Blog
Emergency Wi-Fi
Introduction
In our current digital age connectivity is indispensable, whether this is in the form of a Wi-Fi connection or cellular SIM. This becomes even more apparent in emergency scenarios, natural disaster, power outages, damaged cabling or even being cut off by your existing internet supplier. This blog will explore how you and your business can stay connected, even in the most challenging situations.
Section 1: Preparing for Emergencies
1) Ensure Reliable Internet Connectivity: This is easier said than done as you never know when an emergency will arise, but there are a couple of plans you should have in place.
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Backup Internet Plans: Have an alternative internet option ready to go live within minutes, research different providers and plans, look for "plug n play" devices.
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Emergency Contacts: Have a list of emergency contacts easily accessible that can assist you when needed.
2) Pre-Purchasing Mobile Hotspots: A mobile hotspot is a device that you can connect to, allowing you to access the internet. There are a lot of different options out there, so make sure you purchase one that can handle your specific requirements.
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Why a Mobile Hotspot: They are a portable Wi-Fi network that use cellular or satellite connectivity, perfect for any emergency.
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Choosing The Right Plan: There are a range of plans available, always check with the supplier that their solution can handle the connected devices and their associated bandwidth.
3) Keeping Devices Charged: Obviously this is hugely important to ensure a rapid response in an emergency.
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Power Banks: Some solutions can be powered from an external power source, like a battery.
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Voltage: Look for low voltage solutions as they can be powered in a variety of ways, 8v-48v is low voltage.
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Portable Solar Chargers: These are ecofriendly and are great for extended outages, you will need a low voltage solution for use with solar panels.
Section 2: Emergency Wi-Fi Options
1) Mobile Hotspots: These range in size and functionality, always look for a business grade solution.
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How They Work: They use cellular or LEO satellites to create a Wi-Fi network, some also have a fixed ethernet output connection.
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Advantages: Portable, "plug n play", reliable, multiple power options.
2) Smart Phone Tethering: Most modern smart phones offer this feature, this can only be used for a couple of connected devices.
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How They Work: Use your smart phone and allow other devices to connect to your cellular data allowance.
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Advantages: Easily connected, uses existing data plans.
3) Satellite Internet: A great option for more rural areas with limited cellular options, can bulky and power hungry.
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How They Work: Uses LEO (low earth orbit) satellites to create a Wi-Fi network.
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Advantages: Can be used anywhere, as long as you can see the sky.
4)Community Wi-Fi Networks: This works well in built up areas such as city centres, but they are not readily available.
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How They Work: Local businesses and government agencies can offer free Wi-Fi in emergency situations.
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Advantages: Quick connections.
Section 3: Real Life Examples
Use this section as a guide, offering real life examples of situations that need an emergency Wi-Fi solution.
1) Office Internet Outage: An office internet has disconnected and will not be re-connected for at least two weeks. The office is based in central London and there is good cellular coverage in the area, they need a solution that will allow for sixty devices connect to the internet via Wi-Fi and ethernet.
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Solution Required: The best solution for this example would be a mobile hotspot that can connect to the strong 5G signalling in the area. The hotspot would need a external ethernet port to allow the customer to connect to their existing LAN network.
2): Event Internet Outage: A mobile bar at a music festival based in rural Yorkshire has lost the internet connection for their tills and payment system, this is down to a power outage at the event. The event is cashless and the bar needs emergency Wi-Fi for three days, they have thirty devices that need a Wi-Fi connection.
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Solution Required: The only solution that would work in this scenario is a satellite mobile hotspot that can be plugged into a 12v car battery, once activated they can manually re-connect their till system to the new Wi-Fi network.
3) Natural Disaster: Heavy flooding in the Welsh valleys has caused all power and connectivity to fail, the emergency services need a internet connection for communications and data analysis.
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Solution Required: The best solution for this scenario is a satellite mobile hotspot with an additional battery pack, this will allow the emergency services to roam freely with the Wi-Fi and get connected anywhere.
Conclusion
Emergency Wi-Fi and internet access can be a lifeline during critical situations. Making sure you are prepared in advance and knowing your options can help you stay connected and informed when it matter most.
Don't wait for an emergency to arise and test your connectivity, be proactive and prepared with a viable solution and plan!
Why Wedding Wi-Fi
Introduction
Weddings are a massive part of anybody's life and are notoriously stressful, don't let bad Wi-Fi effect you or your guests on your big day. A good Wi-Fi connection is vitally important at a modern wedding, even if you don't like it, nearly everyone and everything needs connectivity. Whether you are live streaming the ceremony to family members that are unable to attend or using it for your guests to upload their photos and videos to your cloud! Generally the more rural your event is the less connectivity will be available, this blog will highlight some advantages and some uses of wedding Wi-Fi.
Wedding Wi-Fi Really Matters
1) Happy guests, your guests will look to have some form of Wi-Fi at your event. This could be due to few reasons, the main reason is for communication with family members. This could be as simple as checking in on their children that have been left with a family member. Another reason will be organisation with their travel arrangements, nobody wants to feel they could be stranded somewhere.
2) Virtual guests are becoming more and more regular at modern weddings. If you are going to live stream the ceremony to guests that are unable to attend then you'll need a good Wi-Fi signal. Getting a portable Wi-Fi hotspot in place before the ceremony starts will ensure the person in charge of the livestream won't encounter any issues.
3) Smooth vendor coordination, if you are having any third party vendors at your wedding then they will need Wi-Fi. It could be that your photographers need to be able to communicate, thus ensuring they get all the shots that you want.
4) Cloud storage, most weddings will have a QR code (or equivalent) for you to scan and gain access to a cloud storage link. Your guests will be able to upload their photos and videos real time, Wi-Fi will be needed for cloud access.
Setting Up Wedding Wi-Fi
1) A portable Wi-Fi hotspot will be the best option in most circumstances, most of them are plug'n'play so you'll be up and running within minutes. If your wedding is in a rural setting where there is limited 4/5G look at hiring a satellite mobile hotspot, this will give you a strong enough signal for up to two hundred guests.
2) If your wedding is at a venue that has their own Wi-Fi network then liaise with the staff to ensure their signal is in the places where it is needed. Also make sure their Wi-Fi won't get saturated when all your guests arrive, their signal might be strong enough most of the time but what about an extra one hundred devices.
3) Once you have decided what the best option is for your day ask the supplier to change the Wi-Fi details to show a bespoke login, for example - Wi-Fi name: Matt&BridieWi-FI - Wi-Fi password: bestdayever
This will make it much more engaging for your guests and is easily setup.
Wedding Wi-Fi Woes
1) Make sure you test your setup prior to the big day, you don't want to be worrying about something as boring as Wi-Fi.
2) Try and hire a hotspot that comes with some form a power backup. There are some available that have battery backup or that can be plugged into a vehicle 12v supply.
3) Have a backup plan, if everything fails how are your guests going to be communicate?
Conclusion
Wedding Wi-Fi is as important as any other commodity at a wedding and people have come to expect Wi-Fi where ever they go. If you inform your guests prior to the wedding that there will be Wi-Fi it will put their mind at ease and they'll go on to have a more enjoyable time.