Legality of "Walkie-Talkie" at the Championship

[GuyM142]

Can someone tell me if it is legal to use radio communication devices? (usually called "Walkie-Talkie")
We look for a good way for the drive team to communicate with the stands (between matches),
we couldn't find any rule prohibiting the use of them but we worry it is still forbidden.

[zinthorne]

It is illegal to communicate with anybody outside of the driverstation during a match. I do not know what the rules are if you wanted to connect from lets say the pits to the stands.

[GuyM142]

Originally Posted by zinthorne

It is illegal to communicate with anybody outside of the driverstation during a match. I do not know what the rules are if you wanted to connect from lets say the pits to the stands.

It will be used only between matches (during queuing).

[Loose Screw]

R84: Other than the system provided by the ARENA, no other form of wireless communications shall be used to communicate to,
from, or within the OPERATOR CONSOLE.

That's the only rule I could find, but that's about controling the robot. I know FTC has a specific rule on communications during a match, but nothing inbetween.

There should be no rules against what you're describing, but keep in mind that cell phones have a pretty rough time in arenas.

[Joe Ross]

See section 4.14 of the Admin manual

Please read the following common site restrictions and adhere to them in order to promote an orderly, safe, pleasant and exciting competition.
...
Do not use walkie-talkies

[GuyM142]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

See section 4.14 of the Admin manual

Thank you!

[RyanCahoon]

Maybe buy a couple of prepaid/"burner" cell phones?

[MooreteP]

Originally Posted by RyanCahoon

Maybe buy a couple of prepaid/"burner" cell phones?

Are you Heisenberg?

[The other Gabe]

I am a big fan of texting when the drive team is not easily reachable. however, the Edwards Dome does not always let that happen

[kevin.li.rit]

Originally Posted by The other Gabe

I am a big fan of texting when the drive team is not easily reachable. however, the Edwards Dome does not always let that happen

There's a new distributed antenna system operating inside the dome and convention center so cell coverage and capacity should be much better.

[RyanCahoon]

Originally Posted by MooreteP

Are you Heisenberg?

OP is from Israel. My guess was that they were looking for a quick solution to accruing roaming cell charges. If they have GSM phones, there's probably a way to get US SIM cards, but I'm not sure how complicated a process that takes.

[Jorge Ayala]

Originally Posted by RyanCahoon

OP is from Israel. My guess was that they were looking for a quick solution to accruing roaming cell charges. If they have GSM phones, there's probably a way to get US SIM cards, but I'm not sure how complicated a process that takes.

My team is from Mexico, what we do is buy US sim cards. There is a data plan that for 3 dollars a day gives you 200 MB and unlimited calls and texts.

[Munchskull]

How about a string and two cans?

[alicen]

The biggest problem with using walkie-talkies that I see is the fact that that's how FIRST runs the event. (At least in my experience)
ref squads are each on a walkie channel, scoring/FTA have a channel, then all of the other people who run the different areas of the event.

There may not be any channels left over with 8 fields going on!

[dag0620]

Originally Posted by alicen

The biggest problem with using walkie-talkies that I see is the fact that that's how FIRST runs the event. (At least in my experience)
ref squads are each on a walkie channel, scoring/FTA have a channel, then all of the other people who run the different areas of the event.

There may not be any channels left over with 8 fields going on!

Thats why the rule exists banning them. It has nothing to do with strategy, its simply to keep channels free for event staff to use. Like you said at a normal event there's various channels in use, and with 8 fields going on it will get even tighter. The last thing you'd want to do is stumble across a field channel, or worse the EMT channel and cause confusion.