# iPad drops network, 2 unrelated networks, 2 iPads!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-drops-network-2-unrelated-networks-2-ipads/1009125>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 24, 2024, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-drops-network-2-unrelated-networks-2-ipads/1009125 "2024-10-24T01:02:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-drops-network-2-unrelated-networks-2-ipads/1009125/21 "2024-10-24T14:07:15Z")

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> [@gnoitall](#):
>
> I generally think “two distinct access point devices” if I hear “two different WiFi networks”.

I make no assumptions 🙂 I’ve seen people have issues connecting to the router and then a repeater which run upstream to the same router. Another issue could be a firmware update from the provider and if you are using two separate networks but both on say Comcast you could encounter this.

> [@gnoitall](#):
>
> By “tethering”, can I assume you mean using a WiFi hotspot from the cell phone?

Correct, this would be a 3rd network that is completely separate.

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-drops-network-2-unrelated-networks-2-ipads/1009125/22 "2024-10-24T14:09:34Z")

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That’s why I suggesting going someplace and trying the guest wireless there.

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**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-drops-network-2-unrelated-networks-2-ipads/1009125/23 "2024-10-25T20:40:35Z")

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The answer turned out to be…

VPN!

Two were struggling to control, only one of which was readily known to me. Killed both, all is right with the world.

I didn’t actually check for it, I was just watching the screen and I noticed out of the corner of my eye some jumping at the bottom when the on/off was happening…

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**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-drops-network-2-unrelated-networks-2-ipads/1009125/24 "2024-10-28T15:03:46Z")

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> [@Stoid](#):
>
> VPN!

That’s the first mention (other than an unanswered question by @zbuzz earlier) of a VPN. That might have been good to know upfront, since it changes the troubleshooting process quite a bit.

But you eventually figured it out, which is good.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-drops-network-2-unrelated-networks-2-ipads/1009125/25 "2024-10-30T07:42:24Z")

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If I had thought to mention it, I would have figured it out. I am very new to using VPN, and one of the ones running I didn’t have any recollection of installing at all…yeeps.

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