CrewTalk
Available4 min read

Channel Messaging

Every channel in CrewTalk has its own text message thread. Use channel messaging when you need to share information that doesn't require immediate voice response — call sheets, location details, equipment notes, or anything that benefits from a written record.

Sending Messages

1

Go to Messages Tab

Tap the Messages tab at the bottom of the screen.

2

Select a Channel

Channel tabs appear at the top. Tap the channel you want to message. Channels with unread messages show a badge count.

3

Type and Send

Type your message in the input field at the bottom and tap the send button.

Message Features

Timestamps

Every message shows the time it was sent. Times are formatted relative to the current day:

  • Today — Shows time only (e.g., "2:30 PM")
  • Yesterday — Shows "Yesterday" + time
  • Older — Shows date and time

Date Separators

When messages span multiple days, date separator bars appear between messages (e.g., "Today", "Yesterday", "Feb 15, 2026"). This makes it easy to scan through message history.

Unread Badges

Each channel tab shows a badge with the number of unread messages. The Messages bottom tab shows the total unread count across all channels and DMs.

When you view a channel, its unread count resets to zero.

Deleting Messages

To delete a message:

  1. Long-press on the message you want to delete
  2. A confirmation dialog appears
  3. Tap Delete to confirm
📝 Note

You can delete your own messages. Hub admins and owners can delete any message in the hub. Deleted messages are removed from your local device — since messages aren't stored on the server, deletion is local.

Message Delivery

CrewTalk uses a local echo pattern for instant feedback:

  1. When you send a message, it appears immediately in your message list
  2. The message is saved to local SQLite storage
  3. Simultaneously, it's sent via WebSocket to the relay server
  4. The relay broadcasts it to all connected hub members
  5. Recipients save it to their local SQLite

This means your messages appear instantly — no waiting for server confirmation.

💡 Offline Messages

If you're briefly disconnected, messages you send will be queued. However, since the server doesn't store messages, anyone who's offline when a message is sent won't receive it. For critical information, confirm receipt verbally over PTT.

Tips for Effective Channel Messaging

  • Use the right channel — Keep messages relevant to the channel topic
  • Be concise — Channel messages are seen by everyone on that channel
  • Share details over text, coordinate over voice — Use PTT for urgent coordination and messages for reference info
  • Check unread badges — Don't miss important messages from other channels

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Text messaging and PTT are independent. You can be on PTT Channel 2 and send a text message to Channel 5's message thread.
No. Messages are relayed through the server but not stored there. They're saved locally on each device in SQLite. If you uninstall and reinstall, message history is lost.
You can delete your own messages. Hub admins and owners can delete anyone's messages.

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