The network seems excessively large.
The network seems excessively large.
I own a large farm network with many repeaters, security cameras, tablets, POS systems, and while Android works well and cameras function properly, Apple devices struggle. It often takes an hour to troubleshoot different parts of the network for getting an Apple device connected. Switching between Wi-Fi networks is fine, but setting a static IP usually helps keep Apple devices online, though it doesn’t always succeed. With my Square terminals, you can find their MAC addresses to assign a fixed internal IP. I’m trying my best, but I’m not very experienced with network setup and it becomes frustrating when connections keep dropping.
Typically apple devices perform well on wifi. It might be due to outdated hardware not fully matching your current network equipment. Troubleshooting from afar is challenging. I suggest using an outdoor access point with a large antenna, which can help reduce interference by replacing smaller units. These are more expensive, so consider checking the used market for older models. You could link one via Ethernet to your main home network. A quality outdoor device should cover 1 or 2 square miles when free from obstructions, and even better in ideal conditions.
iOS's closed-source design complicates optimization and troubleshooting. This is further challenged by Android's much larger market presence.
When a device connects smoothly, everything works without problems, such as security cameras being linked across the network and remaining active. Android gadgets often face issues only occasionally, while Apple devices can be quite difficult to connect. The core issue remains consistent: "Failed to obtain ip address"
Without full understanding of your network, it's impossible to identify issues.
It switches between repeaters, occasionally passing through three while working well, but sometimes just one causes issues. Right now all connections are stable—maybe a day or even longer.
Initially, relying on repeaters isn't advisable. It's possible certain equipment employs shorter timeout settings, but without specific details, we can only speculate.
When using WiFi repeaters, the issue arises. They can extend coverage but slow down performance. Since both operate at half-duplex, the network might become severely limited if they’re connected in a chain. I support obtaining an accurate on-site evaluation of your setup.