Internet at competitions

[zakattacks]

Hello, Sorry if this is in the wrong place, this is my first time posting on chief delphi.
I read the 2015 Administration Manual that was released a couple weeks ago, and I noticed something in section 4.14 Site Restrictions, that it says:

■ Do not arrange for Internet access or phone lines on the site or attempt to connect to the Internet.

Does this mean that we can't use our smartphones/data plans? Our team was planning to use laptops connected to the internet using 4g cellular cards (no wifi unlike, a hotspot), but we could use our smartphones if we had to.

What does this mean?!?!? Please help, this could blow our scouting system out the window!

[Deetman]

Generally, this rule means do not arrange for an internet service provider (ISP) to set up and provide internet access at the venue. I know this has been discussed in older posts here on CD, but it is pretty much impossible to prevent anyone from using their smartphone data connections at an event. Just don't set up a WiFi network, the field staff monitors the WiFi spectrum and will ask you to turn it off if you do set one up.

Edit: Also, some venues do not have a strong cellular signal. If you are dependent on a cell signal for your scouting system to work, I suggest having a backup plan just in case like local databases on your scouting system that can be merged together.

[zakattacks]

Thank you!

[DonRotolo]

You may consider using a wired hub or switch locally, and have just ONE data connection to the Internet. After all, likely not much data is flowing.

or do what we do: Bring the server too. Everything runs wired. Even the printer.

[dellagd]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

You may consider using a wired hub or switch locally, and have just ONE data connection to the Internet. After all, likely not much data is flowing.

or do what we do: Bring the server too. Everything runs wired. Even the printer.

We do the same thing. The scouting computers run through an Ethernet switch which, while cumbersome, does mean we can have completely live data not reliant on any outside connections, which is pretty cool from a per-match strategy view. For something as important as scouting, there's no way I would want to rely on a 4G connection for a big chuck of the systems features (even though you could technically do it).

That being said, Bluetooth communications are not banned, so we're working to upgrade to that for the local system. Should be a LOT nicer to set up if we can make it reliable.

[JamieKilburn]

Originally Posted by Deetman

Generally, this rule means do not arrange for an internet service provider (ISP) to set up and provide internet access at the venue. I know this has been discussed in older posts here on CD, but it is pretty much impossible to prevent anyone from using their smartphone data connections at an event. Just don't set up a WiFi network, the field staff monitors the WiFi spectrum and will ask you to turn it off if you do set one up.

Edit: Also, some venues do not have a strong cellular signal. If you are dependent on a cell signal for your scouting system to work, I suggest having a backup plan just in case like local databases on your scouting system that can be merged together.

While I didn't work on it personally, 610's tablet scouting program will save the match data to the local storage if it can't find a cell signal. If you're going to be in areas where service is spotty, I would highly recommend adding something along those lines into your program.

[zakattacks]

Well thanks guys! my system is run mostly offline but for the little bit that does use the internet, I will tether my smartphone to a laptop and get an external antenna for the phone so service won't be much of a problem.

[goofy173]

I don't think anyone checked at several of the competitions I attended as when I searched for wifi signals, there were plenty. At Worlds, there were many. But banned is banned.