Re: Wireless routers
Brian got this right.
There is not an issue with the iPad WiFi stack*. Rather there is a potential that the iPad** will assume it has internet access when connected to a wifi network and try to carry out operations.***
This can be helped in a number of ways.
The most obvious way is to simply disable any app or service that may be trying to use the internet when it becomes available. Disabling location services / notifications / siri / icloud (including find my ipad) / etc and then doing a full shut down / start up before working can do wonders.
The next thing you can do is to help the iPad realize it has no internet connection by making sure it has no gateway or dns information. you can do this with a static IP setup (a pain to manage in day to day use) or if you have a suitable dhcp server, you can instruct it _not_ to hand out the gateway and/or dns information.
Sometimes it is also advantageous to actually have underlying IP/internet connectivity.
Something like a cradlepoint handling wireline NAT/routing functions with a bridge to 3g/4g is becoming much more palatable and useable in these days of widely accessible mobile data. While there certainly are security opportunities , they are by no means unmanageable.
In fact, I imagine it won't be too long now before most show's of any importance have their show networks on a 3g 4g backhaul device, potentially with an auto-connecting VPN back to main-base if for no other reason than remote troubleshooting and maintenance.
Karl P
*Not to say that there never has been, but that is hardly unique to Apple. Every single vendor goes through periods of underperforming drivers and firmware at some point or another.
**More specifically, some of the features and applications that may be active on the iPad
*** This behavior is not Apple-centric, most mobile devices will make the same assumptions.
