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Level 1

32 points

iPad Air 2 WiFi Connectivity Issues: RESOLVED

In a previous post, I told the tale of how my brand new iPad Air 2 would not stay connected to WiFi (typically losing connection after a certain amount of idle time.) I would have to turn off WiFi and back on again to make a connection. In the same house, I had 2 iPhone 5's (not 5s), an iPad 3rd-gen and iPad 4th Gen all running iOS 8.1 with no connectivity issues. Only the iPad Air 2 would drop its connection.

I tried the following:

Restarting WiFi router
Turning off WiFi Networking support on the iPad
Resetting network settings on the iPad
Restoring the iPad (using backup)
Restoring the iPad to factory settings (using backup and setting up as new iPad)

Nothing seemed to help. I went to an Apple store and a Genius replaced the unit for me. When I got home, I connected to my WiFi and set it up as a new iPad without restoring from backup and then I let it sit for an hour to see if it maintained a connection. IT LOST CONNECTION AGAIN.

Then I went into my router settings (Linksys Smart WiFi) and made the following changes under "Wireless Settings":

Changed the 2.4 GHz Network Mode from "Mixed" to "802.11b/g Only"
Changed the 5 GHz Network Mode from "Mixed" to "802.11a Only"

That seemed to do the trick. If it hadn't, my next step was to try to set an IP reservation (under DHCP) for the iPad which, after thinking about it, I had to do for my 2 Nest Thermostats a couple of years ago after they kept dropping their connections.

I hope others who are having this issue with their iPad Air 2's have similar success with this resolution.

iPad Air, iOS 8.1, (Air 2)

Posted on Oct 29, 2014 8:10 AM

32 replies

as41

Level 1

9 points

Oct 30, 2014 4:10 AM in response to escrge1843

All,

I tried the escrge 1843 method last night and it definitely made things a lot more stable but speed was affected. My usual Speedtest app gives me 50 Mbs Down but after setting the networks to 5ghz - A only and 2.4ghz to B/G the maximum I was able to achieve was 25 Down.

Even after sleep and wake for several hours it remained connected for my IPad Air 2 and 5S but unfortunately my iPhone 6 Plus which was behaving better on the previous 5ghz setting lost connection and this morning I had to toggle Wi-Fi on/ off.

So in summary this method is a good temporary fix albeit not perfect for all IOS devices in the same household. I'm definitely going to buy a new ASUS AC68 router which I think will solve the problem!

as41

Level 1

9 points

Nov 3, 2014 4:52 AM in response to escrge1843

I got rid of my Linksys EA4500 and got the ASUS RT-AC68U - AC1900. I was due an upgrade to get on the AC standard anyway so wasn't overly annoyed!

Since testing it over the weekend it seems that my Wi-Fi issues have been resolved. I haven’t had a single drop or had to toggle the Wi-Fi switch on/off to get it the connection live again. Speeds have been consistent and this is across all my devices including :

iPhone 6 Plus

iPad Air 2

iPhone 5S

Macbook Pro Retina – 2012 non AC version

I hope this lasts but so far so good although I appreciate this is a deep routed iOS 8 problem that only occurs with certain router brands / chipsets.

Either way apple need to resolve this in the next update for the vast majority of us and this certainly shouldn’t force us to upgrade our existing equipment!

Good luck to all and I’ll post back if things start to get sour again!!

Nov 4, 2014 2:44 PM in response to escrge1843

This fix seems to have worked for me. My iPad Air 2 has stayed connected for a few hours now, whereas before it would drop WiFi repeatedly. Thanks, escrge1843!

Nov 4, 2014 3:10 PM in response to UncleBenny

As reported on Oct 29 the changes made to the router have kept me connected without a drop all this time. Maybe when apple issues an up date I can go back to the default setting.

Nov 6, 2014 6:39 AM in response to Star Traveler

All the things i read, it is fine, and i solve my problem with the escrge1843 solution: router setting, and it works.

