Apple must have sent me a replacement but the replacment had the same issues and same serial number (didn't think this was legal if it was a replacement)
Took the iPad to the Apple store tonight along with my MacBook Air. The Apple store download speed is in the range of 40mbs which is where my MacBook Air tested. The iPad downloaded in the 7mbs and uploaded in the 18mbs. Is this an issue? Not according to the Apple Genius who told me
he doesn't use speed tests as a metric for broadband speed. Instead, he would take the iPad to the back and test it.
Besides he said, the comparison isn't between the iPad and MacBook Air but between iPads: this is a confession that the iPad is not a broadband device.
Sure enough, he came back and stated there were no issues with the iPad. I asked him how he tested. His response: by comparing video quality between the iPads. I made him bring the "good iPad" to the floor and reminded him that video quality at 7mbs would be good and there would likely be little quality difference between the two iPads. Instead we watched the progress bar on each iPad and sure enough, my iPad was significantly slower. He offered to replace my iPad, which began experiencing issues not more than 30 days after purchase, with a refurbished model. This is a very crappy business model but I'm weary of it and took the refurbished model home.
Now I'm testing the new refurbished iPad and find it only has 1/2 to 2/3 wifi capacity of all the other devices. And this is either my second or third iPad so my conclusion is the wifi issue is systemic and many more if not most iPads users silently suffer this problem. The wifi issues are masked by a fast broadband service (getting 5mbs instead of 10mbs will still result in very good video quality and decent transfer rates) or 3G is transfer medium. The faster progress bar on the "good" iPad may have been downloading at 20 - 25mbs - fast but only 1/2 to 2/3 capacity of other mac devices.
I'd like to take a poll to see how many users have DSL as their main broadband medium. My home is rural NJ so I have little choice - 4mbs is fast and shows all iPad's warts.
Now I'm starting a blog to shame Apple and explore other options to redeem a $700 investment that is "not fit for purpose."
Reading your post you stated you had a service warranty on the ipad what type of service? ipads are replaced not serviced do you have the original ipad or a replacement.
I also asked you to take the ipad to another location or even better still an Apple service centre or retail store and test it's speed without doing that you will continue to go around in circles. My comments are based on my background of 30 years support and resolving issues with network issues for my customers. The most common problems apart from compatibility issues is incorrect settings In many cases it is far better to replace the modem you have with a modem wifi router as having 2 different brands of devices can create issues REGARDLESS if one or more computers etc work ok. Unless you are able to look at the configuration in the modem and also the router then it is impossible to come up with a solution. I may add generally Apple routers are excellent however you have a non Apple modem in the network brand unknown.
For the record I had a similar issue when I was on holidays last Jan The unit I was staying in had wifi netgear modem router. The ipad would connect but drop off and dead slow in browsing . I contacted the owner of the unit to get approval to try to fix it and I arranged a one of my family to bring his lap top to me to test it with his laptop. It was fine so we went in to the NETGEAR and changed the security settings on the router and bingo problem fixed no drop outs and fast speed.
I understand your frustrations but at the end of the day I suggest you follow my recommendations then if it is proved that the ipad is the fault replace it UW and then your life will be back to normal.
