A Note About Navigation, Phones & Computers

Just a quick note to make sure we're all on the same page with regards to navigation, phones and computers for the IPRR.

This is a paper-based navigation challenge. I WILL NOT be supplying a genuine New England Roadmap as I have in past years. Most teams go ahead and purchase in-depth maps of the various states that might come into play in the IPRR. GPS of any kind is forbidden. This means hand held, dash-mounted, in your phone, etc. Convincing a stranger to use their navigation to lead you to a destination, although clever, is forbidden.

The same is true of phones. If it's a phone, don't use it. Cell phones, home phones, pay phones, etc. are forbidden (except in an emergency). Asking a stranger to use a phone on your behalf to collect IPRR information, while creative, is forbidden.

The IPRR is particularly vulnerable to someone with a computer. While we try to build it to neutralize this threat, it's still present. Please do not use any computers from the time you accept the IPRR packet at the start line to the time you check in at the Farm. This includes asking a stranger (or a friend/family member not in the IPRR) to use a computer (in a library perhaps) to help you solve a problem.

Please keep these rules in mind while you're on the road next Friday. Thank you.