3G periodically will not connect?

[Colin]

My Ipad normally works fine but about once a week it refuses to connect to the 3G network (Rogers). Strangely, it shows 4 or 5 bars but Safari and other software requiring a connection will not connect. Setup shows continuously trying to connect. I have found I can solve the problem this way: remove the sim, turn the Ipad on so it shows 'no sim'. Turn it off, Reinsert the sim. Ipad connects to 3G for another week or so with no trouble. The problem does not affect Wifi connection, which works fine if Wifi is available, but I rarely use the Wifi connection.

The problem is trivial except that it always seem to occuir when I am in a rush to check an email or look up an address and no Wifi is available. Also I do not normally have a paper clip in my pocket so I cannot remove the sim to fix the problem.

Any suggestions? Could this be a defective sim or is it a problem with the sim card connection. I have tried cleaning the surface of the sim card with alcohol but it did not help.

My Ipad did not do this in the past so I wonder if it is the result of an OS upgrade.

Thanks for any help.

Colin

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

The easiest first way to try to solve ‘unexplained’ or ‘unusual’ problems with the iPad are:-

Force the offending app to close. If you have iOS 4.2 or 4.3 double-press the ‘Home’ button to bring up the multi-task bar at the bottom of the screen. Press *and hold* any icon until they start to ‘jiggle’. Then tap the top left-hand corner of the app that you want to close. It will ‘disappear’ from the list. Don’t panic - you’ve not deleted it, just closed it. Now tap the Home screen and the multi-task bar will disappear. Re-open the iPad’s app and see if the problem has resolved itself. If not, it’s on to possible solution number two!!
Restart the iPad. Press *and hold* the Power button. After a couple of seconds a slider control will appear asking you to confirm that you really want to switch the iPad off (this is all you’ll be doing). Slide the control to accept. A rotating white ‘bezel’ will appear in the iPad screen as the iPad powers down (it takes a few seconds, just like it would if you were shutting down your PC). When the screen of the iPad has gone completely blank, press *and hold* the Power button for a couple of seconds until the white Apple logo appears and the iPad starts to power up. This takes several seconds, so be patient. During the power up the automatic screen orientation function is disabled, so don’t panic. A few seconds before the power up is complete, the iPad plays a little ‘jingle’ and then you’re back to the Home screen. Restart the iPad’s app and see if the problem persists. Apple (and Forum members) recommend that you power down your iPad at least once a week, just as you might regularly completely switch off your PC. The normal procedure of just briefly pressing the Power button of the iPad merely puts it to ‘sleep’. Most Forum members have found that one of the two methods I’ve mentioned here cure a whole bunch of unexplained problems and are an easy first step to resolving most anything that happens on the iPad.

Tim
Scotland

 

[Colin]

Thank you, Tim. That fixes it.
When I open the multi-task bar I find a couple of dozen apps open. When I close them all, the 3G connects, so I suppose one of the apps is a rogue that prevents the 3G from connecting properly. One day if I have time I will try to work out which one it is.
I see little or no benefit from having all these apps open. Is there a way of having the apps close automatically when I navigate away from them?
Thanks again for your help.

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

On a non-jailbroken iPad I'm afraid you have to close those apps one-at-a-time!

Tim