I had to manage the access control of an event, it works with few pda devices connected to the existing Wi-Fi infrastructure.
At test time before the event the connection seemed to be good, all pda had a good signal and could work all together with good response time.
As you imagined during the event things went a bit different.
We have experienced failures in a networks layers, disruptions of Wi-Fi signal (devices were disconnected for few seconds), tcp connection timeouts, a lower signal, some other layer 7 related issues like dns response failures.
Devices and AP number and positions didn't have been changed.
So I was wondering if a massive presence of other wifi devices not connected to the same Wifi could be the cause of this degradation. I mean, is it possible that wifi research made by all smartphones of people could have degraded the APs?
Is there any solution? For example using an hidden SSID?