LoboAlerts Frequently Asked Questions

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General

What is LoboAlerts?
LoboAlerts is the emergency text messaging and e-mail alert system. The University has had similar systems for years, but LoboAlerts, powered by RAVE, integrates with the Banner system allowing the automatic enrollment of individuals.
What is Rave, Rave Alert, Rave Mobile … ?
Rave, Rave Alert, Rave Mobile, Rave Wireless or the Rave Wireless Attendant may appear in LoboAlerts documentation and are all property of Rave Wireless Inc., the vendor for the LoboAlerts system. These are references to proprietary information of Rave Wireless Inc. that LoboAlerts may refer to.
Why did I receive a LoboAlert? I didn’t sign up.
The LoboAlerts system integrates with the University's Banner system, automatically enrolling all persons with active records, all faculty, staff, registered students, affiliates of UNM, and UNMH employees.
Will I be charged for LoboAlerts?
UNM will not charge for the LoboAlerts system. Please be aware, however, that your cellular telephone carrier may charge you for each message, depending on your service agreement.
Who is automatically included in the LoboAlerts system?
Persons with active Banner records including all active faculty, all active UNM and UNMH staff employees, all registered students, and University affiliates including, AIMS students and staff, contractors listed in Banner, Gateway and external students, guest faculty (CNM, ROTC, etc.), retiree emeritus/a, STC, LoboEnergy, UNMMG and UNM Foundation employees, UNMH rotating staff, UNMH contractor staff, and visiting academic colleagues, are automatically enrolled in the system.
Who is NOT automatically included in the LoboAlerts system?
Staff, faculty and affiliates located outside the United States, community members, non-emeritus/a retirees, parents and friends, unregistered students, vendors on campus, widows and widowers of unm employees are NOT included in the LoboAlerts system.
How do I sign up for LoboAlerts?
Individuals without active Banner records who want to receive LoboAlerts can follow LoboAlerts Twitter, or LoboAlerts Facebook, or sign up for the LoboAlerts Community site. Faculty, staff, registered students, affiliates of UNM, and UNMH employees do not need to sign up for LoboAlerts. The system integrates with the University's Banner system and automatically enrolls persons with active records.
What is the difference between signing up for the social networking sites and the community site?
This really is a user’s choice issue. Some individuals use Twitter and Facebook accounts on a daily basis; for these individuals, adding the LoboAlerts feeds to their accounts is easy and will allow them to receive messages through their current channels. For non-UNM-affiliated persons or for those who do not regularly use Twitter and Facebook, it becomes a matter of which service would you like to sign up for (Twitter, Facebook, or UNM Community).

Messaging

What do I do if I receive a LoboAlert?
Individuals are expected to follow the instructions received via LoboAlerts. In addition, recipients should share the information with others in their immediate area, just in case others did not or have not yet received their own alert.
I didn't receive an alert, but the person next to me did. What happened?
You should log in to LoboAlerts Preferences and check your contact information. Cellular numbers can be updated at and tested directly from the site.
The person next to me received an alert, but mine was delayed. What happened?
Messages are sent from the LoboAlerts system to the individual cellular carriers. Differences among the carriers and an individual's location and signal strength can all affect the timing of message sending and receiving.
How often will I receive a LoboAlerts message?
You will receive at least three test messages each year. The entire Campus Warning System (warning siren system, text messaging, e-mail messages and web page update) is tested at the beginning of each semester (spring, summer, and fall). Other than those test messages, LoboAlerts will only be used to provide safety and weather alerts, or notification of any event which may pose a threat to the University’s ability to conduct regular activities.
How do I know if an alert is real or just a test?
The Campus Warning System, which includes sirens, web pages, e-mail and text messaging is tested at the beginning of each semester. These tests are advertised in advance, and messages will indicate that they are indeed a test.
What will LoboAlerts messages look like?
LoboAlerts messages will come from 226787 or 67283, which are the Common Short Codes used by Rave, the vendor that provides the LoboAlerts system. Text messages received from these numbers are valid and part of the system. It may help to add 226787 and 67283 to your Address Book or Contact List and modify the display name to LoboAlerts, in order to make future messages more recognizable.
I received a text message from the number 226787 or 67283. What does this mean?
226787 and 67283 are the Common Short Codes used by Rave, the vendor that provides the LoboAlerts system. Text messages received from these numbers are valid and part of the system. It may help to add these numbers to your Address Book or Contact List, and modify the display name to LoboAlerts, in order to make future messages more recognizable.
Is there a "rave" on campus? Was this a SPAM message?
No and no. Please see What is Rave? LoboAlerts will only be used to provide safety and weather alerts, or notification of any event which may pose a threat to the University's ability to conduct regular activities. While the system will not be used to announce a campus rave, individuals are expected to follow the instructions received via LoboAlerts. In addition, recipients should share the information with others in their immediate area, just in case others did not or have not yet received their own alerts.
Will I receive unsolicited messages (SPAM) from LoboAlerts on my cellular phone or at my e-mail account?
No. The University manages and maintains the LoboAlerts system, and will only use it to provide safety and weather alerts, or notification of any event which may pose a threat to the University's ability to conduct regular activities.
Will the LoboAlerts system be made available to campus for non-emergency usage?
The LoboAlerts system will only be used to provide safety and weather alerts, or notification of any event which may pose a threat to the University's ability to conduct regular activities. The technology, however, does have the capability of providing this service. A cross-functional committee has been formed to evaluate and recommend non-emergency text messaging standards and practices for the University. The committee's recommendations will be announced as soon as they are available.
Is LoboAlerts just for cellular telephones?
No. The LoboAlerts system can send messages to any device that can receive text messages through cellular service or e-mail, such as cellular telephones, text pagers, BlackBerrys and some wireless PDAs. LoboAlerts may also be sent to e-mail addresses registered with the system.
What if I don’t have a cellular telephone?
LoboAlerts is just one part of the University's emergency notification system. The other components include the campus warning siren system, e-mail alerts and web page updates. You may also follow LoboAlerts Twitter or LoboAlerts Facebook.
I don’t have a text-messaging capable phone. Does this mean I won’t get messages?
No, however, without a text-capable messaging device one would not be able to receive text messages. LoboAlerts is just one part of the University's emergency notification system. The other components include the campus warning siren system, e-mail alerts and web page updates. You may also follow LoboAlerts Twitter or LoboAlerts Facebook.
What if my cellular phone provider changes?
If you keep the same cellular number, and simply change cellular phone provider, you do not have to change anything. However, it may take several weeks for your cellular provider to update the LoboAlerts system. During that time it is possible that you will not be able to receive messages unless you login to LoboAlerts Preferences and update your carrier information.

