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Event is basically identical to last year, except that the impound requirement got removed. Would be interested to hear from those who did this event in person last year (all our competitions were Satellite) - how did the logistics work? 50 minute written test plus separate self-schedule device test? It doesn't look like the logistics for doing device tests during the test block work well, unless you have two test setups and two event supervisors to run the test setups, and even then you've got little margin for error in an event that many event supervisors aren't very familiar with.

I assume most device tests were in a school gym to get a decent available length?

We just took the test in a classroom for 50 minutes. While we were testing, they called us each one by one into a hallway to test our antenna. Then when we were finished testing our antenna, we went back to the written test. (Maryland States at Hopkins and Maryland Regionals at Mount Hebron)

Supersamk13 wrote: ↑October 12th, 2022, 6:39 pm We just took the test in a classroom for 50 minutes. While we were testing, they called us each one by one into a hallway to test our antenna. Then when we were finished testing our antenna, we went back to the written test. (Maryland States at Hopkins and Maryland Regionals at Mount Hebron)

Interesting, thanks. Each team needs a five minute testing time, plus time to greet the ES, hand over their design logs etc., and answer questions about the build, and time to remove their build from the test setup after the testing time. I can't see that you could take less than 7 minutes, maybe 8, for each team, which would mean you could get through 6 or 7 teams in the time allotted.

Did you have that few teams? I can't get the numbers to line up in my head.

They had multiple antenna testing set-ups, so multiple teams could test their antennas at the same time.

That makes sense - thanks.

I have been looking for antenas and SMA components to build my own antenna testing setup. However, some of the parts are meant for smaller SMA connectors and some for larger SMA connectors. The frustrating aspect is that on Amazon it doesn’t tell you which size the component or router is/works with. Also, all of the links on the construction setup guide were to smaller components. However, last year at MD states and regionals, the set ups were meant for antennae with larger SMA male cables soldered on. Does anyone have some links to routers that work for Wi-Fi lab?

Supersamk13 wrote: ↑October 27th, 2022, 12:10 pm I have been looking for antenas and SMA components to build my own antenna testing setup. However, some of the parts are meant for smaller SMA connectors and some for larger SMA connectors. The frustrating aspect is that on Amazon it doesn’t tell you which size the component or router is/works with. Also, all of the links on the construction setup guide were to smaller components. However, last year at MD states and regionals, the set ups were meant for antennae with larger SMA male cables soldered on. Does anyone have some links to routers that work for Wi-Fi lab?

SMA is all one size. There's no such thing as "smaller" and "larger" SMA connectors. You do, however, get "normal" SMA and reverse polarized SMA (RMA-RP). Wifi routers with detachable antennas are usually SMA-RP.

Last year's recommendation was Asus RT-N12.

There are other screw-threaded connectors for 50 ohm coaxial cable. TNC is larger than SMA, and N type is larger again.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CVQ3XLY for example is an RP-SMA male to SMA female adapter that will connect to the Asus RT-N12 RP-SMA female connector. You then need a coax cable with a SMA male on each end (a normal cable!) and an SMA female bulkhead connector like https://www.amazon.com/Connector-Bulkhe ... B07WFLD2MX

That builds your test setup.

https://www.amazon.com/Nisaea-Anternna- ... B07M9QTKFL is a cable that would work. RG-316 is a decent cable at 2.5 GHz.

There are lots of other options - these are just ideas.

Thought I'd update this post - everywhere we have done the competition this year, the WiFi device test has been in a separate self-scheduled time slot. This means all teams get to run on the same test apparatus, which is a good thing: for equity, you really want to be running in the same corridor, with the same reflections and so on.