iPads dropping WiFi connection

[#1]

I have recently moved to Plusnet so have the Plusnet Hub 2 as my router located in the middle of my house on the ground floor with a full fibre connection via BT modem. This has a powerline adaptor connector running to the upstairs of the house with another powerline WiFi extender at the end.

Most wireless devices in the house are able to connect and operate with a decent WiFi signal including two iPhones (8 and 12). However both my daughters have iPads and intermittently lose WiFi connectivity which does not re-establish unless you switch WiFi on/off on the iPad and close/restart the application being used.

I don’t think this is a WiFi coverage issue in all cases as my iPhone continues to work just fine in the same location when I am trying to use the iPad that has lost connection. They are not in a black spot either as have checked with a WiFi anlyser tool.

I have checked the router broadcast channels for 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz making sure they are on recommended ones and different to those used by neighbours and nearby devices. I used Apple Airport Utility Airplay to check what is operating nearby. N.B. I changed the 2.4Hz channel but not the 5Ghz as it didn’t appear to clash with much nearby.

Also the single WiFi extender is broadcasting both channels on auto mode and the same SSID so I don’t believe there is any kind of conflict or interference as such.

I’ve not had chance to check the router logs at the time of losing connection as it has been late evening or just prior to leaving for work. When looking at another point in time there were some de-authentication errors but was not able to identify the MAC address and device so may just be a red herring.

Any thoughts on next steps to trace and diagnose would be appreciated. I think changing the 5Ghz channel to test/eliminate.

Apologies I searched the forum but could not find specific issues like this.

[#2]

Given that all of the other Apple products function without issue, I would suspect that the problem is the iPads doing WiFi channel and SSID station flipping.  What version of iPad / iOS are these?

Do a Google search for "ipad wifi keeps disconnecting" - there is a lot of discussion about the issue.

WiFi disconnect problem in 16.5 - Apple Community - discusses iPhones with this problem after build 16.4 ... note the detailed discussion about WPS.

iPad keeps dropping off wifi after iOS 15… - Apple Community - discusses iPads after iOS 15 upgrade - reads as issues with the (not really required at home) private WiFi address ... solution looking for a problem 'feature'

There is a great deal more out there on the subject.

[#3]

Sadly I too see this sort of behaviour regularly both on iPad and iPhone and at other places than home that are not on PlusNet (usually BT). I just turn WiFi off then on quickly using the Control Centre as there doesn't seem to be a reliable long-term solution.

Incidentally I don't have any same-SSID extenders, though I do have another access point with a  different SSID which is 2.4GHz only.

[#4]

I  must be lucky - no problems at all, either on the iPhone or iPad. wherever I am, and I use both away from home regularly.

[#5]

I’m with @jab1  3 iPads & 2 iPhones no problems with connections dropping . But at work my devices would log into the Company network connecting to the AP above my desk in the Computer room.  Walking through the building past several APS the device would stubbornly hang on to the first connection.

[#6]

I've had intermittent WIFI problems for a long time. Ended up Plusnet replaced the router. It has made no difference. 

Sometimes all WIFI devices drop connection, sometimes just a few. 

I have quite a few bulbs, plugs, doorbells, cameras etc connected. It just dropped off some bulbs, all of the plugs, a few mobile devices (iPad, one of 3??!), smart TV. Reboot the router and reconnect the iPad, the rest reconnect themselves.

The only thing I can think of is there are too many devices for the router.

[#7]

@Tonyis 

PN have always been happy for customers to use their own equipment so one option is to buy a higher spec router capable of handling multiple connections.

Although the Hub2 is suitable for many if not most of PN customers, it is goood but basic router. Some customers need more and so replace the Hub2 with their own choice.

Brian