How to prevent broken ethernet port on DS

[Bharat Nain]

After having significant amount of trouble with this years control system, we discovered that the ethernet ports on the Driver Station were obviously not designed for a FIRST Robotics environment. Personally, I am extremely disappointed and frustrated with the control system, especially the Driver Station. We have noticed an incredible number of teams having broken driver station ethernet ports. Our theory is it is because of static electricity but that is unconfirmed. It is certainly not a competition worthy equipment and it would be a great demonstration of Gracious Professionalism on behalf of FIRST to never give us such equipment again. Rambling aside, here is the solution.

1) Buy a decent SWITCH. We bought the Linksys 5-port Switch. Link. Apparently, a HUB will not work.

2) Plug one ethernet cable from the Driver station (Any port) to any port on the SWITCH except the Uplink.

3) Plug the laptop and cRio using a Crossover/Ethernet into any open ports on the SWITCH except the Uplink.

This method was requested to be tested by a couple people including the NI guy (Joshua) at NJ. If anything will die, it can be your $10 - $50 SWITCH as opposed to your $162 + Shipping & Tax Driver Station.

Note: This will also work if you only have one working ethernet port on your Driver Station.

This system works for us and I hope it does the same for you. It is one less thing to worry about breaking at the competition.

Cheers and write to FIRST and providing your feedback if your Driver Station has/had problems.

Bharat Nain