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iPad2 wifi extremely weak

BJB Productions

BJB Productions

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 10, 2008
1,314
136
Hi,
I've noticed that my iPad is terrible when it comes to picking up wifi. For example, currently I'm in a public wifi hotspot which has (I don't know the correct name for it.. T1?) anyway really fast internet and they have really nice wifi antennas all over the huge building, and they are used to having conferences and such so it's a VERY stable network.

Anyway, I've worked here for many years and have been all over the building, so I'm her a lot with my MBP and I can get full signal pretty much anywhere. However, with my iPad I can hardly ever get good signal. Often none. Even where I'm sitting right now I am in an area that has the best strength wifi, yet I only have one bar on my iPad.

The only thing I could think that might be interfering is that installed a BestSkinsEver back protection...but that seems silly that such a thin thing would interfere with wifi....


Anyone else having this issue? Thoughts?....suggestions?
 
I installed a WiFi Extender in my house but only because it is large and has huge brick interior walls. But even before, both of my iPads had really good WiFi reception where ever I go.

Might want to drop it by the Apple store as it should be better that what you are indicating. Also, there are not a lot of threads here with the same problem.
 
Yeah also it now no longer atomically picks up or finds networks... I have to manually get it on networks. (sometimes it can't find the network even when I'm right next to the router)
 
I've heard mixed reports on the WiFi strength. Personally, mine is probably a tad better than iPad 1. Then again I have a pretty small place and most of the time I'm on the road or traveling and using my MiFi which is never more than a few feet from me :D
 
Well what's weird is that I don't recall this happening when I first got it. It worked fine up until a few days ago. Could changing the DNS affect it in any way? I don't think it should, but I did also do that to get Facetime to work.
 
No problems at all with my iPad 2. I wonder if you should get it checked out by the Apple Store?
 
BJB Productions said:
Yeah also it now no longer atomically picks up or finds networks... I have to manually get it on networks. (sometimes it can't find the network even when I'm right next to the router)
Click to expand...

Mine picks up wifis it already knows, but not new ones. I have to go into settings and select it. But as for strength, my wifi is great!
 
Mine was actually having problems also. A quick restore fixed my problem.
 
I've also noticed the iPad 2 tends to have a relatively weak WiFi antenna. It's functional but oddly enough the reception is affected by how you hold it, at least for me. I think it's a similar issue to the antenna problem with the iPhone 4. I've tested this many times and I can go from 3 full WiFi bars to 1 bar by touching the metal rim of the iPad in a certain way with my hands. This isn't noticeable right next to a wireless router but as you get farther away it certainly becomes an issue. My tests have been done on a variety of routers in a variety of homes and I've read a number of threads were people have noted similar WiFi issues.
 
iApples said:
Mine was actually having problems also. A quick restore fixed my problem.
Click to expand...

Cool, well I'll give it a shot *here's hoping* I doubt Apple has any replacements avail... so I would probably have to re-order online which could take a few months. :rolleyes:
 
nomik2 said:
It must be the router, I have streamed movies from my NAS to it just fine...
Click to expand...

Huh? I stream all sorts of stuff everyday too but that doesn't mean the WiFi antenna isn't weak in the iPad 2. It has nothing to do with the router...
 
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