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Add more recommendations for USB Ethernet dongles (#3125)
* Add more recommendations for USB Ethernet dongles. The new ones are recommended in a discussion among FTAs from earlier this year. * Adds warning about USB RJ-45 extenders with image.
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source/docs/software/driverstation/driver-station-best-practices.rst

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@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Consider used laptops rather than new. The FRC\ |reg| Driver Station and dashboa
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#. Ports
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a. A built-in Ethernet port is highly preferred. Ensure that it's a full-sized port. The hinged Ethernet ports don't hold up to repeated use.
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#. If the Ethernet port on your laptop is dodgy, either replace the laptop (recommended) or buy a USB Ethernet dongle from a reputable brand (e.g., TP-Link UE330). Many teams find that USB Ethernet is less reliable than built-in Ethernet, primarily due to cheap hardware and bad drivers. The dongles given to rookies in the KOP have a reputation for working well.
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#. If the Ethernet port on your laptop is dodgy, either replace the laptop (recommended) or buy a USB Ethernet dongle from a reputable brand. See `Recommended USB Ethernet adapters`_ for a list. Many teams find that USB Ethernet is less reliable than built-in Ethernet, primarily due to cheap hardware and bad drivers. The dongles given to rookies in the KOP have a reputation for working well.
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#. 2 USB ports minimum. These can be USB-A or USB-C ports, depending on the peripherals you're using.
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#. A keyboard. It’s hard to quickly do troubleshooting on touch-only computers at the field.
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#. Ensure your :doc:`Dashboard is connected to the robot </docs/software/dashboards/troubleshooting-dashboard-connectivity>` after your driver station connects to the robot.
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#. Ensure driver station is fully visible and in focus during the match to avoid Windows depriortizing it, and to ease troubleshooting.
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## Recommended USB Ethernet adapters
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Members of the FRC community report good results with these USB Ethernet adapters.
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* Henrety USB C to Ethernet Adapter
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* Siig SuperSpeed USB 3.0 LAN Hub
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* TP-Link UE330
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* uni USB to Ethernet Adapter with hub (both USB-A and USB-C styles)
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Don't be confused and use a USB RJ-45 extender. These are reported to fry USB ports.
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.. image:: images/driver-station-best-practices/usb-rj45-bad.png
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:scale: 25%
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:alt: An adapter with a USB-A male connector and an RJ-45 connector, labeled USB RJ-45 extension adapter, overlaid with BAD in red text.
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## Credits
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The source document for this page was created by Steve Peterson, with contributions from Juan Chong, James Cole-Henry, Rick Kosbab, Greg McKaskle, Chris Picone, Chris Roadfeldt, Joe Ross, and Ryan Sjostrand. The original post and follow-up posts can be found [here](https://www.chiefdelphi.com/t/paper-driver-station-best-practices/164429).
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