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Oh, THERE are those wifi issues...

M

Mike2128

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 8, 2008
273
47
Damn, had the iPad since last Monday and considered myself lucky to have gotten a fully working iPad. Didn't have any issues at all with regards to wifi connectivity. Then, 2 days ago, I started getting "invalid password" messages fairly regularly. Now today I don't get those so much as I just lose connection entirely. No error or anything, the connection just disappears from the status bar and I have to go back into settings to reconnect (which more often than not requires me to forget the network and start again). I tried resetting network settings and it seems to have gotten worse.

Are we thinking this is hardware or software related? I don't want to exchange it if I don't have to.

EDIT: happened again! Had a solid connection as I typed that message. As soon as i hit submit, i get a "connecting..." message. It then asks me which network I'd like to connect to. I select my network (the only option, it seems). It tries, then says unable to join network. Curses.
 
Mike2128 said:
Damn, had the iPad since last Monday and considered myself lucky to have gotten a fully working iPad. Didn't have any issues at all with regards to wifi connectivity. Then, 2 days ago, I started getting "invalid password" messages fairly regularly. Now today I don't get those so much as I just lose connection entirely. No error or anything, the connection just disappears from the status bar and I have to go back into settings to reconnect (which more often than not requires me to forget the network and start again). I tried resetting network settings and it seems to have gotten worse.

Are we thinking this is hardware or software related? I don't want to exchange it if I don't have to.

EDIT: happened again! Had a solid connection as I typed that message. As soon as i hit submit, i get a "connecting..." message. It then asks me which network I'd like to connect to. I select my network (the only option, it seems). It tries, then says unable to join network. Curses.
Click to expand...

Did you install any Apps before it started happening?
 
*** knocks on wood***

I had wifi issues and was contemplating returning until a fix was released but for me it turned out to be my router settings causing the issue. I searched the Apple support forums and found a thread with issues related to my Verizon FiOS router.

Do you know if you're connecting to your router using a WEP password?

For me, this seemed to be the issue. I changed my router to broadcast on a specific channel and then changed my security settings to WPA and haven't had an issue in the past 3 hours. I've turned it off and on and haven't been prompted to enter my password. It also cleared up issues where YouTube buffered extremely slow.

Worth looking into. Good luck.
 
Turning your brightness level up a few notches
supposedly fixes the WiFi connection problem.
 
What kind of routers are you guys using that are having problems?

I haven't had any problems but I have a fairly old school Linksys Wireless G router...none of that new dual N technology stuff.
 
NJRonbo said:
Turning your brightness level up a few notches
supposedly fixes the WiFi connection problem.
Click to expand...

None of the hacky fixes have had any effect on my wifi issues...I'm next to my router and can watch my signal go from 3 bars to 1 to blinking off to 2 to 1 to 3 and so on. My MBP has no issues.
 
HXGuy said:
What kind of routers are you guys using that are having problems?

I haven't had any problems but I have a fairly old school Linksys Wireless G router...none of that new dual N technology stuff.
Click to expand...

Same one I use with no problems.
 
technopimp said:
D-Link DIR-655
Click to expand...

So it's one of those "fancy" newer ones. Have you thought about trying an older Wireless G router? Is there a particular reason that you want an N router (other than the fact of course that you already own it).
 
One thing I did notice is that my iPad doesn't pick up the same amount of networks in my neighborhood like my MacBook pro. My signal is at full strength on the iPad at all times too.
 
HXGuy said:
So it's one of those "fancy" newer ones. Have you thought about trying an older Wireless G router? Is there a particular reason that you want an N router (other than the fact of course that you already own it).
Click to expand...

Well,

A) my MBP uses N and it is much nicer overall for, well, everything
B) I do already own it (as you pointed out), and
C) switching to an older router to make my iPad work (when the MBP already does) is, to me, an unacceptable solution
 
technopimp said:
Well,

A) my MBP uses N and it is much nicer overall for, well, everything
B) I do already own it (as you pointed out), and
C) switching to an older router to make my iPad work (when the MBP already does) is, to me, an unacceptable solution
Click to expand...

What about adding an older Wireless G router to the system? Sucks having to spend more money but you wouldn't have to dump your N router and it probably will solve your iPad problems.
 
technopimp said:
Well,

A) my MBP uses N and it is much nicer overall for, well, everything
B) I do already own it (as you pointed out), and
C) switching to an older router to make my iPad work (when the MBP already does) is, to me, an unacceptable solution
Click to expand...
Your router was made over three years ago before the N standard was even finalized. Sorry, but it may take some tweaking to get it to work right (if it ever does).
 
technopimp said:
Well,

A) my MBP uses N and it is much nicer overall for, well, everything
B) I do already own it (as you pointed out), and
C) switching to an older router to make my iPad work (when the MBP already does) is, to me, an unacceptable solution
Click to expand...

So, it can't be a solution, but has to be the acceptable solution?
 
The only place I've had trouble is at work where my wireless connection will disappear off the ipad, and then it reconnects automatically a few seconds later.


Not sure what is causing this? No problems at home. If it is a problem with certain routers, Apple needs to fix this. I can't always demand people change their router settings to please my ipad when I'm out and about.
 
I have the fios router and it's working fine I also have two other linksys ones that I'm connected to I think there the G routers. I'm hopping I don't get them too. Sounds like aplenty could fix this with an update.
 
HXGuy said:
So it's one of those "fancy" newer ones. Have you thought about trying an older Wireless G router? Is there a particular reason that you want an N router (other than the fact of course that you already own it).
Click to expand...

I have the same "fancy" router as you strangely keep referring to it, and I have not had the same problems as him.

People just need to stop with the crazy suggestions regarding the wifi on the iPad. No one should be setting up a special router for their iPad, and no one should be offering up suggestions when they really have no idea what they're talking about. That only creates more confusion and leads to more people offering up wacky suggestions.

The wifi problems are almost certainly going to be fixed by a firmware update to the iPad in the near future.
 
Mike2128 said:
As of right now, this seems to have fixed the problem. Or at least minimized it. Either way, thank you.

I also have FiOS and it was set to WEP.
Click to expand...

I have the FiOS Actiontec MI424WR router (standard issue) running WEP and I'm having the same problems as the OP. I'm not changing to WPA, though, because then my devices that don't support WPA won't work.

It's ridiculous to expect me to re-configure my entire network for the iPad when my iPod touch, Wii, Xbox 360, PSP, DS Lite, media center, hackintosh Dell netbook, hackintosh custom desktop, and others all connect perfectly.

I'll be waiting (impatiently) for OS 3.2.1.

Although I should say, even with the problem, I'm loving the device itself. I just wish Apple would stop acting like it's fixed because they think it's a dual-band issue. And "switch to WPA" is not a fix.

To those with FiOS: I see Verizon lists a MI424WR-Gen2 router on their site. Does anyone using this version have issues? I'm trying to determine if it's worth the pain and anguish of trying to get Verizon to send me a new one.
 
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