said by Jim_in_VA:does a Ipad even have access to 5GHz? I think it is 2.4 b/g/n only. It does not have a wireless radio that can get a 5 signal.
The iPad2 or better does have 5ghz n - mine syncs to the 5ghz side of my wifi just fine (different ssids here)
If you use different ssids, the iPad should switch to the next "known" network when it cannot stay synced to the 5ghz one, so using the same ssid isn't necessary.