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Level 1

2 points

iPad2 not connecting to 2.4Ghz Wireless Networks

My issue is that without any updates from Apple, my iPad2 stopped connecting to my home wireless. I have a MediaLink 2.4 Ghz Wireless N router. I have done everything from "Forget this Network" to Rest Network Settings" to wipe the whole iPad and nothing has resoved the situation. I am running IOS 7.0.4 (the latest). I have even called MediaLink and they had me try a few things, but still nothing works. The iPad will connect to SSID's that run on the 5Ghz frequency or any dual band wireless routers (ie those that broadcast SSID's at the 2.4 and 5 Ghz frequencies). I have an open ticket with Apple and now dealing with the product engineers for about 3 weeks. They have finally recognized this as a code issue with 7.0.4 IOS. I am awaiting a fix. Apple also acknowledged that this is a software problem and that mulitiple people are affected. Stay tuned for an update to IOS for the fix......

iPad 2, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Jan 14, 2014 6:45 AM

Best reply

Lasse_Moell

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Mar 13, 2014 2:46 AM

Sigh, I have tried to help a friend with exactly the same problem! At first I thought it was a simple user error, and expected beeing able to fix this in a few minutes. After spending 4 hours trying to diagnose the problem, I found that the transmitted power from the iPad is extremely low on 2.4 GHz, and it WILL connect if one hold the iPad extremely close to the router! This is verified on 3 different 2.4GHz routers/nets. Now just to be dead sure, I even tried at a different location, where 2.4 and 5 GHz were available, no problem connecting at 5 GHz but no luck with 2.4GHz. I even used my Agilent spectrum analyzer and could not see any signals at 2,4 from the iPad but strong signals using my iPhone4s connecting to the same net.

It would be very interesting if you could try connect to your 2.4 GHz net by placing the iPad ontop of your router just to confirm my findings...

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122 replies

gloede99 Author

Level 1

2 points

Mar 24, 2014 12:58 PM in response to noclvrname

Since my original post, I have been contacted from all over the US, plus people in Swedden, Finland, the UK, and Portugal describing very similar circumstances. I have seen people having issues with the various versions of the iPad's, iPad mini, and the iPhone (4 and 5). I have also seen multiple router vendors being affected...Medialink, Belkin, D-Link, and NetGear. As for case numbers or any other information that Apple thinks is personal(my email address or even a link to an article which linked to their own press release about the dicontinuing of the iPad2), have been removed by Apple as they have sent me emails telling me that I am violating the Terms of this forum. What I can share with you that someone did go to the Apple store and they had them check their wireless router at the store and it showed that their device was not connecting at the 2.4Ghz frequency but it WAS connecting at the 5GhZ This was key for the Apple store to recognize what we are describing is not an isolated issue or an issue with your home environment. Try that approach. Here is another idea that may also work that I had not tried but makes sense that it should work. The issue is connecting to the SSID and when it fails you get the "Unable to Join Network" message. It makes sense to me that if you were to go through the trouble to even bring your wireless router to the store plug it in and try to connect to see if you get a DHCP address from your wireless router. It should act the same same as if it was connected at home with your ISP. The problem is not between the router and the ISP's modem...it is between the client device and the WAP. Good luck.....

Mar 21, 2014 7:59 AM in response to gloede99

You're a gentleman and a scholar, my friend. Fantastic advice. Thank you!

Mar 24, 2014 12:36 PM in response to gloede99

I'm so glad I found this.I have exactly the same problem. I knew already for a while that there was a problem with the 2.4GhZ frequency, I have a dual router but put the GhZ in the name. The 5GhZ signal is upstairs to weak so since a few months we had trouble operating the Ipad2 upstairs.I tried what you said, keeping the Ipad very close to the router, and yes, it hooked again to the 2.4GhZ signal. Move away and it is killed again.

