Wii U Gamepad Connectivity Problems

Yes, unfortunately I've hit a snag in my otherwise easygoing relationship with my Wii U.

Here's the background: It's a day one deluxe unit. I've had it in at least three different spaces in the past, and it has worked perfectly... up until now. I brought it up to my dorm, and now any time I try to play it, the Gamepad loses connection (generally within a matter of just a few minutes) even when I'm only about 2-3 feet from the console. Even placing the darn thing right next to the system doesn't do anything. It is surrounded by other electronics, but they're all machines it has been in close proximity to in the past. I think it has something to do with all the wireless networks in my dorm causing interference... but since I can't adjust the network settings, I don't know how to block out the interference.

I was wondering if anybody has had a similar problem or a solution. I haven't called Nintendo yet because I know they're going to keep me on the phone for an hour telling me to try things I've already tried before they offer to fix it for a price that will inevitably be too steep. Ideas?

I know a guy who had this same issue as you. But I'm not to sure what to do to fix it. Maybe search around Google if you haven't yet before handing it to Nintendo when you do end up calling them.

Found this on a Gamespot forum:
1. HTC One X working over 2.4Ghz wireless g, caused gamepad to disconnect. 2. The 5Ghz band on our new router was causing the screen tearing/artifacting on the gamepad. Solution turn off 5Ghz band (both channels router does cause issue; 5180MHz & 5220Mhz) on router and use 2.4Ghz N for my HTC One X...no more issues, yay! Still though, what in bleed'in hell have Ninty done with the Wii U's Wifi card!?
the problem this person described sounds similar to yours. here's a link to it if you want to check it out
www.gamespot.com/forums/nintendo-discussion-1000001/do-you-have-issues-with-the-wii-u-gamepad-disconne-29326880/

I can try to verify the 5ghz router thing as I recently upgraded my router, and have a 5gz channel on it, I have not used my wii U since then, ill try out in the next day or 2 and let you know.

Thanks for the ideas, guys. Unfortunately if it is a problem with a 5GHz signal from the router, I don't know if there's anything I can do about that... Like I said, I'm trying to use it in my dorm room, and I can't exactly hack my university's wi-fi. So if that's the problem, I guess I just won't be able to use the Wii U at school...

Anyway, let me know what you find out, acidzero.

The Internets say that the console and the gamepad do indeed talk over a 5 GHz channel (and have no ability to fall back to 2.4 GHz or anything else, from what it looks like), so if there's a lot of interference there, you may be kind of boned. I personally have had way fewer interference problems with 5 GHz networks than 2.4 GHz ones in my dense and wi-fi saturated neighborhood, at least partly because it kinda sucks at penetrating walls and things like that in comparison, so you end up with fewer outside signals to worry about. You may need a fairly strong signal for the Wii U to stream video though. That kind of thing is always a bit finicky. If it is a network issue like that, there are plenty of free things you can grab to run on your phone or laptop or whatever other wireless device you have that'll show you how many networks are in the area and the signal strengths and noise levels for everything, so you can get an idea of just how much of a mess it is/isn't. You may not be able to do anything as a result, but it's good info to confirm what the problem is.

Time to get a pro controller so you can at least play Monster Hunter 3U? Or bust out the Wii games?