[Twirrim]

Mostly what stands out to me from this is that they only get the tablets just a few hours before the game.

That's ridiculous, unless the NFL is also providing all the technical support (which Bill's actual rant doesn't imply they do.) Having just a short time to use, test and get them ready for the game is incredibly lousy, and certainly won't give the team's IT people any chance to seriously troubleshoot and improve the situation.

It doesn't matter who makes the tech, or how solid it is. You can't just throw tech at a problem and expect it to solve it.

[coleca]

Since the tablets are operating wirelessly it becomes very hard to test since the conditions before the game aren't the same as what occurs during the game. All the fans with their smartphones aren't there yet polluting the airwaves until the game starts (some don't make it in until after the game has already started).

Also worth noting that some of the reporters were complaining at last week's game that the WiFi was down in the press box at Gillette Stadium at the start of the game. There could have been a bigger networking issue going on there.

The Pats use Extreme Networks WiFi gear in the stadium.

[hackuser]

> Since the tablets are operating wirelessly it becomes very hard to test since the conditions before the game aren't the same as what occurs during the game. All the fans with their smartphones aren't there yet polluting the airwaves until the game starts (some don't make it in until after the game has already started).

By now, the IT team should know the gametime environment very well. It should no longer be a surprise to them.

[jpindar]

Knowing roughly what conditions to expect is not the same as actually testing equipment under those conditions. The team staff aren't trying to simulate or predict anything, they're trying to test the performance of the specific tablets they get, under game conditions.

On gameday there are thousands of different rf sources - deliberate and otherwise - in the stadium. You can't simulate that in as much detail as needed.

[eddieroger]

They've had the tablets for a few seasons now. Unless the app itself is changing between games, which I doubt is happening with any significance, they don't need them that early after they've been trained. Besides, there's probably some good sportsmanship angle to everyone getting access at the same time - a team that plays SNF shouldn't have the extra six hours or whatever that the 1pm game doesn't get to prepare.