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{{DeadLink}}
[[Category:Metagame Tools]]
[[Image:Kyocera-iridium-phone.jpg|right|thumb|Not an actual DSS Satellite Phone.]]
[[Image:Kyocera-iridium-phone.jpg|right|thumb|Not an actual DSS Satellite Phone.]]
The DSS Satellite Phone is an add-on to Urban Dead that enables players to exchange messages right from the game screen. This is not unlike the in-game mobile phone, with a few differences:
'''TinyURL for this page:''' http://tinyurl.com/dssphone
 
The [[DSS Satellite Phone]] is an extension to Urban Dead that provides in-game messaging, much like the regular mobile phone, but with a twist. Or five:
 
* It doesn't cost any AP to send messages.
* It stores your old messages until you choose to delete them.
* It works even if the phone mast is down.
* It works even if you're dead or zombified.
* It doesn't add to your encumbrance.
 
The DSS Satellite Phone is available in two variants: as a Greasemonkey script which requires Firefox to run, and as a Google Chrome extension.
 
=Quick Start=
 
* Get [http://dssrzs.org/gm/dss_satellite_phone_latest.user.js the Greasemonkey script for Firefox] or [https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/dss-satellite-phone/hoohjbdcflcignoecphjngnamgfgplhb the Google Chrome extension].
* Get a number and PIN by visiting [http://sp.dssrzs.org/registry the number registry], and write those down somewhere you won't lose them.
* Enter your number and PIN into the phone's activation screen.


* It doesn't cost AP to send messages.
See the [[#User Guide|User Guide]] below for all the details. Have fun.
* It works regardless of whether a suburb's phone mast is powered.
* It keeps and shows old messages.
* It works for zombies and even proper corpses.


The DSS Satellite Phone is implemented as a Greasemonkey script. It integrates itself to the game interface seamlessly.
 
__TOC__


=Status=
=Status=


The DSS Satellite Phone is currently under development. The current version is '''BETA 8''', and is already usable. The first stable release is planned for September.
The DSS Satellite Phone is available to the public now. The current version is '''5'''.


'''BETA TESTERS REQUIRED.''' Please contact the developer in [[User talk:Hashk]] if you'd be willing to help. This would involve installing and using the software for a couple weeks, reporting anything that breaks. You do need to ask for test phone numbers and PINs, because those are not yet available to the public.
===New features in V5.2 (Chrome only)===
* Updated crusty code to modern Chrome.
* Added to the Chrome Store.


==Current Limitations==
===New features in V5===


* It has only been tested in Firefox 3, on Linux and Windows.
* The script now autoupdates itself.
* Notification "your satellite phone beeped" is highly annoying (pop-up dialogue, ugh).
* The service URL had to change. Upgrading to this version is required to resume using your phone again (sorry for the bother).
* It hasn't been tested to play nice with other scripts/extensions (now tested UDToolbar OK, see workaround for UDICOS).
 
* Missing function "delete message from inbox."
===New features in V4===
* Missing function "add message sender to contacts."
 
* Missing function "show older messages."
* Fixed to work in Firefox 15.
* There's no way for the general publ ic to sign up for a service plan (this is deliberate, while the software is being tested).
 
* Error handling is slightly broken.
===New features in V3===
* No load tests have been performed.
 
* Fixed to work after the [[News#16th_August|16th August 2010 game update.]]
 
===New features in V2===
 
* Saving copies of sent messages.
* Sending messages to multiple recipients.
* Improved user interface for selecting recipients.
* A way to deactivate the phone without having to uninstall the script.
* Security improvements.
* Available for Google Chrome.
 
===Current Limitations===
 
* This documentation is slightly out of date.
* There's no plausible justification for zombies being able to send and receive text messages with a phone.
* There's no plausible justification for zombies being able to send and receive text messages with a phone.
* There's no plausible justification for corpses being able to communicate at all. I mean, really.
* There's no plausible justification for corpses being able to communicate at all. I mean, really.


