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Apple offers fixes for iPad's Wi-Fi woes
By *Doug Gross*, CNN
April 7, 2010 9:57 a.m. EDT
[image: Chip Hanna uses an iPad in Fort Worth, Texas. Apple says the iPad
has trouble with Wi-Fi signals "under certain conditions."]
Chip Hanna uses an iPad in Fort Worth, Texas. Apple says the iPad has
trouble with Wi-Fi signals "under certain conditions."
*STORY HIGHLIGHTS*

- Apple acknowledges complaints about iPad's Wi-Fi connections
- Some users complain new slate computer is dropping connection where
other devices work fine
- Company suggests tweaks to Wi-Fi bands and making sure software is up
to date
- iPads will be sold with Wi-Fi and 3G connections, but first models were
Wi-Fi only

*RELATED TOPICS*

- Apple iPad <http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Apple_iPad>
- Consumer Electronics<http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Consumer_Electronics>
- Personal Computers <http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Personal_Computers>

*(CNN)* -- Apple is acknowledging complaints that its new iPad computer has
trouble connecting to the Internet.

And it's offering some possible solutions.

"Under certain conditions, iPad may not automatically rejoin a known Wi-Fi
network after restart or waking from sleep," Apple said in a
post<http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3304> on
its technical support site late Tuesday.

The post came after a day in which a growing number of people who bought the
computer over the weekend said they weren't able to get a Wi-Fi connection
or that the connection kept getting dropped.

The iPad, a touch-screen, tablet-style
computer<http://topics.cnn.com/topics/personal_computers> that
occupies digital turf somewhere between a laptop and a smartphone, went on
sale Saturday.

The model available now connects to the Internet over a Wi-Fi connection.
Later this month, Apple also will start selling an iPad version that
connects to the Internet via 3G wireless service from AT&T.

Apple said this week's connection problems can happen with third-party Wi-Fi
routers that are dual-band capable if more than one network has the same
name or someone had different security settings for the different networks.

The company suggested users create separate names for different Wi-Fi bands
and make sure that multiple networks have the same security settings.

If problems continue, the post suggests resetting the iPad's network
settings. iPad users can find those settings under the following file path:
Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

The company also advised
users<http://topics.cnn.com/topics/consumer_electronics> to
make sure they are using up-to-date wireless router software.

On Tuesday, some users were saying their Wi-Fi connections were weak, while
others were saying they weren't able to connect with Wi-Fi at all.

Some said that other wireless devices were working fine at the same spot
where the iPad <http://topics.cnn.com/topics/apple_ipad> was failing.
Several, on a message board on Apple's support site, said laying the iPad on
a flat surface made the problem worse.

Apple did not respond Tuesday to a request from CNN.com about the complaints
or immediately respond to an e-mail Wednesday morning asking about the
proposed solutions.

On Saturday, when the company reported selling 300,000 of the devices, Apple
posted a Web page outlining troubleshooting tips for "occasional problems"
that included weak Wi-Fi connections or not being able to find a signal.

The tips include moving closer to a Wi-Fi router or hot spot and making sure
the Wi-Fi router is plugged in and the power is turned on.
--
Eric D. Schwerin
Rosemont Seneca Partners
(202) 333-1880
eschwerin@rosemontseneca.co