INTERNET EXPLORER USERS: You must turn ON pop-up blocker or you will have problems with a new window opening each time the page auto-refreshes. Go to the Windows Control Panel, open Internet Options. Under the PRIVACY tab check the box to turn on pop-up blocking. You can disable the annoying pop-up blocked box by going into SETTING on this same tab and un-checking the two options for warning and sound effect. If you still have problems, go back to the Pop-Up Blocker settings and look for any websites listed in the EXCEPTIONS box that are for natanet.info or obriensweb.com. Delete these entries as they are over-riding your pop-up blocker settings. If these are listed they probably got there by answering "YES" to a pop-up question such as "This website is attempting to open a pop-up. Do you want to allow pop-ups from this site?" When you answer YES the webpage is added to the exceptions list.
FIREFOX USERS: You must turn ON pop-up blocker or you will have problems with a new window opening each time the page auto-refreshes. Click TOOLS on the Firefox menu, then OPTIONS. Now click the CONTENT icon and make sure that "Block Pop-up Windows" is checked. Check the EXCEPTIONS button and be sure that neither natanet.info or obriensweb.com are in your exceptions list. Delete these entries as they are over-riding your pop-up blocker settings.
CREATE A DESKTOP SHORTCUT: We recommend that you create a desktop shortcut on your computer for the NATA Web App by following these steps:
· Right Click anywhere on your desktop
· Hover over NEW then click SHORTCUT – a new icon will appear and a configuration window will open.
· Enter http://www.obriensweb.com/sked/index.php?board=nataan for the web app in the “location of the item” box and click NEXT. Cut and paste the above as it must be EXACT including the “http://”
· Type NATA Web App as the name for the shortcut.
· Click FINISH and try your new desktop icon out!
THE WEB APP, FRAME BY FRAME…
TOP CENTER FRAME:
LOGON TO THE WEB APP: Enter your callsign to logon. No password is required but you can password protect your profile by creating one when you set up your profile. You must type at least one text message before your callsign will appear in the Users on Chat listing. Your personal details default to your callsign and country until you create your profile.
CREATE YOUR ONLINE PROFILE: After logging on, click PROFILE in the top center frame. Enter a password, first name ONLY, email address, QSL preferences, and any of the other information on the first page that applies to you. Click PREFERENCES next and check all but the Invisible browsing mode and Forward New PM’s boxes. Choose whether you want a sound to play when a new message arrives (annoying). We recommend setting the refresh rate to 20. Click the SAVE button and close the window. Your changes are instantly available on the web app!
STATUS: Your current status is entered here. This will display things such as what states you are looking for, any special notes up to 25 characters in length. Your status will appear next to your callsign in the Users on Chat list.
AWAY: Clicking on this link will take your callsign off the Users on Chat list. You will remain logged in, just invisible to others.
PMs: Clicking this link 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: Clicking this link will log you out of the system. Note that if you do not log out, your station remains 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-expanatory. 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!