=User Guide=
=User Guide=
{|
|[[Image:600px-Nuvola_apps_important.svg.png|80px]]
|WARNING: To avoid injury, read all operating instructions and safety information in this guide before using your DSS Satellite Phone.
|}


==Getting Started==
==Getting Started==
Line 42: Line 70:
To use your DSS Satellite Phone, you need:
To use your DSS Satellite Phone, you need:


* A service plan with a satellite phone carrier.
* An Internet connection.
* Either of:
** [http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/ Firefox] 3.0 and [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/748 Greasemonkey] 1.0, or later versions, or
** [http://www.google.com/chrome Google Chrome] 22 or later.
* At least one Urban Dead account.
* At least one Urban Dead account.
* Firefox 3.0 or later.
* A service plan with a satellite phone carrier (see below).
* Greasemonkey 0.8 or later.
* An Internet connection.


It is also highly recommended to have at least one friend. As in: someone willing to talk to you.
It is also highly recommended to have at least one friend. As in: someone willing to talk to you.


===Signing Up for a Service Plan===
===Software Installation===


[[Image:DSSDiamondLogoClear.png|thumb|right|220px|The guys you will learn to hate when you lose signal.]]
====Firefox====
Before you can use any of your DSS Satellite Phone's features, you must sign up for a service plan with a satellite phone carrier. The only carrier available is [[DSS]]. Please sign up in the following page:


* ''(link disabled while in beta cycle)''
Make sure that Greasemonkey is already installed and enabled, then click on the following link and follow the instructions on screen. There is no need to restart your browser.


You will be assigned a phone number and a PIN. Keep a record of both. You will need these to activate your DSS Satellite Phone after you install it, and again if you ever reinstall, or switch to a different computer.
* [http://dssrzs.org/gm/dss_satellite_phone_latest.user.js The DSS Satellite Phone Greasemonkey Script]


You may sign up again as many times as you need. You can use a different number for each of your characters, or you may share a single number amongst any or all of them.
====Google Chrome====


A service plan is not linked to any character or user. You don't need to provide any information, like UDIDs or an email address. This in fact is why you should make a record of your PINs: they are the only association between you and your phone numbers.
Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store.


===Software Installation===
* [https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/dss-satellite-phone/hoohjbdcflcignoecphjngnamgfgplhb The DSS Satellite Phone Google Chrome Extension]
 
 
===Signing Up For A Service Plan===
 
Before you can use any of your DSS Satellite Phone's features, you will need a phone number and a PIN to ''activate'' your phone. You may obtain both from here:
 
* [http://sp.dssrzs.org/registry The DSS Satellite Phone Number Registry]


To install the DSS Satellite Phone, make sure that you are running Firefox, and that Greasemonkey is already installed and enabled. Then click on the following link:
{| style="margin: 2em 4em 2em 4em; border: solid medium red"
|[[Image:600px-Nuvola_apps_important.svg.png|80px]]
|'''IMPORTANT: Write down your phone number and PIN somewhere you won't lose them.''' You will need both to activate your phone after you install the software, and you will need them again if you ever reinstall, or switch to a different computer.
|}


* [http://dssrzs.org/gm/dss_satellite_phone.user.js Install DSS Satellite Phone BETA 7]
You may get as many numbers as you need. You can use a different number for each of your characters, or you may share a single number amongst any or all of them.


Then just follow the instructions on screen. There is no need to restart your browser.
A phone number is not linked to any character or user. You don't need to provide any information, like UDIDs or an email address. This in fact is why you should make a record of your PINs: they are the only association between you and your phone numbers.


==Using your DSS Satellite Phone==
==Using Your DSS Satellite Phone==


===Opening The Phone===
===Opening The Phone===
Line 79: Line 117:
{|
{|
|[[Image:DSSPButtonAlive.png|thumb|260px|The phone in a survivor's inventory.]]
|[[Image:DSSPButtonAlive.png|thumb|260px|The phone in a survivor's inventory.]]
|[[Image:DSSPButtonZed.png|thumb|260px|Zombie-phone.]]
|[[Image:DSSPButtonZed.png|thumb|260px|Zombiephone.]]
|}
|}


When you click on ''satellite phone'', the phone's user interface will appear. There is a ''close'' button on the bottom right of the interface; clicking on it will hide it again.
When you click on ''satellite phone'', the phone's user interface will appear.


