[drats_users] D-RATS questions, suggestions

Mon Nov 12 16:31:32 PST 2012

Duffy and all, 

I can set our local dstar for 15C and I did that and run some d-rats checks with one of the stations. I was using our 444.8 mHz repeater.  I  like to wait until after 2200 local, EST, then I announce I am going to 15C but it isn’t that busy anyway but I do that as courtsey.

You can email me at  w3fdk at arrl.net  and we can set up something.   Our repeater is  KB3YBH  and I will connect it to 15C and we can d-rats like crazy using radio HI HI .  All are invited to join in.

73 de rolan w3fd

From: Amateur Radio WB8NUT 
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 5:42 PM
To: Discussion of D-RATS 
Subject: Re: [drats_users] D-RATS questions, suggestions

I would like to see people actually using the D-RATS program with their RADIOS!!!

I have tried on REF015C numerous times and no one responds.

Anyone up to trying some digital chat on REF015C/

Thanks,

Duffy
www.wb8nut.com

  Craig Gunther
  November 12, 2012 5:35 PM
  These are very good questions.  Thank you for taking the time to ask them in writing.  I run a reflector for our city and have observed many of the same issues you mentioned.  I anxiously await the answers as well.

  - Craig KE7YLZ

  From: Brian Mileshosky mailto:n5zgt at swcp.com
  To: drats_users at intrepid.danplanet.com 
  Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 2:02 PM
  Subject: [drats_users] D-RATS questions, suggestions

  Dan --

  I'm beginning to use D-RATS and am trying to generate interest 
  throughout New Mexico for its use as well.  Some questions and 
  suggestions for improvement:

  1) It would be VERY helpful if the "Stations" screen on the right side 
  of the Chat tab reflected stations on a particular Chat channel ONLY 
  (when viewing a Channel tab).  That is, if I create a channel called 
  "NM", and I click on its tab, then the callsigns on the right side of 
  the screen should only show those on the NM channel.  If I want to see 
  EVERYONE on a given ratflector, then I can click on the default "Main" 
  chat tab.  This way, if during an emergency event that requires a number 
  of tactical "chat nets" via chat channels (i.e. a channel where the EOC 
  is found, another for where shelters are found, etc), I can see exactly 
  (and only) who is on each channel, and not have to wonder who is on one 
  channel and who is not.  Right now, when I set up a channel I have no 
  idea who is on it since the list is cluttered with callsigns of people 
  who are NOT on that channel as well.

  2) In the log screen, when filtering for file transfers, it would be 
  nice if a file transfer log listing also included the callsign of 
  whoever grabbed a file from my "Shared" folder.  This way, if I ask a 
  station to grab a file from me, I have record that they in fact did, so 
  I don't need to consume additional time following up with them and 
  asking. Right now all I can see is that a file was transferred at a 
  certain time, but I have no clue who transferred it.

  3) Is there any reason why transferring files via internet can't occur 
  at internet speeds?  It would be nice if D-RATS knew the method of 
  transfer based on whether it's connected to the internet, or via RF 
  (even if a future release made each message user selectable via a radio 
  button or pull-down menu): Internet would occur at internet speeds, but 
  if via radio it would automatically throttle the speed settings for that 
  particular medium accordingly.  If the internet is up in an emergency, I 
  say leverage it as fully as possible to unburden the limited RF 
  channels.  Somehow this should be seamless (based on the software 
  detecting the medium across which a file or message is to be sent) and 
  not require the user to change blocksize when sending via the internet 
  vs RF.

  4) I noticed, when sending multiple NTS forms in version 0.3.3, that 
  after I click on "Send" within the message screen, the message(s) isn't 
  actually sent.  I have to secondarily click "Send/Receive" on the main 
  program screen before the message actually gets sent.  Additionally, if 
  I have multiple messages queued up for sending, I need to click 
  "Send/Receive" for each message in the queue before each is sent 
  individually.  It would seem that the "Send" within the message screen 
  would be sufficient, and that multiple messages in the queue would be 
  sent on their way automatically.

  5) We recently set up a ratflector here in New Mexico and our initial 
  testing revealed that, if a ratflector went down temporarily, then any 
  D-RATS user out there who was connected to it would manually have to 
  reconnect to it.  I can see a situation where a user, perhaps in an ARES 
  tactical net, might not be aware that his connection was lost and might 
  consequently miss out on important action.  Is there not a way for the 
  D-RATS application to sense that a connection has been lost and 
  automatically reconnect?  It could be as simple as, when D-RATS hasn't 
  seen data from a ratflector for n-minutes, the D-RATS application sends 
  a ping or keep-alive message to the ratflector.  If no response from the 
  ratflector, it assumes it went down and automatically tries to 
  re-establish connection with it.  If the ratflector is down for a long 
  duration, D-RATS would attempt a reconnect every n-minutes until a 
  connection is re-established or until the user switches to a new 
  ratflector.

  If you wouldn't mind sharing your thoughts I'd appreciate it.  Thanks 
  for an excellent software application!

  73,
  Brian N5ZGT
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