WELCOME TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF WEB APPLICATIONS FOR NATA!

ACCESS THE DIRECT LINK NOW: www.natanet.info/live

Our new web application is now officially online and ready for use! Created by Joe Veldhuis (N8FQ) and hosted by Andy O’Brien (K3UK) on his well-known “sked pages” at www.obriensweb.com/sked, the new NATA web app is replacing our use of nLog Logger and the AddOn Interactive chat system for use during our nets. Of course you may continue to log contacts locally using nLog Logger however once we finish the transition period, NCS operators will no longer have live logging active on nLog. We welcome any and all feedback as well as suggestions for improvements or additional features.

INTERNET EXPLORER USERS: You must turn ON pop-up blocker or a new window will open each time the page auto-refreshes. Go to the Windows Control Panel, open Internet Options the  click PRIVACY tab. Check "Turn on pop-up blocking" then click SETTINGS and uncheck the two options.

CREATE A DESKTOP SHORTCUT: We recommend that you create a desktop shortcut pointing to www.natanet.info/live on your computer for the NATA Web App for quick and easy access!

THE WEB APP, FRAME BY FRAME…

TOP CENTER FRAME:

LOGON TO THE WEB APP: Enter your callsign to logon. No password required to start but we recommend creating a password when you create your online profile to protect your logon. You must type at least one text message before your callsign will appear in the Users on Chat listing.

CREATE YOUR ONLINE PROFILE: After logging on, click PROFILE. Enter a password for your account, then enter your first name ONLY, email address, QSL preferences, and any of the other information you wish to share. Click PREFERENCES next and check all but the Invisible browsing mode and Forward New PM’s boxes. We recommend a refresh rate of 20. Click the SAVE button and close the window. Your changes are instantly available on the web app!

STATUS: Your current status (25 char. max.) is entered here. Your status appears next to your callsign in the Users on Chat list. Suggested uses: list special info, states you need, etc.

AWAY: Takes your callsign off the Users on Chat list but keeps you logged in.

PMs: Opens a new browser tab showing all of your Private Messages. Use the CLEAR ALL link to remove all messages in either you INBOX or your OUTBOX. REPLY will open a text block to send a private online message to the person who sent you the message. It will also show the user’s direct email box if you want to send an email rather than an instant private message. You can set up users from whom you don’t want to receive private messages from in the Profile manager. You can disable ALL private messages by clicking the DISABLE button at the top of the PM page.

LOG OUT: Logs you off. If you don't log out, your remain logged into the site until midnight each night. After a long period with no activity you will have to send a new message to reactivate yourself.

CENTER FRAME: Main Chat frame. Type your message into the white box at the bottom of the page and click POST or simply hit the ENTER key to post your message. All of your messages can be deleted from the chat by clicking the erase link marked by a green [x] at the end of each of your posts.

RIGHT FRAME: Who’s online and availability listings. This frame lists those people that are logged onto the web app currently and information about their location.

Refresh Page Link: Clicking this will force a page refresh at any time. We recommend you setting your refresh rate (Profile>Preferences) to 20 seconds.

USERS ON CHAT: This is the listing of all active chatters.

DXCC COUNTRIES: Listing of all countries represented by active chat participants.

STATES/PROVINCES: Based upon each user’s profile, this will display each participants state/province and county IF their profile contains that information. One more reason to be sure to complete your online profile in the system!

COUNTIES: Again, if the user has completed their online profile, their county will be included in the list of active counties.

OTHER PAGES: The multi-colored bars at the bottom frame are links to the other SKED pages which K3UK provides! Please take time to explore these especially if you have special interests along the lines of the particular topics!

LEFT FRAME: This is where you will find information about the currently active net.

STATIONS ON NET LIST: This is the current list and status of all stations checked into the net. Note that this does not mean that they are on the web app. To verify that, check the Users on Chat list! Status on the net is color-coded as follows:

· WHITE = Checked in, active on net.

· BRIGHT PINK = Station currently having their turn this round.

· RED = Inactive – not responding to calls, NCS will change status to “checked out” if not back by end of the round.

· BLUE = Checked out. Station has left the net and is no longer available for calls/contacts.

· LT. PINK = YL operator

There are five columns in the list. These are basically self-explanatory. M/P is to indicate whether the station is Mobile or Portable. The W column is Watts, generally only used to indicate power level of QRP stations.

Special comments, operator notes, etc. are entered by NCS and can be viewed by hovering over each callsign on the check-in list.

Please take time to explore our new Web App and we look forward to hearing your feedback, suggestions, and hope that this new tool will make your on-air experience with NATA even more enjoyable!

We are pleased to announce the appointment of David (W7JDB) and Carrie (KE7BUR) Bianes as NATA's new QSL Managers effective February 1, 2011.

Please send cards to the new bureau managers in Nevada. No more cards to Missouri (KU0G), please... The online QSL Bureau Payment system is located in the right column down the page. You may use that to purchase pre-stamped envelopes in the bureau in increments of $6.00 (10 envelopes with one unit of 1st Class Postage).

Be sure to check the "Good in Bureau" listing under the QSL & AWARDS menu tab at the top of the page! Complete information on the QSL Bureau may also be found in this menu.

NATA thanks Barry Hiddema, W5BLH, for his time of service, particularly in light of his health challenges over the past two years. We continue to pray for the restoration of good health to him.