Note that opening and closing the DSS Satellite Phone, like all its other functions, do not cause a page reload. This means that you won't reach your [[hit limit]] texting people. This also means that, if a zombie starts gnawing on your neck while you are mucking about with the phone, you probably will be dead before you notice it.
Note that opening the phone, like all of its other functions, does not cause a page reload. This means that you won't reach your [[hit limit]] texting people. This also means that, if a zombie starts gnawing on your neck while you are mucking about with the phone, you probably will be dead before you notice it.


===Phone Activation===
===Phone Activation===


[[Image:DSSPZombiephoneActivation.png|thumb|right|A nasty zombie's phone, not yet activated.]]
[[Image:DSSPZombiephoneActivation.png|thumb|120px|right|A zombie's phone, not yet activated.]]
The first time you use your DSS Satellite Phone, it will show you the ''Activation Screen''. You must enter your assigned phone number and PIN in the fields, and click on ''Activate''. See [[#Signing Up for a Service Plan]] above.
The first time you use your phone, it will show you the ''Activation Screen''. You must enter your assigned phone number and PIN in the fields, and click on ''Activate''.


If you ever uninstall the phone, or Greasemonkey or Firefox, or if you switch to a different computer, you will see this screen again. Just use your previously assigned number and PIN; all your messages and contacts will be restored.
If you ever uninstall the phone, or your browser, or if you switch to a different computer, you will see this screen again. Just use your previously assigned number and PIN; all your messages and contacts will be restored.


Note that each one of your characters will need to activate their phone separately. You may use the same number and PIN for all of them, or request different numbers for each.
Note that each one of your characters will need to activate their phone separately. You may use the same number and PIN for all of them, or request different numbers for each.
===Reading Messages===
The phone's user interface should be fairly self-explanatory. This is the ''Messages Screen''.
{|
|[[Image:DSSPMessages.png|thumb|340px|The ''Messages Screen''.]]
|'''Legend'''
# The phone's information line, showing the software version and the character's phone number.
# The green light blinks when the phone is contacting the network.
# The screen-selection buttons, used to access other functionality of the phone.
# The ''Reload'' button fetches the five most recent messages without reloading the full page (doesn't count towards your [[hit limit]]).
# A new message from a contact. Dates are shown in your local time zone. Clicking on the sender's name will switch the phone to the ''Send Screen'', with the contact preselected, so you can type a reply.
# A button for deleting this message. Be careful: no confirmation is requested, and after deleting a message it is not possible to recover it.
# A new message from an unknown sender. Clicking on the sender's phone number will switch the phone to the ''Phonebook Screen'', with the number pre-filled, so you can type the sender's name and add them as a contact.
# An old (previously read) message. Note the darker background colour.
# The ''Get older messages'' button retrieves and shows 10 older messages. This button will not be present unless there are older messages to show.
# The ''Close'' button closes the phone. To open it again, click on the ''satellite phone'' button in your inventory.
|}
Note that the screen may not show exactly as imaged here, because of fonts and screen size. Here's an [http://udwitness.oddnetwork.org/reports/2009/08/udw-20090830-131955-fbff7dca651ee671b50d4d62bb382a8e-Julie_Marsh.html UDWitness] of this same screen.


===Adding Contacts===
===Adding Contacts===


TBD
Before you can send messages to someone, you must get their phone number add them to your phonebook. This is done from the ''Phonebook Screen''.
 
{|
|[[Image:DSSPPhonebook.png|thumb|340px|The ''Phonebook Screen''.]]
|'''Legend'''
# Your DSS Satellite Phone contacts.
# The obvious buttons.
|}
 
The names are up to you; they need not be actual character names. This is independent from your Urban Dead [[Contact List]].


===Sending Messages===
===Sending Messages===


TBD
You send messages from the ''Send Screen''.
 
