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Unread 16-02-2007, 23:29
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Join Date: Jan 2007
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Re: does anyone have OI and RC radio issues

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Betts View Post
Dan,
Let's assume that the 06 radios work better and that the 07 radios have a systemic problem. If you were running the competition and a number of teams brought the 06 radios and petitioned to have them allowed, would you allow it? Would it be fair to the teams who did not bring 06's? How about the rookies who can not get 06's?

Answer: You could not allow the 06 radios to be used because everyone waited too long to complain!

I looked on the IFI forum today and found only 3 posts about radios not working since the kickoff. Let's assume another 10 teams called on the phone. This is only 13 teams out of 1307 having a problem as far as they know. There are a lot of companies out there which would love a 0.1% return rate.

Your team (and everyone else who is having problems), MUST make this issue clear to both FIRST and to IFI.

$@#$@#$@#$@#$@#ing and moaning on CD will not resolve the problem.

Mike
Our team was one of the first to report problems to IFI, reportedly the 5th to contact IFI and the 3rd to return radios for evaluation. IFI gave them a once over, but didn't really find anything wrong.

Testing since their return 2-3 weeks ago, shows an improvment, but not resolution, and I have continued to communicate that message to IFI with hopes that they would be able to provide a solution.

In all other areas, my contact with IFI has been a positive one, and I think that they've responded to my requests in a very reasonable and timely manner, so when it comes to the problem with the radios, I've given them the benefit of the doubt, and for the most part I still do.

Recognizing that we are down to the wire here, and still don't have a viable solution in hand, on Thursday I once again put the question to IFI if they wanted to RMA our existing radios again, or if they wanted to swap them out with others, and also indicated that I felt it was time to elevate this issue to FIRST's attention, and the response was that they'd pass the request up the food chain.

On Thursday afternoon, I sent an e-mail to FIRST's team contact e-mail found here and outlined our ongoing problems with the radios and that we were not receiving a solution to this problem from IFI. I ended by suggesting that the regional events make use of 2006 and prior year's radios, and that all non-rookie teams bring old/spare radios to provide to the 2007 rookies.

I have also communicated this same information and request to the regional FIRST contact's to pass along to FIRST as well.

So clearly I concur with the thurst of Mike's input here in that any team that is continuing to experience a radio communication problem, that has already worked with IFI and not yet obtained a satisfactory solution, that it is probably time to make certain that FIRST hears your concerns. Ultimately it is their call as to how to fairly address the problem.

There seem to be many teams reporting success with their radios, so clearly they will have an additional advantage over teams such as ours.

Use the FIRST e-mail address in the link I posted above to make your concerns known. You can also find FIRST regional contact information on this webpage.

Please keep your comments and concerns constructive an professional, and please refrain from bashing IFI. The reason for the change in the radios was outside of their control, and while I don't factually know the timetable they had to work with, I suspect it was quite short.
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--Dave