Help to get the most out of IP Relay!

The Number Area

Type the number you wish to call in this field, and press enter or click on the "Connect" button to initiate your call.

Instructions to CA check box

To provide special instructions before your call is placed:

  • Click the "Instructions to CA" checkbox and in the space provided type your call instructions
  • Enter the number to call in the "Number" field and click on "Connect"
  • When the Communication Assistant comes on the line, he will see your instructions and the number you want to call

The Connect Button

Clicking on this button will begin your call through AT&T Internet Relay Services. This will connect you to one of our CAs (Communication Assistants). Your call will be dialed for immediate connection to your party.

The Clear Button

Clicking on this button will clear the conversation window, the "Number" field, and the composition window (if split screen is selected).

The Print / Save Button

Once your conversation is in progress, use the "Print / Save" button to create a new browser window containing your conversation up to that point. (You must have all pop-up blockers turned off for this feature to work.) Once the new browser window is open, you may print your conversation using the Print menu selection of your browser, or save your conversation using the "Save As..." menu selection of your browser. Note that when using Internet Explorer to save your conversation you should select the "Web Page, HTML Only (*.htm,*.html)" option in the "Save as type:" field to ensure your conversation is saved properly. Note also that Netscape 6 does not save files properly in this manner - you may need to select your conversation from the new browser window, copy it to the clipboard, open Notepad, paste from the clipboard, and then save the file as text.

The Split Screen Checkbox

If this checkbox is selected, an additional composition window and send button will appear at the bottom of the conversation window. During a call, you can use the composition window to compose your next sentence, which is then sent when you press enter or click on the "Send" button. If the checkbox is not selected, your typing is immediately sent as well as displayed in the conversation window.

The Interrupt Button

Once the conversation is in progress, you can interrupt the CA's typing by clicking on the interrupt button. This causes the sentence "[CUSTOMER REQUESTED INTERRUPT]" to appear on your screen and the CA's screen. Using the interrupt button allows you to communicate more smoothly and quickly when you are ready to reply before the other party is finished.

The English / Espaņol Button

This button allows you to toggle between English and Spanish versions of IP relay. When the button is displaying "Espaņol", clicking on it will change the program to a Spanish version, and calls placed through the system will be processed by Spanish-speaking CAs. When the button is displaying "English", clicking on it will change the program to an English version with English-speaking CAs.

The 911 Button

Clicking on the 911 button will place a call to a Relay Center, and alert the CA you wish to place an emergency call. You do not have to type anything into the "Number" field, and if you do type anything in the "Number" field, it will not be sent to the CA. Clicking on the 911 button ensures your call will be processed as an emergency.

The When do I use 911? Button

When you click on this button, a window explaining when to use the 911 button will open up. (You must have all pop-up blockers turned off in order for this window to open.) The 911 button should be used only for police, fire, or medical emergencies. When you make a 911 relay call, be prepared to provide the CA with the following information:

  • Your name
  • Address of the emergency (city and state)
  • Phone number at the scene of the emergency. For example, if you are calling from your home, you would give the CA your home or cell phone number. If you are calling from a public place, such as a restaurant, you would give the restaurant's phone number or the number of a phone near the emergency.
  • Nature of the emergency (Examples: Is your house on fire? Has your husband stopped breathing?)

The Status Bar

This area across the top of the screen shows important status messages relating to your call. It also indicates the version of the applet you are using which may be useful for technical support inquiries.

The Conversation Window

Before you initiate your call, this window scrolls a brief set of instructions on how to use AT&T Internet Relay Services. Once your call is in progress, your conversation will be displayed in this window. The text that you type is displayed in the color shown on the "My Text" button. The text that the CA types is displayed in the color shown on the "Relay Text" button. The messages alternate in real time to show you exactly how the conversation progresses. If the "Split Screen" checkbox is not selected, conversation text that you type is immediately displayed in this window and sent to the other party. If the "Split Screen" checkbox is selected, you can compose your next response in the Composition Window below.

The Composition Window

If the "Split Screen" checkbox is selected, this window will appear below the Conversation Window and allow you to compose your next response. Click on the "Send" button or press Enter to transmit this sentence.

The Send Button

If the "Split Screen" checkbox is selected, clicking on this button during a conversation sends the text in the Composition Window to the Conversation Window and to the other party. The Composition Window is then cleared to accept new text.

The Font Size Controls

Press "-" or "+" to decrease or increase the size of the characters in the Conversation Window (and the Composition Window if split screen is selected).

The My Text Button

The color of the text on this button indicates the current color of your text in the Conversation Window (and the Composition Window if split screen is selected). Click on this button to rotate through the available colors.

The Relay Text Button

The color of the text on this button indicates the current color of the other party's text in the Conversation Window. Click this button to rotate through the available colors.

The Background Button

The background color of this button indicates the background color of the "Number" field and the Conversation Window (as well as the Composition Window if split screen is selected). Click this button to rotate through the available colors. As the background color is changed, the colors for your text and the other party's text may be changed to colors more appropriate for the new background color.

The Connection Quality Indicator

Once a call is in progress, this indicator will light up indicating the general quality of the connection between your machine and our servers. When it shows 5 green bars, your data are being sent back and forth quickly and consistently. When you type rapidly the indicator may drop back a bar or two, indicating that the system is waiting for confirmation that your data have been received. If the indicator stays at two yellow bars or one red bar, your data are not being sent and received in a timely manner. This could be due to normal Internet congestion, a bad or low-speed connection to your ISP, or problems between your ISP and our servers.

The Encryption Indicator

The encryption indicator changes to a yellow padlock when your conversation is in progress. This lets you know your conversation is encrypted for privacy between the PC you are using and our servers.

Don't forget relay etiquette!!

  • ga stands for "go ahead" and is a signal to your voice user (and the CA) your thought is complete and they should respond. Type "ga" when you have concluded typing your message. Voice users should say "ga" to let the CA know they are ready for a response.
  • sk stands for "stop keying" and is a signal to your voice caller (and the CA) that you are finished with the conversation and concluding the call. Type "sksk" when you are finished with your conversation and are ready to hang up.