Wireless Networks at Competitions

[NickE]

Originally Posted by EHaskins

Even if they did somehow manage to eliminate ALL team networks (which will not happen*) and all of the non-first related networks, they would still have issues with other 2.4ghz devices.

As I said before, if the new system can not handle other devices operating in the same band, then, no matter what rules they put in place, the system should not be used. Especially when the band they're using is so heavily occupied.

Yes, as you have said, it would be impossible to restrict all 2.4ghz devices. Therefore, instead of b or g, 802.11a should be used as the primary means of wireless communication for the 2009 FRC Control System.

802.11a runs over the 5.0ghz band. This band is much less congested than the 2.4ghz band.

It has 12 non-overlapping channels (compared to 802.11g's 3). Therefore, come time for championships, each field could have its own channel (or even one per alliance per field), reducing almost all network channel interference

Also, there are very few wireless networks that use 802.11a. Therefore, FIRST would have practically no work to do when it comes to wireless network policing, as just about all teams with networks of their own would be using b or g on the 2.4ghz band.