{|
|[[Image:DSSPSend.png|thumb|340px|The ''Phonebook Screen''.]]
|'''Legend'''
# The message recipient; pull down the menu and pick one of your contacts.
# The message body; you type your message here.
# The ''Send'' button.
# The message length indicator.
|}
 
A dialogue window will pop up to notify you that the message was sent.


===Reading Messages===
The message length limit is 500 characters. The length indicator will turn red if you're over the limit. If you send an over-length message, it will be truncated.
 
===How To Deactivate Your DSS Satellite Phone===
 
You may want to deactivate your DSS Satellite Phone if you intend to change your phone number, or if you are using a shared computer. For this, click on the ''Info'' screen-selection button (not visible in the screenshots above, because those are old, terribly sorry about that), and click on ''Deactivate''.
 
Note that each of your characters will have to deactivate their phone separately.
 
This will not delete your messages, nor cancel your phone number; it only means that your browser will "forget your PIN". Should you desire to use this software again in the future, just activate your phone again, using the same numbers and PINs you were previously assigned. Your stored messages and phonebook will be restored from the server upon reactivation.
 
==Safety Information==
 
The DSS Satellite Phone is designed to prevent compromise of your Urban Dead account or otherwise private information. You should be aware specifically that:
 
* The phone '''DOES NOT''' store or transmit your in-game location, not even the city your character is in.
* The phone '''DOES''' store the [[UDID]] of your Urban Dead character in your browser's configuration in your local computer. It is never sent over the network.
* The phone '''DOES NOT''' store or transmit any other item of your Urban Dead account information.
* The phone '''DOES''' store and transmit your phone numbers and PINs.
 
===Public Terminals===
 
If you activate your phone from a public terminal, like a school computer, your phone number and PIN will remain stored in your browser's configuration in that computer. This does not grant access to your game accounts, but could potentially allow someone else to read your DSS Satellite Phone messages.
 
To prevent this, you should deactivate your phone, as described [[#How To Deactivate Your DSS Satellite Phone|above]].
 
===Giving People Your Phone Number===
 
Just as in real life, anyone who has your number can call you; there is no way to block incoming calls. If you start getting calls you don't want to get, you may have to change your number. Which is a bother.
 
So, just like in real life, be careful to whom you give out your number.
 
===Screen Captures===
 
You should be aware that [[UDWitness]], [[Iwitness]], and such, will capture the phone's screen if it's open. Thus, if you just received top-secret information from your friends, or if you have been cybering with that hottie you met in the mall, you may want to close the phone before taking the screenie.


TBD
On the plus side, the phone's buttons won't be operational, so the screenie will only disclose whatever was visible at the time. Which, of course, may be enough to sink you.


==Troubleshooting==
==Troubleshooting==
===The phone keeps telling me that I have new messages===
If the phone keeps raising a dialogue window telling you that "you have unread messages," but you see nothing new in the message list, click on ''Get older messages.'' You'll find the unread stuff there.
This is the phone working as designed, sort of, though it's indeed a bit mystifying. It happens only in an unusual situation, where, after someone sends you more than five messages in quick succession, you read them by clicking on ''Reload'', which gets only the latest five. It'll be worked around somehow in a future version.
===The green light just keeps blinking after I do something===
The green light indicates that the phone is trying to contact the network, as it were (it's making a request to the DSS server). It may happen that the Internet connection or the server is slow. Give it a little time. Worse comes to worst, reload the page and try again. This should not happen often.
You may want to open [http://dssrzs.org/map/ the DSS Map of Malton], just to see if your computer can connect to it. If you get an error, it may give you a clue of what's happening.


===The ''satellite phone'' button just reloads the page===
===The ''satellite phone'' button just reloads the page===


If you are using Midanian's most excellent [[User:Midianian/Userscripts#UDICOS|UD Item Combiner, Organizer and Sorter]], then make sure the DSS Satellite Phone executes ''after'' it.
If you are using Midanian's most excellent [[User:Midianian/Userscripts#UDICOS|UD Item Combiner, Organizer and Sorter]], or Haliphax's [http://sites.google.com/site/udscripts/udinventory UDInventory], or some other inventory organiser, then make sure the DSS Satellite Phone executes ''after'' it.
 
