[Dave...]

All teams should have been supplied with the RED tether cable in their kit. This is a F-F DB-9 cable, something available at many computer stores. If you'd like to make a longer cable, I would think that a M-F extension cable on the end of the red tether cable should suffice (I haven't personally tried it yet).

Dave Flowerday is absolutely right. Innovation First did this most likely to prevent teams from damaging their control system by accidentally plugging in the wrong cable. How many times last year did your team need to tether in the pits and download new code, only to hand the cable to a helpful team member who subsequently plugged the cable into the wrong port because it fit?

Innovation First makes outstanding equipment, and there is rationale for everything that they do. They set a standard that almost all other companies fall short of. Thanks to all the guys at Innovation First!!!
We (Team 5) appreciate your talent and equipment (despite ripping a port off of our RC last year - we didn't mean it, really!).