Issue with random network disconnecting on iPad Air M2

[radar2000]

Hi everyone.

Over the past few months, I've been experiencing issues with both of our iPad Air M2's that randomly disconnect from our network. For both iPad's this first started as only happening once in a while, to happening multiple times a day and has now grown into happening multiple times per hour.


Here are some details and steps taken so far:

Hardware:
- iPad Air M2 both were purchased together in May 2024
- Home network consists of an Asus RT-AX88U Pro that is meshed with an Asus RT-AX58U... both updated with the latest stock Asus firmware
- we have other clients that have been running without issues on our network. These clients include streaming, home automation, and iPhones/Macbooks running perfectly without network disruptions


Steps taken to troubleshoot:
- restarting Asus routers
- turning Wi-Fi on and off in the iPad settings
- disabling the private address in iPad settings
- force restart by turning off the iPads and turning them back on
- resetting the network settings in the iPad settings


Apple Support:
- contacted Apple support where an instore Apple genius appointment was scheduled/performed
- Apple genius appointment where they performed diagnostics on both iPads and no hardware issues were found
- Apple genius appointment where they performed a factory reset on both iPads to rule out any software issues


Results after Apple genius appointment:
- once I got home from the Apple genius appointment, one of the iPad's worked fine for a few hours but then started to disconnect from the network again
- the other iPad was lagging so bad that I couldn't use it at all and I just left it alone for hours and performed a network settings reset as suggested in a thread I found from here in 2023... https://www.snbforums.com/threads/wifi-disconnecting-in-ipad-pro-m2.83531/
- after performing the network settings reset, the one iPad worked for almost a day straight, but later that night it disconnected again and I had to perform another network settings reset


Next steps:
- going to call Apple support again to report that the Apple genius appointment did not solve the network disconnect issue on both the iPads
- going to request that Apple replace both iPads with new ones, as both are only 8 months old and I have applecare+ for both of them


Any suggestions or recommendations from SMB members here who have experienced similar issues, would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you have any questions on the above.

This is so frustrating, as I've had no issues in the past with other iPad models ranging from iPad Air Gen 4 and older iPad models.

Thank you.

 

[damo2k]

Sounds quite similar to an issue I had here:

ASUS ZenWiFi AX (XT8) - devices intermittently disconnect and do not reconnect.

Hi all, I have recently come across an issue with my ASUS ZenWiFi AX (XT8) (2x nodes) where devices intermittently disconnect and do not seem to be able to reconnect. I observe that some security cameras and baby monitor disconnect from the router, and do not seem to be able to connect back...

www.snbforums.com

 

[radar2000]

Thanks for your response damo2K.

I should have mentioned that I'm in the Canada region. I was hoping to hear from members close to this region with similar Apple iPad devices.

 

[Tech9]

And what the router's log is saying when the devices disconnect? I have a feeling you are wasting yours and Apple support's time. Did the iPads connect properly to the store's Wi-Fi network? I have multiple personal and business use Apple devices, location Canada.

 

[radar2000]

Hey Tech9. Thanks for your response.

To be clear, both my iPad's connect to my home Wi-Fi network... the issue is that after a couple of random hours, they seem to disconnect. And yes, they also connected to the Apple store's Wi-Fi network, but I wasn't going to wait around for hours to see if they randomly disconnected.

I'm not certain what to look for in the routers logs as I'm a bit green when it comes to that. Any help with how I would this and what to look for would be appreciated.

Again, I have multiple Apple products on my home network that are running without issue... and my previous iPad Air Gen 4's were working on the same network without issue. I'm just trying to figure out why these new iPad Air M2 Gen 6's are dropping their network connections.

Thanks.

 

[Tech9]

I know absolutely nothing about your router's configuration and where your devices connect. When this disconnection happens look at the router log and see what the reason for the disconnection was. It can be as simple as low signal level, it can be your router hunting for better channels on Auto causing the disconnection to some clients. The region is unrelated to your issue.

 

[radar2000]

Hey Tech9. Not sure why you're being aggressive here. If you feel I'm wasting your time, then please feel free to ignore this thread.

I've gone into my routers logs and seem to have found the 2 iPad's where/when they are disconnecting. I'm seeing a lot of the following:

Deauth old sta in 1 0: [iPad mac address here]
disconnect weak signal strength station [iPad mac address here]
remove client [iPad mac address here] from monitor list
Followed by a bunch of Deauth's and a ReAssoc and an Auth

Please let me know if any of this above helps and your recommendations.

Thanks again.

 

[Tech9]

disconnect weak signal strength station

What disconnect weak signal strength station means is the client was disconnected because it was too far and/or the signal wasn't good enough to maintain the connection. What is the RSSI value for this very same client in System Log, Wireless Log?

Removed the aggressive in your opinion post to make you more comfortable...

 

[radar2000]

Here are my logs when one of the iPads disconnects from the network...

