The CLiKAPAD keypads use radio technology to communicate their votes to their corresponding base station. Many other items use very similar technology and interference from these other devices may cause issues with voting. The main issue that arises is a base station’s range being reduced, which may mean that keypads further away from the base station may not get their votes counted. The following guide aims to tell you what causes the issue and how best to minimise the problem.
The interference will commonly come from sources such as mobile phones, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices. Each signal operates on a channel, which is a band of frequencies within the 2.4GHz spectrum (2.400GHz- 2.477GHz). By dividing a larger frequency, you can target the “cleaner” channels to avoid any issues with interference arising before running the event.
The CLiKAPAD keypads operate on a number of discreet channels. The channels are 6 -> 77.
These channels relate to a specific frequency within the 2.4GHz spectrum, shown below.
|
CLiKAPAD Channel |
Specific Frequency (GHz) |
|
1 |
2.401 |
|
2 |
2.402 |
|
3 |
2.403 |
|
… |
… |
|
75 |
2.475 |
|
76 |
2.476 |
|
77 |
2.477 |
WiFi uses its own channel designation, ranging from channel 1 to 14. Each channel has a centre point and typically covers a range of 22MHz, as shown by the below image. This only applies to Wi-Fi operating on the 2.4GHz range. Wi-Fi operating on 3.6GHz or 5GHz does not interfere with any CLiKAPAD hardware.
|
Wifi Channel |
Recommended CLiKAPAD Channel No Wi-Fi on this Channel |
Interferes With CLiKAPAD Channels |
|
1 |
6 |
6 to 23 |
|
2 |
17 |
6 to 28 |
|
3 |
22 |
11 to 33 |
|
4 |
27 |
16 to 38 |
|
5 |
32 |
21 to 43 |
|
6 |
37 |
26 to 48 |
|
7 |
42 |
31 to 53 |
|
8 |
47 |
36 to 58 |
|
9 |
52 |
41 to 63 |
|
10 |
57 |
46 to 68 |
|
11 |
62 |
51 to 73 |
|
12 |
67 |
56 to 75 |
|
13 |
75 |
61 to 75 |
In the above table the first column shows the Wi-Fi channel. The second columns shows the recommended CLiKAPAD Channel to use if there is no Wi-Fi on that channel (n.b. Wi-Fi channels are very wide and overlap, so if Wi-Fi channel 3 is clear, but Wi-Fi channel 4 is in use avoid using CLiKAPAD Channel 22 as Wi-Fi on channel 4 will interfere with this)
The third column shows the range of CLiKAPAD channels that a Wi-Fi hotspot on this channel will interfere with, so avoid using these channels if possible if you see Wi-Fi here.