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Resolved iPad 8thGen's suddenly terrible wifi performance. Right next to the (Apple Time Machine AC) router, lowest RSSI, and negotiated Tx rate is 13 Mbps!

S

saldin

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 30, 2012
146
28
iPad 8th gen (32 GB) running iPadOS 18.1.

I don't know what's going on. I used to stream videos and I've been noticing for some time now that everything is a struggle.

I opened Airport Utility and was shocked to find that Tx rate for my iPad hovers between 13 Mbps and 200 Mbps holding it close to the router.

Here's an iPad screenshot. RSSI is -36 (near the router, perfect signal stability and strength), PHY mode is 802.11ac, and Tx Rate is 13 Mbps. 13!!!!!!!! one three!!!!!!!

1731475953053.png


Here's a Mac screenshot. RSSI is -28 (as close to perfect as it can be), PHY mode is 802.11ac, and Tx rate is 117 Mbps:

1731475178427.png


It should be 866 Mbps!

I've restarted the Time Capsule, restarted the iPad, deleted VPN apps, reset network settings... Nothing works, nothing makes it better.

I don't want to do a full wipe, but I just don't know what's going on. Please help.
 
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This is a speed test run inside Firecore's Infuse, holding the iPad next to the Time Capsule, reading from a file on a disk connected to the Time Capsule's USB port. Average for a 100-second run is 18.48 Mbps, the datapoints are all over the place, and it hit zero several times. It used to be a straight line...

1731477544816.png
 
Either you have interference from neighbors on same channels or your 10+ year old WiFi router is finally showing its age. Is the device warm or hot?
 
I'm sorry. I should have made this explicitly clear since the beginning: We have several wireless devices (Kindles, iPhones, desktop and laptop Macs, PS Portal) and my only iPad is the sole device in my whole house that started behaving like this.

This is the exact same Infuse speed test made on my iPhone 11 (same file share, same file, same 100-second test length), and I didn't even bother to get out of the bed and walk to the other room where the Time Capsule is to place it right next to it:

1731508487463.png
 
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sparksd said:
Given what you have already tried, a full wipe may be the only option.
Click to expand...
oh well... restoring the iCloud backup after the full wipe shouldn't bring the problems back, shouldn't it?
 
Just in case the iPad is connected via 2,4 GHz instead of 5 Ghz, you could temporarily disable Bluetooth (via Settings) to rule out it's interfering with WiFi.

You did reset the network settings and not just re-add the WiFi?
Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset Network Settings
 
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arw said:
Just in case the iPad is connected via 2,4 GHz instead of 5 Ghz, you could temporarily disable Bluetooth (via Settings) to rule out it's interfering with WiFi.

You did reset the network settings and not just re-add the WiFi?
Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset Network Settings
Click to expand...

Disabled bluetooth and saw Tx rate drop down to a single digit. Nothing makes sense:
1731519726829.png


I did the reset network settings: it asked me for the pin code, the iPad restarted with a progress bar, and I had to reconnect to the wifi network with the password. No mistake there.
 
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sparksd said:
I wouldn't think so but it's always a bit of a crapshoot. Keep us posted on status.
Click to expand...
Before I do the full wipe I'm making one last iCloud backup at a speed that can only be described as "snail's pace" or "molasses in january"

EDIT: cancelled it. too slow.
 
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I'd still look at doing a spectrum check to make sure a neighbor isn't overlapping one of your bands. My 2020 iMac is *super* touchy to this compared to all my other devices.
 
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Restored it, got to the point where I select the wifi network and enter the password. It did the activation and left it there to check Airport Utility on my Mac. It didn't help:

1731521331760.png


1731521177949.png


I guess I'll have to call Apple...
 

