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Unread 27-03-2016, 16:59
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SagesOfRPG SagesOfRPG is offline
Mentor to 5 FLL teams & 1 FRC team
AKA: Wayne Moulton
FRC #5902 (The Wire Clippers)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Rookie Year: 2011
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Posts: 10
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Re: Stumped on Communication Issues - We think it is/was our radio. Details are insid

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pault View Post
Sounds like it was just a bad radio. I don't think that you need to do anything more.

Just to be safe, however, one thing that I noticed you didn't include on your list is strain relief on all your wires. One of the things I really dislike about the current control system is how all critical power goes through those finicky weid-muller connectors. If you just zip tie down the wires near the connectors such that someone tugging on it further down the line doesn't put any strain on the connection itself, you will have a much more reliable system. Also definitely do this on barrel connector for the radio itself. Those things were designed to come out easily.
We made sure all wire are strain relief to the best of our ability. Also we taped and ziptied everything in so we made sure it wont come out.

Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankJ View Post
If knocking the radio makes you lose the connection, your problem is with your radio. You might might other problems as well, but you still have a problem with the radio.

The two things that come to mind it power & physical such as a cracked board or bad solder joint. Make sure you power connector is tight and the wires have adequate strain relief. Tape or hot glue can be used to keep the connection tight. The radio is meant to be attached to a relatively stable building not a robot. Rigidly attaching it to the robot transmits a lot of shock load.
Got it! We also added in some pool noodle to absorb some of the shock if we get hit or take a big jump. We have the power connector in with a zip tie and tape :-)