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Using Channels in ATAK

Overview​

Channels control whose position and data you see on your map, and who sees yours. Once ATAK is connected to the MCHMR TAK Server, you can turn individual channels on or off at any time. This module explains what channels are, how to open the channel selector in ATAK, and how to turn channels on and off.

If you use WinTAK, see Channel Selection instead.

What is a channel?​

A channel is a group of users, devices, and data feeds on the MCHMR TAK Server — for example a team, a unit, or a sensor feed such as ADS-B. Your account is granted access to specific channels by an administrator, and those are the only channels you will see in the list.

Turning a channel on or off does two things:

Channel stateWhat you seeWhat others see
OnTracks, markers, and messages from everyone on that channelYour location and data, shared to that channel
OffNothing from that channel appears on your mapYour location is hidden from that channel
note

Channel selection is yours alone. Turning a channel off changes what you send and see — it does not change what anyone else on the network sees of each other. You can only turn channels on or off for channels you already have access to; you cannot add yourself to a new one. To request access to another channel, contact your administrator.

Prerequisites​

  • ATAK installed and connected to tak.mchmr.us (see Installing ATAK).
  • Your Tactical ID account has been assigned to at least one channel. If your channel list is empty, see Troubleshooting.

Steps​

1. Open the Channels tool​

Look at the top toolbar of the ATAK map screen. The Channels tool is the icon that looks like three connected circles (a trident shape). Tap it.

Screenshot pending — ATAK top toolbar with the Channels icon highlighted.

note

If you don't see the icon in the toolbar, tap the hamburger menu and look for Channels in the tools list. The exact location can vary slightly by ATAK version and toolbar layout.

2. Review the channel list​

The Channels panel opens and lists every channel you have access to. Each channel shows its name, with a short description underneath. The list is flat, not nested — scroll to see all of them.

Next to each channel is an eye icon:

  • Eye, all white — the channel is on.
  • Eye with a line through it, greyed out — the channel is off.

Screenshot pending — Channels panel showing a mix of on and off channels.

3. Turn a channel off​

Tap the eye icon next to the channel you want to hide. It changes to the crossed-out, grey state, and that channel's tracks disappear from your map.

For example, turning off an ADS-B feed stops aircraft tracks from cluttering your map while everything else keeps showing normally.

Screenshot pending — a channel toggled off.

4. Turn a channel back on​

Tap the same eye icon again. It returns to solid white, and the channel's tracks reappear and your location is shared to it again.

5. Close the panel and confirm​

Close the Channels panel and look at the map. Only tracks from channels you left on should be showing.

Screenshot pending — map after channel selection.

Tips​

  • Declutter, don't disconnect. If the map is noisy, turn off feed-only channels (ADS-B, sensor feeds) rather than disconnecting from the server.
  • Check before you transmit. If teammates say they can't see you, open the Channels panel and confirm the team channel is on — a channel that is off hides your location from that team.
  • Check after reconnecting. After logging in again, quickly review the channel list to confirm it's how you left it.

Troubleshooting​

  • The Channels list is empty. Confirm ATAK shows a successful server connection (see Installing ATAK). If you're connected and the list is still empty, your account may not have been assigned any channels yet — contact your administrator.
  • I can't find the Channels icon. Look for three connected circles in the top toolbar, or in the hamburger menu tools list. If it's not in either place, confirm you're logged in to the TAK Server first.
  • A channel I turned off is still showing tracks. Reopen the Channels panel and confirm the eye icon is crossed out and grey for that channel. Tracks already on your map can take a moment to clear.
  • Teammates still see everything after I turned a channel off. That's expected — channel selection only changes your own view and what you share.
  • A channel I expect is missing from the list. You can only see channels your account has been assigned. Contact your administrator to request access.