It appears that Apple has not tweaked out the iPad to be prepared to deal with WiFi network routers that use dual band technology. With many routers now supporting 2.4 to 5.4GHz connections, it is surprising that Apple has not been able to future-proof the tablet for this issue.
In any case, the Cupertino based company has found a small fix that might help users, though it would mean having to change their current network settings. According to Apple, the remedy would involve changing your setup: “Under certain conditions, iPad may not automatically rejoin a known Wi-Fi network after restart or waking from sleep. This can occur with some third-party Wi-Fi routers that are dual-band capable when using the same network name for each network, or using different security settings for each network.”
Owners of dual band routers are advised to split up the network into two different names.
Of course, this is the part where customers get to call back Apple and say that it is the iPad that needs a fix and not their router. Simply put, changing the settings on a network would mean that all other devices that use that router would also have to be adjusted –simply because the iPad cannot handle the settings. It will not be much of an issue if all devices on the network can deal with any setting on the router or are all tuned into a single band (either 2.4GHz or 5.4GHz), but for others, it would mean having to adjust more than just the router.
Even if all this means is changing the network name that a device should tune into, it is not a step that people have to take simply because Apple was unable foresee the issue and is too lazy to create a patch for.
Also, this means that connecting to a free WiFi hotspot that uses dual band routers would be a problem –network owners have no obligation to change settings just for iPad users.
Get to know more about Apple’s solution to the reported issues with the iPad’s WiFi problems at the Telegraph UK.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iPad, AppleiPhone