Wireless in pits

[tomy]

I know the rules say that we cant have wireless signals in the pits but I have a question.

Can I set up a router in my pit to help my iPad remotely connect to my laptop for scouting, or no?

I was planning on having it a protected wireless. The reason for doing this is because my laptop doesn't have the best battery and the scouting program i have isnt an app.

Or does anyone know of any programs like teamviewer that uses bluetooth instead of wireless internet?

[Mike Betts]

Originally Posted by tomy

... Can I set up a router in my pit to help my iPad remotely connect to my laptop for scouting, or no? ...

No.

[tomy]

dang that is what i thought

anyone know if there is power outlets in the stands at the Williams regional in Minnesota?

[alectronic]

in general, most events do not promise/have power in the stands. especially if they are permanent stadium-style, mostly because there is no reason to have them there normally. (people wouldn't usually need power in the stands.)
so, i wouldn't count on it

[bladetech932]

I would get a dc to ac adapter for a FIRST battery to use it for an outlet in the stands.

[tomy]

we have an inverter does anyone know how well they work?

[tomy]

and dose anyone know how to remotely control a computer with Bluetooth?

[Trent B]

Originally Posted by tomy

dang that is what i thought

anyone know if there is power outlets in the stands at the Williams regional in Minnesota?

I have been at Williams since 2008 and I am willing to bet there are no outlets anywhere near the stands, inverters were used widely the past year when classmates were frequently dying due to lack of power at the drivers station. Take a spare Anderson connector attach a dc female plug to it and power away, or use alligator clips (though that is less safe).

Williams arena and the sports pavilion are fairly well covered in University of Minnesota Wi-fi which does have guest access, it is just a matter of whether or not it will interfere with the FRC control system and get turned off (though this did not occur last year) so there is a chance it will still be on. I am doubtful but it may be possible for you to connect through that network but I have a feeling both your Laptop and iPad would have to be connected to the same access point.

As for setting up your own wifi network, besides it being illegal, there is about a 1% chance you could receive a wireless signal from the sports pavilion (the pits) at Williams arena (the field)

As for bluetooth wouldn't you have the same issue of running out of battery since bluetooth has a range of 30 feet or so. If you want I can try to use a remote mouse program over wifi at the university of Minnesota (deliberately connecting to different wifi hotspots) with my phone sometime this week and see if it works.

[tomy]

thanks cause i found this program on cheifdelphi but its only for computers...

so my hope was to have my laptop charging at the pits and connected to the wifi and my ipad in the stands also connecting to wifi controlling it remotely via team viewer.

[Trent B]

You may have issues with the U of M network as I am not sure how locked down the ports are. So if teamviewer goes out of the network to a central server then back in you may run into issues. If you can find something similar made for local networks you could have better results potentially.

[Tommy F.]

Along with wireless networks, I believe bluetooth has to be off as well.

In the game manual they ask for NXT's with bluetooth disabled for minibots, so if they ask bluetooth to be disabled for minibots, I don't think they'd want it enabled on your iPad either.

[Alpha Beta]

Originally Posted by 7h0m54

Along with wireless networks, I believe bluetooth has to be off as well.

In the game manual they ask for NXT's with bluetooth disabled for minibots, so if they ask bluetooth to be disabled for minibots, I don't think they'd want it enabled on your iPad either.

I thought they wanted BlueTooth disabled on the NXT because BlueTooth was allowed in other parts of the arena and they wanted to ensure that there would be no communication with the minibots from the stands. I haven't seen them asking people to remove their ear pieces which BlueTooth to the cell phone.

[Trent B]

If I remember correctly the FMS system uses 5ghz wifi for control so that wouldn't make bluetooth a problem (being 2.4 ghz) but could make other 5ghz wifi networks cause issues.

Originally Posted by At the Events Manual

4.4.1 Robot Wireless Control
 Robots may be operated via wireless control only on the competition fields and the
practice field with the FIRST supplied radio; and
 Teams are not allowed to set up their own 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4GHz or 5GHz) wireless
communication (access points or ad-hoc networks) in the venue

Originally Posted by <T26>

Devices used solely for the purpose of planning or tracking strategy of game play are
allowed inside the ALLIANCE STATION, if they meet ALL of the following conditions:
 Do no include any form of enabled wireless electronic communication (e.g. radios,
walkie-talkies, cell phones, Bluetooth communications, WiFi, etc.)

This seems to imply that bluetooth may be okay, I believe I have seen volunteers with bluetooth earpieces in the past.

[theprgramerdude]

Originally Posted by tomy

dang that is what i thought

anyone know if there is power outlets in the stands at the Williams regional in Minnesota?

No.

[alectronic]

Originally Posted by Trent B

This seems to imply that bluetooth may be okay, I believe I have seen volunteers with bluetooth earpieces in the past.

There is no restriction on bluetooth. Just Wifi.