Given the unknown future of the iChat facility at VKLogger ( see
https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/thread-712.html for comments) , I installed Chat room software on the AHRDF.NET server a few weeks ago.
https://www.ahrdf.net/chat/
A few people have visited the chat rooms and posted an odd comment here and there but one shortcoming was knowing how old a message really was - only the time, originator and message content was displayed as original / installed.
The PHP code was altered today so that it now shows the abbreviated date too :
25Feb 17:33:17 VK4ADC Message content.........
It takes up a few characters on the left of each line but makes the chat facility somewhat more useful.
Message history is about 3 weeks. Older messages are lost.
Try it, ignore it, love it, hate it, play on it : it's your choice.
I am still undecided as to whether the AHRDF Chat function will be retained permanently.
Doug, admin
A VK5 uni lecturer talked with me at Wyong on Sunday, he is in contact with WIA on software (website) issues.
I mentioned the VKLOGGER issue. Groups like this one don't always reach the right people, someone both competent
and available. In the VHF lecture Roger Harrison mentioned a website questionnaire on Contesting, asking ideas.
Watch this space.
( From: WIA NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING Mar 10 2019 )
Doug VK4ADC sent us a reminder that according to the VKLogger Forum under the topic "Chat and Logger display / END OF LIFE" dated 16th December 2018, there are only a few weeks left before the stated cessation date of 25th March 2019.
VKLogger Forum itself is continuing after that date.
Development of replacement Chat and Spotting code is reported to be in process but may, or may not, be ready by the 25th March. Generic chatrooms for general discussion, plus VHF and above, have been created as an add-on to the Australian Ham Radio Discussion Forum on the AHRDF.NET web site as an alternative chat facility.
These chatrooms do not have the Spots function of VKLogger but can be used by amateurs for coordination and general discussion.
Registration for the Chat facility is quick and easy and access is via your browser at ahrdf.net/chat That web address again is A H R D F dot NET slash CHAT while the related Forum is at A H R D F dot NET Amateur radio operators worldwide are invited to join and use either facility.
I have installed an alternative chat package ( Ajax Chat ) on the webserver for evaluation.
At the moment it is at
https://www.ahrdf.net/ajchat/ but it will probably be moved to replace the earlier Blab! AX chat at
https://www.ahrdf.net/chat/ . Both chats are
currently active.
You will need to create a login for Ajax Chat if you wish to write messages : currently at
https://www.ahrdf.net/ajchat/chat_register.php where the callsign is always upper case.
No /p or /2 or anything else, just the basic callsign.
If you don't have a valid callsign then don't register, it will just be removed.
If you wish to have read-only access then put your
callsign in the Callsign box at the login at
https://www.ahrdf.net/ajchat/ and press the Login button and this will give you Guest access.
There are also weblinks to the registration page and this forum just below the Login button.
There are only 5 rooms available - or channels as they are called in this package - but initial access is always to the Entry room.
Have a try & make your comments on the chat or to this post.
Doug, admin
Do you think you could make an option to show both 6 & 2m chats at same time?
List available channels function on RHS now gives..
Available channels: Entry, 6M+2M_chat, 70cM+Microwave_Chat, Digital_Chat, General
The entry in bold type is the current room/channel.
Still some functions to be completely checked, for instance originally there was no user registration screen and the admin had to do that manually. The PHP code for user registration seems ok here but is subject to more testing to confirm no bugs.
When i tried to make a new account on the new page thingy my password was in plain readable text?
Like the word lamingtons for example could actually read it in plain text
using latest chrome
so i backed out
tnx
e&oe vk6ro
Is this the correct page for new chat thingy?
https://www.ahrdf.net/ajchat/
tnx
(29-03-2019, 10:28 PM)VK6RO Wrote: [ -> ]When i tried to make a new account on the new page thingy my password was in plain readable text?
Like the word lamingtons for example could actually read it in plain text
using latest chrome
so i backed out
No big deal. It's a chat site, not a bank.
If memory serves, Doug just needs to change the 'type' for the input field from 'text' to 'password'.
Iain
The password field is there to stop others from signing in under a registered callsign to enter a chat session and impersonate someone else. Nothing more, nothing less. Please note that I defined a "registered callsign" on purpose.
