iPad Strange network problem

[Sithinious]

I have a really strange problem and no clue as to what may be the cause or solution.

The background: I live in a small bungalow, really just four rooms and a conservatory. I have the main router in one room, provided by virgin media. It has one wireless network. Wired to that router is a TP-link unit which is plugged into a wall socket, the twin of which is plugged into a socket in another room providing a second wireless network. We have a couple of iPhones, 3 iPads, and several other devices which use these wireless networks with no problems, except for one of the ipads, the “problem child”.

A few months ago, the problem child iPad started having difficulty connecting to either wireless network. It outright refused to connect if a wireless network was chosen from the list of networks. I had to turn WiFi off, then turn it back on and wait for it to connect on its own. Over time, the problem got worse to the point where the iPad would only connect to a network if it was in the same room as the router or the TP-link extender. Then it started dropping the internet connection while connected in those rooms. It would show a full strength wireless connection, it would just randomly lose internet connectivity. Resetting the network settings on the iPad didn’t help. I assumed it was an antenna in the device going bad as a) the problem was gradually worsening and b) it was the only device having a problem. I took it to an Apple store but they were unable to figure out what the problem was but insisted that it wasn’t an antenna going bad.

Here it gets a bit weird… we were traveling and I took that iPad with me. Everywhere I went, it connected to whatever WiFi was available and worked flawlessly. Upon returning home, the iPad still had the same problems here as it had before.

I reset the virgin media router one day (yeah, I should have tried this sooner) and viola! The problem child iPad started working correctly on my home WiFi networks… for about 2 weeks. Then the cycle started over again. First it wouldn’t connect to a network if chosen, I had to turn WiFi off then on and wait for it to connect itself, then it would only connect in the same room as the WiFi source, then it would lose internet connection randomly while still showing a strong WiFi connection. No amount of router resetting would help this time around.

We recently traveled again, and yep, the iPad connects flawlessly to any WiFi network outside our home.

Anyone with any ideas about what could be the cause of this strange behavior?

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Short answer - your local network environment.

I don't see mention of a Reset Network Settings on that iPad.

I'd first reset ALL network equipment in the house (not just the Virgin router), and then Reset Network Settings on the iPad. Basically, a clean start on everything.

After that... Is there anything about the locations around the house where you use that iPad when compared to the locations where you use your other devices, or whether the issues you have connecting with that iPad are potentially location-specific within the house? There's a possibility that there is some piece (or pieces) of electrical/electronic gear generating electronic interference. This sort of thing would change as your position relative to the source of interference changes. While all gear has to meet some minimum standards for RF interference (both generating and receiving), there will always be model-by-model variability, so what's good for an iPhone 12 Pro may not be good for that iPad (or vice versa).

Similarly, there can be weak/dead spots in Wi-Fi coverage, and the possible combination of a weak coverage area plus a source of radio interference...

 

[Sithinious]

I had reset the network settings on the iPad, yes. But I love the idea of a hard reset on everything. Certainly what I will try next.

as for the locations around the house… no, the problem child iPad was being used in the exact same locations as the other two iPads (and two iPhones, come to think of it). The problem iPads IS of a different make than the other two, I think. I will check into that. I don’t believe it’s an electrical interference problem, but anything is possible I suppose. I will look into that as well.

thanks much for your reply.