Does virtual reality work at a trade show without internet?
For most projects, yes. Standalone headsets such as the Meta Quest 3, the Pico 4 Enterprise, the Apple Vision Pro or the Samsung Galaxy XR usually don’t need internet at a trade show. The application and all the content are stored on the headset. The hall Wi-Fi then doesn’t matter for your booth.
That is no accident but intentional: we design applications for trade shows so that they run without a connection wherever possible. Exhibition halls have poor Wi-Fi, and a booth that depends on it comes to a standstill at the worst possible moment.
Why it works without internet
A standalone VR headset is a complete computer. The application is installed before the trade show, either via USB cable or through device management software. At the booth, you switch on the headset and the application starts.
The same applies to 360° videos. They are not streamed but stored as files on the headset.
When you do need a connection
| Case | What you need |
|---|---|
| An expert joins remotely | Internet |
| Several visitors are in the same application together | A network, with internet depending on the application |
| Contact details or results need to be transmitted during the trade show | Internet, or transfer after the trade show |
| The screen shows what the user is seeing | An internet connection or an offline solution, depending on the hardware used |
| Updates and new content | Wi-Fi, but before the trade show |
Our tip: your own hotspot
If you need a connection at the booth, don’t rely on the hall Wi-Fi. A mobile hotspot with its own SIM card is more reliable. The headsets connect only to this device. We recommend the same approach to companies whose IT departments don’t allow outside devices on the company network.
Do this before the trade show
- Install updates. Update the operating system and application at the office, not at the booth.
- Test once without a connection. Turn off Wi-Fi on the headset and run through the entire application.
- Prepare the spare headset the same way. It only helps if the same version of the application is installed.
Conclusion
For VR at a trade show booth, you need power, space and one person in charge, but in most cases no internet. The article VR headsets at your trade show booth: process, staff and space covers what else you should plan for.
