Internet at competitions

[Ken Leung]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Alright, so I did some reading, and FIRST says that accessing the internet at competitions is a no-go.

And yet in the two that I went to, I'm pretty sure I saw some browsers open, perhaps even AIM if memory serves me right.

One thing I did notice was the mention of not having phone lines for access, which tends to make me think that the rule was put in back when dialup was the norm.

So is this rule just an anachronism, one of those rules that nobody follows (see also saving seats), or something that people are getting away with?

Most likely FIRST say that because they are not going to provide internet access to participating teams on their own. Whatever internet there was at the events, they are mostly from the Venue that already have them in place. A lot of event center and stadium have wireless internet on their own. Sometimes they don't have any network security preventing you from connecting into them and browse the internet.

Just because it is there doesn't mean it is for you to use in a FIRST event.

I remember at Atlanta there was a network you can access for a while in the Dome. After a short while, you can't connect to it anymore because they realize thousands of teenagers with 802.11b/g wireless card are trying to get in from their laptop and surf the web.

So, be considerate of others when you are at the competition, this is only one of the many things you should think about before you do them. FIRST cannot enforce Gracious Professionalism on the participants in this program, you will have to do it on your own.