Instant On - Wireless

Upgraded IAP135 to AP32, performance is much better, but iPads are getting disconnected from the WiFi. Signal strength is very good.

SW version is 3.1.0.0 

Which iPadOS?
Which encryption of the problematic SSID?

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials?
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP?

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Upgraded IAP135 to AP32, performance is much better, but iPads are getting disconnected from the WiFi. Signal strength is very good.

SW version is 3.1.0.0 

Which iPadOS? - IOS18
Which encryption of the problematic SSID? WPA3

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials? The issue is they connect without issue, they are getting dropped after a period of time.
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP? Did this, did not solve issue.

The IOS18 iPad is on the 5G, but randomly gets dropped and we have to toggle airplane mode to restore.

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Which iPadOS?
Which encryption of the problematic SSID?

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials?
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP?

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Upgraded IAP135 to AP32, performance is much better, but iPads are getting disconnected from the WiFi. Signal strength is very good.

SW version is 3.1.0.0 

What is this "after a period of time"? Is this ~ 3 days?

If so - Apple has implemented some 'security features' where iOS devices would reboot automatically after some time and hence you lose WiFi connection.
Read here: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/14/ios-18-3-day-iphone-reboot/

Does this apply to you?

Which iPadOS? - IOS18
Which encryption of the problematic SSID? WPA3

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials? The issue is they connect without issue, they are getting dropped after a period of time.
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP? Did this, did not solve issue.

The IOS18 iPad is on the 5G, but randomly gets dropped and we have to toggle airplane mode to restore.

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Which iPadOS?
Which encryption of the problematic SSID?

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials?
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP?

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Upgraded IAP135 to AP32, performance is much better, but iPads are getting disconnected from the WiFi. Signal strength is very good.

SW version is 3.1.0.0 

No, not associated with inactivity. The drops occurred while the device was being used. The time seemed to be random from 9 minutes to an hour. It dropped twice during the Super Bowl. And only 20 feet from the access point. This never happened on the IAP-135.

Regards Denis

What is this "after a period of time"? Is this ~ 3 days?

If so - Apple has implemented some 'security features' where iOS devices would reboot automatically after some time and hence you lose WiFi connection.
Read here: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/14/ios-18-3-day-iphone-reboot/

Does this apply to you?

Which iPadOS? - IOS18
Which encryption of the problematic SSID? WPA3

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials? The issue is they connect without issue, they are getting dropped after a period of time.
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP? Did this, did not solve issue.

The IOS18 iPad is on the 5G, but randomly gets dropped and we have to toggle airplane mode to restore.

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Which iPadOS?
Which encryption of the problematic SSID?

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials?
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP?

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Upgraded IAP135 to AP32, performance is much better, but iPads are getting disconnected from the WiFi. Signal strength is very good.

SW version is 3.1.0.0 

Does your authentication policy use MAB (MAC Authentication Bypass) to authenticate the devices?  If so, Apple devices have a default WiFi configuration that allows the device to generate dynamic MAC addresses and periodically change them.  The intent is to make it impossible to follow device MAC addresses as they move around to various WiFi networks.  But if you use MAB, when the Apple devices change their dynamic MAC address it will cause MAB to fail and the device can fall off the network.

Go into the WiFi settings for the SSID and either turn off "Private WiFi Address" or set it for "Fixed" so the MAC address will always be the same for that SSID.  If it is set for "Rotating" it will periodically change the MAC address for the SSID.

No, not associated with inactivity. The drops occurred while the device was being used. The time seemed to be random from 9 minutes to an hour. It dropped twice during the Super Bowl. And only 20 feet from the access point. This never happened on the IAP-135.

Regards Denis

What is this "after a period of time"? Is this ~ 3 days?

If so - Apple has implemented some 'security features' where iOS devices would reboot automatically after some time and hence you lose WiFi connection.
Read here: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/14/ios-18-3-day-iphone-reboot/

Does this apply to you?

