Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

Why would that rule prevent the use of POE injectors? You could easily power the injector from the VRM.

The rule that I see being a problem is R38. It says that regulated circuits < 5A should be wired with 22AWG wire. You can find 22 gauge ethernet cable, but it's not very common.

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

Sorry to crash the party, but does anyone have a link to an ethernet switch that is actually reasonably smaller than the original D-Link? Not much of a... net gain (badum tish) in real estate if the new system takes up... you know... MORE space.

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

Different radio. POE wasn't an option on the DLINK. If they decide to allow POE as an option, they will change the rule. Since the radio has been problematic in the past, I expect they will only allow options that have been thoroughly tested.

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

R32 would have prevented using a POE injector to power the radio from something other than the VRM, but that was last year's rules, and last year's radio didn't support POE anyway.

I am confident that the 2016 robot rules will address Power Over Ethernet one way or the other, either to make it explicitly legal or to restrict it.

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

A typical 5-port switch is slightly smaller than the D-Link wireless router. It takes a little less space on the robot where the D-Link would have been. The new OM5P-AN is thus an extra component, but it can be placed for good radio reception rather than for network wiring convenience if you're using a separate switch.

This assumes that the 2016 rules permit a network switch between the radio and the roboRIO. I can imagine being required to have them connected directly with no intervening devices.

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

Here is another POE injector. It is small, but not a switch, so you gain very little. It is just an easy way to get power into the Ethernet.

Why would this be an issue? Plug both the roboRIO and the switch directly into the radio.

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

It would save a wire if the roboRIO could go through the switch. Then you would only have to run 1 ethernet cable to the new radio, instead of 1 to the switch, and 1 to the roboRIO.

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

Here are the POE injectors sold by the company that makes these AP:
http://www.open-mesh.com/products/po...or-for-om.html

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HH0W5W

It also runs on 5v.

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

Selfishly I am hoping that there "is" a rule requiring plugging the roboRIO into the radio directly, on a designated port (near power, away from power). As an FTAA, I want to be able to say, "Your ethernet cable is not plugged in," and be able to point it out to the team member. Having to search for an unknown device to figure that out makes more difficult when trying to keep to the match schedule. This year I had to say that to teams more than prior years which I think probably had to do with no defense and less secure radios.

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

Is it waterproof?

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

Did it come with a Pear?

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

My company and I are currently in the process of designing and prototyping such a switch. The goal is to have something with the smallest possible footprint/weight as possible, have 2-4 ports, and possibly also be a POE injector. As it progresses I'll post updates on here, although it won't be move to production until the rules are released and certain requirements/restrictions are laid out.

Re: pic: 2015/2016 Robot Radio Comparison
 

You realize rules will not be posted until kickoff? A direct conversation with First might be in order.