iPad 3G chip died, but Edge still works?

[bangak]

I'm assuming somebody out there has some technical knowledge of whether this is possible or not.

Last week I noticed that my iPad was no longer picking up 3G in my area and is constantly stuck on Edge. The problem is isolated to my iPad, as others in the same area (Anchorage) are able to access 3G just fine. I've already tried restoring (DFU mode) with no luck. My only guess is that the 3G chip is fried, and somehow it's still able to access Edge.

This will be my second iPad that's fallen apart since the 3G version launched. You can read about that first one here.

Bad luck I guess...

 

[AppleKash]

What did AT&T say?

 

[w00t951]

This is definitely a software problem. Well, most likely. The 3G iPads have a small plastic band on the back that is not there on the Wifi only iPad. This houses a cellular antenna. This antenna picks up both 3G and Edge.

 

[Mexbearpig]

Check your settings maybe you accidently turned off 3G? If not go to apple.

This is definitely a software problem. Well, most likely. The 3G iPads have a small plastic band on the back that is not there on the Wifi only iPad. This houses a cellular antenna. This antenna picks up both 3G and Edge.

Wow.

 

[w00t951]

Check your settings maybe you accidently turned off 3G? If not go to apple.


Wow.

Well? What's wrong with this?

 

[xraydoc]

Well? What's wrong with this?

There is no 3G/Edge switch on the iPad, unlike the iPhone.

 

[bangak]

I took the iPad into a local AT&T store today and had them swap out the SIM card for another one. It's still only picking up Edge, and since I've now restored the iPad a total of three times, the only explanation is faulty hardware.

I love my Apple products, but I can no longer claim with a straight face that the price premium we pay is for reliability. That said, Apple customer service is top notch, and I have no doubt they'll replace my unit as they already did with my first one that died. Still, this whole experience with the iPad reminds me of the frustration that lead me to switch to a Mac in the first place many years ago.

 

[tunerX]

I took the iPad into a local AT&T store today and had them swap out the SIM card for another one. It's still only picking up Edge, and since I've now restored the iPad a total of three times, the only explanation is faulty hardware.

I love my Apple products, but I can no longer claim with a straight face that the price premium we pay is for reliability. That said, Apple customer service is top notch, and I have no doubt they'll replace my unit as they already did with my first one that died. Still, this whole experience with the iPad reminds me of the frustration that lead me to switch to a Mac in the first place many years ago.

Based on the law of averages, you got the garbage; eventually it will all even out for you. I am still waiting for the time(s) when I get a faulty product, it is bound to happen sooner or later.

 

[gatearray]

Had this issue with my iPhone 3GS right out of the gate, use it for 6 months thinking, "Wow, AT&T really does suck, I guess!" and rolled on EDGE that whole time thinking it was bad coverage or something, until getting a friend's 3GS right next to mine who had full 3G bars... Swapped sims, same drill, mine had nothing, just "searching". Swapped it out at the Apple Store under warranty and all was right again in the universe.

Sorry for your bad luck, but go get a replacement is my advice...