iPad Air 2 WiFi Issues

After checking routers and speeds, I did some research on my own router, an Asus RT-AC68U AC1900

I stumbled across a speed test link on my Cable ISP web page so I ran the speed test on my Windows 7 PC Ethernet cable thru router to cable modem to ISP.

19.4 Mbps Download and 1.76 Mbps Upload

Mbps = MegaBits Per Second

That speed test seemed low to me.

So after another search and chat with my ISP, they informed me that I am only on a subscribed internet plan for 20 Mbps

My cable modem is rated for a maximum of 38 Mbps Download and 30 Mbps Upload

My ISP said the next plan up from the 20 Mbps I pay for now is to get the 40 Mbps plan.

So this got me wondering, even though I have a router that is rated 600 Mbps on N and 1300 Mbps on AC, my ISP plan and modem is the bottleneck.

I did one more change on my wifi router and it brought my iPad air 2's network performance to the next level! I haven't seen my Air 1 can download so many magazines at a time like this fast, watching online video fast i can fast forward or backward anywhere I want without a hiccup, and I haven't had wifi dropped for almost a week. What I did is I changed the 5G wifi channel to 44. Now my iPad air 2 really shows how much it's better than its previous version. Don't know why my ipad air 2 had so much wifi network problem before, maybe it is just picky 🙂

It's very comforting to see that many people have this problem too. My iPad Air 2 is loosing connection to the internet in my home wifi network, and I'm having to turn on-off the Wifi (It also works if I turn on/off airplane mode) to get internet connection back. ITS DRIVING ME CRAZY!

I've done everything that Apple has told me on the ipad and router: network reset, hard reset, factory restore on the router, etc. NOTHING has worked. The problem is exactly the same. I have several other devices connected to my home network (An ipad Mini, Ipad 2s, Iphones 5, 5S, etc) they are ALL working fine. It just happens with THIS ipad air 2.

Apple has offered to replace the iPad Air 2 but I think that if we don't get to the bottom of this I will have the same issue with new one.

I read in a Marrumors thread that one solution was to disable the 5GHz band on my router (I have a Linksys EA4500). I have done that a few minutes ago. I will send out the results.

EXACTLY the same problem on the same router. I tried my iPad on my office Wifi and it worked fine for more than 4 days. Im shutting off 5Ghz at home wifi to see if it works.

FXDLRIDERNY, definitely keep us updated on what Apple reports back to you. Same for anyone else on this conversation who have escalated service tickets with Apple Support. I'm still in the "iOS 8.1.1 will fix the issue" camp but the fact that no one with escalated tickets has provided an update yet has me thinking that it could be an issue with the Murata 339S02541 Wi-Fi chip or a problem with iOS 8.1 communicating with Murata when the Air goes to sleep. If hardware is the issue it's not surprising that Apple is doing extensive testing in the back room...a software update is mere pittance vs. a mass recall of Air 2s. Not to throw out new discussion topics for this thread but why did Apple decide to go with a new provider (Murata) vs. a proven partner in Broadcom for such a critical component as the Wi-Fi chip? Hmmmm??? 🙂

On the 5GHz Frequency setting on your router, change channel band from Auto to channel 44 (as per Hulalahifi's post above).

Try that and see if that works.

Yup, same problem here.

Just brought home a new iPad Air 2 as a BDay present for my wife.

Restoring her old iPad 2 to the new device from "the cloud" failed about half way thru.

Subsequently, we noticed that WiFi would drop out, even while in the middle of using it.

I figured it was an issue w/ the restore, so I reset to Factory defaults, and proceeded to start manually installing everything. :-(

But while installing and just surfing the web, the WiFi froze up again.

Then I found this thread, and the corresponding work-around.

Indeed, I am using a Cisco/Linksys 4200 for wireless.

I happened to have an older SonicWall TZ 190, which only supports b/g.

I enabled WiFi there, pointed the iPad at it, and haven't had a problem after surfing for several hours straight last night

and using up a fully charged battery today.

Thanks for all the efforts and info from the folks on this thread!

n8

Just an update. I purchased a new AC router as it was time to upgrade anyway. I got the new Linksys E8350 and I continued to have the same Wifi issues we are all having with our iOS devices, in my case the iPad Air 2. I wrote to Linksys and this was their reply:

To properly isolate the matter, we suggest that you assign different names to both bands. Just access the setup page manually through 192.168.1.1 and go to the Wireless tab. Click on Manual and you will see the SSID field for both bands. While you're at it, please tweak on the channel settings under the 2.4Ghz. You may try channel 11, 9 3 or 1. Leave the 5Ghz band to auto and sign into the 5Ghz SSID.

Needless to say, this has worked all day for me. No disconnects at all after 12+ hours. I renamed my 5GHz band SSID to a different name and logged in to it. I think the problem is the iOS software is not completely compatible with the"N" band for some reason.

Any of you with AC routers try doing the same thing and report back here.

HI Everyone who is having these issues please follow steps below :

1.Restart your iPad. To do so, simply press and hold the on/off button until you see the red slider, then slide the slider then again press and hold the on/off button until you see the Apple logo.

2.Turn off and back on your Wi-Fi by going to Settings > Wi-Fi.

3.Tap Settings > Wi-Fi and locate your Wi-Fi network from the list and tap on the ℹ button then Forget This Network.

4.Reset network settings by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Please understand that resetting network settings will erase your saved passwords.

5.Disable Wi-Fi networking services by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Wi-Fi Networking.

6.Try changing the DNS servers on your iPad. You may try Google DNS. Simply tap Settings > Wi-Fi then find your Wi-Fi network and tap on the ℹ icon. Now tap on the DNS numbers to edit and enter 8.8.8.8

Cheers,

HKQ 🙂

HKQ, if you've read the 412 replies before yours, we've all already tried every one of those suggestions and it has not resolved our WiFi problems.

try all these stepwise i assure you this will help🙂

From the posts from others I see on this thread so far, what seems to solve the dropping wifi issue is the following.suggestions.

(From what others have posted so far in this thread)

Try one of the following from the following and see what works.

* On 5Ghz Frequency setting on the router, change channel band from Auto to channel 44.

Hulalahifi Nov. 15 2014

* Turn on 'ASK TO JOIN NETWORK' wifi on the iPad, turn off Bluetooth to improve speed.

Hulalahigi

* On router, Set the 5GHz ban to 802.11a

Disable N Band 802.11 N on the router.

Xithus Nov 13

* Name both SSID Fields different names on router. In wireless tab on router, under the 2.4GHz band try channel 11, 9, 3 or 1.

Leave 5GHz to Auto.

Sign into the 5GHz band on the iPad.

DezM Nov. 16

* Disable wifi Networking on the iPad

HKQ Nov 16

HKQ, I'm glad it worked for you with your configuration of equipment but it didn't work for many of us here in this thread. Those suggestions are posted on several sites throughout the Internet and on several support pages at Apple.com They are well known supposed "fixes", but as I mentioned before, did not work for many.

Tom_eastcoast, good summary. One of the common denominators is to force the iPad (or iOS device) to connect to the "a/b/g or ac" modes and stay away from "N" mode. That is what worked for me. My iPad Air 2 has been connected for over 24 hours straight without any Wifi issues. And at the same time, I've eliminated the weak signal strength in one particular room in my apartment with the purchase of this new Linksys E8350 AC2400 router 🙂

DezM said:

connect to the "a/b/g or ac" modes and stay away from "N" mode

I don't have an Air 2 to try it but I think that is a BINGO above. Anyone else try that?

Tom and others................try it if you're having WiFi issues with an iOS 8.x device.

AC mode, if you have it, works best/fastest.