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GMShadow said:
I'd still look at doing a spectrum check to make sure a neighbor isn't overlapping one of your bands. My 2020 iMac is *super* touchy to this compared to all my other devices.
Click to expand...
No idea how I can check this, and I can't just go to a neighbor's house and connect to their wifi as they may not know how to access their router's console and check for the negotiated PHY modes and data rates...
 
sparksd said:
Any other network can you test it on to isolate to the iPad?
Click to expand...
I have another, older Airport router but it wouldn't make sense to test it on the same place if interference is being suspected. I'll have to plan where else I can perform some tests where I'll have access to the router's wireless client details.

In the meantime, I'll call Apple and see if they can be assed to care for a 8th-gen iPad...
 
Called Apple. The support tech ran remote tests and concluded there was no problem and the hardware is ok. The last resort will be to run a wipe again, but with a computer that will push the complete ipsw package, and if that still doesn't work, they suggest to take it to a store where they'll plug it to a Mac and run other tests.
 
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Did the full wipe with the Mini. No change in outcome. I swear the numbers are getting smaller and smaller the more I tinker with it...

I'll have to look for someone knowledgeable with access to their own router that can help me test my iPad in a different environment. iPadOS needs to be able to report on the connection details just like the Mac: alt-click on the wifi menu item and boom, everything's there.
 
saldin said:
Called Apple. The support tech ran remote tests and concluded there was no problem and the hardware is ok.
Click to expand...
saldin said:
iPadOS needs to be able to report on the connection details just like the Mac: alt-click on the wifi menu item and boom, everything's there.
Click to expand...
Did the Apple Tech initiate an extended debugging by having you install a "MegaWifiProfile.mobileconfig"?
If so, this "WiFi Performance Diagnostics" config will also add an extra menu/button named "Diagnostics" in your WiFi settings that offers some additional connection details for you to see.
 

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saldin said:
No idea how I can check this, and I can't just go to a neighbor's house and connect to their wifi as they may not know how to access their router's console and check for the negotiated PHY modes and data rates...
Click to expand...
Since you apparently have a Mac, you can run a utility like WiFi Explorer to check spectrum usage.
 
Can you share a modern phone with 5G and use that as a hotspot to try and see what speed you get on your iPad?
Just to try and isolate and see if it could be a setting or incompatibility with the Airport after updating to 18.1.

Would also recommend that you look at getting a new router, its EOL and I wouldn't recommend anyone using a router that don't receive security patches. Not saying that will solve this issue, but from a security perspective.
 
arw said:
Did the Apple Tech initiate an extended debugging by having you install a "MegaWifiProfile.mobileconfig"?
If so, this "WiFi Performance Diagnostics" config will also add an extra menu/button named "Diagnostics" in your WiFi settings that offers some additional connection details for you to see.
Click to expand...
No. He had me going to Settings -> Privacy & Security and there a new button appeared that said an Apple support rep was requesting to run diagnostics. I'm paraphrasing.
 
Reverend Benny said:
Can you share a modern phone with 5G and use that as a hotspot to try and see what speed you get on your iPad?
Just to try and isolate and see if it could be a setting or incompatibility with the Airport after updating to 18.1.

Would also recommend that you look at getting a new router, its EOL and I wouldn't recommend anyone using a router that don't receive security patches. Not saying that will solve this issue, but from a security perspective.
Click to expand...
That makes sense, but the iPad does connect to wifi and to the internet, and just hitting an occasional speed burst masks some things. I've been frustrated with the iPad's performance for weeks, but trying to stream a local file from Infuse the other day by coincidence was what pushed me over the edge, since it requires a constant flow of data and falling behind is immediately and unequivocally felt. If it weren't for it, I'd probably would be still bearing it and coasting.

I know the Time Capsule AC is EOL, but I have a limited budget and tried other routers but the experience has been pretty awful. And since wifi coverage, features, and performance are now critical thing in every household, I've just preferred to default to Apple, which is good enough for me, so my plan is to ride these until they die. A fellow MacRumors user did suggest Asus routers so I'm keeping their advice in the back of my head for when the time is right.
 
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