iPad Air WiFi (5GHz) issues after iOS 8 upgrade

EEmailed Tim Cook with the following...

"

Hi,

There is clearly a very big issue with 5ghz wifi networks and ios8. I'm sure Apple know this, but I can understand that you cannot admit it officially for legal reasons.

So, why don't you is the right thing for your valuable customers, put a big notice on your website, train up you Genius Bar people immediately, to advise to only use 2.4ghz until Apple release its fix. This will help thousands of people around the world to not continue to waste their valuable hours trying to work out what's wrong. It is the right thing to do...

Thanks

Don

Sent from my iPad (on 2.4ghz only as using IOS 8)."

I am have the same issue with my iPad air.. I've try restore my ipad several time and reset my network as well but no luck.. My ipad air is totally useless right now. I am out of ideas and hope Apple comes up with a solution soon!u

Same here....5 ghz not working - can see it listed and can sign in but then nothing...seems to hang up searching for connection... 2.4 Ghz works as backup...but how can Apple throw this update out there with such major issues? Losing my Apple goodwill really fast! Suddenly Android is catching my eye....my Android phone picks up 5 ghz with no problem...so annoying....lost half my download speed...

I have been conversing with a Senior Tech advisor for the last week about the problem. He called again last night and told me that they are well aware of the problem and working on a fix. He could not tell me when it would be released but to watch for n update and that would be it. So, I guess we all set and wait for them to figure it out and fix it.

glad to hear that apple are addressing this, I went into an Apple store for an appointment with a "genius" last night and he was useless - didn't understand anything about routers or dual frequency. My workaround for this is to disable the 5GHz frequency on my homehub until Apple sort this out

I too have this issue.

Manually setting the SSID(Netgear R7000) to 2.4Ghz has created a more stable connection while 5Ghz is unstable, at best. Connecting to 5Ghz created the same connectivity issues, hanging, and slow network speeds. I'm running 8.0.2, which unfortunately did not fix the issue.

Also I have tried resetting network connections many times, running fresh install and setting up as new ipad, power cycling device, disabling wifi networking. None of these have corrected the issue. I have another iPad Air running 7.1.2 still and wifi 5Ghz is running perfectly on this device. These issues did not occur until 8.0 and unfortunately continue to 8.0.2. Apple please fix soon.

I found a workaround for the 5ghz wifi band issues. Go to settings --> privacy --> location services --> system services --> then disable "Wi-Fi Networking"

Seems to resolve my issues. I'm using an Asus AC68U. I'll report back if the issue returns.

I too have already tried disabling Wi-Fi Networking, followed by a reboot. I still have issues on the 5Ghz Band. Using Netgear Nighthawk R7000 AC router. The device temporarily works after each reboot, but after 5 minutes it reverts back to instability on that band and I must resort to connecting to 2.4GHz

Add me to this list: I have never had any issues with 5GHz WiFi using my Air.

That is, until the recent 8.0 rollout. (Not sure if it was 8.0.2 specifically, could swear 8.0.1 was spotty as well.)

My iPhone 5S and MBP handle the WiFi just fine. It's the iPad Air that is dropping the connection constantly, and utterly at random.

Only way to temporarily 'fix' it is to turn off the WiFi on the Air and then turn it back on. Sometimes it takes a bit for it to find the network again.

What is odd is that I still show a full strength WiFi connection. But nope, nada, zip. 2.4GHz works.. but that's just irritating.

The 8.02 actually fixed my wifi issues on my iPad2. I can now set my router to "auto" and it's only once in a while I get a hiccup and wifi goes down. How I fix that is swiping from the bottom, clicking on the wifi icon to turn it off, count to five, then turn it back on again.

It's definitely improved my wifi since the 8.0 IOS update.

I cannot find on my phone anywhere else to post this about my iPad Air, so here goes:

Hi,

Ever since the last update, when I turn on my iPad Air, it opens in a large zoom mode (for the photo I have chosen for my lock screen ). I can't even see the numbers at all to try to unlock it. I did finally get it unlocked last night one time after many attempts & saw nothing in the settings to change. Before this, the home screen would sometimes zoom by itself & I could usually get it back to normal size by restarting. I really don't feel like going thru this each time I power on the iPad, as you can imagine.

Is there a known issue with this? I don't live near an Apple Store so it would be a major PITA to find one & take my whole Saturday up. Does anyone know what I can do? Many thanks!

Just adding my voice. My iPad Air has iOS 8.0.2. It had the issue that the OP has; wifi suddenly become non-responsible at random intervals. iOS 8.02 did not fix this problem. The last time the problem occurred, I turned off the 5 Ghz radio on my router based on evidence from this thread. Suddenly, internet connectivity was restored once the iPad went over to 2.4 Ghz. No problems since then. I just wanted to add my voice to the crowd in hopes Apple will realize this isn't an isolated problem.

IIt won't let me create a new topic, but was wondering:

im finding my battery is draining quite rapidly since the IOS update. I used to be able to leave my iPad 2 out for two full days before it required a recharge. Still was able to do that right up to the patch. Now I have to recharge nightly. Anyone else noticing this change in power use?

Here is what just worked for me. I was ready to get an appointment with one of the geniuses that sometimes proves useless. http://www.iphonehacks.com/2014/09/fix-ios-8-wifi-problems.html

hope it works for you all too.ni was totally losing patience and trust.

If there is any apple programmer around please don't become windows guys!!! And give me my iPhoto back!

Same problem.

With iOS 8.00 - using 2.4GHz seems to be more stable, but 5GHz band seen frequent disconnections and does not hold a connection every several minutes.

With iOS 8.02 - seems even the 2.4GHz and 4G is affected (on too of 5GHz band) so very annoying.

iOS 7.xx never had any problems.