Introduction
Providing WiFi connectivity at large events is a must regardless of the nature of the indoor event. It is what visitors and exhibitors, speakers and keynote attendees have come to expect. For every event planner, the happiness of all those in attendance is vital to the continued successful hosting of events down the road. By providing a comprehensive WiFi service an event organizer can rest a bit easier the night before the event.
Start with a Great Foundation
The first tip is often overlooked because it happens before or should happen before, any network equipment is brought on site. Answering the important question of how many people will be connecting to the network demands an answer. For instance, in providing for a regular sports event the number of seats and potential screaming fans is known. This allows for the better allocation of network resources. Running on from this an understanding of what the attendees will use the network for can be just as vital.
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Here again, this is done to maximize the efficiency of available resources. If it is a Tech-driven event the needs will be different from a fashion show. Providing a tailored experience also has the benefit of providing a richer experience for all those in attendance. This also has important implications for how you secure the networks. Open WiFi has long been a hacker’s ideal playground. Knowing both how many and who will attend can help in preventing hackers from spoiling the party.
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Surveying the Landscape
Once you have an idea of the “who and how many” discussed above another vital part of laying a great foundation is performing a wireless site survey. Such a survey involves capturing radio frequency data from the site where the event is held. Once the data is captured it will allow technicians to determine where there are dead zones and prevent obstacles to those needing and wanting to connect to the network.
By doing a wireless site survey, considerations like where access points and antenna are placed can be done far more efficiently and effectively. Also, surveys allow for professionals to determine what equipment should be used which is a potential cost-saver in the long run. The correct use and placement of equipment will help ensure network users are never struggling for a connection.
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Limit Bandwidth Appropriately
By establishing a proper bandwidth limit the amount of bandwidth a single user can access at any one point is regulated. This helps prevent some users from hogging the network. A workable limit for most events can fall between 100 and 200 kilobits per second. This allows for fast web browsing but preventing network congestion.
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Limit Splash Page Size
When attendees arrive and want to connect to the network you have established they will be logging in via the splash page. Limiting the size of the splash page to anything between 10 and 50 kb will help prevent network blockages and congestion. The initial login for attendees should be as seamless as possible so as not to give those needing the network an initial negative impression of the event.
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Enable Band Steering
Given the wide range of mobile devices on the market as well as those devices been either 2.4 GHz or 5GHz, allocations need to be made for each. As a rule of thumb, there are more 5 GHz devices, you might have to steer those devices away from the 2.GHz channel. If you enable band steering you do exactly that and prevent those devices from even looking at normally already congested 2.4 GHz channels.
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Conclusion
In this short article, a few tips were discussed as to how to improve the WiFi network you provide at large indoor events. It is admittedly a lot to take in. Fortunately, there are a host of professional services offered to help you get the most of your desire to provide a great WiFi network that will underpin a great event.
