Judging from our
recent poll, a sizable number of folks have had problems with their iPad losing its WiFi connection, and Apple has now confirmed that such an issue does exist -- although it's not exactly saying there's any problems with the iPad itself. According to a new knowledge base article, the issue is known to occur with some third-party dual-band WiFI routers, and tends to happen if you're the same name for each network or different security settings for each network. To ensure your iPad automatically rejoins WiFi networks, Apple suggests (you guessed it) giving the networks different names, and making sure that they're using the same security settings. Of course, that doesn't explain why other devices are able to work just fine with said routers, but this looks to be the most we'll get out of Apple for the time being.
P.S. At least some users have also
reported some success in fixing the issue by simply turning up the brightness on their iPad (of all things), but Apple doesn't seem to be recommending that as a solution.
[Thanks, David]
posted April 7th 2010 3:14PM
This is an issue with all 5GHz wireless N devices and not iPad specific. Most people that buy dual-band routers never setup their 5GHz because all their devices connect to the 2.5GHz. It's only when they start connecting a new device that is capable of the higher frequency do they realize they need to set it up. The iPad is the first 5GHz device that most people buy (only a handful of high end laptops come with it standard, it's usually an option).
If you look at the macrumors thread with people complaining about wifi connection, the majority of them got fixed just by properly setting up the dual-band portion of their router. You see the same issues in the Dell and HP forums about the same issues with their laptops, and the fix is the same for both cases.
@Narutogrey
...though there is also a long standing, un-patched bug, in AirPort Extremes that causes extremely slow performance if any number of devices are on both radios concurrently. I have this issue myself, and have had to disable 5GHz completely until theres a fix. (which might turn out to be hardware, and thousands of complaints have been lodged, and no firmware fix has yet addressed it).
Woooo - I made Engadget!
I was the one who found the brightness solution on the Apple support forum. Lots of people are having other wifi problems, but mine was just the iPad not reconnecting to my network automatically after sleeping.
I'm pretty sure this problem is just software - it feels like a memory overlap problem, like the "backlight brightness" variable is at the same address as a "re-establish wifi" flag, but who knows, you get some strange problems in embedded systems. It's definitely repeatable, so hopefully Apple gets to my submitted bug report soon (or at least will update their help page to keep brightness off the minimum setting until the next patch).
Its not a bug. Its a feature.
@pyehac It's not a bug. It's a feature *runs from the grammar police*
All devices including my windows 7 laptop has issues with dual band routers. It's definitely not an ipad only issue. Just gets more attention.
@zelannii
Those guys were screaming about how magical their devices were, were they?
(Sent from my tablet PC.... no where near my router.)
@skyblaze
Don't worry they got that covered! They will sort it out with a new iPad release next year! Jokes, should be fixed in the next OS update! I think the safest way to go is the wifi-3G combo! When one goes down, the other still runs!
I'm loving this and you should too.
Apple iPAD RECALLLLLLL
Wait a minute, if you turn up the brightness, you probably wouldn't buy an ipad...
@Magicland
That qualifies as being a little mean, but pretty funny.
This fix is fine for those attempting to connect to wifi at home, but what good is it going to do you to explain to the drone behind the counter at mcdonalds that they've got to reconfigure their router so your ipad will work?
@Magicland If an iPad can not connect at Mcdonalds, then any other laptop with a 5GHz Wireless N receiver won't be able to either. I'm assuming McDonalds or any other cafe/restaurant hires someone that actually knows how to configure a dual-band router.
Most folks at home don't know that they need to do extra steps compared with setting up a typical single band 2.5Ghz router.
@Phenom
The ppl posting on the discussion forums on the Apple page are users, not Apple employees. What Apple recommends is even explained in this article (set up your dual band router propperly).
Surely the answer now with Apple products is simply to wait on the 2nd gen of each one and avoid most of the problems. It does keep happening and it's usually something daft which shouldn't have been missed. More of a slap in the face than a kick in the balls for iPad owners, a little over reaction in some places.
@Halfmad That is actually a really good advice. It will address two problems. First u wont get apples first gen products therefore avoiding a lot of headaches.
Second, if people dont buy first gen products, there wont be second gen products, because apple will be on bankrupcy, therefore the humanity can get rid of apple.
Sales numbers in the first few days mean nothing if all those people demand refunds or file a class action law suit. I'm guess most iPad early adopters are American.
OMG people!!! what's wrong with you???....... The iPad is not the problem the iPas is perfect, what is really a bad really bad device is your router. It has been working flawlessly ever since you bought it? Well can't you see is not working with the iPad? That means your router is a piece of crap. The problem is not us the problem is u
I do have a dual ban router, but the two networks already have different names and the same security settings, and i have this issue So....?
