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Operating a Friend's Radio

If you have been invited to operate a friend's radio, you need to:

  1. Have the client running on your LAN. This can be on the same computer as the SDR, or any other PC on the same LAN as your SDR. If you have not yet installed the client and paired it with your account, see Install the Client Software.

  2. Operate.

    On the Operating page, in the Stations tab, you will see an indicator for the status of the radio.

    iShareRadio books time on the radio in 15-minute blocks around the clock. The blocks are 0 to 15, 15 to 30, 30 to 45, and 45 to 60.

    You can start operating in two ways:

    1. Instant connect. If you have not reserved the time and the indicator is Available, press Connect for an instant connection. You are then booked to operate for the 15-minute block you are currently in. On free offerings, auto-extend is enabled after you connect (see the green indicator). With auto-extend on, the Hub may add 15-minute blocks at each quarter-hour boundary, up to the extension and duration limits. This does not protect you if someone else scheduled the next block on the calendar—that booking can end your session at the boundary. To protect a longer window, schedule time first.

      Full behaviour: Auto-extend.

    2. Reserve time. To reserve time on the radio up to the maximum allowed by the Offering, go to the scheduling calendar and select a block of time.

      When it is time to operate, the indicator changes to Reserved and Connect is enabled. Press Connect and wait for Disconnect to become enabled. Do not press Disconnect until you are done operating. If the client is running and visible in a GUI, you will see green indicators for connected. You can also go to Settings and press + on the client to see the indicators.

  3. End operating. When you have finished operating and still have time left, press Disconnect, then press the small X to the right of that button to cancel your current booking. This clears your reservation and lets others use the radio. Otherwise your booking or auto-extend session will continue to block other users. See Auto-extend for when extensions stop and how to turn auto-extend off.