Q: iPad Air 2 WiFi Issues

greg, you can do a Feedback bug report to Apple here below.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

I tried the supposed "fix" in this link and it didn't work or alleviate the WiFi issue. Not sure how adding 8.8.8.8 under DNS would solve this:

http://appletoolbox.com/2014/10/ipad-air-2-wi-fi-problems-fix/

When one has a brand new product from Apple and it isn't working properly, this is a good place to go for some troubleshooting hints to see if it's an easy fix - just a small tweak. 

If that does not solve the problem, then call your FREE Apple phone support and ask for their help.  This is better than just leaving feedback for two reasons:  first of all, they may actually be able to help you solve the problem, even if they have to escalate the issue to a higher level of tech support; second, it gets the info to Apple MUCH more quickly than it does on Feedback, which is often filled with rants etc. 

PLEASE, folks, do this!!!  You have 90 days of free phone support; if you purchased AppleCare with your iPad, you have TWO YEARS of free phone support.  USE IT!  We can only tell you what has worked for us and if that doesn't work for you, you need an expert, which we are NOT!  Apple does not monitor these forums so having a rant is not going to accomplish anything.

Rlin5741 wrote:

 

Latest router list:

Note: Linksys = Cisco here

 

Routers reported to be dropping connections

Linksys EA4500 N900

Linksys EA3500 N750

Linksys E4200 N900

DLink DIR-355 N300

NetGear WNDR3700 N600 (one user reports problem goes away if memory intensive app is shut down)

NetGear R7000 AC1900

NetGear R7500 AC2350

DLink DIR-655 N300

Apple Time Machine (8-year old version)

 

Routers reported to keep connection

Asus RT-AC68U AC1900

Asus RT-AC66U AC1750

DLink DIR-855L N900

DLink DIR-510L AC750

Actionec Ver F 802.11g (older version of router provided by Verizon for FIOS)

Netgear R6300 ver 2 AC1750

Netgear R8000 AC3200

 

Mixed results - Some OK, some not

Apple AirPort Extreme 802.11ac (unspecified versions)

 

We acctually seem to be a group with fairly up to date equipment!  A ton of AC routers, with almost all of the N900 ones being something that is <2.5 years old.  Only an older Time Machine and the Actiontec are more than several years old (and the Actiontec actually works well with Air2).

 

The odd thing is we all appear to stay connected, but with issues getting that connection to translate to actual internet traffic, and the diversity of the routers listed above (for example, the Netgear results above oscillate between the R6300 and R8000 working, while the R7000 and R7500 do not.  Coupled with (at least in my experience) the connection being active up until I wake up the device, and there has got to be some non-user accessible security or firewall setting in these routers that the Air 2 does not like (or vice versa).

Add the netgear R6250 as a router that drops connections. BB has them on sale for attractive $129,  I tried one today with a new ipad air 2 and it would not complete the restoration from the icloud.  It was losing the wifi signal.  I took back the R6250 router and got an airport extreme and it worked fine, and is maintaining a 866 Mb/s connection to router according to the airport utility.

I had wifi problems 16b + cellular ipad air 2 that i had purchased from bestbuy but after trying all the "fixes" nothing worked. What did work, was exchanging my ipad for a new one. The connection has been solid ever since no drops  even when its been inactive the entire night. For me it was a hardware issue. So i am guessing this wifi issue might stem from a variety of sources depending on the ipad.

I am about to return my iPad air 2. but I think after I filled up the search domain information in my wifi set up, my Air 2 seems working much more stable with my home 5G wifi now, I will keep testing it and let you folks know if this trick actually work.

Hulalahifi, explain "filling up the search domain". I get very fast speeds and good rage using the 5GHz channel on my router but I am getting the same frequent disconnects from the Internet.

If you go to setting -> wifi,  click on the big i, you will see a wifi setup page,  I put www.google.ca in the search domain field, actually I don't know what I am doing, just want  try anything I can think of and hope it can help, but actually it didn't work,  my Air 2 just lost wifi again when I was surfing the web, however my Air 1 beside it has no such problem at all. So, I am going to return my Air 2.

Hulalahifi, which version iOS is your original iPad Air using?

I swapped my iPad Air 2 for a new/sealed iPad Air 2 at the Apple Store and I still have the same problems. It most likely is the new iOS 8.1 or faulty WiFi radio in each unit. My guess it's the software.

Why return your new iPad 2?  Call Apple Support and have them help you solve this problem! 

well i did call apple support.  asked me to 'reset network settings' which i did (and had done on my own several weeks ago).  played around with it for 20min and i lost connectivity several times.  apple support called back as pre-arranged to check on results.  this time they had me do a full 'reset all settings' which wipes out everything and restores to full factory setting (i've only loaded a few apps and no music/contacts/photos so it's not too bad to restore.

still disconnects and have a scheduled call with apple support tomorrow.

both tech support folks claim this is the 1st they've heard of wifi issues with Ipad Air 2 and these issues only get escalated to apple engineering once there are enough verified customer issues, so do you duty and phone it in. 

pita, but that's appears to be the way it works

Not promising. I refuse to Reset All Settings and wipe out my existing setup.

I heard that a Asus RT-AC68U router would solve the wifi problem. Would you consider getting one of those?

I bought the Asus RT-AC68P (= new version of the RT-AC68U), and for me the Wifi works fine, no disconnection. With the Linksys E4200V2 it always disconnects (although the wifi icon says still connected) after the sleep mode.

what do i do when i am on the road?

tom_eastcoast wrote:

 

I heard that a Asus RT-AC68U router would solve the wifi problem. Would you consider getting one of those?