I have inherited a new program and they are missing their match controller. I just called VEX and they do not sell them separately. Does anyone have an extra they would be willing to sell me?
VEXnet Field Controller Kit (275-1401)
(1) Match Controllers <— I’m only missing this!!!
(2) Driver Interfaces
(1) USB A-B Cable
(2) 50’ Ethernet Cables
(4) 5’ Ethernet Cables
Contact your RECF Regional Manager, they may be able to help you out.
I’ve had Driver Interfaces get beat up, but not lost a Match Controller. I will probably get another set for back up when we run four field events.
I already did! Like I said, everything this year is inherited… It may be there somewhere!
Thanks
Seems silly they won’t sell you one alone since you are an EP and running tournaments. I understand why they package certain things, but they need to be more flexible.
Anyway, it looks like it’s $150, as an EP you may be able to get the kit for half if it’s associated with a tournament like the one your are going to have 
There is no EP discount for field controller kit. It would be nice to have one.
Not ideal of course, but you may be able to make your own if you can get a look at the circuitry inside an existing one. I don’t expect that it would be particularly complex.
I don’t work for VEX, but… Since EPs are really the only customers for the field controller kit, discounting it wouldn’t make any sense, VEX is already selling it at the “EP price.” Event partners do get a $200 discount when ordering a complete field, but it is applied to the perimeter.
For what it’s worth, Robot Mesh is sometimes asked for “an educational discount” which we decline to offer because virtually ALL of our customers are “educational.”
Just a wild idea, but would it be possible to make a match controller out of a Raspberry pi?
its possible to make a match controller from a breadboard, they’re not too terribly complicated
Just in case there’s some confusion, the match controller is not the same thing as a competition switch.
https://www.vexrobotics.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1800x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/2/7/275-1401-match-controller.jpg vs https://www.vexrobotics.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1800x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/2/7/276-2335-vexnet-competition-switch.jpg
The former would be considerably less easy to fabricate than the latter.
With information from here
https://vexforum.com/t/field-control-a-technical-analysis/25651/1
and something like this
and a few more parts, drivers, connectors etc. you could probably build one, but I would discourage you from ever using it for a competition, just not worth it.
Way above my pay grade! I’ll probably just buy an extra set for spares. I agree that I don’t think they are making any money off these things. Customized hardware that you’re maybe moving a few thousand units??? Has to be expensive. Also, I have never heard of one of these breaking, so they are well made. Worth it!
to be fair, I wasn’t being serious about using the breadboard, just that it was possible
I already understand the difference between a competition switch and a match controller. Thanks for the clarification though.
