I’m loooking at some of the scouting systems in here and noticed a good handful of them implement the internet one way or another. Upon asking the Buckeye Regional Director she told me that they don’t supply a line or wireless AP because FIRST doesn’t allow internet access at the regionals. So that leads me to ask a few questions.
Does your regional provide a connection to the event? If not, what are you using? If it’s a tethered phone or WWAN card, who’s your provider and what’s the rate?
Umm…I’m not sure about this year, but I’m pretty sure that in previous years the GTR has had internet connection…and man…it’s so useful
Some teams just setup a router and computer to act as a server/store the info. It is just a local (not connected internet) scouting network
using a local network in your pit is often the best idea for this as you are usually able to control where you can et onto it much easier than standard internet connections. There is also the matter of not using a connection that a thousand other FIRSTers aren’t currently trying to use as well.
Guys, connecting to the internet at the venues through ANY MEANS other than one explicitly provided by the venue is illegal per the current FIRST rules.
Rule 3.17 says:
Do not arrange for Internet access or phone lines on the site or attempt to connect to the Internet.
The way this is worded includes using cell-phone internet connections and all other means.
Someone who can should submit this the Q&A. There isn’t any reason I can think of that people shouldn’t be able to use wireless g / m networks through cell phone carriers etc to get the internet.
This official Q&A response indicates that local wifi set-ups may or may not be permitted, depending on venue rules.
Who says you need Internet? The Internet is just a computer network, you can still host your scouting program off the Internet using a router. That is what I do.
The Internet includes much more then the web (such as E-mail, online games, many protocols like time synchronization, file transfer, secure shell, etc.), and a web does not have to be on the Internet, as is the case with every networked scouting program used during the competition.
True; I know what the rule says, but I also know that if I need a file off the Innovation First site, and I have an internet connection in my pocket, I will connect, get the file, and disconnect. I believe the intent of the rule is to keep teams from using resources that do not belong to them–crashing the host’s AP is not a good way to get them to welcome us back.
BTW, I use a hacked (tethering is disabled in firmware by default) Motorola Razr v3m on the Verizon network. I use 1x tethering, which is dang slow, but better than nothing. It is free, but costs airtime. If I knew of a reasonably priced EVDO tether, or another network (from what I gather, Verizon is not the cheapest), I would dive for it.
JBot
A lot of teams have wireless routers set up. At champs, there is interner provided.
I use Cingular for my internet using my Razor V3xx and some software and a USB Cable. I was in CA / OR for like 9 days and we took a 7 hr drive up to OR. As we were driving I was surfing the net using my Laptop and Razor using some software and USB Cable. In any case some phones all you need is the right software and right cable and you can use the Edge / 3G Networks off the phone to get what you need done. The software is called Motorola Phone Tools powered by Avanquest 
which I think I got off of Moto’s Site.
For those who keep telling me that you don’t need internet for scouting software, I know. I also know the difference between a local network and the internet. I was just wondering which venues supplied one, because I thought it was against FIRST’s rules, not just by venue.
Availability of a public Internet connection (and, as Richard’s link says, setting up a local wireless network) is up to the regional committee. To prevent any possibility of contention when running a match or updating the FIRST database, FIRST has told the FTAs that we are not to allow sharing of the connection used by the field. If the event wants to pay for a second connection, that’s fine, but up to them.
Thank you for that clarification.
I’ve set up a database that contains (or will contain) the results of all regional competitions. I update it every weekend after all regional data is finalized.
You can access this data through any web enabled cell phone. Just point your cell phone to:
http://www.firstobjective.org/myteam/teamdata.wml
Enter any FRC team number, and you’ll get a short synopsis of all of their matches.
This data is also available online at http:www.firstobjective.org/myteam
If you feel this service is of value, take a moment to join firstobjective.org, it’s free, simple and easy.
Thanks,
Roger
Wow, that’s an awesome idea, something that nobody has thought of covering yet. I’ll check it out. WAP access, who would’ve thought?
Anyway, as an update, the Regional Director agreed to provide a connection for the webcast, but I’ve ended up deciding on using an off-line database.
hey guys i noticed last year in ATL and everyear that first has WiFi but i never could seem to connect to it either it is password protected or has mac address filtering but i seen ohter team online any help?