Jump to content

You're browsing the 2004-2023 VATSIM Forums archive. All content is preserved in a read-only fashion.
For the latest forum posts, please visit https://forum.vatsim.net.

Need to find something? Use the Google search below.

What controller see when user use IDENT in X-Plane?


Andrzej Borysewicz
 Share

Recommended Posts

Andrzej Borysewicz
Posted
Posted

Hello,

 

The subject tells it all.

We are trying to make IDENT button work with X-Plane and it is not clear what actually Controller see on the radar ( on VATSIM) when X-Plane aircraft presses IDENT button.

 

Please clarify.

 

Thank you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bradley Grafelman
Posted
Posted

What the controller sees depends on the controller client and its applicable settings, modes, etc.

 

The fact that the pilot is using X-Plane rather than any other simulator software shouldn't matter; in theory, all pilot clients use the same protocol to communicate with VATSIM's FSD servers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Andrzej Borysewicz
Posted
Posted

Thank you, I understand that.

 

I was wondering if Controller says "squawk ident" and user just change the squawk code but will not press IDENT ( because it might not be available on the plane he is flying) , will the Controller notice that and request IDENT again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bradley Grafelman
Posted
Posted

Well, now you're getting into ATC policies/procedures - things that can vary from one region to another (which makes it hard to make a general statement that's true for every region).

 

The likely answer is, yes, the controller will either ask for another ident or use some other means of establishing radar identification. Changing your beacon code when asked to ident is about as correct as turning left to 300 when told to descend to 3000.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ross Carlson
Posted
Posted
Thank you, I understand that.

 

I was wondering if Controller says "squawk ident" and user just change the squawk code but will not press IDENT ( because it might not be available on the plane he is flying) , will the Controller notice that and request IDENT again.

 

If you don't have an ident button on your transponder, then is there an XSquawkbox keyboard command you can enter to trigger the ident? (I'm not familiar with that software.) If not, you would need to tell the controller that you are unable to ident, and he will radar identify you by some other means.

Developer: vPilot, VRC, vSTARS, vERAM, VAT-Spy

Senior Controller, Boston Virtual ARTCC

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bradley Grafelman
Posted
Posted
If you don't have an ident button on your transponder, then is there an XSquawkbox keyboard command you can enter to trigger the ident?

... and if there isn't, you might be able to create one. If the XSquawkBox plugin creates/monitors a dataref for the IDENT functionality, you could use something like xJoyMap to map a key/button such that it toggles the appropriate dataref.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Andrzej Borysewicz
Posted
Posted

Thank you, Gentlemen!

 

Yes, I know that I can [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ign a button or key to and X-Plane command sim/transponder/transponder_ident

Pressing button [Mod - Happy Thoughts]igned to this command will "ident" for around 30 seconds.

 

I think I pretty much got my answer. I am part of the group that makes payware aircraft.

One of the aircraft has the IDENT button/FMC key not working as users reported.

The team will be adding that in the near future.

 

I would like to ask if when we are ready to test someone could go on VATSIM as ATC and verify that button is working correctly if it is not too much to ask for.

 

By the way, I am always for obeying the VATSIM rules and by asking what to do if transponder does not have working IDENT button I was not trying to "byp[Mod - Happy Thoughts]" the rules, just wanted to know just in case.

 

Thank you all for the input.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ross Carlson
Posted
Posted
I would like to ask if when we are ready to test someone could go on VATSIM as ATC and verify that button is working correctly if it is not too much to ask for.

 

When you're ready, just use a tool like VAT-Spy to find out where there are controllers online, then log in on the ramp at an airport within their airspace, and ask the controller if you can do an ident test. Most controllers will be happy to watch their scope for your ident signal.

 

Note that depending on which ATC client software the controller is using, you may need to be airborne in order to show up on his radar.

Developer: vPilot, VRC, vSTARS, vERAM, VAT-Spy

Senior Controller, Boston Virtual ARTCC

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Andrzej Borysewicz
Posted
Posted

Hi Ross,

 

I feel a bit embarr[Mod - Happy Thoughts]ed as I should think of it before posting.

 

Actually, when I started flying on VATSIM I was doing just that sitting on a ramp and checking radio without interrupting traffic. I will definitely do that.

 

Thank you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 weeks later...
Jonathan Fong
Posted
Posted

When a controller asks you to "squawk IDENT", press the IDENT button on your transponder (or in vPilot). This causes your aircraft's icon to flash on a controller's radar screen so that they can identify your location.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Andrzej Borysewicz
Posted
Posted

Thank you, Jonathan!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 Share