed that you need WiFi to activate Cellular. It makes zero sense to me, but that's how it is. But not how it used to be (could be iOS 7, or more likely a change in how Verizon handles account activation).

     

    Next time (thinking of getting iPad Air) I will get T-mobile. Then you always have a basic cellular connection.

    Really? That's ridiculous. By the way, I believe there is only 1 iPad Air cellular model (A1475). The only difference is the preinstalled SIM card.

     

    Get an AT&T version. You can get T-Mobile SIM card free of charge (t-mobile offers free SIM card with free shipping every now and then). That way you have 2 SIM cards that you can switch back and forth if needed. T-Mobile offers free 200MB free data every month.

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