Several iPad users have reported weak Wi-Fi signals and/or inordinately slow transfer speeds. In these cases, users report fast connection and throughput from Macs, PCs, iPhones and other devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network, but significantly degraded speeds and/or fluctuating signal strength on the iPad.
One poster to Apple’s Discussion boards, powerguru, ran a speed comparison using the free speedtest.net site. He writes:
“I used speedtest.net app both on iPhone 3GS and the new iPad. I clearly see the difference.
- iPad download speed is 1.83 megabits/sec whereas
- iPhone 3GS download speed is 14.77 megabits/sec
“Upload speed seems comparable. Also, iPad uses 802.11n and iphone 3GS uses 802.11g. I do have N router.”
Potential Fixes
Turn router off then on Try turning your wireless router off then back on.
Change wireless security You may want to try toggling the settings on your wireless router, switching from WPA to WEP or vice versa, or, as a last resort, turning wireless security off altogether.
For AirPort routers, this can be accomplished with the AirPort Admin Utility. For other routers, this can usually be accomplished by accessing the router’s configuration page — open a browser and enter the address 192.168.1.1.
Reset network settings. On your iPad, open Settings, then navigate to “General” in the left-hand pane. Scroll down and tap Reset, then select “Reset Network Settings.” This will delete any stored WiFi passwords and other information, but may result in a more stable connection.
Change thresholds in router settings Access your routers configuration screen (for most routers, open a browser and enter the address 192.168.1.1), then change the fragmentation threshold and the CTS/RTS threshold as described here.
Some users have found success with the settings Fragmentation= 2048, RTS = 512.
Similar issue? Please let us know at info@appletoolbox.com.
April 5, 2010 at 7:19 PM
My iPad consistently tests out 14-17MB on an n-Router and 4-5MB on a g-router. I suspect these issues are draft n implementation dependent.
April 10, 2010 at 3:46 PM
Fixes listed are fine until you try to connect to a router you don’t own or have access to. Apple need to pull their finger out. How could they release this device without thoroughly testing the wifi? It’s kind of important..
April 18, 2010 at 7:56 PM
Great information! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Thanks!
May 2, 2010 at 9:45 PM
Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!
December 3, 2010 at 7:46 AM
I had this same issue and was able to “fix” it completely by switching to an unsecured wifi network. Internet speed was restored completely. It’s some kind of iPad glitch related to secured networks.
December 17, 2010 at 8:03 PM
I’m using the Linksys E3000 router (dual radio band). I set my 2.4 Ghz band to wireless G-only, gave it a different SSID, and had my iPad forget the wireless N network. Bam! it went from .1 Mbs to 3 Mbs download. Kind of a kludgy fix, but I’ll take it.
December 23, 2010 at 8:16 AM
I had same problem. what i did, changed my router setting
to shared 64bit key. as i can see for now, it began to ect
normally. waiting for a change.
December 28, 2010 at 6:51 PM
I just changed my router from wireless N mixed mode to
wireless G mixed mode and the iPad is flying. Initial speed tests
on wireless n mixed mode was 0.14mb download. Once I switched to
wireless g mixed mode, speedtest was at 10.00mb download, way
faster. Not a big deal for me to switch from N to G because I don’t
do much file sharing or streaming across the network, but I agree
that apple has to fix this problem. I was ready to return this iPad
because of slow Internet speed, ridiculously slow Internet
speed.
January 12, 2011 at 11:58 PM
Thanks guys! I had the same issue with iPad and after I
switched my router to G only, my download went through th roof.
Went from max of 280 kbs to 2700 kbs…lol!
March 19, 2011 at 3:18 PM
Thanks all! Very helpful. Changed to wireless-G only and switched security to WEP2 TKIP and iPad went from 884/90 Kbps to 2113/419 Kbps!
March 28, 2011 at 12:41 AM
Could someone tell me hopw to change the settings on my router through iPad pls as struggling with internet speed also.
Thanks
April 14, 2011 at 12:39 PM
no change when update
can somebody help ??
May 10, 2011 at 4:13 AM
Hi , OpenDNS greatly increased browsing speed for me. Changed the DNS addresses for my wifi network in iPad settings to 208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220. I did write down the original addresses.