Note that you weren't asked enter the password twice because you can actually read on screen (and hopefully remember) what you typed as a password. I haven't heard a convincing reason to change to a password input mode field even though it would be 30 seconds work.
The storage of the username and password data is in a secure part of the webserver so no one but me can access it. Only 3 items of info are stored : callsign / username, password and registration IP address. That's it. Not even a date or time marker of when you register.
There shouldn't be anything typed in a chat session that can't be viewed by a limited public (ie other AR operators) so super high security is not really mandatory and no one else can see what you type as a password unless they are looking over your shoulder.
There is no password reset facility except manually by me - hence the simplicity.
The chat software in an entirely different package from the forum and just runs in different folders on the same web server - no other interaction is involved.
OK ?
Doug, admin
No problem here Doug. I was just remarking on VK6ROs comment about not wanting to proceed because the password was visible. As you point out, this just a chat site so super security isn't required.
I have removed the first chat code in favour of the ajax chat based chatroom software.
If you already have a link / favourite / bookmark to
either chat software, both will result in you finding the same chat package.
Unfortunately, you will need to create a chat login if you haven't already done so and wish to use the facility.
If you have been following the thread
"VKLogger - End of Life - 25 March 2019",
https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.p...38#pid3338 at post #18 there you will see an extract from AR stating that there is a better VKLogger spotting and chat option coming.
How will that affect
this chat ?
Not at all. It will continue to be available into the foreseeable future for amateurs to use. The software package may change over time but a chat option should continue to be available going forward.
The domain AHRDF.NET is registered until late 2022 and the hosting currently provided by Overflow Internet Hosting (
https://www.oih.com.au ) - with alternative hosting available as necessary. That is a fairly definite future.
And.. I don't do dummyspits either.
Doug, maybe put a link on the forum front page to make it easy for people to find.
Done. There are now TWO links on the entry / index page and most other pages.
One at the top between Search and Help, one at the bottom between Lite (Archive) Mode and Mark All Forums Read.
To make them easier to find, they are in Red and Bold font.
[
attachment=307]
[
attachment=308]
Either link opens up into a new tab in your browser.
If the user doesn't yet have a login for the chat then they need to use the Registration Page link on the newly opened tab.
You must use your callsign as the user name but your password
can be different from the forum password - the two are separate software entities on the same web server hence needing separate logins.
Hope that helps..
There has been an interesting "revelation" about the chat option on this web site, AHRDF Chat, on the VKLogger Forum under the post at http://www.vklogger.com/forum/viewtopic....45&t=13912
This extract refers :
And the icing on the cake, just to undermine the real work being done behind the scenes, VK4A?C comes to some misguided rescue with yet another chat-only site that has only served to fragment an already dwindling community. Great work Doug. Have you never heard of KST chat which was being used in the interim, or was that old urge to re-invent the wheel and interfere so uncontrollable?
Well at the time I set up the chat software there was talk - or more precisely rumour - about a replacement for the Chat (and Spot) for the to-be-disappearing VKLogger Chat. The Chat option was set up here so that when VKLogger Chat shut down, there was at least an Australian-based chat option available. And it did shut down. Not that many logged into the AHRDF Chat. Fragmenting the users - it didn't happen - but at least they had a CHOICE as to where to go when VKLogger closed..
Now that we have a great facility that will move to https://vkspotter.com as soon as it is out of BETA, which shouldn't be long now, which is certainly very slick in comparison to the old VKLogger. The Chat option is simply great and is a testament to the work by (mainly) VK2AZ and VK2XAX.
So that begs the question - do I leave the chat software available for those who want a 'quiet' chat during experimentation so as not to either annoy - or be annoyed by - other people using the chat on VKSpotter.
My response at this time is : IT STAYS - for now...
If there are other Spot/Chat options still being developed (as noted elsewhere in the referenced post) when faced with VKSpotter's presence, well good luck there.
Doug VK4ADC ( - not VK4A?C )
PS as for the other comments like interfere and uncontrollable - well I don't do dummyspits.. Glass houses, Adam.
Finally, at least I provided an alternative facility for when you removed yours. Maybe you could have (/should have) done an alternative in lieu !
Fire protective suit now set to maximum !