Below can be found a series of tips and information bites on how to ensure your Wi-Fi will be there to support you throughout your Photo Party Event.
Crowds mean busy connections: What works in your office or home won't necessarily be reliable when in the midst of a crowded event. Not only does sharing an event space's Wi-Fi cause congestion, but even using a dedicated network, such as a MyFi device or similar, can be problematic when the airwaves get crammed by people's cellphones and additional wi-fi connections. The best bet is to have two options (for instance, a Myfi device as well as access to the event space's Wi-Fi). Testing is key. Getting there early, with all necessary equipment and ideas for contingencies, will yield the best results.
When encountering problems with connection, physical space matters. Are you standing near a cinderblock or heavy-metal laden structure or support? Are you adjacent to another team's setup? When troubleshooting connection, don't forget that simply moving throughout the space can sometimes mean the difference between a strong and a weak connection.
Wi-Fi networking has two bands: 2.4 GHz (more common) and 5 GHz (less common, generally faster and more reliable). IPhones and most cellphones don't support 5 GHz, iPads and some other tablets, as well as laptops, do. If you have the option and can connect your setup to the 5GHz band, you're going to have a higher level of reliability.
FYI:
Devices known to support both 2.4Ghz and 5GHz Wi-Fi connections:
This list is in no way exhaustive, but is meant to help give an idea of the types of devices supporting the faster and more reliable 5GHz connection.
• Apple laptops and desktops built after 2008
• Nearly all Windows laptops built after 2008
• Apple iPads (Not iPhone 4 and older)
• Samsung GalaxyTab, Galaxy S2 and successors
• Some other premium cellphones
Devices known to support ONLY 2.4GHz
• Most smartphones, including “Hotspot” or “Sharing” mode
• MyFis and similar wireless-sharing devices
• Low-end netbooks
• Apple iPhones and iPod Touch
• Low-cost tablets, including Nooks, Kindles, Sony Readers, etc.
• Portable Game consoles, including Sony PS Vita, Nintendo DS
• Internet radios, picture frames, wireless video cameras, other fixed-function devices
Lastly, remember that just because a device 'supports' a 5GHz connection or is advertised as providing 'reliable' connection, doesn't mean it's not fallible. The busier an event is, the more 'radio noise' around, and the smaller the device is, the more likely it is to breakdown or lag out mid-event.
So in conclusion: Bigger devices are your friend. Attempt to use 5Ghz when available. Get there early to test! When troubleshooting, try moving throughout the space. Bring multiple connectivity options if possible.
Also, If Wi-Fi is being provided by your event host, requesting the suggestions below ahead of time may be helpful:
• No Splash Page- Ensure direct access to the network.
• No Firewalls- If firewalls cannot be turned off, request port 8888 to be opened across local network. Port 8888 is used for communication between PPU Helper and iPads that are all connected, so it should be completely unblocked.
• No Interference- Ask for as isolated a network as possible, sharing with as few other devices as possible.
Using Photo Party Upload in venues with interference such as convention centers and sports arenas - Large venues such as sports arenas and convention centers often have so many WiFI enabled devices that interferences between them prevents devices from using the WiFi network reliably. If this is the case, you will not be able to use Photo Party Upload. The only solution (which does not always overcome the problem is to use a 5ghz router).
For more info on how to work around these issues and avoid such problems, please READ THIS DATA SHEET
Have a great event LA Photo Partiers!