Router

[FTC7501]

Do we need to buy a router to be able to operate our robot wirelessly using the Samantha module?

If so, does the router need to be connected to the internet?

Thanks for helping us rookies. Cathy

[Ernest314]

Yes, you will need a router. No, the router does not need to be connected to the internet (and it shouldn't be, for security reasons). The control information goes from the joysticks, to the FCS program, to the router, to the Samantha, and then to the NXT.

[FTC7501]

Thank you so much.

[Skinkworks]

Technically, you can do an Ad-hoc connection from your computer to the Samantha module, but I do not recommend this, because a router connection is more stable and can co-exist more easily with the development computer's Internet connection.

[Sparbots]

Yeah, ad-hoc is more an art than a science. We were doing that for awhile, but it's very temperamental: we could only get the robot to connect to the laptop if the sum of the day, month, and year was a prime number and the angles between the planets (in degrees) were integers. Otherwise the Samantha module just wouldn't find the signal. I'd second Skinkworks; try finding a cheap, old-ish router (if you don't already have one at your disposal) and you'll be good to go.

[reisst]

I definitely would second both Skinkworks and Sparbots, we tried using an ad-hoc connection and never really had much success. We bought a router and almost all our problems vanished.

[FTC7758]

Will any wireless router do?

[JohnMcDonnell]

Will any wireless router do?

You could probably find a router that would fail, but in my experience, any wireless router will do. You should be familiar with the router's configuration screens, because there are steps which must be followed, especially if you're setting up the router for the first time. The instructions at http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default..._for_Teams.pdf are for a particular model, a Linksys E1200, but I was able to follow along easily with a Linksys WRT54G.

[Skinkworks]

I wouldn't get a super-new router, since the router needs to support 802.11b, which is a relatively old 2.4GHz standard.

[maths222]

I wouldn't get a super-new router, since the router needs to support 802.11b, which is a relatively old 2.4GHz standard.

My understanding is that pretty much any Linksys router will work.

[Skinkworks]

My understanding is that pretty much any Linksys router will work.

I'd say that any non-5GHz router would work. A 5GHz router might not have any 2.4GHz antenna, which would mean it certainly doesn't support 802.11b . E1000's and E1200's are your best bet. They're kinda old now, so they're cheap, and they're really nice routers, and if you're in New Jersey, that's the same router they use for the field (I'm pretty sure), so it certainly works for the Samantha.

[maths222]

I'd say that any non-5GHz router would work. A 5GHz router might not have any 2.4GHz antenna, which would mean it certainly doesn't support 802.11b . E1000's and E1200's are your best bet. They're kinda old now, so they're cheap, and they're really nice routers, and if you're in New Jersey, that's the same router they use for the field (I'm pretty sure), so it certainly works for the Samantha.

The E2500 works as well, as we use it for the regionals and scrimmages we host.

[FTC7095]

We are a rookie team and are very confused by the Samantha wifi. We have been given a Mac Laptop and an older Airport to use by the school. Our problems are the field control system says the following for Mac (Field Control System (Mac beta version - not for competition use)). Does this mean we can not use the Samantha wifi with a Mac and therefore can we not use a Mac to program our robot? We know the LabView software works fine on the Mac, but when we followed the instructions to flash the Samantha, then subsequently ran samostat from the NXT brick to the Samantha to get the IP, it says error. How do we troubleshoot this? Another question might be since we we are an all Mac school and were given the Mac Laptop to use are there resources and instructions out there for Mac users. Is it easier to set up a Linksys router even with the Mac?

[reisst]

In competitions, the FCS will be run from Windows Laptops.

I haven't tried using the mac port of the FCS yet.

We've had the best luck when our router was configured with SSID: FTC_FIELD and no password or security. Additionally, we only use this router for samantha.

All that being said, it isn't the end of the world if you don't get samantha working at your school, it took us about a year and a half to get it working. However, if you do, it would be better.

[Skinkworks]

We've had the best luck when our router was configured with SSID: FTC_FIELD and no password or security. Additionally, we only use this router for samantha.

I really don't recommend using this SSID, since your Samantha will think that your home network and the field network are the same network. Your home network has no security, but the real field network will have security, and this might confuse the Samantha immensely. I recommend using any SSID except for FTC_FIELD and FTC_PIT.