new pda query

[newbie2011]

Hi
We've recently started using our new pdas, we have been told that they can (and will) track our every move to make sure we are where we're supposed to be, and it will "ping" our location every five seconds? is there any truth in this or is it just scaremongering from an overzealous dom?
Thanks

[TrueBlueTerrier]

it has the ability to "ping" your location. But RM doesn't have the support infrastructure in place to do it for all 75,000 delivery posties. So while the answer is Yes they can, the likelihood of you being the one is 1/75,000. Well until they do get the stuff in place to handle 54 Million pings an hour. (12 pings per postie per minute x 60)

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... DA#p665517" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Due to the fact Royal Mails server is not big enough , Royal Mail can only use the PDA heartbeat with 18 offices which are covered by the Service View Agreement.

Royal Mail is looking to obtain a bigger server where the use of the PDA for walk design , absorption , tracking and new products.

Every PDA sets out a heartbeat every 90 seconds detailing an individuals longitude and latitude , in the 18 offices you can see the route taken by the delivery post person , when they start , where they stop at doors and when they finish. That is accessible for the DOM and DSM and the OPG can request to see this. It cannot be used for disciplinary purposes.

Clearly longer term Royal Mail want this to be rolled out everywhere but obviously, the server to hold this information across 15000 offices needs to be huge and at this moment the current server can only hold the information for 18 delivery offices out of the 20 which were included in the National Delivery Trials.

[worktotime]

to be honest who cares if you do the job properly and nothing to hide they can do what they like , the peoples who arses will be twitching are the runners and its about time . sooner the better , lol

[super-postie]

You can leave it in the van or hct if u dont have any scans for a street. So in essence you can do what u like for as long as you like during that time.

[newbie2011]

to be honest who cares if you do the job properly and nothing to hide they can do what they like , the peoples who arses will be twitching are the runners and its about time . sooner the better , lol

it's not only the runners though, as we're told not to come back before our time is done, but if we are being pinged every 5 seconds, we're going to either get done for coming back early, or hiding outside somewhere. at the moment, we're staying out for the same amount of time on a Tuesday as on a Thursday, and our dom is happy with that

[newbie2011]

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... DA#p665517

Due to the fact Royal Mails server is not big enough , Royal Mail can only use the PDA heartbeat with 18 offices which are covered by the Service View Agreement.

Royal Mail is looking to obtain a bigger server where the use of the PDA for walk design , absorption , tracking and new products.

Every PDA sets out a heartbeat every 90 seconds detailing an individuals longitude and latitude , in the 18 offices you can see the route taken by the delivery post person , when they start , where they stop at doors and when they finish. That is accessible for the DOM and DSM and the OPG can request to see this. It cannot be used for disciplinary purposes.

Clearly longer term Royal Mail want this to be rolled out everywhere but obviously, the server to hold this information across 15000 offices needs to be huge and at this moment the current server can only hold the information for 18 delivery offices out of the 20 which were included in the National Delivery Trials.

is this the same for the new pda's as this thread was 18 months ago?

[worktotime]

to be honest who cares if you do the job properly and nothing to hide they can do what they like , the peoples who arses will be twitching are the runners and its about time . sooner the better , lol

it's not only the runners though, as we're told not to come back before our time is done, but if we are being pinged every 5 seconds, we're going to either get done for coming back early, or hiding outside somewhere. at the moment, we're staying out for the same amount of time on a Tuesday as on a Thursday, and our dom is happy with that

so whats the problem if your working your paid hours same as every job , start on time ,van checks , use lwts , take your meal breaks , if you think your going to get back early go and try redeliver your tracked items etc . are you on longs and shorts yet ? 7.30 - 14.00 on a Tuesday , 6.30 - 14.55 on a Thursday but we claim most days as dutys is 6+ hours with no collapse and that pisses them off .

[ninja]

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... DA#p665517

Due to the fact Royal Mails server is not big enough , Royal Mail can only use the PDA heartbeat with 18 offices which are covered by the Service View Agreement.

Royal Mail is looking to obtain a bigger server where the use of the PDA for walk design , absorption , tracking and new products.

Every PDA sets out a heartbeat every 90 seconds detailing an individuals longitude and latitude , in the 18 offices you can see the route taken by the delivery post person , when they start , where they stop at doors and when they finish. That is accessible for the DOM and DSM and the OPG can request to see this. It cannot be used for disciplinary purposes.

Clearly longer term Royal Mail want this to be rolled out everywhere but obviously, the server to hold this information across 15000 offices needs to be huge and at this moment the current server can only hold the information for 18 delivery offices out of the 20 which were included in the National Delivery Trials.

is this the same for the new pda's as this thread was 18 months ago?

The new PDA's have an android based operating system and so in theory can do what ever the business wish via a software update. One rumour is the PDA's can read smart meters for the utility companies if the business so desired.
If you read the LTB concerning the New PDA's it talks about the phase 2 deployment will allow for the business and union to better understand the outdoor elements including D2N, span lengths,etc....
I understand that the business is currently looking at tenders to get the IT in place to deal with the increase. Remember we currently have TRIMBLE in many vans and this seems to capture data on location of the van,speeds,etc... so it's only a matter of time since OFFCOM wants to have much more detail on what deliveries do during the day.

Using my crystal ball I believe that in the future the data captured by the PDA's will be used to plan new revisions because the data will be better then the current geo system we use.

[salomon2]

To be honest the way it's been so far this week you'll be lucky to stay logged in!
We've been using them fine for ages but this week has been a mare, no collections downloaded yesterday then all sa failed as we couldn't scan anything, all fun!!

[datasaint]

it has the ability to "ping" your location. But RM doesn't have the support infrastructure in place to do it for all 75,000 delivery posties. So while the answer is Yes they can, the likelihood of you being the one is 1/75,000. Well until they do get the stuff in place to handle 54 Million pings an hour. (12 pings per postie per minute x 60)

Not really, the process of tracking can be carried out on the PDA itself and merely uploaded later on when reattached to the cradle for example.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... DA#p665517

Due to the fact Royal Mails server is not big enough , Royal Mail can only use the PDA heartbeat with 18 offices which are covered by the Service View Agreement.

Royal Mail is looking to obtain a bigger server where the use of the PDA for walk design , absorption , tracking and new products.

Every PDA sets out a heartbeat every 90 seconds detailing an individuals longitude and latitude , in the 18 offices you can see the route taken by the delivery post person , when they start , where they stop at doors and when they finish. That is accessible for the DOM and DSM and the OPG can request to see this. It cannot be used for disciplinary purposes.

Clearly longer term Royal Mail want this to be rolled out everywhere but obviously, the server to hold this information across 15000 offices needs to be huge and at this moment the current server can only hold the information for 18 delivery offices out of the 20 which were included in the National Delivery Trials.

is this the same for the new pda's as this thread was 18 months ago?

In essence yes - this was a report about the trial at 20 Offices about the new PDAs.