Internet Services – Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Internet services vary from city to city; is there someone at McCormick Place who can assist us directly with our Internet requirements?
A: Calling our McCormick Place Technology Services Department at 312-791-6113 will ensure that your Internet and networking needs are fulfilled. By including us during the planning stages, we can help you with all aspects of service delivery. In most cases, we can provide suggestions to save you money!
Q: We know that you ask for detailed floor plans – how important is that?
A: EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Without a detailed floor plan showing the placement of the computers that need to be connected, our Telecom installers must guess where you want your service setup. If they guess wrong, and you need the service moved, you are responsible for labor charges to move the lines. In Lakeside Center locations, the Internet wiring must be dropped from the ceiling, moving the lines can be very costly.
To avoid these charges, ALWAYS submit a detailed floor plan with EVERY INTERNET ORDER.
Q: Is Wi-Fi available on the showfloor?
A: Complimentary Wi-Fi is available at a speed of 768K, however it is no longer available on the exhibit floor or in space used for exhibits during show days except in permanent Food Pod Areas in Halls A and F, and in one Hotspot area per exhibit hall (A-F), to be determined on site by the Show Manager.
Complimentary Wi-Fi at a speed of 768K will continue to be offered in public/function spaces and meeting rooms. This service is for checking emails or basic websites with minimal graphic content. Premium Wi-Fi services are always available.
Q: How do I decide which service is right for me?
Q: I don't understand anything about computers – is there anyone at McCormick Place that can explain this to me in English?
Q: Are there any additional charges we should know about?
Q: Can we run our own cable?
Q: We need to use VPN to log into to our own server. Which Internet service do I order?
A: Any of our services can provide connectivity. Please base your order on the number of computers connecting and the amount of data you need to move. Contact our Internet Services Department at 312-791-6113 to order or if you have any additional questions.
Q: Can you load software for me or do repairs to my computer if I request this?
A: Due to insurance restrictions we cannot provide these services. Please make sure that that your devices are in good working order BEFORE you arrive. (including Ethernet cards). If you have a computer with Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating systems, please make sure you have administrative privileges to that computer as you will not be able to enter the configuration information required to access our network without it.
We recommend bringing backup copies of any software, especially any non-standard operating systems, important to your presentation or demo. Please test your devices as soon as possible. Non standard operating systems may not contain the appropriate Ethernet drivers or other connections.
Q: Do you rent computers?
A: No. Your event will have a primary A/V provider that can assist you with computer rentals.
Q: We've used ISDN at other convention centers, is that available through the McCormick Technology Department?
A: No. If you are currently using ISDN in your home or office to connect to the Internet, any of our Ethernet levels of service will provide a faster, more reliable, and easier-to-use service.
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a different type of circuit than what is provided at McCormick Place. Due to the difficulty in managing ISDN (industry standards are not set for ISDN modems) we do not sell nor support this service. If your application can ONLY use ISDN, you must contact AT&T (local Regional Bell Operating Center) to bring in this service, please go to: https://www.att.com/expressordering
Their contact information is: Email: CHICAGO.GOVED.DSGCLT@RDSMAIL.IMS.ATT.COM (Please write “Attention Yolanda Holmes” in subject) 877-377-4153.
Once your order is placed with AT&T you will place an order with us to extend the circuit to your booth or meeting room. You must pay for the circuit, the labor to extend the circuit from the demarcation point to your booth, and any usage charges incurred on the circuit. There is no on-site support from AT&T. When ordering the circuit from AT&T, please make sure that you give them the correct address for the building you will be exhibiting in.
Those addresses are: 2301 South Lakeshore Drive for the Lakeside Center, 450 East 23rd Street for North Building locations, 2301 South Martin King Drive for South Building locations, and 2301 S. Indiana for West Building locations.
Q: We need to set up a point-to-point T1 circuit with our home office; can we order the Dedicated Ethernet 1.55 service?
A: No. Our Dedicated Ethernet 1.55 service is a connection to the Internet at the same speed as a T1 circuit, but they are two completely different types of service. You will need to contact AT&T and order a T1 circuit through them. Their contact information is: CHICAGO.GOVED.DSGCLT@RDSMAIL.IMS.ATT.COM (Please write “Attention Yolanda Holmes” in subject) 877-377-4153.
Once your order is placed with AT&T you will place an order with us to extend the circuit to your booth or meeting room. You must pay for the circuit, the labor to extend the circuit from the demarcation point to your booth, and any usage charges incurred on the circuit. There is no on-site support from AT&T. When ordering the circuit from AT&T, please make sure that you give them the correct address for the building you will be exhibiting in.
Those addresses are: 2301 South Lakeshore Drive for the Lakeside Center, 450 East 23rd Street for North Building locations, 2301 South Martin King Drive for South Building locations, and 2301 S. Indiana for West Building locations.
Q: We're not very technical, what do we have to do to get our computers connected to the Internet?
A: Most of our services are DHCP (Plug-in-Play) but for services that do require Static IP Addresses, we will provide you with configuration information (TCP/IP addresses, Net Mask, DNS Addresses) approximately a week in advance of the show.
If you need assistance configuring your computers, please call our onsite Infrastructure Technicians at 312-791-7205.
Q: Can I order one Dedicated Ethernet 1.55 service and share it with multiple locations?
A: No. Our service is sold by location. You can, however, utilize our VLAN service to share that bandwidth with multiple locations. In addition, we can use a firewall to provide DHCP (and security) and deliver that bandwidth via VLAN to any and all locations within the McCormick Place complex. This has been a very successful method of service delivery with some of our larger shows.
Please call our Technology Services Department at 312-791-6113 to discuss this option in greater detail.
Q: We are utilizing space in the Hyatt McCormick Hotel/Conference Center and several meeting rooms in McCormick Place. Can these areas be networked together?
A: The Hyatt Conference Center is part of the McCormick Place network, while the Hyatt hotel is not. You will need to order Internet for any location within the Hyatt hotel directly through the Hyatt.
