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Will 3G iPad also have better WiFi reception?

M

macbook123

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Feb 11, 2006
1,869
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The 3G iPad has a black plastic opening on the top to allow for good 3G reception. I wonder, would we also expect it to have better WiFi reception as a result? This question should be answerable by anybody who has taken the WiFi version apart, i.e. is the WiFi antenna close to the top of the iPad? If so, presumably it will also be there in the 3G version and reception should be better...

Thanks for any thoughts on this...
 
macbook123 said:
This question should be answerable by anybody who has taken the WiFi version apart, i.e. is the WiFi antenna close to the top of the iPad? If so, presumably it will also be there in the 3G version and reception should be better...
Click to expand...



The WiFi/Bluetooth card is integrated into the dock connector cable.

Step 19
 
shady825 said:
The WiFi/Bluetooth card is integrated into the dock connector cable.

Step 19
Click to expand...

That is correct...however look at Step 24:

Step 24
Here's a detail shot of both WiFi antennas. The wireless reception should be decent with such dense antennas.

Adding 3G capability to a Wi-Fi only iPad is not going to be a very feasible upgrade.

Based on the photos released by the FCC, the 3G models include additional antennas as well as a plastic strip in the rear panel to improve reception.
 
shady825 said:
The WiFi/Bluetooth card is integrated into the dock connector cable.

Step 19
Click to expand...

Oh, too bad, I suppose that entails that the WiFi reception on the 3G won't be better than on the WiFi ones...

...unless they change the location of the WiFi card...
 
rkdiddy said:
That is correct...however look at Step 24:

Step 24
Here's a detail shot of both WiFi antennas. The wireless reception should be decent with such dense antennas.

Adding 3G capability to a Wi-Fi only iPad is not going to be a very feasible upgrade.

Based on the photos released by the FCC, the 3G models include additional antennas as well as a plastic strip in the rear panel to improve reception.
Click to expand...

Touché
I didnt read any further than 19 ;)
 
The wifi antenna is behind the plastic Apple logo on the back. I suppose they could've added another one up top, but I doubt it.

edit: whoops, didn't see in the reply above that they actually added more antennas :)
 
rkdiddy said:
That is correct...however look at Step 24:

Step 24
Here's a detail shot of both WiFi antennas. The wireless reception should be decent with such dense antennas.

Adding 3G capability to a Wi-Fi only iPad is not going to be a very feasible upgrade.

Based on the photos released by the FCC, the 3G models include additional antennas as well as a plastic strip in the rear panel to improve reception.
Click to expand...

Sorry but I don't follow. Are you suggesting there will be additional WiFi antennas in the 3G version, making its WiFi reception better? Or are you saying WiFi reception should be the same as in the WiFi-only version of the iPad?
 
shady825 said:
The WiFi/Bluetooth card is integrated into the dock connector cable.

Step 19
Click to expand...

It makes sense, communications hardware colocated, but irrelevant concerning WiFi reception. The location of the module is not nearly as important as the location of the antenna(e). On the 3G version, at least the GSM antenna will be routed towards the plastic window. It is possible that the WiFi antenna will be similarly routed. We'll have to wait for a teardown to know for sure.
 
Hm. I would have *assumed* they would just plug in the 3G module in the right upper corner in these models, and that's it. I can't see making a major change like re-routing the WiFi antenna from behind the Apple logo (which is transparent to EMF for that reason).

If WiFi was good enough in the WiFi version, it (originally) should have been planned to be good enough for the combo version.

I would also think when they assemble these, there are only two options: for a 3G: take the different back-shell, and then plug in the 3G module.

BUT, as you say, we could be wrong, and we do need a tear-down to be 100% sure. If WiFi is indeed different/beter in the 3G version, there will be a flood of eBaying going on. :)

I'll bet, though, it's like I said: 3G = WiFi + 3G module + different back-shell
 
p-rice said:
Wow if the 3g models actually do have better wifi reception, I may have to get rid of my current iPad.
Click to expand...

and I will be extra glad I already did! I plan to get a 3G even though I probably wont turn on the 3G until this Fall. Hope it somehow pwns the Wifi only in Wifi as well. ;)
 
Thanks for the comments all. Now I wonder how to test for this in the Apple store tomorrow. I wonder if the signal in the stores is so strong that the WiFi model has perfect reception, or if one will be able to tell the difference.

Or are there any "standardized" tests one could ask folks receiving their 3G's in the mail today to do?
 
I posted this elsewhere.. is there a way to see the strength of the WiFi signal being received on an iPad *without* loading an iPhone WiFi app? There has to be a way, obviously, for Apple techs, but is there a way *we* can do it easily?
 
macbook123 said:
I wonder if the signal in the stores is so strong that the WiFi model has perfect reception,
Click to expand...
Is that plausible?
I'd never would have known people were having wifi connection problem when i was at the apple store last week, because I was browsing away and I was ready to buy one, despite the fact that I wasn't able to access safari books online (that got rectified) but I didn't because my wife made a good argument for the 3g and the store was out of stock anyway.
 
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