Hotel/Convention Center Not Allowing Hotspot Usage

[porathj]

I am currently attending a conference at which we were told we could not use our cellphone hotspot. The reasons given were that it would slow down the hotel network and would kick presenters off of the hotel network. Are either of these statements correct? Also, I thought this type of activity was ruled illegal by the FCC a few years ago...has that changed.

Thank you for any information.

 

[Tea-Aholic]

I remember the iPhone 4 keynote when Steve had trouble showing a demo because there were 500 odd Wi-Fi networks operating in a room. So yes, it does slow down the networks but I highly doubt they can effectively enforce it...

 

[HPLouis]

I was under the impression the phone hotspot was using the phone's radio for internet, not the hotel's wifi.

I could understand them saving not to use the hotel's wifi, but the phone's hotspot? You pay for that and it will not burden their system at all.

 

[Givmeabrek]

There are only so many channels. With enough hotspots running you could interfere with the hotel's wifi.

 

[orev]

It's a reasonable request from the conference organizers to try to allow demos to run smoothly. The FCC issue is if they are actively stopping you from using a hotspot by sending wifi disconnect packets, while at the same time requiring you to pay $xxx to use their wifi.

 

[lazard]

Both are possibilities. I believe the iOS hotspot transmits using the 2.4GHz band. You have the users on the hotel network plus everyone using their personal hotspot crowding up and interfering with each other slowing down everyone's speed.

 

[chabig]

Their concerns are valid. Too many wifi hotspots will hurt the internet connection due to crowding. If you want your iPhone's hotspot to serve your computer, just plug it in with the Lightning cable. The Mac will get internet over the cable and it should be automatic. If it isn't, make sure your Mac Wifi is turned off, then go to System Preferences > and see if iPhone USB is at the top of your list of network adapters. It ought to be green and connected.

 

[HPLouis]

Wow, I didn't know the hotspots can affect hotel wifi. Thanks for the education.

 

[chabig]

Wow, I didn't know the hotspots can affect hotel wifi. Thanks for the education.

It's like lots of people talking at the same time in a crowded room--it's harder to listen to one person due to the cacophony.

 

[porathj]

Wow, I didn't know the hotspots can affect hotel wifi. Thanks for the education.

This is also news to me. I appreciate all the information...learned something new today.

 

[brojan]

You can hotspot on Bluetooth or lightning cable?