event staff radios at competitons
 

Hey-

Well, you know how they have radios you can buy and listen into NASCAR chatter at races? Well, is there any standard for radios used at events? I dont know, I just thought it would be cool if we could listen to what was going on in the que and such. I could wear an earpiece and get updates on what was going on, you know, like when a match was starting or problems on the field (cause we all know that we want to know what the big hold-up is!)

Anyone experienced with these things know anything on it? (or if that was illegal at competitions?)

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

I heard that starting this year all staff members are required to speak exclusively in Quenya when using radios, so good luck!

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

Section 4.15 of the administrative manual says "Do not use walkie-talkies."

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

So that would exclude using one just to listen into a already in use channel?

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

What part of 'do not use walkie-talkies' do you not understand?

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

If you need to know something, you'll be told over the PA, or someone will come talk to you. Otherwise, you don't need to know it.

Personally, I don't think some of the comments that would be made during a downed field would be very good listening. Plus, much of that sort of thing would be "X, can you come to the field" or not spoken at all, as the FTA and his crew would be all hunkered around the problem part of the field.

Not to mention that they operate on multiple channels. If you need person X, then the call goes on channel Y. Person Z to get team A for a match, channel W. I've seen this personally, while working as an inspector. Even if you--in violation of the walkie-talkie prohibition--managed to listen in on one channel, you'd only get part of the story.

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

Ok ok! I was just curious! It seemed like a cool idea that was at least worth a second crack at it! :o

Well, I am well aware that I don't need to know it. It just would be fun to know!

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

I've been on a radio at a regional as an FTAA-- and I did occasionally listen in on other channels. It would be pretty boring to listen to, actually. You'll get much more out of the event if you have two way conversations with real people on your team, on your alliances, in other pits, with inspectors, judges, visitors, etc...

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

As a lead que while I a, flattered that you are interested in what we do there isn't all that much excitement in announcing to Pit adman " Match 17 is starting get ready to que up match 19." all the action is pretty much in front of you anyways so there are no BIG SECRETS to discover out there really. At least from the competition. I can't say the same for the teams.

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

Well, I can say that I wasnt interested in secrets big time, really it was just a way for me to stay informed with my team, as it always seems someone is asking what match it is! Maybe now you can see my point now. As im sure you guys know, it can be kindof hard to hear in the noisy pits. With an earpiece I would be forceing myself to listen!

"What match is it?"

"Match 15 just went onto the field"



"Are we queing yet?"

"In two matches, they just went and got the teams for match 7"


What kind of radio's do they use?

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

Sundial. How I wish that program was still being used. The problem is, the ban on teams setting up wireless networks keeps it down.

You can also pay attention to the pit announcements, have people in the stands tell you what match just went, wait for queuing volunteers to come get you, or just send a couple people to queuing about 3 matches before yours is to start. At the Championship, you're responsible for making your matches--there are no pit announcements.

Oh, and there is often a screen in the pits for the matches.

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

Well yeah, that was the purpose of my question!

Could you elaborate on "Sundial"? What is this and how does it relate to teams not being able to set up wireless networks.

Also, I'm assuming that rule also encompasses bluetooth, right?

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

Sundial was a network-based application where you entered your team number and got realtime status updates on the match progress. The problem was that you needed someone to setup the network, usually a team.

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

If it's matches that you want to keep up with, FRC Spyder, a free mobile app for iOS and Android devices does a pretty fair job of keeping you updated on matches.

If you have a signal in the arena, that is.

It uses the twitter feeds from the FMS to keep track of scores and matches, and updates very quickly. You may want to look into going that route.

I found it extremely useful during Regionals and Championships, since it also shows the rankings and match times.

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

So basically I should give up on this because:

a) I is most likely illegal, even if I use something like a scanner

b) the radio use is inconsistent

c) there are easier (albeit less instant gratification) solutions (even though it would be nicer to get this in audio)

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

I wouldn't call a scanner a walkie-talkie; one would think, or at least I think that FIRST is most likely concerned about interference, which should not be an issue with any scanner.