9:38:53 PM roamast: [EXAP]Deauth old sta in 1 0: iPad Mac Address
9:38:53 PM roamast: eth7: disconnect weak signal strength station [iPad Mac Address]
9:38:53 PM roamast: eth7: remove client [iPad Mac Address] from monitor list
9:38:53 PM wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth7: Deauth_ind iPad Mac Address, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-80
9:38:53 PM wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth7: Deauth_ind iPad Mac Address, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:-80
9:38:53 PM wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth7: Deauth_ind iPad Mac Address, status: 0, reason: Disassociated due to inactivity (4), rssi:-80
9:39:41 PM wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth7: Auth iPad Mac Address, status: Successful (0), rssi:0
9:39:41 PM wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(695): eth7: ReAssoc iPad Mac Address, status: Successful (0), rssi:-81

Again, I'm sitting just a few feet away from the router and normally would be getting 1GB download speeds... and then all of sudden while sitting in the same spot, the iPad drops from the network.

Thanks.

 

[degrub]

It behaves the same if the ipad is 20 ft away ? not sure what is meant by " a few feet away", but you can be too close to the antennas, usually within a couple meters. If those RSSI values are actually correct, something has the power on the ipad radios turned down. Any battery efficiency settings in play ?

If you have another portable apple device of the same generation/chipset radios, what are the reported RSSI values in the same location ?

You can also download from the apple store, Airport Utility and change the settings to "allow wifi scan", and report the RSSI values it is seeing in the same location.

 

[Tech9]

Here are my logs when one of the iPads disconnects from the network...

Make sure this client connects to the router and not to the node. The log clearly indicates the client is somewhere around the edge of the coverage area at -80dBm or lower signal level.

 

[radar2000]

Sorry for the late response... Still experiencing issues with my iPad's and my logs are flooded with Deauth's, Auth's and ReAssoc's.

I've tried tweaking some settings on my main RT-AX88U Pro router. One of which was to disable Roaming assistant under the professional tab. I also tried binding to my main router node. Still my iPad's lose their internet connection and I have to frequently "forget network" on my iPad's.

Can someone please have a look at my Wireless General and Professional settings from my RT-AX88U Pro and make suggestions to help fix this issue? I would appreciate any help.

Thank you.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Sorry for the late response... Still experiencing issues with my iPad's and my logs are flooded with Deauth's, Auth's and ReAssoc's.

I've tried tweaking some settings on my main RT-AX88U Pro router. One of which was to disable Roaming assistant under the professional tab. I also tried binding to my main router node. Still my iPad's lose their internet connection and I have to frequently "forget network" on my iPad's.

Can someone please have a look at my Wireless General and Professional settings from my RT-AX88U Pro and make suggestions to help fix this issue? I would appreciate any help.

Thank you.

View attachment 63812

View attachment 63811

I also disable Universal Beamforming and 160MHz bandwidth.

In my experience, the RT-AX88U_Pro_3.0.0.6.102.33340 firmware is cobbled together on hold until ASUS finishes engineering the firmware for ASUSWRT 5.0. Too much messing around with the settings can leave it unstable. I've had to re-install the firmware, Hard Reset it and configure minimally, and then don't touch it. I'd start over there.

Experience similar to mine is posted here... not solved, just fixed until over-tweaked again: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/solved-asus-rt-ax88u-pro-my-wifi-gone.93762/post-944044

OE

 

[radar2000]

Thanks OzarkEdge. I've updated my settings by disabling Universal Beamforming and 160MHz bandwidth. Should this be performed for both 2.4 and 5 bands?

 

[degrub]

Set the 2.4 GHz band to 40 or 40/20 channel width. Set 5GHz to 80
Yes, disable beam forming on 2.4 GHz band if offered as well as the 5 GHz band.

MU-MiMO should be turned off as well.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Thanks OzarkEdge. I've updated my settings by disabling Universal Beamforming and 160MHz bandwidth. Should this be performed for both 2.4 and 5 bands?

Yes, except 160MHz is not a feature of 2.4GHz.

These settings were suggested in addition to those you posted, but will not necessarily fix your current trouble.

OE

 

[radar2000]

Thanks again OzarkEdge.

Last question for today… Do I need to apply these changes to my other aimesh rt-ax58u?

 

[OzarkEdge]

Thanks again OzarkEdge.

Last question for today… Do I need to apply these changes to my other aimesh rt-ax58u?

No, you only admin/configure AiMesh from the main router webUI.

OE

 

[bbunge]

Well, you shouldn't mess with the WIFI settings too much.
Use the Dual Band SmartConnect. Yes, this will give you the same SSID's for the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. This will allow the client to switch to the more powerful and better range 2.4 GHz if needed.
Set the 2.4 GHz to 20 MHz and the 5 GHz to 80 MHz bandwidth. Your call to use auto channel or set both bands to fixed channels. But, do not enable DFS for now.
Return all the Professional WIFI settings to default. Better yet, factory reset the router and node then manually configure the router and add the AiMesh node back in. Any WIFI settings the router has will be passed to the node.

Some will say that the SmartConnect does not work. My experience is otherwise. I have three iPhones two iPods and a Mac Mini and all have a stable connection. In fact, I do not have connection issues with any clients. I have "tested" many settings with my Asus routers and what I've given you above works very well. Right now I am using auto channel on both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. The WIFI in my neighborhood is quite dense and the AX86U Pro works well to figure out the best channel settings. I do not use DFS due to low military flights and my Roku does not do DFS channels.

Best of luck!