"Let's Chat Now"

[Penny's Aunt]

Jean, how about you adding another subject line in the Chat section (on the opening page), titled "Let's Chat Now", & if several people are on board (there are 9 right this minute), anyone could invite them to chat. We would have to get in the habit of checking, but HECK! we're trainable, aren't we?

[Jean]

That sounds like a good idea to me... consider it done. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

[Penny's Aunt]

Jean, is there any way to make the Chat Open GLOW or blink or something when someone is there? Then, as people cruise down the board, they can see at a glance that someone is in the Chat Room. Is this possible?

[Jean]

I haven't heard of anything like that, Penny's Aunt, but if I do you can be sure I'll implement it here. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

For now though, why don't we just set a day and time and go from there?

Ok dachsie lovers, let's talk <FONT COLOR="red"><FONT size="4">DACHSIE</FONT s></FONT c>... when would be the <u>most</u> convenient time/day for you to chat? C'mon, now, Penny's Aunt wants to chat and I'm sure others do, too!

[Augie Dog]

Chats would be GREAT! <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm17.gif" border=0>

Any weeknight would be good with Augie and me. How about video too! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/blah.gif

I guess it would have to be late on eastern time 9 - 10 PM so the west coast gang can join in and chat with us east coasters.

[Penny's Aunt]

How about multiple nights at the same time? Then if you miss one day, you can join when you are home? Like having the chat line open 10 EST, 9 CST, 8 RMST, & 7 PST? We could all look in any weeknight.

The first one there could just post "Is anyone here?", & others could leap in.

[Augie Dog]

that could work.

will the chat program allow more than two people and will the "hear me" work for everyone?

[Penny's Aunt]

The other chat rooms I have seen will accept virtually any number of people.

You would need speakers for the HearMe, but if there were too many people, it might get kind of garbled, like a conference call.

We'll just have to try it to see.

[Roxane]

Any other ham radio operators on this board? It has been so long since I was actively involved I've forgotten some of the terminology and procedure. Hubby is out of town for a couple of days or I would get him to jog my memory.
Anyway, we would get together on an appointed night(s) at a scheduled time. We took turns being the "moderator" for each session. The moderator would sign in, asking who was "online" and one by one each would answer. The moderator would make a note, at his home station, of all who were participating. It was his/her job to make sure everyone had the chance to chat.
The moderator would either pose a topic for the evening or ask if anyone had a topic. Every 15 minutes or so the moderator would ask if anyone else had joined the group. Usually, whoever was speaking would address another member for a reply or the moderator might ask a specific person. If, while someone was talking, you wanted to respond you would click your mike button twice.
Surprisingly, traffic control was orderly, everyone got his/her 2cents worth. Lots of fun, some serious stuff, good way to spend an off evening.
The end time was usually preset. Although you could excuse yourself at any time during the evening.The moderator would give a warning about 5 minutes before the sign off. Anyone wanting to continue a discussion would go to another frequency and have a private chat.
The biggest problem was getting people to commit to being moderator, a couple of weeks in advance.
That's kinda the bare bones of what we did. Maybe some of this might be helpful for our purposes.
It would be less complicated because we would not have to be involved with rules and regs of the FCC.
I am assuming you mean audio chat, right?
Roxane

[Roxane]

P.S. Jean, is there a way to survey the members regarding how many might acually be interested in "chatting"?
Roxane

[Jean]

Sure... that could be our next poll! <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm1.gif" border=0>

[twix0699]

I am kinda new to this board and have never been in a chat room... How can I chat? What do I have to do? And where are these polls?
(Sorry but I am not the most computer literate person, I am trying to learn as I go.)
Teresa

[Jean]

Hi Teresa,

If you scroll down the main page you should see the "Polls" section. It's between the "Chat Forum" and "Statistics".

As for chatting, I haven't used this particular chat program but it's not supposed to be difficult. If you have a microphone you can actually *talk* to other people. If you don't have a microphone you can type. Basically you just click on the "Chat Open" link, make sure you're connected to the chat server. It connects automatically for me but if you're not sure you're connected, click the "Options" button. (If you are connected it will say, "Turn Off Voice Creator"). If there is anyone else in the chat room you will see them listed on the left side. To "talk" click and hold the "Talk" button or press and hold down the F9 key. To type, there is a section under the box on the right which says "Type here to chat"... that's just what you do. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif There is an FAQ for this chat program which may be able to explain better than I. The URL is http://vp.hearme.com/products/vp/evp_help.html?version=1,2,1,8a

I hope this helps.

Jean