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

A: While walkie-talkies are specifically outlawed in the manual, there are handheld scanners that have the capability to automagically pick up nearby transmissions. I have one on my desk. While that would do exactly what you want, remember the "intent of the rule." Is the intent of "Do not use walkie-talkies" to keep you from interfering with transmissions or to keep you from listening to begin with? There are probably some things said on those radios that aren't meant to be heard by teams.

B: Most event radios are provided to event staff by Show Ready Events. While radio use between events may be somewhat consistent, the frequency they operate on may not. It would be difficult for you to find those frequencies without one of the previously mentioned scanners.

C: Yes.

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

So what are your thoughts? Would a scanner be illegal? I mean, there are no transmissions from it. It just listens.

What would they say they we shouldnt hear?

"Uh, hey guys, I'm gonna pull the sensor on the red alliances top hoop because I don't like team 2607, ok?


Do you know any more than that?

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

Is there any form of communication that i could use to comunicate with my fellow driver at a competition easily. Like asking if he is on his way to the match, or something. Mind you i do not have a cell phone, and we cannot use our cell phones in the states (we are Canadian) and we are going to 2 regionals, and the championships in the states. Especially at championships a simple communication device would be a great help. We (the drive team) would be able to communicate between ourselves about when we need to get to queing, and we could talk to someone in the stands if we need a particular person to the pits, etc.

Thanks :)

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

As far as I know, there's nothing about scanners in the manual and the only thing that comes close is 4.15's "Do not use walkie-talkies". Based on that, it'd lead me to believe that scanners are allowed since they are simply for listening. You could make the case that if scanners aren't allowed, they shouldn't allow AM/FM radios either because they essentially do the same thing - monitor a specific frequency for communication, but that might be a bit of a stretch.

... but all we can really do on Chief Delphi is guess. If you really want to pursue this (even if it doesn't sound like there's much to listen to), ask on the Q&A.

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

Well, if not walkie talkies, and wifi is off limits, then bluetooth is your only other option I think, but you are limited to 30 feet! kindof useless...

You know, it is ok to start your own thread :P

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

Here is my case:

You are often caught up in fixing the robot, planning strategy, and other involved task. All im trying to do here is make life easier on myself by piping the match info right into my ear. Also, during a off-season competition, the team member who was told to highlight our number on the match list missed one and we almost missed our match. I am assuming that someone on communication would have said "Where is 2607?" and I think that that would have happened. This seems like a really useful tool to have set up at our pits, a scanner box for the crew communications.



But, for a question, would they be using regular walkie talkies on the FMS(No, not the field "Connected to FMS" FMS) channels?

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

I do, but as team use of walkie-talkies is specifically prohibited I'm going to refrain from sharing that information.

I think your time is more wisely used paying closer attention to the Pit Admin announcements than putting so much effort into listening to the event staff. If you really want to listen that bad, follow the suggestion above and submit a question to the Q&A asking if a scanner is legal.

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

There are actually relatively few frequencies they could be using. If you were to try this I would look into the commercial VHF band as that is most likely where they are, or the UHF band.

For a bit more info look here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_band

If you want to learn more about radio, check out the American radio relay league about becoming an amateur radio operator.

For the teams that cannot use their cell phones in the US, look into the cheap (approx $20 US) prepaid cell phones, they would likely do what you want and are not disallowed.

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

Alright. If they are using such frequencies, then this isn't worth it.


IDK why you would withold, I'm not talking about a walkie talkie, Im talking about a scanner than has no way of putting sound onto the channel, but I guess it doesn't matter at this point. Thanks Guys for all the good info.

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

Just curious why the frequency they are operating on caused you to change your mind?

Re: event staff radios at competitons
 

These arn't normal walkie talkie bands, so I really dont want to go trying to get a radio for these frequencies(If its even legal).

I just kindof got in over my head at that point :P