When you are sending test messages put the text "D LLSCLUB TEST" at the start and the time sent in the message
Any feedback on the instructions here and on the system itself please send to website@llsclub.org.uk

Last Live Message Sent :-


The following details were based on an idea 'borrowed' from Tim Pentreath of Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club and also with his very freely given help (so thanks Tim) - see http://flyaszent.word....

On the day group communications

Once pilots have left the house on the way to the hill it's difficult to arrange where and when to meet up, everyone is coming from different locations, at different times and when the first pilot gets to a hill they may discover the weather is not as forecast.

The idea is that everyone that's left the house trying to fly on a given day can communicate with everyone else that's out through one text number. Anyone subscribed on the day will then receive the message - it's effectively the equivalent of the google group but done over the phone using texts and reserved for on the day flying communications. It lets everyone that's interested know what's happening and keeps them right up to date with events.

So the following are acceptable uses of the system:-

• Saying where you are heading and making car sharing arrangements on the way
  
• On the day weather and flying conditions discussions, especially from the hill
  
• Possible used as a check in / check out safety system - if you do send a 'check in' message you must send a 'check out' message
  
• Sending of emergency messages - please put 'SOS' at the start of the message and never send a test emergency message. Note there is no guarantee this will be picked up.
  
• Test messages - if testing put 'D LLSCLUB TEST' at start of message and please limit these - best done on non-flying days
  

Since it generates a lot of text messages please avoid the following - these belong in the google groups or elsewhere:-

• Off topic discussion - any chat not about today's flying
  
• Any message not giving useful information to other pilot's flying on the day
  

The mechanism behind the scenes to enable the group text system is the Twitter website. Twitter is generally used to send up to 140 character messages and people can 'follow' other people messages and in turn when they send a message their 'followers' receive a copy. For our purposes a special llsclub account has set up that can both send and receive messages from anyone subscribed. As Twitter has an optional phone text feed anyone can set themselves up to send and receive messages on the move.

In general receiving text messages in the UK is free and Twitter does not charge for sending to their number - though you need to confirm this with your phone provider.

Setup

To use the system there are a few simple one off set up steps:-

• Create a new account at Twitter.com . Ideally use a username that makes you identifiable as it will appear at the start of your text messages.
  
• Register your phone number with the account
  
• The site will tell you what the phone number to text is depending on your telephone provider - should be 86444 (Vodafone, Orange, 3 and O2 customers) or +44 7624 800379 if you’re not on those networks
  
• Add the Twitter text number to your phone's address book
  
• Set your account to 'Follow' the account @llsclub, you do this by going to www.twitter.com/llsclub then clicking the Follow button.
  
• When you've clicked the Follow button a tiny grey button showing a mobile phone inside a circle appears to the right of the green “Following” button – clicking on it means that messages via the group account will be relayed to your phone as SMS messages.
  
  
• You then need to wait for the @llsclub account to follow you - Email website@llsclub.org.uk to ask for this to be done. This may take a day or so.
  

You should now be configured to send and receive texts from the group.

On the day

To send a group text you need to send to the number given by Twitter a text message of the form:-

"D LLSCLUB Heading to Tinto N - can see 3 wings in the air 10:35"
or
"D LLSCLUB TEST Just checking this works 10:35"

everyone currently subscribed on the group should receive this text (so bear that in mind when you send it!) Note that there is a time delay from someone sending the message to the group receiving it. Initial testing suggests this is normally between 5 and 10 minutes but it can vary - so it's a good idea to add the time sent to the message so if there is a significant delay this can be shown.

You don't need to do anything to receive the group message it will come to your phone. For the above messages everyone would see a message like:-

"llsclub: via @pandelus:Heading to Tinto N - can see 3 wings in the air 10:35"
or
"llsclub: via @pandelus:Just checking this works 10:35"

Note in addition to the message it will tell you who sent it to the text group.

Stopping the texts

If you aren't flying the next day and want to stop receiving the texts, text "OFF" to the number, when you want to start receiving them again text "ON".

You can also read all the messages if you have web access by clicking on the "t" (Twitter) link in the follow us section of the main page.

In addition to using text to send and receive to the group you can do it from any smart phone using the appropriate Twitter app with a data signal - (though note you are more likely to have a basic phone reception on the hill than a data reception). Simply send a direct message to the LLSCLUB account and follow this account to receive.

Current Status