Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPad WiFi problem (signal's fine, this is different)

That-Is-Bull

That-Is-Bull

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 29, 2007
404
0
Edmond, Oklahoma
When I connect my iPad to a WiFi network (my home Linksys router, or my iPhone), the signal stays at two or three bars, but I don't have an Internet connection. If I restart my iPad, the WiFi works for about one minute, then it goes out again - but the network's still listed and selected and the signal is fine.

Anybody have any ideas? Is there somewhere I can download the iPad software so I can try a restore?
 
Vic-Viper said:
I would try power cycling the router first in this case.
Click to expand...

That didn't work. I don't think it's the router, because it's doing the same thing when I connect to my iPhone through MyWi - it works and everything loads fine for a minute, then everything stops loading until I restart the iPad again. My iPhone also connects to the network and loads everything fine.
 
Downloaded the iPad firmware and restored the iPad. That fixed the problem for a few hours, then it started doing the same thing again - except now it works properly for about five minutes instead of one.
 
Same problem

So far it's happened only once. A restore to factory settings re-established my Internet connection, but when I restored all my data from backup the problem came back. I went to work and still didn't have wifi there on that network, but powering down then starting it back up again worked. It's been fine ever since.

If it happens again I will take a trip to the Apple store here.
 
Called the Apple store, they don't have any iPads in stock and they won't be getting any until Monday, which is when I'm going on a long road trip (which is what I bought this iPad for). :(
 
Set up a Genius Bar appointment for 9:30AM, went there today, the guy asked what the problem was and I just said that the WiFi wasn't working correctly. He asked if I wanted a full refund, or if I wanted to exchange it, so I requested an exchange. They hadn't got a shipment in yet, but he said they should today around 12:00AM and they'd reserve one for me. It's 2:45PM now and they still haven't got a shipment in, and I'm leaving for a month-long road trip in half an hour, so I'm stuck with this iPad :mad:

Also, the iPad had the same problem with the Apple Store's network, so it's definitely not my router. At least they offered to replace/refund it right away.
 
This WiFi issues is starting to appear for me as time passes by. I think we're going to see an increase in complaints about the WiFI very soon. Hopefully it is a software issue.
 
MikhailT said:
This WiFi issues is starting to appear for me as time passes by. I think we're going to see an increase in complaints about the WiFI very soon. Hopefully it is a software issue.
Click to expand...

I never had the issue either and then about two days ago I got the "Connecting...." screen. Tried cycling the power - same issue.

I'm using a TC dual band (bands named differently). Question for all of you. If I bought this from Best Buy (on launch day) - can I take it to Apple?

What are my options?
 
I'm having the same problem. I initially had a problem with my FiOS router that I managed to fix, thought I was in the clear, and now I'm getting the 'Connecting', prompting me for entering my PW again, or just clear cut kicking me off my network. This is all sitting within 6 to 8 feet of my router.

I guess it's not that bad since I can get back on, but seriously, WTF. I have over 10 devices in my house that have connected fine since day 1, so I'm not going dish out money to get a new router in order to make this work. Hopefully a solution is forthcoming.
 
rkdiddy said:
I never had the issue either and then about two days ago I got the "Connecting...." screen. Tried cycling the power - same issue.

I'm using a TC dual band (bands named differently). Question for all of you. If I bought this from Best Buy (on launch day) - can I take it to Apple?

What are my options?
Click to expand...

Yes, you can take it to Apple, it doesn't matter where you bought the device. Apple has all the serial numbers in their database, they know when it was shipped out to determine the warranty date.

Your options are to take it back to Apple for replacement or wait till the next firmware that should be coming very soon. Make sure you send an email to Apple about this problem.


ballen420 said:
I'm having the same problem. I initially had a problem with my FiOS router that I managed to fix, thought I was in the clear, and now I'm getting the 'Connecting', prompting me for entering my PW again, or just clear cut kicking me off my network. This is all sitting within 6 to 8 feet of my router.

I guess it's not that bad since I can get back on, but seriously, WTF. I have over 10 devices in my house that have connected fine since day 1, so I'm not going dish out money to get a new router in order to make this work. Hopefully a solution is forthcoming.
Click to expand...

Don't buy any new routers or anything else, this is clearly a software issue, not a hardware issue. Either wait it out till next firmware release or contact Applecare about either replacement or at least inform them that you're having this problem. You can choose to send feedback about this issue to Apple at their feedback site.
 
