[caffel]

This is a great thread.

I'd like to add a note that 1712's and several others converters 12v - 5v for the Dlink, failed.

It failed by providing only 4.1 volts.
Once you have tried all of the above advice, try tracking the 5v in at the Dlink and make sure its OK all the time.

Dropouts are happening in other areas of the robots this year and they are hard to diagnose, so look at the threads on Jaguars and encoders next as well.