Ask Slashdot: convention hall WiFi interference

bbowman writes: one of my job responsibilities is to set up the small network for our company's exhibit at the trade shows we attend. the mobile demo devices we use depend upon a reliable WiFi connection to a router I have in the exhibit. in the days leading up to the opening of the trade show, WiFi connections are reliable and work as expected. however as soon as the show opens none of our devices can reliable maintain a WiFi connection to the router. The devices we use at the trade shows are Windows-based laptops, iPods/iPads, Android tablets, and a variety of WiFi enabled cell phones. I have tried using channels 1, 6, and 11 (as well as the others) and used different routers (Linksys, D-Link, Netgear) without success. I'm sure it is likely that there are poorly insulated electrical cabling, fluorescent lighting, and other issues that would contribute to WiFi interference in the convention hall. A quick scan shows dozens and dozens of discoverable WiFi networks nearby.

If I take the router back to my hotel room, I have zero connection problems. How can I overcome this so that WiFi works reliably in the convention hall?