Preferences

How do I manage my LoboAlerts Preferences?
  1. Copy and paste this URL -  http://www.getrave.com/login/unm  in to your browser or follow this link to LoboAlerts Preferences.
    Note: If you are already logged in to the University's Central Authentication Service (CAS), you will be automatically directed to LoboAlerts Preferences.
  2. At the NetID field, enter your UNM NetID, at the Password field, enter your UNM NetID password, and click LOGIN.
I tried to log in to LoboAlerts and received this error: "User is not known in the Rave system. Please contact the administrator of your site program to confirm your eligibility to use this application." What should I do?
You need to log completely out and then log back into the UNM Central Authentication System (CAS). To completely log out, copy and paste this URL in to your browser https://login.unm.edu/cas/logout and press Enter (return).
If I enter my cellular telephone number, will it be published in the online directory?
No. Information entered into the LoboAlerts system will only use it used to provide safety and weather alerts, or notification of any event which may pose a threat to the University's ability to conduct regular activities.
What if my cellular phone number changes?
  1. Log in to LoboAlerts Preferences.
  2. Click the My Account tab.
  3. Click the Edit link next to the cellular number you would like to change. Enter the new cellular number you want to use in the fields provided.
  4. Click Next.
  5. For changes to your primary cellular number, you will receive a text message, with a 4-digit confirmation code to the cellular phone associated with the cellular number. Enter the 4-digit code in the appropriate field. If you did not receive your 4-digit code, select the link: Click here to resend now.
  6. Click Finish.
Information updated in the LoboAlerts system will not update the Banner system.
I did not receive my 4-digit confirmation code on my cellular phone from LoboAlerts. How do I proceed?
After you enter your cellular phone number on the on the My Account page, the LoboAlerts system will send you a 4-digit confirmation code used to verify your wireless number and carrier. Confirmation codes are only sent to your primary cellular number. Enter 4-digit code in the appropriate field. If you do not receive the code within a couple of minutes, select the link: Click here to resend now. If the carrier listed is incorrect, select the link that reads: Click here to modify. Click Finish.
It's been awhile and I STILL haven't received a confirmation code after changing my phone number.
Failure to receive a confirmation code may happen for a number of reasons including: the number is new or recently ported, billing issues, or if a user has ever challenged a premium text charge.

Many times, mobile number is showing as deactivated by the carrier. A deactivated status means that the mobile number is deactivated for receiving SMS messages (text messages via short code). This would not affect calling the number, and will not even affect text messaging from another mobile phone.

Our aggregators have recently informed us that their carrier partners have specifically asked that they not activate an MDN if it has been deactivated by carrier request unless the carrier specifically authorizes activation. Blocking occurs for a period of time specified by the carrier and varies from 37 to 90 days.

A short code block due to a text dispute could also cause a dropped message. Whenever a carrier receives a request by a subscriber to block a single short code, all short codes are blacklisted as standard practice. This would effectively halt any message attempts made by the Rave system.

To correct this type of problem, a user needs to call the carrier's customer care to confirm there are no blocks on the account that prevents receiving short code messages. Specifically, you need to ask about receiving messages from short codes 67283 and 226787; these are the short codes used by Rave to send all alerts.

Any pervasive issues can be redirected back to techsupport@ravewireless.com
What if I go home during the semester break? Can I turn LoboAlerts off?
Yes. There are two ways to stop receiving messages on your phone: 1) Log in to LoboAlerts Preferences. At the Groups tab and uncheck the Text checkbox. Or, 2) Text STOP to 67283 or 226787.

If you opt-out you will NOT be notified via text messaging in the event of a campus emergency.

To turn LoboAlerts on again, 1) Log in to LoboAlerts Preferences. At the Groups tab, check the Text checkbox. Or, 2) If you turned alerts off by texting STOP, you must text START to 67283 or 226787 to turn loboAlerts on again. Although you receive a confirmation when texting STOP, you receive no such confirmation when texting START.