diff --git a/indra/newview/app_settings/settings.xml b/indra/newview/app_settings/settings.xml
index b874402d0b..d490ad418f 100644
--- a/indra/newview/app_settings/settings.xml
+++ b/indra/newview/app_settings/settings.xml
@@ -138,13 +138,13 @@
   <key>RadarAlertChannel</key>
     <map>
       <key>Comment</key>
-      <string>Positive Numbered Channel for whispering radar alerts</string>
+      <string>Channel for whispering radar alerts</string>
       <key>Persist</key>
       <integer>1</integer>
       <key>Type</key>
-      <string>U32</string>
+      <string>S32</string>
       <key>Value</key>
-      <integer>777777777</integer>
+      <integer>-777777777</integer>
     </map>
     
   <key>RadarLegacyChannelAlertRefreshUUID</key>
diff --git a/indra/newview/llpanelpeople.cpp b/indra/newview/llpanelpeople.cpp
index 8cf4e688a2..2f23d769fb 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llpanelpeople.cpp
+++ b/indra/newview/llpanelpeople.cpp
@@ -1145,8 +1145,7 @@ void LLPanelPeople::updateNearbyList()
 	if (mRadarEnterAlerts.size() > 0)
 	{
 		mRadarFrameCount++;
-		S32 chan = (S32)gSavedSettings.getU32("RadarAlertChannel");
-		if (chan < 0) { chan = chan * -1; } // make sure chan is always positive
+		S32 chan = gSavedSettings.getS32("RadarAlertChannel");
 		std::string msg = llformat("/%d %d,%d",chan,mRadarFrameCount,(int)mRadarEnterAlerts.size());
 		while(mRadarEnterAlerts.size() > 0)
 		{
@@ -1156,7 +1155,17 @@ void LLPanelPeople::updateNearbyList()
 				msg = llformat("%s,%s",msg.c_str(),mRadarEnterAlerts.back().asString().c_str());
 				mRadarEnterAlerts.pop_back();
 			}
-			LLNearbyChatBar::sendChatFromViewer(msg,CHAT_TYPE_WHISPER,FALSE);
+			LLMessageSystem* msgs = gMessageSystem;
+			msgs->newMessage("ScriptDialogReply");
+			msgs->nextBlock("AgentData");
+			msgs->addUUID("AgentID", gAgent.getID());
+			msgs->addUUID("SessionID", gAgent.getSessionID());
+			msgs->nextBlock("Data");
+			msgs->addUUID("ObjectID", gAgent.getID());
+			msgs->addS32("ChatChannel", chan);
+			msgs->addS32("ButtonIndex", 1);
+			msgs->addString("ButtonLabel", msg.c_str());
+			gAgent.sendReliableMessage();
 		}
 	}
 	if (mRadarLeaveAlerts.size() > 0)
@@ -1697,6 +1706,15 @@ void LLPanelPeople::onChatButtonClicked()
 	if (group_id.notNull())
 		LLGroupActions::startIM(group_id);
 }
+void LLPanelPeople::requestRadarChannelAlertSync()
+{
+	F32 timeNow = gFrameTimeSeconds;
+	if( (timeNow - RADAR_CHAT_MIN_SPACING)>mRadarLastRequestTime)
+	{
+		mRadarLastRequestTime=timeNow;
+		mRadarAlertRequest = true;
+	}
+}
 
 void LLPanelPeople::teleportToAvatar(LLUUID targetAv)
 // Teleports user to last scanned location of nearby avatar
diff --git a/indra/newview/llpanelpeople.h b/indra/newview/llpanelpeople.h
index b9d775f8e9..cce839ad20 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llpanelpeople.h
+++ b/indra/newview/llpanelpeople.h
@@ -45,9 +45,11 @@ class LLTabContainer;
 class LLMenuButton;
 class LLMenuGL;
 
-const U32	MAX_AVATARS_PER_ALERT = 27; // maximum number of UUIDs we can cram into a single channel radar alert message
+const U32	MAX_AVATARS_PER_ALERT = 7; // maximum number of UUIDs we can cram into a single channel radar alert message
 const U32	COARSE_OFFSET_INTERVAL = 31; // seconds after which we query the bridge for a coarse location adjustment
 const U32	NAMEFORMAT_DISPLAYNAME = 0;
+const U32	RADAR_CHAT_MIN_SPACING = 6; //minimum delay between radar chat messages
+
 const U32	NAMEFORMAT_USERNAME = 1;
 const U32	NAMEFORMAT_DISPLAYNAME_USERNAME = 2;
 const U32	NAMEFORMAT_USERNAME_DISPLAYNAME = 3;
@@ -65,7 +67,7 @@ public:
 	/*virtual*/ void	onOpen(const LLSD& key);
 	/*virtual*/ bool	notifyChildren(const LLSD& info);
 	void	teleportToAvatar(LLUUID targetAv);
-	void	requestRadarChannelAlertSync() {mRadarAlertRequest = true;}
+	void	requestRadarChannelAlertSync();
 	// Implements LLVoiceClientStatusObserver::onChange() to enable call buttons
 	// when voice is available
 	/*virtual*/ void onChange(EStatusType status, const std::string &channelURI, bool proximal);
@@ -218,6 +220,7 @@ private:
 	 	
 	S32					mRadarFrameCount;
 	bool				mRadarAlertRequest;
+	F32					mRadarLastRequestTime;
 };
 
 #endif //LL_LLPANELPEOPLE_H