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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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Apple to issue fix for iPad WiFi problems - but no date set

By | May 11, 2010, 11:53am PDT

Summary: Ever since the release of the iPad, Apple’s shiny new device has been plagued by WiFi issues. Today Apple has updated a support document to suggest that a fix these problems will be made available in a future software update.

Ever since the release of the iPad, Apple’s shiny new device has been plagued by WiFi issues. Today Apple has updated a support document to suggest that a fix these problems will be made available in a future software update.

Here’s a link to the support document.

Here’s the relevant quote:

A very small number of iPad users have experienced issues with Wi-Fi connectivity. This article outlines workarounds for these issues. Apple will also address remaining Wi-Fi connectivity issues with a future iPad software update.

For completeness, here is a list of the suggested fixes offered by Apple:

  • Update WiFi router firmware
  • Use WPA or WPA2 wireless security
  • Adjust screen brightness (not sure what this offers …)
  • Renew IP address

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Topics

Apple iPad, Apple Inc., Wireless LANs, Wi-Fi, Wireless And Mobility, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
adamjones342 1st Oct
Your comment listed MS, HP and Dell as companies that have custom term paper denied issues, and while true in some cases, those companies in fact generally acknowledge their issues rather quickly - particularly when compared to Apple.
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Lies, Lies, Lies !!!
Steve@... 11th May 2010
apple has stated from the beginning that there is no problem with the WiFi, so it's clear that you are only slinging mud from your Microsoft padded cell, where you are so far removed from reality, that you probably aren't aware that over a million people have purchased the holy grail in less than 2 months time !

Now, I'll sit back and wait to get hit with my own barrage of mud from the real fanboys happy
Thanks for keeping us all up to date on apple's perfection.
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No problem?
OhTheHumanity 11th May 2010
@Steve@... Looks like he collected this info from Apple so not sure why Apple has a fix in the works for a problem that doesn't exist? You must be hooked up to an IV drip of kool-aide.
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
adamjones342 1st Oct
Your comment listed MS, HP and Dell as companies that have custom term paper denied issues, and while true in some cases, those companies in fact generally acknowledge their issues rather quickly - particularly when compared to Apple.
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Apple never stated "there is no problem with the WiFi", *pointless* sarcasm
DeRSSS 11th May 2010
The subject.
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Absolutely NOT Pointless...
Steve@... 11th May 2010
Only helping the fanboys get started at denial and insult...
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Masochist?
John Zern 11th May 2010
devil
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adjust brightness?
OhTheHumanity 11th May 2010
Apple really engineered this thing pretty crazy if the brightness affects the network performance. I like how they are gonna issue a fix, but then they tell you to update your router firmware? Apple sure is not one to come clean on anything are they?
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
adrich 12th May 2010
@daMan25 It's like in Star Trek where they have to transfer more power to the shields!
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
artk@... 11th May 2010
Apple has a pattern of denying problems and then fixing them a some later date. About a year ago, I updated my MAC Pro, and the WiFi stopped working in my office, it was fine everywhere else. I called support, e-mailed, nothing but denials. Two updates later, it starts working again.
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
Texvette 11th May 2010
@artk@... Apple, Microsoft, HP , Dell.. name one that has not taken a similar path... frankly, I have 2 iPADS personally, and have a community that has more than a 100 and no NW issues.. b, g or N and not using Apple 'Airport' devices... If you do not have an iPAD and if you have not experienced the issue without resolution ... you do not have a voice on this topic... sorry.. that is right, we do no thave to be factual on this blog
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
milesandmiles 11th May 2010
@Texvette your response to artk amounts to telling him/her to STFU. artk's comments are indeed relevant and factual. Your comment listed MS, HP and Dell as companies that have denied issues, and while true in some cases, those companies in fact generally acknowledge their issues rather quickly - particularly when compared to Apple. Facts don't seem to matter so much to you either.
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Wishful thinking; Apple never stated "there is no problem with the WiFi"
DeRSSS 11th May 2010
@artk@... So there is no "pattern".
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iPad Power Management
Playdrv4me Updated - 11th May 2010
The Wi-Fi stack in both iPads that I've had thus far (two Wi-Fi models) have worked perfectly acceptably. The only rub however must have something to do with the way the iPad conserves power. I noticed that when I used the iPad connected to my Palm Pre's shared Wi-Fi connection, the Pre constantly "chimed" to alert me the iPad was "connected". This seemed to happen every few minutes after I set the iPad down and then picked it back up again. Not a problem by itself, but that chime was pretty annoying in quiet public settings.

