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iPad Wi-Fi DHCP failure

My iPad's WiFi connection has just stopped working since a couple of days ago. It can connect to WiFi access point. However, it fails to correctly obtain its IP address and other related information such as mask, DNS, and others. So, it shows full bars on the top of screen, but cannot connect to Internet at all. I had used the Internet connection and hasn't changed any network related option at all. It just stopped working. I've even tried to connect to several different wireless access points, but its symptom is same. So, I do not think that it's a specific wireless router problem.

I've reset its network setting; furthermore, I've done with "Restore". Even in the original factory setting, it shows me the same symptom. Is it a hardware problem?

iPad WiFi 16GB, Other OS, iOS version 3.2.2

Posted on Oct 23, 2010 5:19 PM

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16 replies

Oct 25, 2010 1:07 AM in response to Youngsang

I've found that some iPad users had the same problem ( http://www.ipadforums.net/ipad-general-discussions/1864-ipad-64gb-wifi-problems- cannot-connect-4.html), but hadn't found any solution yet. I've started feeling that it's not a hardware problem. Is it a problem with iOS 3.2.2? Apple doesn't provide a way to downgrade my iPad's OS. So, I cannot check it. ;(

Anyway, iPad without WiFi connection seems to be a useless device. I'm so sad. How can I fix this problem?

Oct 25, 2010 9:41 AM in response to Youngsang

Youngsang wrote:
Anyway, iPad without WiFi connection seems to be a useless device. I'm so sad. How can I fix this problem?


Those other discussions aren't really relevant and millions of users are using 3.2.2 without WiFi problems. (3.2.2 didn't contain any WiFi changes vs 3.2.1)

If your iPad doesn't work on other networks then it needs service or replacement.

Oct 25, 2010 1:33 PM in response to JimHdk

JimHdk wrote:
Those other discussions aren't really relevant and millions of users are using 3.2.2 without WiFi problems. (3.2.2 didn't contain any WiFi changes vs 3.2.1)


It's not true. It IS RELEVANT. A few guys actually complained the same problem as mine. They had used their iPad with a WiFi connection without any problem for a while, but suddenly got a problem. Furthermore, "millions of users are using 3.2.2 without WiFi problems." doesn't necessarily mean that the OS doesn't has any bug related to WiFi in it. It might not be specific to 3.2.2 only, though. If millions of users using 3.2.2 had a problem with WiFi, this bug would be pretty easy one to catch. Apple must already fix it.

In the linked forum, one of guys said that changing brightness setting is related to some WiFi connection problems. Last night, I tried to change the setting several times; then, the WiFi connection in my iPad suddenly worked. However, when I reset the iPad to make it sure, it didn't work again. I desperately tried lots of different trials, so I couldn't repeat what I did with the brightness setting. So, now it still doesn't work.

I cannot rule out the possibility of hardware fault in my case. However, based on my little experiment which I mentioned, it seems to be more like some bug in the OS.

Message was edited by: Youngsang

Oct 28, 2010 11:46 AM in response to kdubbly

I am having the same issue. I don't use the iPad - it's my wife's, so I don't know when things began going wrong. It's currently on v3.2, and in the process of upgrading to 3.2.2. The wi-fi was working great up until about a week ago, when it failed to get a DHCP IP address. It does get an IP Address from another DHCP address, so must have something to do with my Verizon FIOS router acting as the DHCP server.

What works is that I can set a static IP for the iPad and it connects fine. When I picked up the iPad to see if I could fix this issue, I noticed that the screen was not very bright at all. So possibly there is some connection to a brightness setting, as mentioned above. It's incredibly frustrating - hopefully 3.2.2 has some impact on getting a DHCP IP address.

Oct 28, 2010 1:30 PM in response to Youngsang

It's a hardware problem, but it is your router, not your iPad and, it is relatively easy to troubleshoot.

1. Reboot you router (unplug it from the power cord)
2. Reset the iPad's network settings - tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings
3. Log back into your network by tapping Settings > WiFi > Other and completely retyping your network name, security, and network password.

If the problem persists, some additional know problems that can cause this are WEP encryption and outdated router firmware.

Oct 28, 2010 6:43 PM in response to luvlabs

Within 5 minutes of googling IPAD wireless issues - it is obvious that some on this group should "know" what they are talking about before pointing newbies on wild goose chases......... it may be your router & there maybe lots of ipad users without wireless issues............... BUT there are many many that are encountering the connection issues that are legitimate & valid - i have tested all the alleged fixes available on the net on one of my ipads - on multiple wireless networks & encounter reliably the same connect problems listed herein -
This ipad is reliably pathetic before & after hard resets, network resets on multiple wifi networks & looking on the net i have lots of company.
After multiple resets all the while watching other laptops on the same routers without the intermittent connect connection problems my ipad is having it is an obvious conclusion when supported by the aforementioned googling
IT IS ABSOLUTELY AN APPLE IPAD HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO ADDRESSED

Jan 9, 2011 12:29 PM in response to Youngsang

An iPad bought a few days ago connected fine to a Linksys (Cisco) router, then yesterday refused to negotiate a valid IP address via DHCP handshake. No amount of resetting, restarting, or rebooting--even restoring--either the router, cable modem, or iPad resulted in success. (This included forgetting networks and renewing leases.) All other devices in the network connected and re-connected flawlessly; conversely, the iPad would connect to other wi-fi networks.

The router was put through several changes, including choosing only 11g devices, and changing transmission channels & SSID names. Finally, what worked a mere seconds ago, was changing the security protocol from WPA2/AES+TKIP to WPA/TKIP (only). That kickstarted the iPad into a valid IP address. In a fit of impulsivity, I changed the security BACK to WPA2/AES+TKIP and then to AES (only), and the iPad continues to connect appropriately, even after awakening from sleep mode.

I'm not sure what happened, but my guess is that the IP lease expired, and the iPad refused to negotiate a new address with the router, until the security change forced something loose. In any case, this seems to be a prevalent issue, judging from the number and breadth of threads clamoring about this issue in many forms, so this just a note of what worked for me. (I posted this in the discussions, as well.) Ciao.

Jan 23, 2011 7:03 AM in response to TashTish

THANKS !! (for an actually useful post in contrast to some of those on this thread).
I had this problem (using the latest iPad OS 4.2...) and the only thing that fixed it
was changing the router's security scheme, and just as you said, the iPad suddenly
started seeing the IP info that the router had been trying to push out via DHCP all along
(which I could see from the router's list of MAC/IP addresses it had served out via DHCP).

iPad Wi-Fi DHCP failure

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