The soft access point function of the LabQuest 2 and LabQuest 3 is designed to work in situations such as outdoor data collection when you have one student wading into a stream with the LabQuest and sensors, while another student on the bank reads the data on their mobile device. It will not work well as a classroom-wide substitute for a dedicated WiFi router. Once several devices are connected to the network created by a LabQuest, the network and the LabQuest start to slow down. A more robust solution is to either:

-Get the LabQuest approved by your school’s IT department (preferred technology solution, but might be difficult because of bureaucracy).
or
-Use your own inexpensive Wi-Fi router that is not connected to the internet or your school’s network. These are available at most places that sell computers. When we perform training sessions, we generally use this method, as the approval process to get on someone else’s network is sometimes difficult.

In order to help IT staff get a LabQuest on the school network, you might send them a link to our connected Science System documentation for IT, which includes technical information about Wi-Fi setup, services required, and network topology recommendations. This is available at:
http://www2.vernier.com/manuals/labquest2_networking-system_admin_overview.pdf

Other tips for IT professionals are located at:
FAQs for IT professionals at schools

If you do not have access to an existing Wi-Fi network, or are not permitted to access your school’s network, you can quickly and easily set up a network with LabQuest. This will allow your students to connect to this network with their mobile devices. This network will not support access to the internet. The email function of LabQuest will not work with a LabQuest-generated network.

We recognize that local IT rules may prohibit the creation of additional networks connected to the school network. Since many LabQuest services do not require an internet connection, consider creating a network isolated from the school network. As such, either a small infrastructure network or LabQuest-generated network pose no security risk since no communication between the additional network and the main school network is possible.

To set up a LabQuest-generated (a.k.a, SoftAP or Ad hoc) network (LabQuest App version 2.3.1 or newer):

1. Tap Connections on the Home screen (LabQuest 2) or Settings screen (LabQuest 3), then tap the Network icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Enable the Wi-Fi radio. A Network Configuration dialog box is displayed listing any networks that LabQuest sees, as well as an option to Create Network. You may need to scroll down to see this option.
2. Tap Create Network.
3. Tap the Network Name field and assign a name to this new network (e.g., Ms. Johnsons classroom).
4. Tap Create.

Your network is ready. Have your students refresh their list of Wi-Fi networks on their mobile devices. They should now see the name of your network within this list and be able to join the network.

Note: We do not recommend creating multiple networks in the same room. It is better to create a network on one LabQuest, then have all the devices join that network. The LabQuest that is running the network may be slow for other functions, so (if possible), dedicate one LabQuest to doing only this task.