On Firefox, you may achieve this from Greasemonkey's ''Manage User Scripts'' page: sort the list by execution order, then right-click on ''DSS Satellite Phone'' and select ''Execute later'' until it sits below your inventory organiser.
 
On Google Chrome, just disable and re-enable the DSS Satellite Phone extension. This seems to change the order in which extensions are applied: most recently installed or enabled is applied last.
 
===There is no ''satellite phone'' button===
 
There is a known incompatibility with the script ''UrbanDead Item Organizer v0.4'', and previous versions of it, which causes the phone button to disappear. It is likely this issue won't ever be fixed, for technical reasons. There is an easy workaround, though: replace that script with [[User:Midianian/Userscripts#UDICOS|UDICOS]], which does exactly the same thing but is clean, actively maintained, and known to work along the phone (as long as the organiser executes ''before'' the phone; see previous note).
 
This may also be caused by Barrista; see below.
 
===The phone requires activation every time I restart my browser===
 
If you are using Aichon's interface-enhancing script "[[External Links#Collections|Barrista]]", and you are having this problem, or you don't see a ''satellite phone'' button at all, then make sure the DSS Satellite Phone executes ''before'' Barrista.
 
On Firefox, you may achieve this from Greasemonkey's ''Manage User Scripts'' page: sort the list by execution order, then right-click on ''DSS Satellite Phone'' and select ''Execute sooner'' until it sits above ''Barrista''.


You may achieve this from Greasemonkey's ''Manage User Scripts'' dialogue window: in the list of scripts on the left, drag ''DSS Satellite Phone'' down, until it sits below ''Urban Dead Item Combiner, Organizer and Sorter''.
On Google Chrome, just disable and re-enable Barrista. This seems to change the order in which extensions are applied: most recently installed or enabled is applied last.

Latest revision as of 15:12, 3 October 2024

Warning.jpg DSS Satellite Phone has suspicious links.
Some links may be defunct and/or hijacked by spam and phishing sites.
Please click on external links at your own risk.
Not an actual DSS Satellite Phone.

TinyURL for this page: http://tinyurl.com/dssphone

The DSS Satellite Phone is an extension to Urban Dead that provides in-game messaging, much like the regular mobile phone, but with a twist. Or five:

  • It doesn't cost any AP to send messages.
  • It stores your old messages until you choose to delete them.
  • It works even if the phone mast is down.
  • It works even if you're dead or zombified.
  • It doesn't add to your encumbrance.

The DSS Satellite Phone is available in two variants: as a Greasemonkey script which requires Firefox to run, and as a Google Chrome extension.

Quick Start

See the User Guide below for all the details. Have fun.


Status

The DSS Satellite Phone is available to the public now. The current version is 5.

New features in V5.2 (Chrome only)

  • Updated crusty code to modern Chrome.
  • Added to the Chrome Store.

New features in V5

  • The script now autoupdates itself.
  • The service URL had to change. Upgrading to this version is required to resume using your phone again (sorry for the bother).

New features in V4

  • Fixed to work in Firefox 15.

New features in V3

New features in V2

  • Saving copies of sent messages.
  • Sending messages to multiple recipients.
  • Improved user interface for selecting recipients.
  • A way to deactivate the phone without having to uninstall the script.
  • Security improvements.
  • Available for Google Chrome.

Current Limitations

  • This documentation is slightly out of date.
  • There's no plausible justification for zombies being able to send and receive text messages with a phone.
  • There's no plausible justification for corpses being able to communicate at all. I mean, really.

User Guide

Getting Started

What You Need

To use your DSS Satellite Phone, you need:

  • An Internet connection.
  • Either of:
  • At least one Urban Dead account.
  • A service plan with a satellite phone carrier (see below).

It is also highly recommended to have at least one friend. As in: someone willing to talk to you.

Software Installation

Firefox

Make sure that Greasemonkey is already installed and enabled, then click on the following link and follow the instructions on screen. There is no need to restart your browser.

