iPad won't play BBC iplayer on my wifi but will on neighbours.

[Janeydelow]

I'm a new member and have an iPad one without 3 g. Up until 2 weeks ago I could get BBC iplayer. I can use wifi in all other apps where required, but not bbc iplayer. In settings I am connected, plus wifi icon shows at top of screen. Message on screen when I try to use iplayer says I must connect to wifi to make bbc Iplayer work, but I am connected. I have switched router on and off, have reloaded iplayer numerous times. If I use my neighbours wifi connection i can make iplayer work. My broadband provider is Aol, my neighbours uses talk talk. Help I am at a loss.

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

The easiest first way to try to solve ‘unexplained’ or ‘unusual’ problems with the iPad are:-

Force the offending app to close. If you have iOS 4.2 or 4.3 double-press the ‘Home’ button to bring up the multi-task bar at the bottom of the screen. Press *and hold* any icon until they start to ‘jiggle’. Then tap the top left-hand corner of the app that you want to close. It will ‘disappear’ from the list. Don’t panic - you’ve not deleted it, just closed it. Now tap the Home screen and the multi-task bar will disappear. Re-open the iPad’s app and see if the problem has resolved itself. If not, it’s on to possible solution number two!!
Restart the iPad. Press *and hold* the Power button. After a couple of seconds a slider control will appear asking you to confirm that you really want to switch the iPad off (this is all you’ll be doing). Slide the control to accept. A rotating white ‘bezel’ will appear in the iPad screen as the iPad powers down (it takes a few seconds, just like it would if you were shutting down your PC). When the screen of the iPad has gone completely blank, press *and hold* the Power button for a couple of seconds until the white Apple logo appears and the iPad starts to power up. This takes several seconds, so be patient. During the power up the automatic screen orientation function is disabled, so don’t panic. A few seconds before the power up is complete, the iPad plays a little ‘jingle’ and then you’re back to the Home screen. Restart the iPad’s app and see if the problem persists. Apple (and Forum members) recommend that you power down your iPad at least once a week, just as you might regularly completely switch off your PC. The normal procedure of just briefly pressing the Power button of the iPad merely puts it to ‘sleep’. Most Forum members have found that one of the two methods I’ve mentioned here cure a whole bunch of unexplained problems and are an easy first step to resolving most anything that happens on the iPad.

Tim
Scotland

 

[Janeydelow]

Unable to play BBC iplayer

I've tried deleting the app as described, and have turned iPad off completely for 10 mis, but still says must connect to wifi!
Any other ideas?...

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

OK - that procedure doesn't delete the app, it simply quits it completely. Do you have the latest version of iPlayer? The reason I ask is that, when I updated to the latest iPlayer app I found that it would now work on 3G too. OK - I know you have a WiFi iPad but I was surprised that you got that error message.

OK - try one more thing, which helps in a number of cases. Go into 'Settings', 'WiFi' and tell it to 'forget' your WiFi connection. Now, when the iPad finds your WiFi again you'll have to re-enter all the various passwords and/or encryption keys as it will look like a new WiFi connection to the iPad.

See if that fixes the problem and don't hesitate to get back in contact if the problem still persists...we like a challenge!!

Tim

 

[Janeydelow]

Still no luck

Thank you for ideas, have done everything suggested and still I get the message "must connect to wifi" when trying to use BBC iplayer. Everything else working on wifi. Any more thoughts?
Janey

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

This is really weird. Do you get that message straight away when the app starts up, or do you see the app's Home screen first and you only get that message when you actually try to watch a program?

Tim

 

[douglasrmackinnon]

This is happening to me as well. Have done all you suggested, but still get the message re wifi.

 

[Janeydelow]

When I tap the iplayer icon up pops the page with all programmes, I can select a programme and it loads the home page for that programme. It is when I press the arrow in the middle of the screen to start the programme that I get the exceedingly irritating message must connect to wifi.
Janey

 

[Wislog]

I am having the same problem. Used to be able to use iPlayer and now can't. Could the problem be with aol? They are my provider too.

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

It certainly works just fine for me. I'm not sure how the service provider, AOL, would be an issue but, hey, anything's possible. Can you access iPlayer via the website with Safari?

Tim

 

[col.bris]

I would see if the modem/ router needs an update as that is the only item between the I pad and the net

 

[Gabriel1]

It may also be worth initialling the Speedtest X HD app to measure your download speed. Always best to run it 2 or 3 times to get an average broadband speed.

 

[douglasrmackinnon]

I'm not AOL, and have tried it with various wifi and it still doesn't work. Very frustrating.

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

I don't understand it. I have the iPlayer app - latest update - on an iPad1 and it runs just fine. No problems at all. Even works on 3G!!

Tim

 

[Wislog]

It certainly works just fine for me. I'm not sure how the service provider, AOL, would be an issue but, hey, anything's possible. Can you access iPlayer via the website with Safari?

Tim

If I go via Safari and click on the arrow to start the programme playing I get the same message
"Please switch to a Wi-Fi connection to play this programme".
I can view BBC News and Sky News without any problems.