MikhailT said:
Yes, you can take it to Apple, it doesn't matter where you bought the device. Apple has all the serial numbers in their database, they know when it was shipped out to determine the warranty date.

Your options are to take it back to Apple for replacement or wait till the next firmware that should be coming very soon. Make sure you send an email to Apple about this problem.




Don't buy any new routers or anything else, this is clearly a software issue, not a hardware issue. Either wait it out till next firmware release or contact Applecare about either replacement or at least inform them that you're having this problem. You can choose to send feedback about this issue to Apple at their feedback site.
Click to expand...

Great...thanks.
 
The Geniuses I saw over the weekend seemed to feel pretty strongly that Wifi issues are software based and that there's supposedly an update being released "very soon" to address the issues.

Also, as Princeton University (and others) noted, there's issues with the DHCP client on the iPad, issues that could be looking like general Wifi problems to the user.
 
f00f said:
The Geniuses I saw over the weekend seemed to feel pretty strongly that Wifi issues are software based and that there's supposedly an update being released "very soon" to address the issues.

Also, as Princeton University (and others) noted, there's issues with the DHCP client on the iPad, issues that could be looking like general Wifi problems to the user.
Click to expand...

I don't think most home/average users are going to notice the DHCP issues since most will have an address pool of roughly 250 by default.
 
It's shameful that, in 2010, Apple can't perfect this newfangled thing called WiFi. Steve and his "magical" company should be thoroughly embarrassed.

Can't wait for the release-day unboxing of my iPad 3G's, followed by the WiFi defects, followed by the recommendation for special programming of the router (which by the way no other device seems to need), followed by the inevitable trek to the Apple store only to be told that there is no availability for exchanges.
 
IbisDoc said:
It's shameful that, in 2010, Apple can't perfect this newfangled thing called WiFi. Steve and his "magical" company should be thoroughly embarrassed.

Can't wait for the release-day unboxing of my iPad 3G's, followed by the WiFi defects, followed by the recommendation for special programming of the router (which by the way no other device seems to need), followed by the inevitable trek to the Apple store only to be told that there is no availability for exchanges.
Click to expand...

Every major company had some major issues, QA is never perfect and no company is perfect either. Apple usually does provide fixes majority of the time via software updates. They do take a long time to fix the issues but they do work on improving their products and making sure everybody is happy.

This problem isn't hardware, it's just a software bug in a first release for a brand new product. There's no exchange required for this. The only reason some people notice the exchange working better was that it had nothing to do with the hardware but the software bug wasn't showing up as it takes time for the bug to appear.

There's no special programming required on the routers to fix this bug, Apple's recommendation on naming the dual band networks separately is something that should've been done for all the routers in the first place for all products, not just Apple stuff.
 
I'm going through the same thing. Perfect Wifi 10 feet from my router, but as soon as I walk into another room, the bars stay at full but I can barely load anything
 
Funny I just posted a similar problem like this on the other thread.

I have a question to the thread starter. Did you have to replicate the wifi issue at the Apple Store?
 
That-Is-Bull said:
When I connect my iPad to a WiFi network (my home Linksys router, or my iPhone), the signal stays at two or three bars, but I don't have an Internet connection. If I restart my iPad, the WiFi works for about one minute, then it goes out again - but the network's still listed and selected and the signal is fine.

Anybody have any ideas? Is there somewhere I can download the iPad software so I can try a restore?
Click to expand...

Some Linksys and Netgear routers do this and some are funny with Macbooks it seems. Definitely try firmware update as others have suggested, but there seem to be some models that won't play ball. One option is a new router, another is to use Airport Express like I do. It allows me to stream wireless music to speakers as well. Plus it uses faster wireless than my router does.
 
p-rice said:
I have a question to the thread starter. Did you have to replicate the wifi issue at the Apple Store?
Click to expand...

When I went to replace it in the Apple Store where I live, I just told them that I was having wifi problems, and they said they'd replace it no questions asked. But they didn't have any iPads in stock at the time, and didn't get any until I was on vacation in Oregon. So I went to the Apple store here in Portland to replace it, told them I was having wifi problems, and they took it into the room behind the genius bar and messed with it for a good five or ten minutes before deciding to replace it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back