I can however, see this little arrangement wreaking havoc in a variety of ways on various networks and routers depending on how they assign and release IPs etc. It may also be related to the strange suggestion involving reducing brightness. It's possible the power management system is dynamic enough to detect less current draw from the backlight, and thus less of a need to turn the Wi-Fi on and off so frequently.

Who knows with Apple..
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WiFi issues
dtroyerSMU 11th May 2010
Apple has pulled the big one here. WiFi issues are springing up on the campus here. Sudden shutdown of WAPs since the appearance of the iPad. We are still hoping to stop the rogue WiFi iPad on the campus and get it updated. We also experienced the sudden stealing of IP addresses when Apple laptops are turned on. Yes, they steal existing WiFi IP addresses given to other clients via DHCP. Dont ask me why this happens but the fix for this problem was to turn off the WiFi on the Apple laptop, and wala! problem solved.

Question is: Why is Apple Computers messing with network setups in the wireless arena? (could be that their Airport idea is going south fast)

As a technician for an university, I only ask that Apple use DHCP correctly on their Airport configurations and iPad included.
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
bspurloc 11th May 2010
This DHCP hogging is the exact issue I see happening when the IPAD is ON. I have forced it onto an IP now. which of course a campus cant really do. I mean you can but why?
Apple fix your crap.
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You mean those 5 or so people who had a temporary problem?
AzuMao 12th May 2010
Out of millions?
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Ipad mangles DHCP
bspurloc 11th May 2010
It appears to be a DHCP flood issue. If the ipad is on nothing can get an ip as the ipad seems to be hogging them or flooding the dhcp port. I have my ipad now set to be given only a certain ip and this seems to have solved the problem.
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RE: RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
Ragspur Updated - 11th May 2010
I purchased one on opening day and almost from the outset it has a wifi connection problem. It's random, yet annoying. And it happens on different networks, so it's not my equipment. The cool factor outweighs the random connection problems.
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
Badgered 11th May 2010
@Ragspur The cool factor outweighs the random connection problems.

For you perhaps... those affected by the iPad's IP issues at Princeton I believe it was, may disagree.
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
donpar@... 11th May 2010
The whole thing is that the iPad was NOT perfect--my faith has been shattered forever!
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
borg_88 11th May 2010
The whole point is that the iPad was NOT perfect--my faith has been shattered forever! Apple's denials of problems are naive at best and dangerous at the worst...
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
dcolbert@... 12th May 2010
I've got a 64GB WiFi Only (no 3G) iPad. I've got a Belkin Wireless pre-N router. Forget the model.

Anyhow, it worked for awhile, and then the iPad, and only the iPad, started having huge problems. I switched from DHCP to a static IP address, and the problem went away. This was after reading some feedback that indicated it had to do with funky DHCP on the iPad and looking at the symptoms myself. If I shut the WiFi on the Apple off and turned it back on, it worked for a few minutes, then stopped working again.

Clearly something is going on with the DHCP renew after the lease is up. And clearly it is in the iPad's DHCP code, nowhere else.
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
fmrhodes 12th May 2010
@dcolbert@... that there are networking issues with iPad is known to every traveler through the San Jose and DFW airport. In both airports the iPad won't connect to the free public WiFi network that's available. In San Jose I'm told that if you set the "Proxy" from Off to Auto it can then connect but that trick doesn't work in DFW.
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
dgarick@... 12th May 2010
I think all these fellows ought to get rid of their ipads .
DBG
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RE: Apple to issues fix for iPad WiFi problems
Christian C Spence 12th May 2010
I've had my iPad 64gb since the day it was released. Absolutly 0 problems. No WIFI glitches at all. I've connected to dozens of hotspots in 2 countries as well as my home network. Ive read these blogs about WIFI but among the dozens of people I know that personally own an iPad none have experienced this.

As a side note, I get 14 plus hours of continuous use on a single charge. So far the iPad had been everything it's advertised and more. If you don't like Apple products don't buy them. Apple is the BMW of computing. HP, Dell the GM and Ford.
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Solution Found!
jorislive Updated - 1st Mar 2011
Just bought an Ipad, same problems here, wifi for a few Minutes and the gone, reset Wifi in Settings panel and again I was good to go for a few minutes, very frustrating......

BUT I found the solution on the Sitecom site, It said that Macbooks, so I thought that may as well apply for IPADs, only can listen to one 802.11 protocol, AND the best one is The 802.11N protocol. THAN you also should ONLY use WPA2 (WPA-AES) security, since this is the only correct combination for the N protocol.

that's the trick!

Ciao, joris

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