Messages

136

Feature Requests and Issues / InstaMapper Phone Device Key

« on: April 18, 2011, 05:12:28 PM »

Will do.  I also just noticed that the "InstaMapper - Phone Device Key" field accepts up to 15 characters.  I think device keys are always 13 characters, so a lower limit might be a good error-proofing measure. 

By the way, I got bored after making 20 device keys on my instamapper account.  I seriously doubt my team will put more than 20 teams in the field at once.  Does it work out ok if we re-cycle device keys within a search?  Should I shoot for the most teams I think could be deployed at once or the most teams that could be deployed during the whole search?

137

General Mission Manager Discussion / Re: SAR Network in a Box

« on: April 10, 2011, 05:44:38 PM »

I saw this thing first hand the other week and noticed there are two spots for the Verizon MiFi things, but only one was plugged in.  If you plug in a second, does it use them in parallel? 

Also, at work on Friday a buddy was showing me his new 3G/4G mobile hotspot from Verizon.  He said it was just about as fast as his DSL at home.  Does the department get a new every two discount? 

138

Feature Requests and Issues / Copy and Past Problem

« on: April 10, 2011, 05:37:19 PM »

Today I was copying a bunch of device keys into the configuration panel using copy and past from a text file.  When I clicked on another link, I got a message stating that navigating to a new page would cause information to be lost.  The worst part is, it's proving very difficult to reproduce.  I've seen it twice now today, both times following pasting text into a field, clicking on another field, and navigating away.  I'll keep trying to make it happen again.  Anyone else seen this?

139

Feature Requests and Issues / Field Qualification Check

« on: April 10, 2011, 12:13:50 PM »

It would be nice to have a field qualification indicator on the Members screen and Check In screen.  This is already available from within a mission, and a visual indicator on the Members and Check In screens could save some confusion.

Right now, from what I can tell, there are two ways to check your field qualification status: From within a mission using the 'Show Only' filter, and from the Members screen by visually checking the fields with an *.  The visual check is all that is available to people without permissions to access missions.  It would be nice to give members with lower levels of permissions some automated logical check of their field qualifications status.

140

General Mission Manager Discussion / Re: Mass Check-in Log Jam

« on: March 08, 2011, 12:33:12 PM »

From Bill R.

Problem Identification:

   1. Checking in at home - [ the IC] doesnt know they are available, and an additional input to the system need to be made to indicate such, making the 1st (home) input redundant.
   2. Checking in the web interface, while simple, needs a web connection.  I've done it with my drooid but it's quite awkward.

Ideas: 

   1. Focusing on making check in easier, have a mobile interface made for web phones - a bare bones page with log in, check-in, check-out and end of shift time.  Many websites have mobile versions of thier pages that are much easier to navigate.
   2. Check-in via phone tree. 
      "Welcome enter your pin number to access your account"
      "Press 1 select mission"
      "Press 1 to check in, 2 to check out, 3 to enter end of shift time.."
      etc
   3. Replace our team id with ones that have a magnetic strip that identifies us.  Checking in would be as quick as swiping the card through a reader.

141

General Mission Manager Discussion / Mass Check-in Log Jam

« on: March 08, 2011, 12:32:08 PM »

After a recent search with a large rescuer turnout, I got some feedback from my team about difficulties getting checked in.  I wasn't there, so I'll just post what they sent me.

142

Feature Requests and Issues / Re: Messages

« on: February 24, 2011, 08:54:44 AM »

In case you hadn't discovered this already, after you send a message, all the text you entered for that message remains in the fields.  I frequently send out an email, then decide to send out text and voice messages too.  As long as I haven't closed the window, I can just click the buttons for the other message types.

143

Announcements / Re: Mission Manager v1.2

« on: February 06, 2011, 09:04:11 AM »

Cool.  I bet if we added a big antenna on a tall mast, we could get one of those to work just about anywhere in the county.

144

General Mission Manager Discussion / Re: SAR Network in a Box

« on: January 30, 2011, 01:39:32 PM »

That looks great.  I'm jealous.  This antenna might be a handy add on for that router:

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1801

It might be a handy way to let you leave your MiFi connection on the top of a hill where reception is good and put your command post in a more logistically desirable location.

145

General Mission Manager Discussion / Re: Phone Tethering

« on: January 30, 2011, 01:27:34 PM »

I use this software on a regular basis and it works well.  The only problem is that of any cell phone connection - your internet connection is only as reliable as your cell phone signal.

146

Feature Requests and Issues / Re: Feature Request

« on: December 18, 2010, 02:37:24 PM »

Last weekend SDMRT used the Mission Manager software and had everyone check in for our Helicopter Tactics training day.  I got lots of feedback about the Check In screen, some constructive, some just whining about methods changing.  Here is some of the more useful whining.  Any ideas on how to improve?

• "I can't see the screen." - This was really due to my poor selection of a check in area.  Any ideas on a high contrast option?  I've had some limited luck with white text on a black background.  I'll keep experimenting.
• "There aren't enough computers." - Again, my fault.  It would help out if we could figure out a way to give individuals partial access to active searches.  Then I could give everyone on the team access to the Check In screen for active searches, and individuals could use their smart phones.
• "Didn't I already check in?" - Several people had successfully checked in but were convinced it didn't work.  It might help to add Current Status somewhere (under picture?) on the Check In screen.
• "Now what?" - Once people were able to successfully Lookup ID Number, about a third of them couldn't find the Login to Search button.  I think the buttons being the same size and in the same spot threw people off.  Maybe move the login button?
  

Some of my personal feedback:

• Both the Check In Date and EOS Date calendar buttons are shifted to the right and don't visually connect with the text fields.
• It might be good to shove EOS Date, EOS Time and Round Trip Mileage to the right.  Maybe also label them required fields or something.  I'm on a 12" laptop now and there seems to be extra space.

Hope this helps.  As always, great job Mike.

147

Announcements / Re: Mission Manager v1.2

« on: December 18, 2010, 02:14:40 PM »

I like it.

With the name change from Search Manager to Mission Manager, are there any plans to change the URL from radishworks.com/SearchManager to radishworks.com/MissionManager or something similar?

148

Feature Requests and Issues / Feature Request

« on: October 24, 2010, 06:39:51 PM »

I'll get the ball rolling on feature requests.  I know some of these are easier than others.

• On the 'Select Search' tab, an indicator for the 'Current Search Status' could be useful.
• On the 'Messaging' tab, the headers don't quite line up with the columns (Chrome) and some ranks take two rows of text.
• If a search is switched to closed and a team status is left as on assignment, InstaMapper continues to track indefinitely.  Not sure what a good fix is.
• A permission level for 'View Others Member Information'

149

General Mission Manager Discussion / Back Country Internet Access

« on: October 21, 2010, 12:50:20 PM »

Any thoughts on extending wireless internet coverage in the back country?  The two big obstacles I can think of are coverage and battery life.  I've got a smart phone with internet tethering, but this solution is a little limited. 

To increase coverage I've thought of combining a WiFi repeater with a high gain directional antenna.  Both can be had for around $100, but the power requirements are significant.

As far as battery life goes, I'm not sure what the best direction to go is.  Smaller and lower consumption or bigger and higher capacity.  Any ideas?