Hotel Internet systems struggling to keep up with demand

Mon Jan 5, 2009 1:41PM EST

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We're barely 48 hours away from the start of CES (and hopefully you're reading our advance coverage already), which means tens of thousands of geeks descending on Las Vegas. One thing I'm not looking forward to: All the guys walking around with fanny packs. But even worse than that: The Wi-Fi situation.

As the New York Times reports, the ubiquity of wireless-capable products, from laptops to iPhones, is drowning many of the networks installed in hotels, convention centers, and other places where techies and businessfolk congregate. Now it's gotten to the point where meetings are being moved because bandwidth can't keep up with demand.

The problem is twofold: First, many hotels installed T1 lines a decade ago, and their 1.5Mbps performance was fine back then for the smattering of guests using the system to check email and read headlines. But today, usage has skyrocketed -- not just the number of users but what they're doing online, too: Downloading apps, watching high-def video, P2P, streaming music all day. Those poor T1s, never upgraded, just can't keep up.

The Times story doesn't cover it explicitly, but the Wi-Fi networks at these hotels can be a pain point, too. With hundreds of people often trying to hop onto a single access point, the end result is that, oftentimes, no one connects. Even the Wi-Fi network at the CES press room -- which you'd think would be outfitted with bandwidth to spare -- is notorious for being unavailable during peak hours, its wireless network crushed with too much traffic. And CES show floor demos that fail to work (again, a regular event) are regularly punctuated with "Well... the network is overloaded."

For the first time in years, I have no WWAN card to use as a backup during this trip, but with attendance forecast to be down, I'm hoping for the best. Meanwhile, check out the Times piece to see how some hotels and convention venues are dealing with the broadband issue.

Comments on 4th of July fireworks photography tips

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  • 1 Posted by pb_enial on Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thanks for the tip. Just bought a Canon A480.

  • 2 Posted by alexgannis on Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    You're 100% correct thanks, I made some great shot last year on my Canon 40D ISO 100 bulb setting. bulb is not a fla----- s a setting in pro camera manuel mode.

  • 3 Posted by lubbcraig on Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:17AM EDT Report Abuse

    i guess this is a yearly post for you eh? XD

  • 4 Posted by rogueist on Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:20AM EDT Report Abuse

    You forgot the most important tip - dont stand over the fireworks expecting to catch a firecracker (or M80) exploding on the ground, or a bottle rocket or roman candle as they launch.

  • 5 Posted by gullwingdoors on Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:13AM EDT Report Abuse

    Good article. I think I'll try some of this stuff with my A590IS. Another tip for those whose camera does not have those settings, if it is a Cannon, try the CHDK firmware. http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK It adds a ton of extra features including the ones mentioned in this article (rapid fire, long exposures, etc).

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