Author Topic: POLL: To chat, or not to chat? Chat board may go away during software upgrade (Read 18987 times)

Mr. Bill · « **on:** April 25, 2015, 01:28:33 PM »

I've been working on our long-overdue forum software upgrade.

The bad news is, some forum add-ons have been abandoned by their authors, and are no longer compatible with the current version of the forum software. Our chat area is one example.

There are one or two hardcore hackers in Germany trying to keep the project alive. I might be willing to risk installing their software here, but I'm a bit leery of (a) breaking the forum and (b) doing a ton of work when I see very few people using chat here. So I need some feedback.

Please vote in the poll, and feel free to add comments below.

The second choice, "I'd be satisfied with a separate group chat for TSPers", is vague because I haven't reasearched what's available. But I'm talking about an entirely separate group text chat service that would require separate registration. If you are familiar with an appropriate service, please speak up and educate me.

Thanks for your input!

amatwo-er · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2015, 01:39:36 PM »

I'm new to this forum in general, so take my, "I never use chat" with a grain of salt.

The service I prefer to use to chat in real time is IRC. I would be glad to frequent a TSP room on freenode, or I would strongly encourage consideration of Zeronode instead. Zeronode is maintained by some folks with varying degrees of ties to The No Agenda Show and stream afaik, but is not limited to No Agenda related groups, and in my experience Zeronode allows for a more absolute degree of free speech.

There's apprx. two cents for ye. Godspeed and Thank you for your courage.

archer · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2015, 01:49:59 PM »

Hate to admit, but I've not used chat for a long time.

David in MN · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2015, 01:59:58 PM »

I've used it a bit but wouldn't cry to see it go.

Carl · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2015, 02:12:01 PM »

While I have used chat with a few others on Sunday antenna test sessions and get togethers which are fun,
it is not of major importance as my EchoLink node will handle a dozen connects BUT many chat members were NOT
Hams and this would leave them out .

chad · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2015, 02:34:05 PM »

I just started using it on Sundays also for the antenna tests.

I guess Carl, we could open up a tread on the ham board and communicate that way? It'd be a little slower but doable.

WWCD......?

Carl · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2015, 02:57:36 PM »

Quote from: chad on April 25, 2015, 02:34:05 PM

I just started using it on Sundays also for the antenna tests.

I guess Carl, we could open up a tread on the ham board and communicate that way? It'd be a little slower but doable.

WWCD......?

We might stumble...but there are many ways to skin a cougar or a cat ..the separate chat room would still work for us...

Mr. Bill · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2015, 03:44:32 PM »

Quote from: amatwo-er on April 25, 2015, 01:39:36 PM

The service I prefer to use to chat in real time is IRC.

There's an IRC add-on aavailable, last updated 3 years ago. It's simple enough that I might be able to get it to work with the current software.

Years ago, the mods/admins used Skype text chat. That worked fairly well for a small group.

theBINKYhunter · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2015, 04:33:15 PM »

The only times I use chat are when I accidentally click that instead of 'replies'. I think this is fairly fast moving forum (compared to others I'm involved with) and that the chat isn't really necessary.

TexDaddy · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2015, 04:41:50 PM »

I never use chat and it appears it is only occasionally used, from what I see while I am on the forum.

Are there logs to check to see how often and how much it is used?

keebler · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2015, 05:34:20 PM »

I've gone there many times no one there--I would use it if I knew there was someone I wanted to chat with "say hello, how's your Day. etc"
keeb.

Alan Georges · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2015, 06:22:18 PM »

I'll pretty much echo what Carl said: we use chat occasionally to coordinate ham sessions, but there are other ways to get the job done. It sounds like the forum chat is turning into a pain, so it's probably time we moved on to those other ways.

It has been pretty nice having it integrated into the forum though. If it was easy to keep, ... but it doesn't sound like it'll be easy to keep.

flippydidit · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2015, 07:14:07 PM »

We have chat now? Awesome!

SomeOlddMan · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2015, 07:46:32 PM »

Know its there... but never had a pressing need for it.

For those who do, setting it up as a separate service might be inconvenient, but it can still be hyperlinked from the forum.

Nicodemus · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2015, 06:15:17 AM »

I used to use the chat a lot, but it's become less and less important to me as time has gone by and my business has gotten busier.

RitaRose1945 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 26, 2015, 12:28:28 PM »

Personally, I've never used it even once, and I've been here since 2012. It's not just here, though. I don't use them on other forums either.

Carl · « **Reply #16 on:** April 26, 2015, 01:06:40 PM »

The separate group chat option is a good option

bsutter · « **Reply #17 on:** April 30, 2015, 10:06:20 AM »

Quote from: Nicodemus on April 26, 2015, 06:15:17 AM

I used to use the chat a lot, but it's become less and less important to me as time has gone by and my business has gotten busier.

I agree with Nicodemus.
I also used chat frequently years ago, I think chat went downhill when the Zelo channel started breathing.

Zef_66 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 30, 2015, 10:13:47 AM »

If going the separate chat group, why not just link to the TSP zello page? I think they also use a txt based chat program. The name escapes me now. But these things are already setup, running, and moderated for TSP users. Just start utilizing them.

Carl · « **Reply #19 on:** April 30, 2015, 10:35:52 AM »

Quote from: Zef_66 on April 30, 2015, 10:13:47 AM

If going the separate chat group, why not just link to the TSP zello page? I think they also use a txt based chat program. The name escapes me now. But these things are already setup, running, and moderated for TSP users. Just start utilizing them.

There's always room for zello,I've heard that before...

nkawtg · « **Reply #20 on:** April 30, 2015, 10:47:25 AM »

It's not that important to me, for those dedicated chatters, there is always email or twitter.

Bradbn4 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 21, 2015, 07:51:37 AM »

I use to use the chat feature a bit, enjoyed talking to folks in an informal forum.

It would be nice to keep the feature; and I could see it be useful if tied into a podcast where an "expert" could be on hand
to talk about their subject of expertise.

Theswerd · « **Reply #22 on:** May 21, 2015, 09:19:59 AM »

I have enjoyed the chat room when people are in there, but the nature of my work sometimes has me just lurking. And then if no one is in there... why enter?

archer · « **Reply #23 on:** May 21, 2015, 09:27:45 AM »

we could do some sort of skype/yahoo/gtalk channel for this.

theBINKYhunter · « **Reply #24 on:** May 21, 2015, 01:24:16 PM »

I would be all for a skype type group. I am on that most of the time since it's running in the background at work.

archer · « **Reply #25 on:** May 21, 2015, 01:33:27 PM »

I could also setup a jabber server on the tsp server. hmm..

Carl · « **Reply #26 on:** May 21, 2015, 02:39:43 PM »

Quote from: Archer on May 21, 2015, 01:33:27 PM

I could also setup a jabber server on the tsp server. hmm..

I don't know how that works ,but I didn't chat before I came to TSP either.

archer · « **Reply #27 on:** May 21, 2015, 02:45:37 PM »

Quote from: Carl on May 21, 2015, 02:39:43 PM

I don't know how that works ,but I didn't chat before I came to TSP either.

jabber is an open protocol for instant message clients.
i could setup a jabber server on the tsp server, then people can use instant messenger clients like adium (mac), pidgin (linux/windows). we could also add encryption to the chat messages.

News:

Poll

What do you think about TSP Forum chat?

Author Topic: POLL: To chat, or not to chat? Chat board may go away during software upgrade (Read 18987 times)

nkawtg