Greetings,
A few comments:
First, I recommend using the latest "daily" build rather that that beta:
It,too is pretty old, but it does address some of the things you reference and is more stable.
I'll put the rest "in ?line" with yours below.
Mike, N0SO
PS: D-RATS?is still supported, and is, in fact, open source ?- anyone can get the source code and can make changes. I'm not the developer, but I'll look at implementing some of the things you've suggested.
On Jul 8, 2013, at 4:23 PM, "Anthony (N2KI)" <
n2ki.ham@...> wrote:
?
Orange County ARES/RACES/SKYWARN is attempting to acquire D-Star Repeaters from the county. ?We have a very good working relationship with the Office of Emergency Management. ?In the past two weeks we have been scrutinizing the D-Rats software to get a full understanding of how it works, capabilities and limitations. ?In order for us to pitch the idea of utilizing D-Rats to the OEM in support of an emergency activation, we have some questions and concerns that involve its operation which seems kludge at times. ?If someone can help find these workarounds, which we may have missed, it is greatly appreciated. ?This is a list compiled from three operators putting D-Rats through heavy paces. ?We apologize if these functions are available since we may not have discovered it. ?Thank you for your time.
Version 0.3.3b6
1. ?When you first open the program, you have no idea anything is happening unless you are looking at the event log.
It will show connection status (to radios, ratflectors, etc. in the status bar at the bottom left, but it only displays a single line of text. Beyond that you have to look at the event tab. There is an option to enable blinking when an event occurs.
2. ?The program should initiate an automatic ping and list all stations at log on and timely thereafter. ?
This could be made an option.
3. ?I would expect to see my call listed in the right hand column including showing stations logged on. ?I have no idea if I am still connected as the program does not indicate anything other than "Online" in the bottom right. ?May times it says "online" but only to find out I was not. No rhyme or reason. ?My call sign showed up black on another stations screen.
4. ?I would also expect to see the color of the station reflecting whether they are "Online or Unattended" change instantaneously. There seems to be latency.
5. ?I would expect the stations list on the right to be instantaneously updated whenever a station changes it status. (On line or Unattended). ?.
6 ? I would expect the station call sign to disappear when the station is off line or they shut down their computer. ?This only seems to happen if you clear all then re-ping all. ?
D-RATS is not really a 'connected mode' system, so unless a station has its preferences set to beacon when coming online, going offline, etc. there is no way for a listening station to know when these events occur. ?I would recommend setting the preferences to do so, and to periodically beacon a short QST or position report.
7. ?If a station is off line when you try to send a message, the message stays in the outbox and is not sent. ?The program should state that the message was not sent because recipient is not logged on.
This could be made an option.
8. ?The program seems to "choke" when left running on a Win7 64 bit machine. ?Running it as administrator and not in the x86 pathway.
If you're running on a 64 bit version of Windows, then replacing the file lzhuf.exe with the version in the files section of this group should fix this. The version packaged with the Windows installer is a 32 bit version known to eventually use up CPU resources and crash a 64 bit pc.
9. ?Why does the software tell me there is a message for?
"me" when sending email?
I have not experienced this,but I don't use the mail features much. I recommend seeing if the newer version does this.
10. ?The ability to open a file in the shared folder from the program is not possible.
10. ?The ability to have sub-folders in the shared folder. As is, all files are lumped together in one file. ?This does not lend itself to ease of finding things.
11. ?Be able to move the map with the cursor and not have to use the scroll bars and have to continually re-center.
12. ?The ability to change the map labels font color and background color. ?Map labels are black on Red which makes it difficult to read. ?
13. ?The default message selection is an HICS-260 Patient Evacuation Form. ?Can we change it to default to the email selection?
Most, if not all of these things could be made possible.
14. ?What is the legend for the different colors on call signs in the Stations List?
I think at least some of this is configurable in the Appearance section of the options window. Unfortunately, there is not much documentation beyond what N3TSZ wrote a few years ago.
15. ?The stations list seems quirky. ?I usually leave my software running. ?I always have to clear all then re-ping to ?get an updated list. ?The list should refresh automatically and remove any stations that are off line.
Hopefully the newer version will be more consistent. I have a ratflector running 24/7 ( port 9000) and usually leave a D-RATS client running. The list usually clears after a time if no stations are connected.
16. ?We notice that last update was over two years ago. ?Is this software still supported and will it continue going forward?
It is still supported, and is, in fact, open source ?- anyone can get the source code and can make changes. I'm not the developer, but I'll look at implementing some of the things you've suggested.
?
Regards,
Anthony J.
Cioffi (N2KI)
