When you're on the road and away from your usual network, uploading data from your Vector Core system can be a bit more challenging. This guide will help you connect your Vector Dock to the internet while traveling, using the best available options.
Challenges You May Face
When away from your home network, you might experience connectivity issues that prevent your Vector Core system from working as expected. These challenges could include:
- No stable internet connection: Some areas may not have reliable or easily accessible internet.
- Dock not allowlisted: Vector Docks require network access without Captive Portal Authentication (e.g. login pages). Public networks with Captive Portals won’t work without the dock being allowlisted.
- Public internet: These connections may not be secure or stable enough for use.
Connection Options When Travelling
We recommend these methods, listed in priority order, for connecting your Vector Dock while travelling.
1. Personal Hotspot (iPhone / iPad)
You can use your iPhone or iPad as a mobile hotspot to share its cellular data with nearby devices, including the Vector Dock. This bypasses the need for network allowlisting, as you control the hotspot.
To set up a Personal Hotspot:
- On your iPhone/iPad, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot.
- Toggle on Allow Others to Join.
- Set or confirm your Wi-Fi password.
- Disable any active Wi-Fi connections on your iPhone/iPad.
- Open the Catapult Vector app and go to the Docks screen.
- Select your dock, then go to Wi-Fi and add a new connection.
- Choose your Personal Hotspot and connect. (If it doesn’t appear, enable Maximize Compatibility in your hotspot settings and try again.)
- Once the dock’s LED turns solid blue, your dock is connected and ready for uploads.Note: Some carriers require additional services to enable Personal Hotspot functionality. Contact your provider if you can’t activate this feature.
2. 4G LTE / 5G Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot
A dedicated mobile Wi-Fi hotspot can also provide a secure and portable connection to the internet through the cellular network. It works similarly to a personal hotspot, but is a standalone device. These are available through most mobile network providers.
To connect:
- Power on your mobile Wi-Fi hotspot and confirm it has a stable cellular connection (≥2 bars).
- Open the Catapult Vector app and go to the Docks screen.
- Select your dock, then go to Wi-Fi and add a new connection.
- Choose your hotspot from the list of available networks.
- Once the dock’s LED turns solid blue, your dock is connected and ready for uploads.Note: Make sure your hotspot supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, as some hotspots prioritise 5GHz networks by default.
3. Public Open Wi-Fi Networks (Not Recommended)
If you have no other options, you can try using an open (unsecured) public Wi-Fi network. These networks don’t require passwords or Captive Portal Authentication, but they may be less secure or stable.
To connect:
- Open the Catapult Vector app and go to the Docks screen.
- Select your dock, then go to Wi-Fi and add a new connection.
- Choose the open Wi-Fi network from the list.
- Once the dock’s LED turns solid blue, your dock is connected and ready for uploads.Important: Some open Wi-Fi networks may use Captive Portal Authentication, which is incompatible with the Vector Dock. You can test this by connecting your phone or tablet to the network and opening a web browser. If you’re redirected to a login page, the network has a Captive Portal and won’t work for your dock.
How Much Data Will You Upload?
For a 2-hour session with 24 athletes, the typical data size is around 400-500MB. Upload times will vary depending on your internet connection speed.
Recommended Mobile Hotspots
While Catapult doesn’t endorse specific mobile hotspots, we recommend speaking with your mobile carrier about their available options. Just make sure the device supports a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection to ensure compatibility with your Vector Dock.