@OP, download something like Netstumbler and check the wifi networks around you to see which channel they use. My wifi network was choking badly always having performance issues and I found that there were at least 20 networks within range all using channel 1.
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4.2 GMb still has the wifi problem!!!
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I haven't had any issues with WiFi during my own App testing, and both of my Apps use WiFi.
I can't talk in a public forum about specific issues I read on the Apple iOS developer site or boards because that info is all under NDA. (plus I use my real name here.
)I can say in general, that the MacRumors forum is a reasonable mirror of the problem reports you typically see developers reporting.
The major difference is that developers will often include a full dump of all applications and libraries loaded, memory levels, related crash reports, etc. For an issue with 3rd party hardware, a developer would include model numbers, configuration, and firmware versions of that hardware.
Developers will sometimes submit an error that they read about (and can recreate) on forums like MacRumor. I've done that in the past. In general, if it's an error lots of people are talking about, it probably already has a bug report filed by someone at Apple, or another developer.
Went from 3.2 to 4.2a to 4.2b, wifi behavior is exactly the same on mine no matter which version. That is, on certain hardware (Apple hardware namely) it works flawlessly. Anything else seems to be a crapshoot. At work we have an enterprise level wifi system serving multiple networks with hundreds of simultaneous connections. No idea what the actual hardware is, but I'd wager its mostly cisco like our everything else we have.
The wifi will randomly:
*work fine with no problems
*show as being connected in the top bar but have no actual internet connection, even though it shows a legit IP + DNS (you get the "can't connect to network" dialog in safari)
*come out of sleep having really weak signal (1 bar) and very slow throughput until you toggle the wifi off then back on
*have full bars but work very slowly and fail to renew the dchp lease, however works fine when you toggle wifi off then back on
*just not pick up the network at all even though preferences pane shows the network as available with full signal
The network has always worked flawlessly on other devices including my 3g and now my 4. I'm convinced there is just something up with the hardware Apple has put in the ipad. It works "good enough" for me I suppose.
The wifi will randomly:
*work fine with no problems
*show as being connected in the top bar but have no actual internet connection, even though it shows a legit IP + DNS (you get the "can't connect to network" dialog in safari)
*come out of sleep having really weak signal (1 bar) and very slow throughput until you toggle the wifi off then back on
*have full bars but work very slowly and fail to renew the dchp lease, however works fine when you toggle wifi off then back on
*just not pick up the network at all even though preferences pane shows the network as available with full signal
The network has always worked flawlessly on other devices including my 3g and now my 4. I'm convinced there is just something up with the hardware Apple has put in the ipad. It works "good enough" for me I suppose.
I actually experience the same thing at my in-laws house. The iPad works fine here at home and at other places I have tried, but at their place, it seems fine at first, then after a few minutes (and a random amount of time each time) it just locks up and stops working.
At first, the WiFi symbol is still there, but it will then dissapear. Completely rebooting the iPad or just turning WiFi off and back on will make it work for a while. Just doing a respring does not seem to make it work. This is on 3.2.2 both before and after being Jailbroken and my FIL does not have the same issue with a Toshiba Netbook. The router is a dual band 2.4/5 gHz, where we just use a 2.4 single band N here at home, so I am not sure if thats related or not.
Static
The problem I have, that I haven't seen mentioned is my iPad WiFi works under DHCP, but at work I have to use a static IP and while it looks like it is attached to the access point, the WiFi fan in the top left doesn't show up and I cannot connect at all to the Internet. This has been only since GM build of 4.2. It worked fine in the betas and 3.2 before it.
4.2b still exhibits the exact same problem! Anyone else using iPad 4.2b with a static IP?
The problem I have, that I haven't seen mentioned is my iPad WiFi works under DHCP, but at work I have to use a static IP and while it looks like it is attached to the access point, the WiFi fan in the top left doesn't show up and I cannot connect at all to the Internet. This has been only since GM build of 4.2. It worked fine in the betas and 3.2 before it.