@benegessrit Is it a simultaneous dual-band router or a switching dual-band? Do you have issues connecting to both SSIDs or just with one of them?
@Narutogrey
It is a simultaneous dual-band router, the D-Link Dir-825. The problem occurs when I'm connected to either SSIDs, although, I have noticed that the iPad takes more time before it sees the 5Ghz SSID, and sometimes it doesn't until I cycle the WiFi on and off. There is no consistency to the problem at all; sometimes the WiFi connection is reconnected after waking from sleep instantaneously, and sometimes not - on either band. I think it is a bug in the iPad's firmware.
At least the media is covering this well, even the local news here in Richmond had a story about this.
@ASRRGR
Glad something is making you feel good about your life in these Ipad-ridden times
Honestly...who the hell is setting up a dual band router with the same SSID anyway...how is that logical what-so-ever?
"Ok I'm sure this will be fixed soon, I'll just turn up the brightness and go to The App St-AAAAAAAAAUUUUUGGGHHHHHHHHHH MY EYYYEEEEEEESSSSSSS THEY'RE MELTINNGGG"
Seriously I can't even look at my iPod at anything over half brightness, and adding 5 inches isn't going to do anything.
Amazing that all of the major reviewers failed to mention this issue and the USB charging issue. Why do I get the feeling these reviewers aren't really doing reviews of the device, but just reviewing what they read in the marketing material.
@KenEsq Maybe because these issues are issues with the router and powering computer and not the iPad. Plug in a Kindle DX to the same USB that the iPad can not charge off of, and you'll find that the Kindle can not charge off of it either even though it uses much less power. Same thing with other high power devices that uses usb to charge. Basically, USB connected to a computer is not a good way to charge anything. Even with an iPod or and Android phone, it takes hours to recharge.
The wifi issue is again to do with the router. the iPad has a wireless N 5GHz receiver. People with dual-band routers see both drops and poor signal, but the a laptop with the same 5Ghz N receiver would see the same thing. 5GHz signal strength drops dramatically with distance and obstructions. Couple that with people not knowing how to configure their router properly, and you get the same discussion that appears whenever a new laptop or MID with wireless N comes out. Check the Dell and HP laptop forums...same message threads (poor N signal and wifi dropping). The fix is same in both cases.
Here is an interesting story on another AOL Webblog site:
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/04/06/reverse-engineering-confirms-apple-ipad-is-a-really-big-ipod-to/
This story would have been interesting on Engadget. But then, we all know the iPad is just a iPod Touch with a big screen. Sure, big screens are nice - but the way the press treats this thing you would expect it to be the most magical device in history.
return it while you still can.... that's the solution
I repeat :Ipad is a EPIC FAIL.
As much as i hate to say it most of these tech giants are just using us to test their products. You think that Apple would of caught that bug in their "mobile" IPAD before releasing it. Then a couple of months later they will release a newer one. Now you have to shell out another 500 bucks for the newer one. Now what do you do with the one you already have.......SUCKERS
Ok great, enough about the iPad, when will the Android based iPad killer coming out, huh Sony, HP, Google or Dell?! LOL
@RLJSlick you left ICD out...oh wait...
If this problem also occurs with non-Apple N clients, how is it Apple's fault?
There is no WiFi issue. Mine works fine and my router is a "third party dual band".
The suggested Apple fix of restting the network connection and logging in again seemed to work just fine for me. That's good because I was starting to ge a little annoyed with my magical device for just a second.
The only issue I have with the iPAD is that it's a PIECE OF Sh!T.
I had a radio/vinyl player like that, the valves had to warm up before it worked at full capacity, top notch stuff ...so just light up those screens and let it rip. This is high end for shure.
I've had no problem with my dual band Linksys WRT610N. Coverage and speed are great, solid connection even out on the deck. I've experienced no problems using wifi in other places as well.
My iPhone has the same wifi issue. It works perfectly at my bf's house but not on my router at home. I always use 3G at my house. It used to work, when I first got it. But about two months in, it just stopped. I don't find this surprising in the least
I've had this same issue with my iPhone 3G since I upgraded to a dual-band router.
I had NO problems with this. Until I connected away from my home. When I came back my wifi not only does not work, but my iPad will take the wifi down for everyone in the house.
This is an Apple Problem! Everything else in the house connects. PS3, PSP, iPods, Droid, 3 different laptops (B,G,N), Xbox360, Wii... No problems until the iPad returned after connect to our Vacation wifi. Pre-Vacation it was working fine...
SOLUTION: Had the same problems with 2 different dlink routers, today got belkin with 802.11n standard,then put 'n' only, wpa 2 auto and 20ghz, chanel 6 - works great like never before, the same as my stationary computer.
Suppose Ipads work stable only on 802.11n standard ONLY, so buy any router that supports it and there wont be any problem