Consol Energy Center

[peterleefan]

Does anyone know why cell phone reception including the ability to make a call, send a text, or connect to the internet is virtually impossible inside the CEC?

In the interest of full disclosure, I have AT&T service. Verizon is a business partner of the Pens. Do Verizon customers have better access because of this business relatonship and their ability to provide more coverage at the bldg?

[MRandall25]

It's virtually impossible in just about every arena you go to.

[jwest21]

Does anyone know why cell phone reception including the ability to make a call, send a text, or connect to the internet is virtually impossible inside the CEC?

In the interest of full disclosure, I have AT&T service. Verizon is a business partner of the Pens. Do Verizon customers have better access because of this business relatonship and their ability to provide more coverage at the bldg?

I have Verizon and the reception stinks. This year there seems to be a password needed for the arena Wi-Fi but UI have no clue what it is

[peterleefan]

I dont believe the lousy reception was this bad in the first two yrs of the CEC.

My wife sent me a text during the Buffalo game last week - I got it 20 minutes into my drive home after the game.

[Idoit40fans]

I've never had good reception there, my seats haven't changed and are pretty far up there.

[Ossa]

My cell service in the arena works fine and I don't have Verizon

[BurghersAndDogsSports]

It's virtually impossible in just about every arena you go to.

No its not. I go to lots of arenas and most of them its fine for calls, texting and internet on your phone.

[jwest21]

Aren't there ways to boost reception inside buildings?

[Kovy27]

It's virtually impossible in just about every arena you go to.

No its not. I go to lots of arenas and most of them its fine for calls, texting and internet on your phone.

It is not as bad as Heinz Field.

[MRandall25]

Meh. Ohio Stadium is a black hole for cell reception, and while I can get some in Nationwide, it's very spotty. I either get full 4G or I get nothing.

Also BDS, you don't like anything about CEC. Why should I be surprised

[BurghersAndDogsSports]

Meh. Ohio Stadium is a black hole for cell reception, and while I can get some in Nationwide, it's very spotty. I either get full 4G or I get nothing.

Also BDS, you don't like anything about CEC. Why should I be surprised

I never said I didnt get reception at CEC. I said I go to most arenas and its fine, but yeah I was just talking about arenas. Never really have a problem
with my phone at them. A few stadiums, yes for sure there are issue. Sometimes PNC park too.

[peterleefan]

I guess it varies per person.

Some here have said they have trouble at Heinz Field or PNC Park but I have never had issues there - just inside CEC

[scals37]

Verizon here, and have always had good service there

[yubb]

You're adding 18,000 people in a small area to the cell towers near there. The network probably isn't capable of handling that load; thus you see some people have no issues and others have major issues.

As for Wifi, not sure what the deal is.

[KBone]

I think the slow/nonexistant data is due partly to the fact that you have thousands of phones all uploading/downloading data from the same signal/tower.

It's a bottleneck.

Edit: Also, most people try using their phones during stoppages and intermissions. Again, more bottlenecking.

[nocera]

I was shocked how well LTE worked in the building considering last time I was there, 3G was impossible. So, there's that.

[Idoit40fans]

Yeah when I say it doesn't work, i really mean it sparingly works. I usually text/twitter post a few times per period, about half of those go through on first effort.

[slappybrown]

newarenanow

[stopper40]

You're adding 18,000 people in a small area to the cell towers near there. The network probably isn't capable of handling that load; thus you see some people have no issues and others have major issues.

As for Wifi, not sure what the deal is.

There were AT&T and Verizon antennas in the Civic arena. I can't see them opening a new arena and not putting the antennas there. But you're right, putting all those people in one place can overload the system

[BurghersAndDogsSports]

You're adding 18,000 people in a small area to the cell towers near there. The network probably isn't capable of handling that load; thus you see some people have no issues and others have major issues.

As for Wifi, not sure what the deal is.

sure, I think everyones understands why it shouldnt work (based on the numbers - that makes sense) but a lot of venues it does work.

My best guess is more "towers" inside the building or whatever transmits. Whether all have it or not nowadays if they dont they better start plan on putting in whatever is necessary. The NFL especially.

[MtWash]

Yes, I worked for Verizon for 3 years. Each tower can only hold so much. Another call/text can't be made unless a previous call/text ends. It is all luck, really. If you tried it over and over, you would eventually get through.

[Spum]

Have AT&T. I always wait until play starts if I need to call or do anything. In between play forget it.

[Fire0nice228]

I was at a game last week and talking with my brother about that. Verizon logos plastered all over the freaking place, can't get enough of a signal to do anything with our brand new verizon phones. nice.

[thepittman]

There is actually a project to add WiFi throughout Consol energy center and there was a job posted for a network admin with the penguins organization with boatloads of experience to implement the project. I just checked and it is taken down so they must have hired someone.

[shootinthepuck]

Heinz Field did something to make their reception better last year. I went to a Steeler game in December and noticed a drastic difference in December compared to November. I have no idea what it was they did, but it is possible I "reckon".