Ask Slashdot: Overcoming Convention Hall Wi-Fi Interference?

bbowman writes "One of my job responsibilities is to set up the small network for our company's exhibit at the trade shows we attend. The mobile demo devices we use depend upon a reliable Wi-Fi connection to a router I have in the exhibit. In the days leading up to the opening of the trade show, W-iFi connections are reliable and work as expected. However, as soon as the show opens none of our devices can reliable maintain a Wi-Fi connection to the router. The devices we use at the trade shows are Windows-based laptops, iPods/iPads, Android tablets, and a variety of Wi-Fi enabled cell phones. I have tried using channels 1, 6, and 11 (as well as the others) and used different routers (Linksys, D-Link, Netgear) without success. I'm sure it is likely that there are poorly insulated electrical cabling, fluorescent lighting, and other issues that would contribute to Wi-Fi interference in the convention hall. A quick scan shows dozens and dozens of discoverable Wi-Fi networks nearby. If I take the router back to my hotel room, I have zero connection problems. How can I overcome this so that Wi-Fi works reliably in the convention hall?"

Comments

New Frequency?

[BadPirate]

If your devices are 802.11n compatible, you could put your router in n only mode... The 5.4ghz band may be less crowded.

Directional antenna

[Scutter]

Why not simply use a narrow-field directional antenna for your demo? If you're just feet away from it, it seems unlikely that other nearby networks would be strong enough to drown out the signal.

Dish Antenna

[jmcharry]

Perhaps the router could be connected to a dish above the booth pointed straight down like a street light. This could overpower other signals in your booth and reduce your interference to other users. Dishes at wifi frequencies aren't large.

Re:Nicolas Cage

[clyde_cadiddlehopper]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_cage