Internet keeps disconnecting

Humphrey10

I'm accessing the internet on an iPad 2 via wifi via cable modem/router (the same device is both the modem and the router).

The iPad is happily staying connected to the wifi (or so it says).

But every so often (every 10 mins or so) it appears to disconnect from the internet (I get 'server could not be found' for every page). It will continue this behaviour for an hour or so, then will work fine for a while. Then it will start playing up again.

Switching wifi off and on again on the iPad makes it all work again, until it next disconnects that is.

I have cable internet at home, identical looking modem/router, I use the same iPad, and it all works fine.

Anyone got any idea what could be wrong? It's getting quite irritating now.

TimothyEBaldwin

Weird, some more tests in order. Does communication with the router still work? Most small routers have a web-based configuration interface you can test with.

Can you access websites with an explicit IP address? for example http://213.129.82.45/ should get you to MoneySavingExpert.

Is the failure instant? If so the problem is in the ipad, or it is receiving a response indicating a problem.

Stephen-k

I am assuming your using the ipad at work.
Has this just started or always been problem there ?
Does your work router use a fixed ip address ?
If so you'd have to make sure that its not set up with individual computers using individual mac addresses leaving yours out of the loop.

Humphrey10

Only just seen these replies, forgot I had started this thread! I'm back home now but will be staying at the relative's house (where the internet disconnection problem kept happening) again soon.

TimothyEBaldwin wrote: »

Does communication with the router still work? Most small routers have a web-based configuration interface you can test with.

Can you access websites with an explicit IP address? for example http://213.129.82.45/ should get you to MoneySavingExpert.

Is the failure instant? If so the problem is in the ipad, or it is receiving a response indicating a problem.

The iPad thinks it is still connected with the router - it can see and connect to the wifi network. I will look in the documentation that came with the router to see if there is a configuration interface like you mentioned, I didn't think of checking that!

I will check to see if that IP address works when I'm back at my relative's house.

No the failure isn't instant, the everything will be working fine for a while, then I'll click a link/go to a website and it will display the loading animation for ages, eventually it will say something along the lines of 'Safari cannot display the website because connection to server lost' or '....server cannot be found'. This is different to the message displayed when trying to visit a website when not connected to wifi which is '...not connected to internet'.

Stephen-k wrote: »

I am assuming your using the ipad at work.
Has this just started or always been problem there ?

It's at a relative's house, they have cable (Virgin) as their internet provider, and have a combined modem router provided by Virgin. I have used the Internet there once before, it was playing up a bit but I assumed it was a temporary thing. I also have cable at home, and the router looks the same, and I don't have the same problems (same iPad too).
I'm assume the connection is set up in the same way at both my relative's house and my house, as Virgin presumably have a standard way of doing these things.

I don't know if there is anyone who uses the internet much at the moment at my relative's house, I will get them to try viewing the configuration utility and try using the IP addresses like you suggested TEB.

Thanks for the help both of you!