FIRST is really looking into the Einstein problems

[Mr. Van]

Please forgive me if this idea has been posted before - I don't have time to look through all 8 pages of this (and many other) threads about the issue. I'm not an expert, but I just thought of a possible aspect of the problem that probably can't be replicated in New Hampshire. I want to at least mention it.

Is is possible that as the finals were happening, and the storm was building, numerous - as in hundreds - of people were using their smart phones to check the weather, contact folks to see if they are ok, etc.?
From what I understand, many of these phones will be looking for wireless access points - like robots and the field. (I've noticed that my phone picks up our robot...) of course, they can't connect to the robot or the field, but many of the phones are at least pinging them - trying to make a connection - using bandwidth.

I think this could explain why the problem existed so prominently on Einstein and wasn't an issue in previous years.
1. Many more spectators - more smart phones
2. Storm - more smart phones in use than normal circumstances
3. More smart phones in the population in general.

Once again, I'm not an expert, and I'm sorry if this sort of thing has been mentioned before. I hope that if I mention it here and it is useful, it will get to those who need it.

I hope they figure this out!

- Mr. Van
Coach, Robodox

[Fletch1373]

Originally Posted by Mr. Van

Is is possible that as the finals were happening, and the storm was building, numerous - as in hundreds - of people were using their smart phones to check the weather, contact folks to see if they are ok, etc.?
From what I understand, many of these phones will be looking for wireless access points - like robots and the field.

Yes, there was a large number of phones in one area, many of which I'm sure were using wireless. The robots, however, connect to the field on the 5GHz band, as opposed to the 2.4GHz band that most devices use(I don't think I've ever seen a phone that can connect on 5GHz)

Originally Posted by Mr. Van

I've noticed that my phone picks up our robot...

What you're seeing is actually the Wireless SSID's that the field is broadcasting, not the robots themselves. You're unable to connect because of the WPA2 encryption that every team has to put on their robot's radios(via the radio kiosk) before they can compete. The field is configured with those encryption keys and any device connecting to it must have it as well.

[linuxboy]

Originally Posted by Fletch1373

Yes, there was a large number of phones in one area, many of which I'm sure were using wireless. The robots, however, connect to the field on the 5GHz band, as opposed to the 2.4GHz band that most devices use(I don't think I've ever seen a phone that can connect on 5GHz)



What you're seeing is actually the Wireless SSID's that the field is broadcasting, not the robots themselves. You're unable to connect because of the WPA2 encryption that every team has to put on their robot's radios(via the radio kiosk) before they can compete. The field is configured with those encryption keys and any device connecting to it must have it as well.

The SSID is broadcast on the same frequency as the network it represents, so I imagine his phone is 5GHz capable, but as stated, this is the exception, not the rule.