Which iPadOS? - IOS18
Which encryption of the problematic SSID? WPA3

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials? The issue is they connect without issue, they are getting dropped after a period of time.
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP? Did this, did not solve issue.

The IOS18 iPad is on the 5G, but randomly gets dropped and we have to toggle airplane mode to restore.

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Which iPadOS?
Which encryption of the problematic SSID?

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials?
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP?

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Upgraded IAP135 to AP32, performance is much better, but iPads are getting disconnected from the WiFi. Signal strength is very good.

SW version is 3.1.0.0 

What is this "after a period of time"? Is this ~ 3 days?

If so - Apple has implemented some 'security features' where iOS devices would reboot automatically after some time and hence you lose WiFi connection.
Read here: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/14/ios-18-3-day-iphone-reboot/

Does this apply to you?

Which iPadOS? - IOS18
Which encryption of the problematic SSID? WPA3

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials? The issue is they connect without issue, they are getting dropped after a period of time.
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP? Did this, did not solve issue.

The IOS18 iPad is on the 5G, but randomly gets dropped and we have to toggle airplane mode to restore.

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Which iPadOS?
Which encryption of the problematic SSID?

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials?
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP?

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Upgraded IAP135 to AP32, performance is much better, but iPads are getting disconnected from the WiFi. Signal strength is very good.

SW version is 3.1.0.0 

if the AP32 is using wpa2+wpa3 personal, why would it change the MAC address. But since Apple states 2 weeks, then this may not be the issue.

What is this "after a period of time"? Is this ~ 3 days?

If so - Apple has implemented some 'security features' where iOS devices would reboot automatically after some time and hence you lose WiFi connection.
Read here: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/14/ios-18-3-day-iphone-reboot/

Does this apply to you?

Which iPadOS? - IOS18
Which encryption of the problematic SSID? WPA3

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials? The issue is they connect without issue, they are getting dropped after a period of time.
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP? Did this, did not solve issue.

The IOS18 iPad is on the 5G, but randomly gets dropped and we have to toggle airplane mode to restore.

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Which iPadOS?
Which encryption of the problematic SSID?

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials?
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP?

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Upgraded IAP135 to AP32, performance is much better, but iPads are getting disconnected from the WiFi. Signal strength is very good.

SW version is 3.1.0.0 

Well, prior to iOS 18 iPadOS18, MacOS Sequoia the device would change the MAC address every two weeks and would not forget the MAC address if you "forget the network" within two weeks.

But starting with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 (and Sequoia) this interval is now 24 hours.  It will still save the MAC address for two weeks when rotating private addresses, but if you "forget the network" after it has that rotating address for more than 24 hours it will generate a new MAC address.  And we KNOW that one diagnostic test is to forget the WiFi network and reconnect.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102509

if the AP32 is using wpa2+wpa3 personal, why would it change the MAC address. But since Apple states 2 weeks, then this may not be the issue.

What is this "after a period of time"? Is this ~ 3 days?

If so - Apple has implemented some 'security features' where iOS devices would reboot automatically after some time and hence you lose WiFi connection.
Read here: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/14/ios-18-3-day-iphone-reboot/

Does this apply to you?

Which iPadOS? - IOS18
Which encryption of the problematic SSID? WPA3

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials? The issue is they connect without issue, they are getting dropped after a period of time.
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP? Did this, did not solve issue.

The IOS18 iPad is on the 5G, but randomly gets dropped and we have to toggle airplane mode to restore.

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Which iPadOS?
Which encryption of the problematic SSID?

I assume you're using the name (SSID) and PSK as on the old AP - and expect your iPads to connect to the new AP with saved credentials?
Can you delete this previously saved WiFi connection on the iPad (= "Forget This Network") and re-connect to the new AP?

If possible stick IoT devices to a WPA2 only 2.4 GHz SSID.
Newer devices go to a WPA3 only 5 GHz SSID.
This way you should be fine.

Upgraded IAP135 to AP32, performance is much better, but iPads are getting disconnected from the WiFi. Signal strength is very good.

SW version is 3.1.0.0