This article describes how to implement AlertLink in Blackline Live and enable AlertLink functionality for G7c, G7x, and EXO devices.
AlertLink gives your G7c, G7x, and EXO devices the ability to share notifications with other devices during high urgency events. With the feature enabled, G7c and EXO device users will be notified if a nearby device has gone into alert, which keeps your workers more informed of their surroundings and gives them the ability to come to the aid of team members when needed. It is important to note that G7x devices can trigger AlertLink messages, but cannot receive them at this time.
NOTE: AlertLink is only available for self-monitored or Blackline-monitored organizations. AlertLink is not available for System Access plans or for G6 devices.
- Understanding AlertLink
- Configuring AlertLink in Blackline Live
- Acknowledging AlertLink Messages
- AlertLink Functionality FAQ
- Is AlertLink included with all service plans?
- How do I enable AlertLink functionality on my G7 and EXO devices?
- Is AlertLink backwards compatible with EXO and G7 devices currently in the field?
- Can EXO devices with a satellite module receive AlertLink messages?
- Can other devices expand the AlertLink proximity radius beyond the maximum range?
- Is there a countdown feature for AlertLink?
- Which languages does AlertLink support?
- Does AlertLink work with beacons?
- What percentage of connectivity do I need for AlertLink to work?
- AlertLink Messages FAQ
- How long will an AlertLink message notification remain active on a device?
- If a device is unassigned, but named, will the device name be included in an AlertLink message?
- If a high gas alert triggers an AlertLink message, will the message include the gas reading information?
- Does the proximity radius originating from an EXO device in alert extend only 180 degrees in front of the device, or is the radius 360 degrees around the device?
- If a device enters the proximity radius after the initial alert and the AlertLink messages have already been received, will the device receive an AlertLink message?
- Will a device receive an AlertLink message if the last known location of the device has expired?
- How can a device user know where a nearby device in alert is located?
- Configuring AlertLink FAQ
- Implementing AlertLink FAQ
- AlertLink Analytics FAQ
Understanding AlertLink
AlertLink messages are sent by Blackline Live. When AlertLink is enabled and a G7c, G7x, or EXO device detects a high urgency event (see table), Blackline Live will determine which G7c or EXO devices in the same organization are located within the configured proximity radius of the device in alert, using the last known location of a device. If any devices are detected, Blackline Live will send an automated message to each of the nearby devices.
NOTE: G7x devices can trigger AlertLink messages but are unable to receive them.
AlertLink is triggered by the following high urgency events:
AlertLink messages are similar to a text message and trigger a unique light and sound pattern. The message will include the following information:
- Alert type
- Gas type (if applicable)
- Assigned user of the origin device
- Origin device ID (if device is not assigned to a user)
- Origin device type
- Other device information
AlertLink messages are sent to all G7c devices in the configured proximity. In Blackline Live, you can choose to include or exclude EXO devices from receiving AlertLink messages. For more information, refer to the Blackline Live Technical User Manual.
Configuring AlertLink in Blackline Live
AlertLink is enabled in the Alert profile in Blackline Live. If you want a device to prompt Blackline Live to send AlertLink messages, you will need to add the device to an alert profile that has AlertLink enabled.
NOTE: AlertLink messages are received by all G7c devices in the configured proximity.
Once you have enabled AlertLink, in the Alert profile, you can define the Message radius and determine whether to exclude EXO devices from receiving AlertLink messages. The Message radius can be configured from 30 meters (100 ft) to 5,000 meters (16,000 ft) and can be modified in increments of 10 meters or 50 feet.
For full instructions on configuring AlertLink, refer to the Blackline Live Technical User Manual.
Acknowledging AlertLink Messages
You can acknowledge AlertLink messages in three ways:
- Manually acknowledge the notification on the device.
NOTE: Unacknowledged messages received by EXO will automatically time out after 90 minutes. - Clear the notification remotely from Blackline Live.
- Configure AlertLink notifications to automatically clear after a specified time period (EXO only).
Manually Acknowledging AlertLink Messages
If your device receives an AlertLink message, follow your company’s safety protocol for responding to high urgency events. When it is safe to do so, press and hold the up and down arrow buttons for 3 seconds to acknowledge the AlertLink message notification. For full instructions, refer to the EXO Technical User Manual or the G7 Technical User Manual.
Remotely Clearing AlertLink Messages
On the Alerts page in Blackline Live, the AlertLink Messages tab displays a list of all devices with active AlertLink messages. Monitoring personnel can use this page remotely clear AlertLink notifications on specific devices. For full instructions, refer to the Blackline Live Technical User Manual.
Configuring how AlertLink Messages are Received by EXO
You can configure how AlertLink messages are received by EXO in the Configuration profile. AlertLink messages can be configured to persist for up to 90 minutes until they are manually acknowledged on the device, or the notification can be configured to clear automatically after a pre-set timeout period of 90 minutes or less. For full instructions, refer to the Blackline Live Technical User Manual.
AlertLink Functionality FAQ
Is AlertLink included with all service plans?
AlertLink is included with self-monitored and Blackline-monitored service plans at no additional cost. It is not included with the System Access service plan.
How do I enable AlertLink functionality on my G7 and EXO devices?
You must have firmware version 3.501 for G7 devices and firmware version 3.467 for EXO devices. You can then enable AlertLink through the Alert profile in Blackline Live.
Is AlertLink backwards compatible with EXO and G7 devices currently in the field?