Unfortunately I didn't fully understand whether it is a software problem which might be solved by Apple or is it a hardware problem, which cannot be solved other than having a new/other Ipad?

gloede99 Author

Level 1

2 points

Mar 24, 2014 12:46 PM in response to georgfromnld

As of now, if you have the issue, there is no software that has been released to fx the issue. I have even gone as far and completely wiped the iPad via iTunes and put the IOS on fresh and it does not fix the issue. The issue started out for me on IOS version 7.0 and continued on 7.0.4, 7.0.6, and the latest 7.1. Nothing worked. It seems like the issue causes either firmware or NVRAM to be updated right on some internal component. What I actually was able to do was to get Apple to replace my iPad (model A1416) with a new one (A1416) which has IOS 7.0.4 and it now works again. I am refusing to put any other IOS updates on it until there is an official release that (1) Apple admits that this is their issue (which they have not stepped up and done that yet) or (2) it is specifically written in the bug report that there is a fix to address this issue. Also if you do get it fixed, be careful of Apps...they can have a dependency on newer versions of IOS which will want the IOS to be upgraded too. Good Luck.

Mar 25, 2014 8:13 AM in response to gloede99

Not able to join the discussion lately due to several reasons, one beeing cut out of broad band network for 10 days... still waiting for the repair guy fixing the fiber converter

Now I have been looking around a bit at it seems people had this very issue in 2012 and iOS6!

i.e. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4317427?start=1200&tstart=0

Still no definite answer what causing this! I have found a service center locally and we will show the problem and ask for a solution. Hopefully they will offer a replacement, the Ipad G3 is to expensive to just trash, beeing a few weeks out of warranty.

It is so frustrating not getting a straight answer from someone that has the knowledge. If this issue is not available in the normal support database the customer support simply cannot help us...

Mar 25, 2014 9:56 AM in response to gloede99

Update: took both my iPad mini and my older-model Airport Extreme into the Apple store. The mini connected fine to the in-store wifi, as it had the previous time I took it in for service. The Genius went above and beyond in trying to diagnose the issue, but having brought the router itself made all the difference since he was able to test the connection on my mini (it didn't connect) and a seperate mini in-store (which connected just fine.)

Even though my mini was just out of warranty, Apple ultimately replaced the unit itself. And, sure enough, the new mini (running 7.1) connects just fine to my old Airport Extreme, which makes me beleive that there is, in fact, some software bug related to the chips in some iPad / iPad mini models, and not others.

And I take back my previous statements about not being impressed with Apple's service; I am thankful they did the right thing in replacing a defective unit, but I would love to see them also address this issue publicly and provide some sort of overall fix to what is clearly not just an isolated issue.

gloede99 Author

Level 1

2 points

Mar 25, 2014 12:11 PM in response to noclvrname

Ok so it seems that the customer will have to bring their network to the Apple store to show them that it is not them or their home network environment. So even though this is painful for the majority and not the best course (I too waiting for Apple to publicly address this which if you look back in recent history, Apple will not publicly admit fault until they have a solution in hand), there is a way for the Apple store to recognize the issue is not the consumers but it is theirs. I'm glad this worked out for you.

Mar 26, 2014 12:03 PM in response to gloede99

Got back from the local certified Apple store/service center... and not happy at all. What they could offer was a replacement for $460 (new are about $700). They were very sympatic but could do nothing except offer this exchange. No magic app to verify the s/w issue, they simply swapped iPads when problems arouse. What we could do was to file a complain and hope that techs at Apple would recognize the software malfunction. If they (Apple) still would not go for a free exchange we would then have to pay for the tech's labour (not cheap, could be several hundred dollars). So bottom line is: We are stuck! Just to try beeing a pain in the rear, I'll contact Apple support chat once more, but they cannot really offer anything else. There is one major "service centre" in Netherlands but that is more a warehouse and apparently no work is done to iPads in EU.

The service centre had no channel to send information like ours up to Apple, and they said (this I tend to beleive) they had not seen this issue before.

Sigh... 😢

Mar 30, 2014 6:49 PM in response to gloede99

So... My iPad will not connect to my wifi..

I did everything that is listed in thisthread...

Now the iPad connects to the WiFi but Safari will not connect to the Internet.

Safari says it cannot display the page because _the iPadis not connected to the internet"

But the WiFi is on and "connected"

Updates in my iTunes works...

In fact the on-line magazines I am subscribed to update.

My Internet Safari Browser however will not connect..

Neither will my Facebook account...

Cleared cookies...

Cleared "Browser History"

Rest WiFi (nine times) as instructed...

Still cannot surf the internet..

...

This is bonkers - Apple designs these just to cause headaches - I am convinced of this,,,

,,,

So what do I do now - Buy another iPad? I think not.