Google Chrome

Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store.


Signing Up For A Service Plan

Before you can use any of your DSS Satellite Phone's features, you will need a phone number and a PIN to activate your phone. You may obtain both from here:

600px-Nuvola apps important.svg.png IMPORTANT: Write down your phone number and PIN somewhere you won't lose them. You will need both to activate your phone after you install the software, and you will need them again if you ever reinstall, or switch to a different computer.

You may get as many numbers as you need. You can use a different number for each of your characters, or you may share a single number amongst any or all of them.

A phone number is not linked to any character or user. You don't need to provide any information, like UDIDs or an email address. This in fact is why you should make a record of your PINs: they are the only association between you and your phone numbers.

Using Your DSS Satellite Phone

Opening The Phone

Log in to Urban Dead and look for the satellite phone button. If you are alive, then it should be in your inventory, usually right next to your mobile phone or radio, if you carry those. If you are dead or undead, the button will be near the end of the stuff in the main area of the game screen.

The phone in a survivor's inventory.
Zombiephone.

When you click on satellite phone, the phone's user interface will appear.

Note that opening the phone, like all of its other functions, does not cause a page reload. This means that you won't reach your hit limit texting people. This also means that, if a zombie starts gnawing on your neck while you are mucking about with the phone, you probably will be dead before you notice it.

Phone Activation

A zombie's phone, not yet activated.

The first time you use your phone, it will show you the Activation Screen. You must enter your assigned phone number and PIN in the fields, and click on Activate.

If you ever uninstall the phone, or your browser, or if you switch to a different computer, you will see this screen again. Just use your previously assigned number and PIN; all your messages and contacts will be restored.

Note that each one of your characters will need to activate their phone separately. You may use the same number and PIN for all of them, or request different numbers for each.

Reading Messages

The phone's user interface should be fairly self-explanatory. This is the Messages Screen.

The Messages Screen.
Legend
  1. The phone's information line, showing the software version and the character's phone number.
  2. The green light blinks when the phone is contacting the network.
  3. The screen-selection buttons, used to access other functionality of the phone.
  4. The Reload button fetches the five most recent messages without reloading the full page (doesn't count towards your hit limit).
  5. A new message from a contact. Dates are shown in your local time zone. Clicking on the sender's name will switch the phone to the Send Screen, with the contact preselected, so you can type a reply.
  6. A button for deleting this message. Be careful: no confirmation is requested, and after deleting a message it is not possible to recover it.
  7. A new message from an unknown sender. Clicking on the sender's phone number will switch the phone to the Phonebook Screen, with the number pre-filled, so you can type the sender's name and add them as a contact.
  8. An old (previously read) message. Note the darker background colour.
  9. The Get older messages button retrieves and shows 10 older messages. This button will not be present unless there are older messages to show.
  10. The Close button closes the phone. To open it again, click on the satellite phone button in your inventory.

Note that the screen may not show exactly as imaged here, because of fonts and screen size. Here's an UDWitness of this same screen.

Adding Contacts

Before you can send messages to someone, you must get their phone number add them to your phonebook. This is done from the Phonebook Screen.

The Phonebook Screen.
Legend
  1. Your DSS Satellite Phone contacts.
  2. The obvious buttons.

The names are up to you; they need not be actual character names. This is independent from your Urban Dead Contact List.

Sending Messages

You send messages from the Send Screen.

The Phonebook Screen.
Legend
  1. The message recipient; pull down the menu and pick one of your contacts.
  2. The message body; you type your message here.
  3. The Send button.
  4. The message length indicator.

A dialogue window will pop up to notify you that the message was sent.

The message length limit is 500 characters. The length indicator will turn red if you're over the limit. If you send an over-length message, it will be truncated.

How To Deactivate Your DSS Satellite Phone

You may want to deactivate your DSS Satellite Phone if you intend to change your phone number, or if you are using a shared computer. For this, click on the Info screen-selection button (not visible in the screenshots above, because those are old, terribly sorry about that), and click on Deactivate.

