Wireless Communications @ Competetions

[Mahdi Hussein]

So here is something I have been pondering over. Can Bluetooth communications be used at competitions within the stands? How about Radio Frequencies (900MHz XBees not walkie talkies...), NFC or Wi-Fi (Probably not, but perhaps there is a specific band allowed or are all Wi-Fi bands forbidden)?

Simply put, what wireless communications are allowed within the stands?

[NotInControl]

see this: https://frc-qa.usfirst.org/Questions.php

[Chris_Ely]

The Admin manual restricts the use of walkie-talkies.
Do not use walkie-talkies.
The Game manual restricts the use of all WiFi bands.
Teams may not set up their own 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz or 5GHz) wireless communication (e.g. access points or ad-hoc networks) in the venue.


A wireless hot spot created by a cellular device is considered an access point.


Nothing restricts the use of Bluetooth or other technologies or frequencies in the stands, since those are not 802.11.

These are the 2014 rules, the 2015 rules could be a lot different given that the radio system is undergoing an overhaul with the new control system.

[Mahdi Hussein]

Thanks Guys, I knew about Wi-Fi and walkie-talkies. I did not know about the lack of rules for Bluetooth and other bands though...

[NotInControl]

These are the 2014 rules, the 2015 rules could be a lot different given that the radio system is undergoing an overhaul with the new control system.

While I agree with your statement that the 2015 rules may not reflect the 2014 rules, it is not for the reason you posted.

For 2015, the radio system is NOT undergoing an overhaul. FMS has no reported changes due to the 2015 control system. The only thing that is subject to change is the type of bridge we use on the robot side, whether it is a USB dongle device, or something similar to the DLINKs we currently have.

In either case, the final 2015 bridge choosen by FIRST to live on the Robot does not change the radio system used. It will still be 802.11 and it will still be roughly the same FMS.

But to answer the original question, there are no rules prohibiting bluetooth, FTA's retain the right to ask you to turn off any communication at any event if they feel it is causing interference with the event, whether it is explicitly stated in the rules or not as prohibited.

Hope this helps,
Kevin

[Citrus Dad]

So here is something I have been pondering over. Can Bluetooth communications be used at competitions within the stands? How about Radio Frequencies (900MHz XBees not walkie talkies...), NFC or Wi-Fi (Probably not, but perhaps there is a specific band allowed or are all Wi-Fi bands forbidden)?

Simply put, what wireless communications are allowed within the stands?

We used Bluetooth to send out data via cell service to a server.

[Chris_Ely]

While I agree with your statement that the 2015 rules may not reflect the 2014 rules, it is not for the reason you posted.

For 2015, the radio system is NOT undergoing an overhaul. FMS has no reported changes due to the 2015 control system. The only thing that is subject to change is the type of bridge we use on the robot side, whether it is a USB dongle device, or something similar to the DLINKs we currently have.

In either case, the final 2015 bridge choosen by FIRST to live on the Robot does not change the radio system used. It will still be 802.11 and it will still be roughly the same FMS.


Perhaps "overhaul" was the wrong word choice. I did mean the likely changes in radio hardware.
Sorry for the confusion.