BUT: now if we want Apple to solve the problem, we have to report the problem at this link:

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

Vasam

Level 1

4 points

Nov 13, 2014 6:22 PM in response to escrge1843

I too have this problem with my iPad Air 2. I am currently trying your solution. I hope Apple is working on this because I am seriously considering returning my two new iPad Air 2 until this is resolved.

Nov 13, 2014 7:40 PM in response to UncleBenny

The escrge1843 fix worked for an extended period of time, no drops at all. About a week later, I purchased a refurbished Airport Extreme, installed it with all the defaults, and I have had flawless connectivity ever since.

Shewnus

Level 1

0 points

Dec 7, 2014 6:57 AM in response to escrge1843

I got an air 2 wifi (with iOS version 8.1) a couple days ago and it would drop the internet connection every time I put it to sleep. I upgraded to iOS version 8.1.1 and the problem appears to be resolved now. Thanks.

Dec 27, 2014 11:26 AM in response to escrge1843

New ipad air 2 causing the router to drop on some apps and some websites. The Apple ipad support page says, in reference to wi-fi issues, make sure that the WMM (wi-fi multimedia) button is enabled. After going into the dlink DIR-655 and enabling WMM the new ipad air 2 works great no wi-fi issues whatsoever. Hope this helps.

hpwong

Level 1

14 points

Jan 1, 2015 3:07 AM in response to DLong2001

Totally unfamiliar with resetting of router, so problem here.

My story.

My new iPad Air 2 (2 weeks old) wifi connection kept dropping.

Older iPad 3, iPad 4, iPhone 5, iMac - no problems with wifi.

Tried all the trouble shooting steps, including resetting to factory default, reinstalling etc. Did not work.

Got new iPad Air 2 exchanged yesterday.

Still having same problem. Sometimes connection stays on steadily for some time.

Then start to drop signal connection intermittently.

Meanwhile, all the other above Apple devices are still working well, at the same time, using the same router and wifi connection.

My conclusion is that my router is not at fault.

It has something to do with the iPad Air 2 itself.

I'm at my wits end !

Jan 1, 2015 5:43 AM in response to hpwong

My conclusion is that my router is not at fault.

It has something to do with the iPad Air 2 itself.

ok let's think this thru logically shall we.

Does apple manufacture all of the iPad Air 2's the same? Answer is YES

Does my wife have an iPad Air 2 same as your Air 2? Answer is YES

Does her Air 2 work great with no wifi drops whatsoever? Answer is YES

Did I upgrade our old cheapo DLink router to a new AC Asus router for her new iPad Air 2? Answer is YES

So does logic and reason tell us that the problem is in the router type you have? Answer is YES

We have a new Asus RT-AC68U 5GHz AC router and the Air2 has no problems whatsoever on it. None

It works beautifully and she loves it and can serf the internet all day with no drops or disconnects..

I suggest you dump that cheapo Linksys router of yours and get an Asus AC router that will fix your problem.

hpwong

Level 1

14 points

Jan 1, 2015 6:34 AM in response to tom_eastcoast

Thanks for your reply.

DId try to think logically really.

But it still does not not explain why the rest of the Apple devices are working well, under the same conditions.

Logically, if the router is at fault, I should also have problems with the rest.

That is why I'm perplexed !

The last resort is to change the router and hope everything works !

Shewnus

Level 1

0 points

Jan 1, 2015 7:07 AM in response to hpwong

Just make sure you upgrade your new iPad Air 2 to the latest iOS version 8.1.2. Mine came with version 8.1.0 and upgrading resolved my wifi issue. Thanks.

hpwong

Level 1

14 points

Jan 1, 2015 7:31 AM in response to Shewnus

Am using iOS 8.1.2

Noted on Internet forum pages that some are having problems with this latest version of the iOS too.

Jan 3, 2015 7:45 AM in response to hpwong

Try following

reset all network settings on your iOS Device (Settings -> General)
Find out which DNS is best for your Wifi by installing and running namebench (Link: https://code.google.com/p/namebench/)
Change your WiFi DNS to that result ✅
Last (wait to) install iOS 8.2! I'm using the beta and that fixes the issues (iPone 6).🙂

iPad Air 2 WiFi Connectivity Issues: RESOLVED