Note that each of your characters will have to deactivate their phone separately.

This will not delete your messages, nor cancel your phone number; it only means that your browser will "forget your PIN". Should you desire to use this software again in the future, just activate your phone again, using the same numbers and PINs you were previously assigned. Your stored messages and phonebook will be restored from the server upon reactivation.

Safety Information

The DSS Satellite Phone is designed to prevent compromise of your Urban Dead account or otherwise private information. You should be aware specifically that:

  • The phone DOES NOT store or transmit your in-game location, not even the city your character is in.
  • The phone DOES store the UDID of your Urban Dead character in your browser's configuration in your local computer. It is never sent over the network.
  • The phone DOES NOT store or transmit any other item of your Urban Dead account information.
  • The phone DOES store and transmit your phone numbers and PINs.

Public Terminals

If you activate your phone from a public terminal, like a school computer, your phone number and PIN will remain stored in your browser's configuration in that computer. This does not grant access to your game accounts, but could potentially allow someone else to read your DSS Satellite Phone messages.

To prevent this, you should deactivate your phone, as described above.

Giving People Your Phone Number

Just as in real life, anyone who has your number can call you; there is no way to block incoming calls. If you start getting calls you don't want to get, you may have to change your number. Which is a bother.

So, just like in real life, be careful to whom you give out your number.

Screen Captures

You should be aware that UDWitness, Iwitness, and such, will capture the phone's screen if it's open. Thus, if you just received top-secret information from your friends, or if you have been cybering with that hottie you met in the mall, you may want to close the phone before taking the screenie.

On the plus side, the phone's buttons won't be operational, so the screenie will only disclose whatever was visible at the time. Which, of course, may be enough to sink you.

Troubleshooting

The phone keeps telling me that I have new messages

If the phone keeps raising a dialogue window telling you that "you have unread messages," but you see nothing new in the message list, click on Get older messages. You'll find the unread stuff there.

This is the phone working as designed, sort of, though it's indeed a bit mystifying. It happens only in an unusual situation, where, after someone sends you more than five messages in quick succession, you read them by clicking on Reload, which gets only the latest five. It'll be worked around somehow in a future version.

The green light just keeps blinking after I do something

The green light indicates that the phone is trying to contact the network, as it were (it's making a request to the DSS server). It may happen that the Internet connection or the server is slow. Give it a little time. Worse comes to worst, reload the page and try again. This should not happen often.

You may want to open the DSS Map of Malton, just to see if your computer can connect to it. If you get an error, it may give you a clue of what's happening.

The satellite phone button just reloads the page

If you are using Midanian's most excellent UD Item Combiner, Organizer and Sorter, or Haliphax's UDInventory, or some other inventory organiser, then make sure the DSS Satellite Phone executes after it.

On Firefox, you may achieve this from Greasemonkey's Manage User Scripts page: sort the list by execution order, then right-click on DSS Satellite Phone and select Execute later until it sits below your inventory organiser.

On Google Chrome, just disable and re-enable the DSS Satellite Phone extension. This seems to change the order in which extensions are applied: most recently installed or enabled is applied last.

There is no satellite phone button

There is a known incompatibility with the script UrbanDead Item Organizer v0.4, and previous versions of it, which causes the phone button to disappear. It is likely this issue won't ever be fixed, for technical reasons. There is an easy workaround, though: replace that script with UDICOS, which does exactly the same thing but is clean, actively maintained, and known to work along the phone (as long as the organiser executes before the phone; see previous note).

This may also be caused by Barrista; see below.

The phone requires activation every time I restart my browser

If you are using Aichon's interface-enhancing script "Barrista", and you are having this problem, or you don't see a satellite phone button at all, then make sure the DSS Satellite Phone executes before Barrista.

On Firefox, you may achieve this from Greasemonkey's Manage User Scripts page: sort the list by execution order, then right-click on DSS Satellite Phone and select Execute sooner until it sits above Barrista.

On Google Chrome, just disable and re-enable Barrista. This seems to change the order in which extensions are applied: most recently installed or enabled is applied last.