Yes, AlertLink is backwards compatible with EXO and G7 devices. To enable AlertLink functionality, you have firmware version 3.501 for G7 devices and firmware version 3.467 for EXO devices.
2G/3G G7c devices (device IDs beginning with 3566 or 3567) are not backwards compatible and must be upgraded to the most current generation of hardware to send and receive AlertLink messages.
Can EXO devices with a satellite module receive AlertLink messages?
Yes, AlertLink messages can be received by EXO devices with a satellite module.
Can other devices expand the AlertLink proximity radius beyond the maximum range?
No, the proximity radius cannot be expanded beyond 5000 meters (16,000 ft). The message radius is solely determined by the location of the source device at the time of the initial alert. Devices that receive an AlertLink message do not expand the radius and cannot relay the message to other devices outside the radius.
Is there a countdown feature for AlertLink?
No, there is no countdown or pause functionality for AlertLink. AlertLink messages are prepared and transmitted when an alert is received in Blackline Live.
Which languages will AlertLink support?
AlertLink only supports English at this time. Please contact Technical Support if your organization requires additional language support.
Does AlertLink work with beacons?
Yes, AlertLink works with Location beacons to determine which devices are within proximity of the source device.
What percentage of connectivity do I need for AlertLink to work?
For EXO devices, Blackline Safety recommends a minimum of 50% connectivity strength, which can be confirmed in Blackline Live. After enabling AlertLink, we recommend triggering test AlertLink messages to confirm that the connectivity is strong enough for EXO devices to receive messages.
AlertLink Messages FAQ
How long will an AlertLink message notification remain active on a device?
For G7c devices, AlertLink message notifications will remain active until the notification is acknowledged manually on the device or the notification is cleared remotely via Blackline Live.
For EXO, unacknowledged AlertLink message notifications will remain active for a maximum of 90 minutes. The notifications can also be configured in Blackline Live to automatically clear after a set period or cleared remotely from Blackline Live.
If a device is unassigned, but named, will the device name be included in an AlertLink message?
Yes. If a device is not assigned to a user but has a device name, the device name will be included in an AlertLink message.
If a high gas event triggers an AlertLink message, will the message include the gas reading information?
No, only the gas type will be included in the AlertLink message.
Does the proximity radius originating from an EXO device in alert extend only 180 degrees in front of the device, or is the radius 360 degrees around the device?
The AlertLink radius extends out from the device in a 360-degree radius.
If a device enters the proximity radius after the initial alert and the AlertLink messages have already been received, will the device receive an AlertLink message?
The device will not receive an AlertLink message if it was outside the proximity radius at the time of the AlertLink message was initially sent. AlertLink messages are only sent to devices that are within the radius at the time of the event.
Will a device receive an AlertLink message if the last known location of the device has expired?
Last known location expires after 130 minutes. If a location is older than 130 minutes, it will not receive an AlertLink message.
How can a device user know where a nearby device in alert is located?
The location of a device that triggers an AlertLink message will be displayed on the map in Blackline Live. Depending on your organization’s configuration, a G7c device user likely does not have access to view the map and would be unable to use Blackline Live to independently determine the location of the device that triggered the AlertLink message. However, monitoring personnel will be able to determine the location through Blackline Live and can communicate the location per your organization’s response protocol.
The response protocol for high urgency events and whether a device user should locate a device that triggered an AlertLink message is determined by your organization. You may choose to configure the proximity radius for AlertLink messages small enough for device users to assume the location of the device that triggered the alert based on the response in the field. Your organization could also determine a protocol for device users to evacuate and establish muster points during a high urgency event.
Device users should follow your company’s protocol during high urgency events and determine whether it is safe before moving towards a device that triggered an AlertLink message.
Configuring AlertLink FAQ
Can all active AlertLink messages be simultaneously cleared from Blackline Live?
Yes, you can simultaneously and remotely silence all active AlertLink messages on devices using the Alerts page in Blackline Live.
Can I configure AlertLink to only notify other devices within the same alert profile?
The Alert profile in Blackline Live controls which devices can trigger an AlertLink message and controls the radius across which AlertLink messages are shared. The Alert profile does not control which devices receive an AlertLink message.
If an AlertLink message is generated, it will be sent to every device in the same organization that is within the proximity radius of the source device. Only EXO devices can be optionally excluded from receiving AlertLink messages.
Can I configure AlertLink to only notify specific groups?
No, group notifications are not available for AlertLink. Only devices in the same organization as the source device that are within the proximity radius at the time of the alert will receive the message.
Implementing AlertLink FAQ
What information should I consider before enabling AlertLink?
AlertLink messages are triggered by all alerts that are enabled in the alert profile, which could create disruption in the field. Device users could receive multiple messages for alerts that have not been triaged or don’t affect them.
Some organizations may prefer a responding agent or monitoring personnel to control the communication and dispatching of resources during high urgency events or to not alarm workers nearby until an alert has been triaged and determined to be a legitimate emergency.
Does AlertLink replace the need for monitoring?
No, AlertLink is not a replacement for monitoring. AlertLink provides an additional layer of protection by informing nearby workers of an incident immediately and facilitating a faster on-site response.
AlertLink Analytics FAQ
Is AlertLink messages data included in Blackline Analytics?
No, AlertLink messages are not included in Blackline Analytics. However, you can download all past AlertLink messages from the AlertLink tab on the Alerts page in Blackline Live.
