Why venue wifi fails
Wifi that works when you walk the room often stops working once the doors open. This happens a lot, and it can usually be predicted.
The room changes when it fills up
People absorb wireless signals. A hall that is empty at 7am and full at 9am performs very differently, and a walkthrough only tests the empty room. Test in a busy room if you can, and expect results to be worse than you measured.
Too many devices in one room
Every attendee carries a phone, most carry a laptop or a watch, and all of them search for or join the network. Add exhibitor equipment and the same channels get crowded. The problem is rarely the building's internet connection. It is too many devices in one room.
Guest wifi is not built for demos
Guest wifi is sized for people checking email. It is often capped, sometimes filtered, and shared with everyone. Registration, payments and live demos should not depend on it. The machines we send with laptop rentals in San Diego can be set up to work offline and sync afterwards.
Connection options, most reliable first
Roughly in order of how reliable they are:
- A wired drop from the venue's network provider, ordered in advance, for anything critical
- A dedicated wireless network from that provider, rather than the guest wifi
- Cellular hotspots, as a fallback or for a small stand
- An app that works offline and syncs later, tested offline before the day
- Guest wifi, only for things that can fail without causing a problem
Check what you are allowed to bring
Many venues restrict what wireless equipment an exhibitor may operate, because a hall full of private access points interferes with the network for everyone. Read the exhibitor manual before you buy or rent anything that broadcasts, and ask the venue's network provider if you are unsure. Cellular hotspots are usually treated differently from access points, but check first.
Test it the way it will be used
Do not test with one device in an empty room. Test several devices at once, doing the same tasks, at the same time of day as the event. If the demo streams video, stream it. If the desk syncs every check-in, check in twenty people.
What we can do
We rent cellular hotspots with data, and set up iPads and laptops so they work with whatever network you end up on, including offline where the app allows it. If you tell us how the room will be used, we will tell you which parts should not rely on venue wifi.
Equipment for this
Tell us what you need and a person replies within the hour during business hours. Nothing is booked until you say so.
Tell us what the job is
You don’t need a parts list. Describe what has to happen and we’ll work out the equipment, tell you what it costs, and book nothing until you say so.