The Team

Andy Meng, Ben Corrado, Justin Rigling, Brandon Schamer

The team is made up of four main guys (who are all amateur radio operators) - Justin Rigling KC8OIO, Ben Corrado KC8RKO, Brandon Schamer KG4NVK, and Andy Meng N8MX. They are all graduates of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio (Justin, Ben, and Brandon graduated in 2004, Andy in 2003) where they met in the schools Radio Club (W8GYH). Over the years there they worked on a variety of projects, from a radio-controlled tank using a custom data link, control system, and motor drivers, to two scratch-built contest-winning robot (built mostly the night before the competition!). Usually when we hang out it involves working with something technical, or playing with something that has an engine! In addition to electronic-type stuff, we also like basic metal fabrication - cutting, welding, grinding, etc. To top it off, we are always throwing around crazy ideas - some of which we actually do (that's the scary part).

Justin Rigling

tin is currently attending MIT, majoring in Course 6 (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science). This summer he is working as an intern at Innovative Fiber Optic Solutions (iFiber) in Middletown, Ohio. The company uses 5.8 GHz WIMAX to distribute metro-ethernet from thier fiber backbone. He works with wireless networking on a daily basis and has learned a lot that will help him with his current task: the Defcon Wifi-Shootout. During the school year he works mostly on small electronics projects for automating his room, kitchen, car, etc. He is very excited about trying again for another world record.

Ben Corrado

Ben is a student at St. Louis University studying Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Electrical Engineering. He is interning with Freiberg Orthopedics and Sports Medicine this summer doing research on computer aided orthopedic knee replacements with Dr. Michael Swank. Besides working on the WiFi shootout he enjoys working on his can and putting a Linux based computer in his car for navigation/music/weather/mobile internet. During the school year he is the treasurer for both the BMES club and kayak club at SLU, as well as the electronics designer on the FSAE formula car. If he is not doing something technically based you can find Ben kayaking, canoeing or camping during his free time.

Brandon Schamer

Brandon attends the University of Cincinnati, majoring in Electrical Engineering.

Andy Meng

Andy is taking a year off (to financially recover!) from LeTourneau University in Longview, TX. His major is Electrical Engineering (possibly switching to or adding Mechanical). He is still living there and working full time at VertexRSI - a company that makes all sizes of satellite dishes and control systems. He is doing some actual design work and getting the experience that school alone can't provide. He plans to return to school full time in Spring of 2006 and get it out of the way! His current projects include getting a shifter kart running, fixing his standup jet ski ('85 JS550 that seized 15 minutes into the first ride!), fixing or getting rid of an '87 Supra (blown head gasket + inch of water/oil in cylinders = complete rebuild), and preparing for the 2005 WiFi Shootout. His truck, and especially the Car computer GPS/music/whatever system in it (with a 15" CRT monitor), is a constant work in progress as well. During the school year, he works on the school's Formula SAE car and various other projects.

Friends and Family

We would also like to thank other friends who help out in our efforts:
Garrett Verhagen '04
Jon Corrado
Jess Berens
Greg Fairbanks '04
Jon Mueller '04

Greg Lamping - moderator of the St. X Radio Club - for providing an environment where we could learn about radio and electronics and generate wild ideas.

And our parents - without their influence over the years we would not be doing what we are:
Greg (for driving with us to Las Vegas in '04!) and Marcia Rigling
Roger and Mary Jo Corrado
Matt and Kim Schamer
Steve and Mary Meng