Mar 30, 2014 11:29 PM in response to gloede99

I've been having the same problem for weeks using iOS 7.1...there is no way to solve this..it needs to be patched...Apple if you are reading this..we need a fix for this ASAP!!

gloede99 Author

Level 1

2 points

Mar 31, 2014 5:34 AM in response to ProjectAD

I am not even sure if a IOS patch will fix this. I had completely wiped my iPad via iTunes and put ont he IOS fresh and I still had the problem. It seems like something gets updated on the hardware itself (either by firmware or it updates NVRAM). In my opinion, this is not going to be something that the "average Joe" will be able to handle on their own. It may require something to be "flashed" on the hardware. Whatever the issue is, it is pretty obvious that this is not caused by the consumer. There is way to many people complaining about this worldwide across many of Apple's product lines (iPhones and iPads). My hope for really their sake they PUBLICALLY address this issue cause I will tell you the word is out(and not just locally either --> it is being talked about on many well known Blogs followed by dedicated Apple users) about the potential issues that one has by doing an IOS upgrade. I have to believe if this is not addressed thay people will loose confidence in Apple and will move away from their products.

KubanoBA

Level 1

0 points

Mar 31, 2014 6:12 AM in response to gloede99

gloede99, I'm from Argentina and I've been reading all your post in all forums trying to find a solution. Let me tell you that I have an iPhone 5 purchased in the US last November and after two or three weeks using iOS 7.1 my phone stops to connect to my home wifi network. I didn't check with other netwoks yet prevouslly I wass able to see a lot of networks in my building. Now I can't see even one.

At the begining I thought that the problem was my router (Linksys EA2700 flashed with DD-WRT) I change all settings of my router even disableing security. Nothing worked out. I re-flash my router with original Linksys firmware, and still nothing. I tryed with one band, dual band, WAP, WPA2, WEP and no security and still nothing. So I conclude that the problem is NOT THE ROUTER. One note, every time I change a setting in the router, I reset the nework settings in the phone and still nothing.

Tho only remaing thing wa tor try to revert back the iOS version to 7 or 7.0.2 or 7.0.4 or 7.0.6 and the "funny" thing is that I can't revert the iOS version back!!! I alway get the error "The iPhone "xxx" could not be restored. an unknown error occured (3194)."

So my hand are tied with this and I'm waiting to for a patch to fix the major bug.

My next step will be to contact Apple support line to register this incident to try to push to Apple to admint this bug and get a fix quickly.

gloede99 Author

Level 1

2 points

Mar 31, 2014 6:38 AM in response to KubanoBA

Some issues with putting new versions of IOS onto iPhones (at least in the US), the carriers like Verizon are the ones that control the updates to the phones. I am sure they work with Apple however, I can tell you that in the US they (meaning Verizon) also includes their own bloatware that also gets put on the phones and also they disable certain features of the phone cause some of these features can be used to circumvent how their phones plans are suppose to work (tethering is one example). What I find interesting also is that your router is indeed dual band (2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz) and you are having issues. Can you make sure that both bands are broadcasting cause if not then you may be able to fix this yourself if this is the same issue that I have seen (ie not connecting at the 2.4Ghz frequency). The other option is to force the router by changing the band to only use 5Ghz to see if that enables your phone to connect to your WIFI. I will say if that works, this is only a bandaid.

KubanoBA

Level 1

0 points

Mar 31, 2014 6:48 AM in response to gloede99

I made a test and found an intrest thing. My wifi network for 2.4 and 5 have same name. So I decide to chage the and add xxx-2-4 and xxx-5 to identify which is 2.4Ghz and which 5Ghz, saved the config, reset network setting in the phone and both wifi were brodcasted. I try to connect to 5Ghz network and I was unable to join. I reset again the network settings and try to join to 2.4Ghz and worked ok. The problem is that the signal stength is terrieble!! I walk 5 meters and there is no more signal. Previous to this issue I never loose signal in my appartment.

So as you say thei is a bandiad and I'm waiting for Apple patch for this terrible bug.

KubanoBA

Level 1

0 points

Mar 31, 2014 6:50 AM in response to KubanoBA

Ok, after 15 minutes, the phone dissconnects from the wifi and was not able to connect to it again. Get your own conclusions.

iPad2 not connecting to 2.4Ghz Wireless Networks