Hand Held Radios allowed?

[seg9585]

Are teams allowed to have hand-held 2-way radios to use between the robocoach and the field coach for communication purposes?

Thanks.

[danshaffer]

NO! no two-way radios are allowed in the event at all, IFI is probably worried that they will interfere with the field. They're much like cellphones on the field: even though they shouldn't interfere with the field, FIRST and IFI have chosen to play it safe.

[EricH]

Dan is right.

Originally Posted by Manual 3.3, last bullet

Two-way radios are not allowed in the pit or near the playing field as they may interfere

He also forgot something...

Originally Posted by Manual 9.6.6

<T22> The only equipment that may be brought on to the field is the OPERATOR CONSOLE, reasonable decorative items, and special clothing and/or equipment required due to a
disability. Other items, particularly those intended to provide a competitive advantage for the ROBOCOACH, are prohibited.
Devices used solely for the purpose of planning or tracking strategy of game play are allowed inside the ALLIANCE ZONE, if they meet ALL of the following conditions:
 Do not connect or attach to the OPERATOR CONSOLE
 Do not connect or attach to the FIELD or ARENA
 Do not connect or attach to another alliance member
 Do not communicate with anything or anyone outside of the ALLIANCE ZONE (for example wireless communications must be disabled).
 Do not in any way affect the outcome of a MATCH, other than by allowing team members to plan or track strategy for the purposes of communication of that strategy to other alliance members.

In other words, leave the radios at home.

[jgannon]

The bullet point that Eric bolded also means that if you're using a laptop as part of a signaling device, you have to disable wireless networking. This really put a kink in my plan to have my Robocoach write posts on Chief Delphi asking for advice during a match.

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by jgannon

The bullet point that Eric bolded also means that if you're using a laptop as part of a signaling device, you have to disable wireless networking. This really put a kink in my plan to have my Robocoach write posts on Chief Delphi asking for advice during a match.

*imagines audience participation via SOAP Gameday chat. "What should our robot do now A, B or C?"*

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by danshaffer

NO! no two-way radios are allowed in the event at all, IFI is probably worried that they will interfere with the field. They're much like cellphones on the field: even though they shouldn't interfere with the field, FIRST and IFI have chosen to play it safe.

This is actually a two fold decision. Wireless communications would allow a team to have an additional coach(es) in the stands where there might be an advantage due to the viewing angle. The second has to do with interference as the radio modems occupy a shared band with amateur radio and radio location, and are adjacent to two cell phone bands. I believe that certain unlicensed family radios also operate in band as well.

[seg9585]

Thanks for the info.

I guess we'll just have to resort back to our original plan of telepathy.

[danshaffer]

Originally Posted by seg9585

Thanks for the info.

I guess we'll just have to resort back to our original plan of telepathy.

Congratulations, you've found a loophole... as long as your telepathy does not involve any 'devices' or RF communications.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by seg9585

Thanks for the info.

I guess we'll just have to resort back to our original plan of telepathy.

In spite of all their efforts that FCC has been unable to classify telepathy as RF and therefore has failed in it's attempt to license it's use.