Wi-Fi Based Assistive Listening System

After some extensive testing, this brand new technology in 2024, we are pleased to share that the “Listen Wi-Fi” systems were installed and made available for patron use at the Amphitheater, Hall of Missions, Norton Hall and Bratton Theater in 2025. This technology allows users to listen to events and programs using their own smartphones and headphones or Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids.  

What do I need to be able to utilize this technology 

You will need the following: 

  • A smartphone or tablet that can download apps to your phone. Both Android and IOS (Apple) devices will work. 
  • Your password to download apps from the app store of your device.
  • A Bluetooth headphone or hearing aids that are already paired with your device, OR wire-connected headphones that work with your device 

What are the benefits of this technology? 

There are several benefits we can think of, including the following:

  • The technology will enable patrons to use their own devices and headphones, thereby eliminating the need/hassle of getting a hearing device from an usher.
  • We will continue to expand this technology to other Institutional venues. This means that your personal device will work with most Institutional venues and programming. 
  • The technology will allow multiple channels, which means that we can provide “live audio description” for blind patrons on a different channel. The same would be true if we ever scheduled a speaker who were to deliver a lecture in a language other than English, and a live English translation would be possible via this technology, or vice-versa. 
  • For patrons who are noise sensitive, they could bring their own noise-cancelling headphones to concerts and events and determine at what volume they want to experience the event. This may be especially helpful for neurodiverse patrons. 

Before Arriving at the Amphitheater

  1. Download the “Listen Wifi” App. Alternatively, you can open your app store and search for “ListenWifi” – please make sure to select the app with the logo shown in step #2 below.  
    Download ListenWiFi app
  2. This is what the app and logo look like in the app store. 
    ListenWiFi app
  3. Give the app the permissions it asks for. If asked, we suggest allowing the app to use your location when the app is in use. This step is not essential, but it will help you connect to the correct Wi-Fi servers.  
  4. Make sure that your hearing aids, Bluetooth headphones, or wire connected headphones are working. Play any music or video on any app to make sure that you can hear the sound. This technology will work best if you have noise-cancelling headphones as they reduce the echo effect created by latency (explained below).  

When You Arrive at the Venue 

  • Connect to the venue’s guest Wi-Fi once you are inside. Open “Settings”, select “Wi-Fi”, then find the following wifi networks (NOTE: you only have to do this once if you enable your device to remember Wi-Fi networks) 
    • Amphitheater: “Amphitheater Guest Wi-Fi” network.  
    • HOP: “HOP Listen” 
    • Bratton: “Bratton Listen” 
    • Norton: “Norton Listen” 
      Amp WiFi
  • Open the “Listen Wifi” app that you have already downloaded to your device. You should shortly see a screen that looks like this. Press the button that corresponds with your venue location name (e.g., “Amp” will appear at the Amphitheater).     
  • After pressing the venue location button, a play icon will appear as shown below. Please press play 
  • Your screen should look this now and you should start hearing sounds on your device. Both a pause button and a speaker icon will appear as shown below.
  • Please use the volume up and down button on your device to adjust the volume of your device.
    adjust volume

Can staff help me set this up? 

YES! IT Services and Accessibility Staff will be available on Sundays at 2:30-3 p.m. right before the Sunday family entertainment event at the amphitheater at gate 4 (across from the Presbyterian House). It will be most helpful if you arrive to the amp with the app already downloaded on your device. A fully charged device would be very helpful.   

What issues do you expect in advance? 

This is new technology and our user feedback tells us that it works best for patrons with moderate to severe hearing loss. We expect some issues to occur, including:  

  • Latency: This is the time difference between sounds coming out of the speakers at the amp and the sound/Wi-Fi signal reaching your device. This can create an echo effect for some listeners. The best way to solve this is to use noise-cancelling headphones. 
  • Latency is going to be different based on how far you are sitting from the speakers. Please move around the amp to find a spot that works best for you. Our initial testing shows that the echo effect can sometimes be reduced by pressing pause and play on the Listen WIFI app after 15–20 minutes of use. 
  • Wi-Fi routers can sometimes “lag”, and you might occasionally lose signal for a moment or two. 

Other Important Information 

  • Please never play the wifi streaming sound over the speakers of your phone without a headphone or hearing aid connected. That would be very disruptive to other patrons. 
  • We cannot provide you with headphones for your device. The whole point of this system is to enable patrons to use the phones/hearing aids that work best for them.
  • Our current radio frequency (RF) based listening system will stay in place. This Wi-Fi technology is in addition to our existing system. Users will continue to be able to check out our free RF-based listening devices. 

How do I request support or provide feedback?  

Questions about this project can be sent to accessibility@chq.org. If you see us (Amit Taneja or Makayla Santiago-Froebel) walking around the grounds, please stop us and tell us about your experience! Alternatively, please send an email to accessibility@chq.org.