Some Android accessories and devices include a knob that allows users to scroll through their Zello Work contacts or channels directly from that device. This knob—often referred to as a hardware knob, channel knob, rotary knob, or selector knob—is configurable by network admins and provides a fast, easy, and reliable way to send messages across multiple communication streams on both screenless and small-screened devices.
Zello-certified devices with a hardware knob include:
We'll update our hardware page as new devices are certified.
Types of Knobs
A device may have either an infinite scroll knob or a fixed-position knob.
Infinite-Scroll Knobs
Infinite-scroll knobs can turn left or right an infinite number of times. Users will not face limitations around the number of contacts or channels they can scroll through.
Fixed-Position Knobs
Fixed-position knobs (or knobs with stoppers) generally have a set number of positions the knob can turn. For example, if your device’s knob has 10 positions, you can cycle through 10 contacts/channels. Once you reach the 10th position, you won’t be able to turn the knob any further. Similarly, if you descend back to the first position, your knob will stop and you’ll be unable to continue scrolling left.
Admins: Configuring the Knob's Mode
Admins can configure the channel knob’s intended behavior via the management console’s Hardware Knob Mode setting. There are four different knob configurations:
- When using this mode, turning the knob will cycle through selected channels/contacts that the network admin has mapped using a two-digit prefix. Unlike the channel or contacts mode, the user will not be able to scroll through all channels/contacts—only those that have been specifically configured. See the Configuring Indexed Contacts section for more information.
If working on a device with a fixed-position knob, you may want to opt for the indexed contacts configuration to ensure you’re able to communicate with all intended parties. The positional indicator will correspond with the two-digit prefix attached to your channel name.
If operating on a device with infinite scroll, this configuration is helpful in ensuring a user can quickly and easily access their intended contacts.
Please note that while this setting is called "Indexed Contacts," it applies to both contacts and channels. A mixture of contacts and channels can be indexed.
This mode may benefit:
-Users operating on a device with a fixed-position knob.
-Users who want to map a mix of contacts and channels to their device.
-Users who selectively communicate with certain channels/contacts. - In this mode, turning the knob will scroll through a user's channels (including disconnected channels). Users are unable to send messages to disconnected channels.
- Turning the knob will scroll through your direct contacts. Contacts will not need to be connected to send a message.
- Turning the knob will cycle through a user's recents list.
This option will prioritize users/channels you've recently communicated with via Zello, and can be particularly beneficial if you're messaging multiple channels and contacts at once. Please note that contacts/channels knob positions won't be consistent using this method.
At this time, the hardware knob mode setting is supported exclusively on Android devices. Learn more about Zello's certified devices.
Admins: Change the Hardware Knob Mode Setting
The hardware knob mode can be configured so that it cycles through either indexed contacts, recents, channels, or contacts.
To change this setting, sign in to your management console at (yournetworkname).zellowork.com. Then:
1) From the taskbar, click Settings.
2) Select Android from the right-hand menu.
3) Under Android’s General settings, locate the "Hardware knob mode" option. Click the dropdown and select your intended default configuration.
If opting for the indexed contacts setting, follow the instructions in the Configuring Indexed Contacts section below
Admins: Configuring Indexed Contacts
Indexed Contacts allow the hardware user to scroll through selected and configured channels and/or contacts. It’s best used when a user will only need access to certain channels in their network; when they’re operating on a device with a fixed-position knob; or when they’d like to map a mix of contacts and channels to their device’s hardware knob.
Indexed contacts require the contact/channel name begin with a two-digit prefix. For example:
- 01 - AustinDispatch
- 03 - HoustonFleet
- 08 - Morning Shift
- 15 - Houston Team
If using a device with a fixed-position knob, the two-digit prefix will be mapped to the intended knob position. (For example, "01 - AustinDispatch" would map to the knob’s first position; "03 - HoustonFleet" would map to the knob’s third position). Be careful not to replicate the prefix across channels or users.
Please note that a channel's name cannot be retroactively changed. The two-digit prefix must accordingly be added at channel creation—otherwise, you'll have to recreate the channel. Consider utilizing the channel import tool in this circumstance.
However, if indexing an existing contact, you can add the two-digit prefix to a user's display name at any point in time. This can be done either manually (user-by-user) or via the import user tool. A user does not have to be recreated to be indexed.
To establish your indexed channels, sign in to the management console at (yournetworkname).zellowork.com. Then:
| 1) Select Channels from the taskbar. Then click + New Channel. |
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| 2) Assign the channel a name, starting with a two-digit prefix (for example, “15 - Houston Team"). Then click Create. |
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3) Select the channel's intended users and click Add people. This will finalize your channel's set up. |
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To index contacts, adjust the user's display name to include the two-digit prefix (for example, 22 - Andrew). The display name can be assigned at the creation of a new user, or it can be retroactively adjusted in the management console by following the steps below:
| 1) Select Users from the taskbar. Then select the user you'd like to assign a display name from the list. | |
| 2) Click the edit icon to the right of the Display Name field in the User Details section. | |
| 3) Add a two-digit prefix to the beginning of the user's display name. Ensure this prefix differs from any others that have been previously assigned. Click the checkmark to save your changes. |
It’s not necessary to sequentially map indexed contacts/users. If you’re working with a device that uses a fixed-position knob, the two-digit prefixes added to the channel/contact will correspond with the intended positional number.
Expected Behaviors of the Hardware Knob
- Indexed Contacts: Turning the hardware knob to the left will generally descend channel numbers. Turning it right will ascend numbers.
- Unless configured differently on your device, the channel/contact name will be announced as you turn the knob. This ensures screenless device users know where they're sending a message.
- If operating on a device with a fixed-position knob (i.e. a knob with a limited number of stops), the device will default to the channel associated with the knob number when turned back on after a period of inactivity.
Potential Interruptions
Two Zello Work settings configured in the management console may interfere with the selector knob’s configuration.
- If a default channel has been assigned to the network, your hardware device will switch back to the default channel after a period of inactivity. This setting will accordingly override any knob configuration settings.
For example, if the device’s knob is positioned to channel “01 Austin Dispatch” but the network’s default channel is “03 Houston Fleet,” your device will automatically switch to "03 Houston Fleet" after inactivity.
The default channel can be configured and adjusted from the management console's Settings page. Go to Settings>Common>General and look for the Default channel option. - This setting will automatically open a contact’s screen when a message is received. For example, if your knob is set to position 02 but a message from the contact indexed to 07 is received, your device will switch to the contact mapped to 07.
If you’d like to avoid this, change the Automatically Activate a Contact setting to Never in the management console by going to Settings>Android>General