Restrictions against Bluetooth at events?

[Michael Hill]

I was looking at the rulebook from 2011, and was curious if there were restrictions on Bluetooth Personal Area Networks (PAN). Bluetooth does operate in the 2.4 GHz band, but the rulebook specifically pointed out 802.11 a/b/g/n. Bluetooth falls within the 802.15 group and heck, only has a 30 foot range. While this wouldn't sound like a lot, it could potentially be used to have a network of iPads for scouting purposes.

[Jeff 801]

Bluetooth was fine (rules may change next year) but there was the wii remote scouting that used bluetooth.

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

I was looking at the rulebook from 2011, and was curious if there were restrictions on Bluetooth Personal Area Networks (PAN). Bluetooth does operate in the 2.4 GHz band, but the rulebook specifically pointed out 802.11 a/b/g/n. Bluetooth falls within the 802.15 group and heck, only has a 30 foot range. While this wouldn't sound like a lot, it could potentially be used to have a network of iPads for scouting purposes.

Keep it out of the alliance station (see The Tournament).

There's also a directive not to use walkie-talkies on site. I believe that and the 802.11 network ban are the only wireless-related prohibitions.

But as you correctly point out, 802.15 is not 802.11a/b/g/n, so it is not prohibited by that event rule.