4.2b still exhibits the exact same problem! Anyone else using iPad 4.2b with a static IP?
I'm on iOS 3.2 and I don't have the WiFi issue, and I use my iPad all day long on WiFi.
I'm connecting to a Airport Extreme, if it makes a difference.
I have experienced some issues with some 3rd party routers such as the LinkSys, but it's not new to me, even before I had an iPad I had issues with my MBP and before with my Toshiba Laptop.
IMO Linksys routers are terrible.
I'm connecting to a Airport Extreme, if it makes a difference.
I have experienced some issues with some 3rd party routers such as the LinkSys, but it's not new to me, even before I had an iPad I had issues with my MBP and before with my Toshiba Laptop.
IMO Linksys routers are terrible.
+1.
I'd been experiencing the WiFi issues also since WiFi launch day back in April. Tried three different routers (Linksys, Netgear and Uverse Motorola), and had the signal dropping repeatedly. I installed inSSIDer on a Windows laptop and saw that all my neighbors were running on channels 6-8. As soon as I changed by router config to run on channel 11, all WiFi issues disappeared, from build 3.2.2 - 4.2GM - 4.2GMb.
It's definitely worth taking a look at.
Matt
You see you guys are too smart for the average user. Hahaha. I doubt they know about what could even cause interference let alone troubleshoot in the manner that you did or the other poster.
My point is that I would think that many of the WiFi issues are more related to the router and environment rather than the iPad itself. That's just my opinion but I've been to far too many houses to troubleshoot issues that were fixed with a firmware update or repositioning of the router. An education on the distance from the device always seemed to be warranted as well along with the quality of the device.
Here is what I am experiencing.
4.2a:
*Email worked fine
*Safari was working fine at first. But started not working
*When I turn the iPad off and restart, Safari worked with the first web address. But would not work afterward.
4.2b:
*Email doesn't work
*Safari doesn't work even if I reset the network settings and restart iPad.
I will have to try the router channel options tonight as mentioned few posts above... I will report back if it worked or not.
4.2a:
*Email worked fine
*Safari was working fine at first. But started not working
*When I turn the iPad off and restart, Safari worked with the first web address. But would not work afterward.
4.2b:
*Email doesn't work
*Safari doesn't work even if I reset the network settings and restart iPad.
I will have to try the router channel options tonight as mentioned few posts above... I will report back if it worked or not.
I changed my router from 11 to 6 to 11 channels just to make sure.
But it still doesn't work.
What's funny is that I am using a same router at work and 4.2b was working fine at work.
But not at home...
This is very frustrating.
But it still doesn't work.
What's funny is that I am using a same router at work and 4.2b was working fine at work.
But not at home...
This is very frustrating.
It sometimes forgets the connection for me, so I have to go back into Settings and reselect the wifi network.
I haven't noticed any WiFi problems with any of the 4.2 builds. I've been travelling with it as well, using it in a variety of locations, and it's worked like a champ every time.
Not sure what's going on, however, I'd have to say it's more than likely individual setups causing the problem or perhaps not wiping and restoring to a 4.2 version.
Not sure what's going on, however, I'd have to say it's more than likely individual setups causing the problem or perhaps not wiping and restoring to a 4.2 version.
This is just a suggestion since you are experiencing different issues with the same equipment in different places. Do a full iPad restore with the new firmware and flash your home router with the latest manufacturer firmware. I don't know your router setup, but you may want to replicate the work environment settings at home as well and mark results (similar SSID name, hidden or not hidden, same type of encryption if any, etc.).
Considering your situation, it's either environmental or router hardware/software or a combination of both.
I'd be interested to hear if the 3rd edition of 4.2GM (4.2.1) has cured wifi problems for those who have been suffering with this problem? If so I could see this being the final version and ready to be released soon. For me all three gold masters have been flawless although I may have to do a recalibration of my battery since updating to iOS 4.2.1GM yesterday.