Can I use Gather's livestreaming equipment at an LDS Church or other house of worship that has its own WiFi network?
Yes, but there are a few important technical considerations to keep in mind before the service begins. Church and institutional networks often have firewall restrictions or captive portal login pages that can prevent your Gather LiveStreaming camera (powered by Mevo) from connecting properly.
What is a "captive portal" and why does it matter for my Gather LiveStreaming camera?
A captive portal is the pop-up login page you often see when connecting to public or institutional Wi-Fi – it requires a user to click "Accept Terms" or enter a password through a web browser before the network grants full internet access. Your livestreaming camera (powered by Mevo) does not have a built-in browser, so it cannot interact with these login prompts. If the network requires this step, the camera will appear to connect to Wi-Fi but will fail to stream.
How do I know if a church's Wi-Fi uses a captive portal?
The easiest way is to connect a phone or laptop to the same Wi-Fi network before the service. If a browser window automatically opens asking you to accept terms or log in, the network has a captive portal, and your camera will not be able to stream on that network without a workaround.
What are my options if the church Wi-Fi has a captive portal or firewall restrictions?
You have several practical options:
Use a dedicated mobile hotspot. Connect your Gather LiveStreaming camera to a personal or business mobile hotspot (4G/5G) instead of the church's Wi-Fi. This completely bypasses any church firewall or portal restrictions. This is often the fastest and most reliable workaround.
For a more permanent or high-reliability solution, consider Starlink as your dedicated streaming connection. If you're streaming from the same location regularly, Starlink (or a Starlink Mini) provides low-latency, high-speed internet completely independent of the venue's network – no captive portals, no firewall restrictions, and no dependence on cellular signal strength. Below are a few additional resources:
Starlink official site & plan comparison: starlink.com
Starlink subreddit (community support & real-world reviews): reddit.com/r/Starlink
Starlink for business/events overview: starlink.com/business
Request a network exception from the church's IT administrator. Contact the church's IT team ahead of time and ask them to whitelist your camera's MAC address or place it on a separate network segment that bypasses the captive portal. Most IT teams at larger church organizations (including LDS facilities) can accommodate this with advance notice.
Request a dedicated guest or device network. Ask the church if they can provide a separate Wi-Fi network specifically for streaming devices — one that does not require a captive portal login and has the appropriate firewall ports open.
What firewall ports need to be open for your Gather LiveStreaming camera to stream successfully?
For your Gather LiveStreaming cameras to connect and stream, the network firewall must allow outbound connections on the ports required by your streaming destination (e.g., Facebook Live, YouTube, etc.). Common requirements include:
RTMP streaming: TCP port 1935 (or 443 as a fallback)
HTTPS/API communication: TCP port 443
DNS resolution: UDP port 53
When speaking with a church IT administrator, ask them to confirm that these outbound ports are not blocked. Reference official firewall requirements documentation for Mevo-powered cameras if needed, or contact Gather support for the most current list.
What should I do to prepare before a service at a new venue?
We strongly recommend a quick technical pre-check at least a few days before the service:
Connect a phone or laptop to the venue's Wi-Fi and confirm there is no captive portal login page
Confirm with the venue's IT contact that the required ports are open
Test the camera's connection and a short stream at the venue in advance
Have a backup mobile hotspot available as a contingency
Keep in mind that recording the service to an SD Card and uploading it afterward is an option (a last resort, but better than not having a service recorded).
Taking these steps before the day of the service prevents technical surprises during sensitive moments.
Are there any other known network settings to be aware of?
Yes – your WiFi network must not have Client Isolation enabled. This setting (sometimes called AP Isolation or Wireless Isolation, depending on the router brand) prevents devices on the same network from communicating with each other, which would stop the Mevo camera and the controlling tablet from connecting. Client Isolation is commonly enabled by default on Guest networks, so if the funeral home has a Guest network and a separate staff/internal network, ensure the Gather equipment is on the non-isolated network.
Can my Gather LiveStreaming camera operate without the iPad tablet if Client Isolation is an issue?
Yes – if your Gather Livestreaming camera (powered by Mevo) is already configured, it supports a one-touch feature that resumes the last configured mode (e.g., live stream). In this case, the Gather App on the tablet can confirm a stream is active, but full camera control through the Mevo app (also pre-installed on your Gather LiveStreaming iPad or tablet) won't be available if Client Isolation is enabled on the network.
When first opening the Mevo app on your tablet or iPad, there is a prompt asking for permission to find and connect to other devices on the network. This is sometimes missed. If the camera isn't connecting, check the iPad's Privacy Settings to ensure the Mevo app has this permission