WiFiTally is a wireless tally system designed for live streaming, sports events, conferences, concerts and other video productions.
For reliable operation, it is important to have a properly configured Wi-Fi network. WiFiTally does not require a high-speed internet connection — tally communication uses only a very small amount of data. What matters most is a stable local Wi-Fi network with low interference and predictable operation.
This guide explains the recommended router settings and provides practical tips for creating a reliable Wi-Fi network for your WiFiTally system.
Recommended Router Settings
For the most reliable operation, we recommend using a dedicated 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network for your production equipment.
| Setting | Recommended value |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi band | 2.4 GHz |
| Wi-Fi standard | 802.11 b/g/n |
| Security | WPA2-PSK / AES |
| Wi-Fi channel | 1, 6 or 11 |
| Channel width | 20 MHz |
| SSID | Visible |
| DHCP | Enabled |
| WMM | Enabled |
| AP / Client Isolation | Disabled |
| MAC filtering | Disabled |
The exact names of these settings may vary depending on the router manufacturer and model.
Use 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
WiFiTally operates on the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band, so a 2.4 GHz wireless network must be available.
If you are using a modern dual-band router with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, we recommend creating a dedicated network for your production equipment.
For example:
Production-Tally – 2.4 GHz
Your laptop running vMix, ATEM, control tablet and other production equipment can be connected to the same local network.
You can still use the 5 GHz network for devices that support it and require higher bandwidth. However, 5 GHz is not required for WiFiTally.
Set a Fixed Wi-Fi Channel
In the 2.4 GHz band, we recommend using one of these channels:
1, 6 or 11
If your router provides automatic channel selection, we recommend setting the channel manually for production use.
Why?
During a live production, you do not want the router to unnecessarily change the Wi-Fi channel while the system is running. A stable configuration is more important than automatic optimization.
If there are many Wi-Fi networks in the area, choose the least congested channel among 1, 6 and 11.
Use a 20 MHz Channel Width
We recommend setting the 2.4 GHz channel width to:
20 MHz
If your router offers options such as 20/40 MHz or Auto, we recommend selecting 20 MHz.
WiFiTally does not require high data throughput. A wider 40 MHz channel therefore provides no practical advantage for tally communication and can increase interference in environments with many Wi-Fi networks.
Use WPA2-PSK / AES Security
We recommend using:
WPA2-PSK / AES
If your router provides several security options, such as WPA/WPA2 or WPA2/WPA3, we recommend using a dedicated production network configured with WPA2-PSK and AES.
Avoid older security standards such as WEP or WPA/TKIP.
Disable AP Isolation / Client Isolation
This setting can be particularly important.
Depending on the router manufacturer, it may be called:
- AP Isolation
- Client Isolation
- Wireless Isolation
- WLAN Isolation
For WiFiTally, this feature should be disabled.
Client isolation prevents devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network from communicating with each other. WiFiTally needs to communicate with other devices on the local network.
If client isolation is enabled, a device may appear to be connected to Wi-Fi while communication within the local network does not work correctly.
Keep DHCP Enabled
For a standard configuration, we recommend keeping:
DHCP Server – ON
The router will automatically assign IP addresses to devices connected to the network.
For larger production systems, you can also use DHCP reservations to ensure that selected devices always receive the same IP address.
Use a Visible Wi-Fi Network
We recommend keeping the Wi-Fi network name, or SSID, visible.
There is normally no need to hide the Wi-Fi network.
A simple name such as:
WiFiTally
or:
Production
makes the network easier to identify and configure during a production.
Avoid Guest Networks
We recommend connecting WiFiTally to a standard local Wi-Fi network rather than a Guest Network.
Guest networks are often configured to prevent connected devices from communicating with each other.
This can interfere with communication between WiFiTally and the controlling device.
If you want to separate production equipment from other devices, it is better to create a dedicated production Wi-Fi network.
Use a Dedicated Production Wi-Fi Network
If you regularly use WiFiTally for live productions, we recommend creating a dedicated Wi-Fi network specifically for your production equipment.
For example, this network could contain:
- WiFiTally devices
- ATEM
- laptop running vMix
- control computer or tablet
- other production equipment
There is no need to connect devices such as:
- visitors’ smartphones
- smart TVs
- home smart devices
- guest devices
- other unnecessary equipment
The fewer devices sharing the network, the easier it is to maintain a stable and predictable production environment.
WiFiTally Does Not Require Internet Access
An important advantage of WiFiTally is that an internet connection is not required for communication between the devices.
WiFiTally can operate within a local Wi-Fi network even when there is no internet access.
This is particularly useful for sports events, concerts, conferences and outdoor productions where a reliable internet connection may not be available.
The router can simply act as a local Wi-Fi access point for the production.
What Type of Router Should You Use?
You do not need an expensive professional router to operate WiFiTally.
Maximum Wi-Fi speed is much less important than:
- stability,
- good Wi-Fi coverage,
- manual control of the 2.4 GHz network,
- the ability to select a fixed channel,
- the ability to disable Client Isolation,
- reliable long-term operation.
TP-Link
TP-Link offers many suitable and affordable routers and access points.
They are a good choice for smaller production systems thanks to their availability, simple configuration and wide range of models.
When choosing a TP-Link device, look for a model that allows you to manually configure the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi settings described in this guide.
MikroTik
MikroTik is an interesting option for users who want more control over their network.
MikroTik devices offer extensive configuration options and are particularly suitable for more advanced or professional production networks.
The configuration can be more complex than with a typical consumer router, but this also provides much greater control over the network.
Access Point Instead of a Router
If you already have a main router, you do not necessarily need another router.
A dedicated Wi-Fi access point can be connected to your existing network using Ethernet.
This can be an excellent solution for a production rack, where the access point can be connected directly to the wired production network.
Position Your Router Correctly
Even the best router will not provide reliable coverage if it is placed in a poor location.
During a production, we recommend:
- placing the router as centrally as practical,
- avoiding large metal objects between the router and tally devices,
- avoiding enclosed metal cabinets,
- positioning the antennas according to the manufacturer’s recommendations,
- keeping the router away from potential sources of interference.
For larger sports events or productions, it may be better to use a quality access point positioned closer to the WiFiTally devices.
What If WiFiTally Loses Connection?
If you experience occasional connection problems, check the following settings first:
1. Make sure you are using a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
2. Set a fixed channel: 1, 6 or 11.
3. Set the channel width to 20 MHz.
4. Make sure AP/Client Isolation is disabled.
5. Check that WPA2-PSK/AES is being used.
6. Check the Wi-Fi signal strength at the location of the WiFiTally device.
7. Remove unnecessary devices from the production network.
8. If there are many Wi-Fi networks nearby, try a different channel.
In many cases, connection problems are caused by the configuration or quality of the Wi-Fi network rather than by the amount of data transmitted by WiFiTally.
Keep Your Production Network Simple and Stable
WiFiTally does not require a complicated network or a high-speed internet connection.
For reliable operation, the most important thing is to create a stable local Wi-Fi network where the production devices can communicate with each other without unnecessary restrictions.
If you use WiFiTally for live production, we recommend using a dedicated Wi-Fi network, selecting a fixed 2.4 GHz channel and avoiding unnecessary configuration changes during the production.
A properly configured Wi-Fi network is the foundation of a reliable wireless tally system.
WiFiTally for Your Live Production
WiFiTally is designed to provide a simple and reliable wireless tally solution for live video production.
Whether you are working on a sports event, conference, concert or live stream, a properly configured local network helps ensure that your tally system remains reliable throughout the production.
WiFiTally – simple, wireless and built for real video productions.