Field Network Setup
Run one Ethernet cable from the scoring table to each alliance station. The scoring table end should be plugged into the switch port labelled "Red" or "Blue SCC VLAN Trunk" on the diagram below, and the alliance station end should be plugged into the port labelled "Uplink" on the station cabinet.
Take the Linksys access point out of the road case drawer. Plug the AP's power supply in to the power strip from the road case to ensure it is on UPS power. Place the AP on top of the road case.
- From the venue Ethernet to the "Internet" port on the road case (down below with the A/V ports, not on the switch)
- The dangling green cord inside the road case should be plugged into the "Event Server" port on the switch
- From the "AP VLAN Trunk" port on the switch to the "AP VLAN Trunk" port on the field access point
- Any auxiliary devices (referee panel, scoring panels, display laptops or Raspberry Pis, etc.) should be plugged into the "General Use" ports on the switch
Note that the road case contains a router to isolate the field network from the venue network, and prevent IP address conflicts and unauthorized access to Cheesy Arena from elsewhere on the network.
- From the cabinet dedicated team ports to each team station (14' black cable for Stations 1 and 3, 10' black cable for Station 2)
- From the cabinet general-use switch to the Intel NUC for the alliance station displays
- From the cabinet general-use switch to the Vault
The easiest way to connect computers and other devices to the field for display and data input is through the "Cheesy Arena" WiFi network broadcasted by the field access point alongside the team networks. This network will give devices full access to the various settings, match interfaces, displays, etc. so be careful who and what you give the password to; it can be configured from the Cheesy Arena settings. You'll generally need two laptops for real time scoring. These laptops can be pretty much anything capable of running a modern web browser. Events have had success using anything from Windows laptops to Chromebooks. Another important device is a tablet or touchscreen computer for the head ref to add fouls, commit scores, and signal reset. Using devices such as tablets and smartphones work great for FTAs as field monitors, as they are mobile and helpful when troubleshooting. Some events also like to have a separate field monitor on a display facing outwards from the scoring table. If you'd like to connect these devices through Ethernet, you can connect them to any port on the switch labelled "VLAN 100" in the diagram in the "Station Cabling" section.
Please note that none of these devices come with the Cheesy Arena package, so each event will have to provide their own scoring laptops, field displays, tablets, etc.