Router not connecting

[Suitster]

This isn't another FMS complaint thread.
Actually, it is part of the issue

After getting back from St. Louis, where our router was reconfigured (We used the alternate routers at FLR), We have been struggling to connect to the router wirelessly. We have reconfigured the router sever times, following the instructions, without it fixing the issue. We managed to connect occasionally to the router, but it is never permanent, and we can't pin down one solution. The router usually works when we connect it via the FMS or an ethernet cord, but wireless is still a problem. Has anyone else had this issue?

[F22Rapture]

Originally Posted by Suitster

This isn't another FMS complaint thread.
Actually, it is part of the issue

After getting back from St. Louis, where our router was reconfigured (We used the alternate routers at FLR), We have been struggling to connect to the router wirelessly. We have reconfigured the router sever times, following the instructions, without it fixing the issue. We managed to connect occasionally to the router, but it is never permanent, and we can't pin down one solution. The router usually works when we connect it via the FMS or an ethernet cord, but wireless is still a problem. Has anyone else had this issue?

Have you tried a different router? It's entirely possible that it's faulty or damaged, as it's a piece of consumer hardware being... thrown around. Most other routers should work if you use them in transmit mode as opposed to as a bridge.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by F22Rapture

Have you tried a different router?

Leading cause of (FIRST) routers not working (when they're configured [and wired] right) (based on only my observations and no actual facts) issss.

Physical damage. I've seen more than one consumer router used on FIRST robots that stopped working properly cracked open and tilted sideways only to have capacitors fall directly out of the board.

Add to that that many consumer routers (incl. ours) are not particularly hardened against electrical damage and you have the source of most intermittent router problems.

[Suitster]

I believe that I heard something about everyone getting new routers next year. Is that happening, or should we replace ours?

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Suitster

I believe that I heard something about everyone getting new routers next year. Is that happening, or should we replace ours?

There hasn't been any official guidance from FIRST on that topic. I suggest you wait before buying a specific replacement.

In the meantime, you can use any wireless router on the robot if you can power it with either 12 or 5 volts and if you can connect to it from your driver station.

[Jon Stratis]

Suitster - you probably picked that up from the Einstein report:

Investigate New Robot Radio – FRC will investigate changing to a new robot radio for the 2013 season. Potential improvements as a result of this change include simplifying the power path by using a 12V radio, improved radio diagnostics and logging, and faster boot time.

Note that they are only investigating the possibility, there hadn't been any decision made at that point. Personally, I would wait and see, unless you really need a new radio to get your current robot up and running for off-season use where using it tethered is not an option.

[daniel_dsouza]

Are you using a computer that is not the classmate?

If so, I would recommend upgrading to the newest router firmware. Both our team and another team who upgraded the firmware with the newest version noticed significant trip times, and signal strength.

This might not be the root cause of the problem, especially (as stated above), your router has taken damage.

[Suitster]

Originally Posted by daniel_dsouza

Are you using a computer that is not the classmate?

If so, I would recommend upgrading to the newest router firmware. Both our team and another team who upgraded the firmware with the newest version noticed significant trip times, and signal strength.

This might not be the root cause of the problem, especially (as stated above), your router has taken damage.

We tried every computer we have in the shop, including the classmate, so it appears to be physical damage

Also, physical damage makes sense, due to our defensive play at championships, as well as hitting the wall hard a couple of times while elementary children were driving