Mode C stuck until airborne

[Matthew Kemp]

Hi,

I fly using Vpilot, FSX and FSX default aircraft (A321 and B738). 

I've noticed a problem with Vpilot. I cannot turn on mode C until I am airborne. If it try to turn mode C on, Vpilot automatically turns it off immediately. Therefore, controllers are often requesting me to activate mode C when lining up on the runway but I am unable. 

Does anyone know a fix for this?

Thanks in advance. 😊

[Don Desfosse]

I haven't heard of that issue.  

Just curious, though, does that happen with all aircraft you fly? 

Does the behavior change if you uncheck "Automatically squawk Mode C on takeoff"?  I'm thinking it shouldn't -- I have that option selected, but haven't flown a default aircraft in at least a decade -- before vPilot was introduced -- so don't remember their level of integration.  But something to try if you haven't yet.

https://vpilot.metacraft.com/Documentation#transponder

[Matthew Kemp]

Hi Don - thanks for replying.

Yes, this happens with all aircraft I fly which makes me think it's a problem with vpilot trying to do it's thing with the default FSX radio panel.

I've tried with "Automatically squawk Mode C on takeoff" turned on and turn off. Vpilot still turns off mode C on when lining up. If it's not ticked I have to manually turn it it on after positive rate.

Edited July 27, 2020 at 04:24 PM by Matthew Kemp
Fixed typo

[Don Desfosse]

@Ross Carlson probably knows/remembers the FSX behavior better than I.  Maybe that's one reason for the note in the documentation regarding the requirement for transponder integration.

Quote

 

If the add-on aircraft you are flying has SquawkBox transponder integration, then vPilot will detect transponder mode changes when you toggle the mode using the aircraft panel within the sim. If this happens, you'll see the Mode C button on the vPilot main window light up in green when the transponder is in Mode C.

If the aircraft does not support SquawkBox integration, then you'll need to manage the transponder mode yourself, simply by clicking the Mode C button on the vPilot main window. Mode C is indicated by this button being lit up in green, otherwise it is in standby mode.

 

 

[Matthew Kemp]

I don't think the default FSX radio panels have a "mode C", so according to that I should be able to manage it manually through vpilot. However, it seems vpilot thinks the aircraft supports squawkbox integration while on the ground and hence turns mode C off when I try to turn it on

Edited July 27, 2020 at 04:34 PM by Matthew Kemp
Fixed another typo 🤒

[Ross Carlson]

vPilot never turns off mode C ... it only turns it on when airborne if you have that option checked.

Perhaps there is some other add-on messing with it?

[Matthew Kemp]

I run; FSrealWX, vasFMC, Ultimate Traffic 2 (turned off), Skytrack (my VA's flight tracking software), my VA's AI traffic package (turned off), WOAI and some IVAO software (turned off). I'm also using my VA's aircraft but these use the default FSX cockpits and panels as well 

Due to my PC spec, I only use freeware scenery which uses the default object libraries.

[Matthew Kemp]

You're point got me thinking Ross, so I had a google and I think I've found my solution: 

 

It looks like vasFMC is interfering with the mode C button in vpilot

 

 

 

 

[Andreas Fuchs]

Correct. vasFMC has an option to operate your aircraft's transponder. You can either manually select the desired mode of operation through the CDU of vasFMC or you can select "AUTO" (or similar).