Things learned from the 2012 regional

[rsisk]

Don't put zip ties around the radio that might switch it into AP mode

Use the barrel connector that came with the radio, finding a good fit otherwise is hard and may cause power loss to the radio

30 sec comm loss usually means cRIO reboot
>45 sec comm loss usually means radio reboot

Make sure your driver station is set to the proper ip address (10.xx.yy.5) and subnet mask (255.0.0.0). This way if the Driver Station software cannot set it for some reason, you still run.

Make sure Windows Firewall is OFF

Make sure ALL network connections except for Local Area Network are disabled

Make sure DEVELOPER is logged off and you are logged into DRIVER (on classmate images)

Make sure you have ADMINISTRATOR privileges (non classmate images) so DS software can configure your network.

If at all possible, let the DS software configure your network.

Turn your robot on before taking it onto the field (assuming it is safe to do so) to allow ample time to connect to field.

Make sure all ethernet connections are tight and stay tight including the ones to the driver station and the one between radio and cRIO

Sometimes switching the ethernet port on the radio will solve a comm problem

Use an ethernet pigtail on your driver station. Much cheaper to replace when they break or wear out than the ethernet port on the computer. They were available thru First Choice this year.

If you can, use the Classmate computer as your driver station and only as the driver station. Do not load other software, play games, mess with the configuration or anything else on it.

Un-terminated loops in autonomous are a bad thing.

Bent pins in the cRIO can cause unexplainable problems.

Electrically isolate your cRIO and camera, mount on wood, then mount wood to frame for example.

Simple code is so much easier to debug under pressure. If something is not giving you a competitive advantage, don't do it.

Do not plug ANYTHING into the field electronics unless the FTA has given you EXPLICIT permission. Found a few unauthorized things left behind in LA.

The FTA, FTAA, Field Supervisor, and CSA do their best to make sure your experience is positive. Work with them. Make sure to have accurate details about your issues, don't jump to the conclusion a problem is with the field (before you do, ask yourself if other robots are running fine, why is your robot the only one the field treats differently).

Double check your wiring against the electrical drawings in the manual, make sure it is correct.

Try running with default code to help eliminate software problems.