Overview #
The chat feature in the CTBTO system provides a way to communicate quickly and effectively throughout the mission.
Overview of the geoDVR Team Leader tablet interface with the chat function.
Installation and Setup #
Download the firmware update file and install the CTBTO version that has the chat function (104.6 and up for the geoDVR CRU server and 4.5 and up for the tablets). Right click and select “run as administrator”. The chat icons will install in a separate folder. The first time the CTBTO geoDVR software is opened after installation, the chat icons may not appear. Close and reopen the software and they will populate.
The chat window will appear on the bottom right of the CRU and tablet screens, below the moving maps window. Resize the window by grabbing the grey bars in the middle and moving them. Go to File > Save Current Layout to save the layout as default.
Set the CRU IP Address #
The CRU server and tablets must all be on the same IP address. Set this on the CRU server through Options > Use Internal or Serial GPS (Via COM Port).
Set the Tablet IP Address #
Set this on the tablets through Options > Use Remote Geo Ethernet GPS. Selecting this option will bring up this window. Type the same IP address as the CRU unit.
Set the Operator Name #
Each team member should set their Operator Name so the team can see who has sent and responded to which chats. If the Operator Name is not set, messages sent from that tablet will have a string of characters for the Operator Name.
If the operator name is not set, sent messages will have a string of characters for the Operator Name.
Set the Operator Name by going to File > Set Operator Name. Go to File > Save Current Layout to save the layout as default. Otherwise, the Operator Name will need to be set each time the software is restarted.
Set the Team Leader #
One tablet needs to be set as the Team Leader for the mission: Options > Is Team Leader. Go to File > Save Current Layout to save the layout as default. Otherwise, the Team Leader will need to be set each time the software is restarted.
NOTE: Nothing prevents multiple tablets from being set as the Team Leader, but in practice only one tablet should be set as the Team Leader.
Using the Chat Feature #
Messages that you have sent will have a blue background on your screen. Messages sent by others on the team will have a white background on your screen.
Icon Chat #
Only the Team Leader can send icon chat messages. Send an icon without a text message by selecting the icon and selecting “Send”.
Send an icon with a text message by typing the message in the box, then selecting the icon, then clicking the “Send” button.
After an icon is sent, each team member must click the “Acknowledge” button before further chat messages can be sent. All team members are able to see how many acknowledgements the icon message has received with the count under the sent icon message.
Text Chat #
Team members who are not the Team Leader are able to send and receive text-based chat messages, but are only able to receive and acknowledge icon chat messages.
Accessing the Chat Log #
At any point, any team member can view and save a text-based transcript of the chat log by going to Help > View Chat Log. This can be done from a tablet or the CRU interface.
A window will open to choose the date from which you would like to view the chat log. Click the calendar icon to the right of the date to change the date selection, then click “Select Date”.
This will open the transcript in Notepad where it can be saved and shared. Below is the chat window in the geoDVR tablet software and the same chat log in Notepad.
