Connecting iRFR without router

Use an access point connected to the console with the console configured in DHCP mode. In the shell, go to settings/network to access the ethernet configuration.  Set the IP to the default suggested by ETC https://support.etcconnect.com/ETC/Networking/General/ETC_Network_IP_Addresses or something else if you're a rebel.  The DHCP configuration is about half-way down.  The access point will have its own parameters (SSID/Password) that you'll have to configure and the iPhone will need to have its wifi configured to access that access point.

Is the router the problem or the internet connection?  If the latter, use a router NOT connected to the WAN.  If the problem is they don't allow any wifi connection, only wired, it is possible to connect the phone to ethernet with a dongle, but that defeats to purpose of having it.  You probably don't want the board connected to the internet in any case.

Yeah the problem is the 3rd party router.  Apparently it can mess with the university WiFi.  

This is what I was told and honestly this is a little beyond me...

Second, the way our network is architected (and this is pretty standard for a campus), there are several challenges to even providing a potential solution.  That is, while we could configure a wall jack so that you could wire the lightboard console into it and be on a specific VLAN for, say, your department, one thing we can't do is drop your mobile device into that same VLAN.  We only offer a limited set of SSIDs (e.g., eduroam, the PSK network, Guest), and there's no way to say "Ok, this specific device needs to go into this VLAN and is the ONLY thing that should."

My suggestion - don't try to involve the IT department by trying to connect to the university network. Explain to them that this wifi access (for the app to connect to the board) is a requirement for your students to be able to learn and you need to be able to set up an access point to do so.

Sometimes you have to explain your needs as if the console is a piece of research equipment instead of a computer.

I went around them once and they sniffed out the router and were non too impressed with me. 

If you can find a knowledgeable person in IT management, maybe they could grant an exception. Let them set it up for you where they control all the passwords and access.  Tell them::

The console must not connect in any way to the university VLAN, since anyone on the VLAN would be able to access the console. The problem goes both ways.

Because you are on a university network there are really only two ways to do this. The 100% correct way would be to work with someone in IT to setup a dedicated VLAN for the lighting console control and have only the lighting console and a dedicated WiFi SSID that connects exclusively to the lighting console VLAN. With no other in/out traffic permitted.

Depending on the IT department there is kind of no other way around it if they're doing what they should be doing regarding monitoring.

While it shouldn't be a problem, you could setup your own WiFi router that is only connected to the console (and not to the university network). The problem really becomes when the Router is also on the university network - no university would permit this (however some don't know how to detect it)... But savvy IT departments are also monitoring for "unmanged" or "rouge" wifi access points. So that is why this wouldn't be recommended as it probably violates IT campus policies. In other environments this would be a fine solution.

The big thing these days is cyber security. This is why you can't just plug in and make something work. Spanning tree protocols will detect unmanaged switches and block traffic. If you can work with the IT department and get a Vlan setup that is not routable and not able to get to the internet it would be advantageous. 

You say IT can sniff out rouge WiFi. You may be able to connect a Wifi AP to the 2nd port of the console and only turn it on when needed (such as focus) then remove it when not required. I wonder how IT feel about hotspot off a phone? effectively a rouge wifi.

I still maintain the best approach is to work with IT and even if you can get someone in the space to show what is needed and even if you have your venue Ipad(s) have the network locked only to that device(s).

Just some random thoughts.

Thanks

Yeah working to get them in the building to actually see what's what.