Brian Nuss 887798 Posted April 29, 2007 at 07:04 AM Posted April 29, 2007 at 07:04 AM Hello Gents, I've just begun here and I was only partially successful in my first VATSIM experience. I am using FS9 as my sim and as per the home page, I downloaded and installed Copilot and FSInn. Unfortunately, while there is a wealth of information on how a non-pilot should conduct oneself, there is a paucity of information regarding a step by step procedure to initiate the VATSIM session. Today, I opened the sim at LAX and positioned myself well out of the way on the ramp. Once in the sim, I opened Copilot>Inn Control panel to try and access a server. Presumably, this is done via the set button on the control panel. Yet, when I do that, it says FWInn has joined the session...how can that be me? Shouldn't it indicate that my callsign has joined the session? In any event, I click on set>Networks and then click on VATSIM. This opens up a box that proves to be a whole can of worms for me. Question #1: I am using Teamspeak as my facilitator for my headset. Yet under the voice selection, it already has WL selected and it won't allow me to change it. Shouldn't I have TS checked? Next is the frequencies. Is it true that the actual frequencies of the airport aren't used? I gathered this much from clicking on the ATC button on the control panel. Looks to me like a totally different set of freqs are being used(?) Yet I see a box for UNICOM frequencies. Is that a necessary thing for me to alter? I see UNICOM frequency and UNICOM channel. Do I change those if the frequency is a Center controller? Also, what do I do with the TS VA Mode URL? Is that related to Teamspeak? The thing is, I could hear the controller directing traffic but I couldn't make myself be heard. Note that I've done several multi player sessions with my headset so I know its not that hardware that is the problem. Also, does it make a difference whether my mic is set for voice activation or a key is set for the push to talk? I tried both ways but couldn't get any response. I guess I'll stop here and see if anyone can help me before I get writer's cramp. Thanx "The clueless newb of today is the seasoned loyal pilot of tomorrow." -Elchitz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Casey Posted April 29, 2007 at 10:16 AM Posted April 29, 2007 at 10:16 AM Hi Brian and welcome to the wonderful world of Vatsim! I'll try and answer your quessies as best I can... Firstly, don't try and use TS as your voice program in FSInn/Vatsim. FSInn has it's own voice program V V L (not WL) which you need to activate in the FSFDT control panel (traffic lights in your task bar). Uncheck anything related to TS for Vatsim use, it's there to [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ist with other networks not Vatsim. When you run Control Panel it will initially connect FWInn to the MP session and hence the message you're seeing. You yourself have not connected to Vatsim at this point, it is just FSInn connecting to multiplayer. You do not need to set the network each time you connect. Once you have fired up Control Panel all you need to do is press the Vatsim button and it should do everything else for you. At this point you will see a message across the screen saying " has joined the session". Frequencies - in most cases the real-world frequencies are used. There may occasionally be some differences especially when the RW frequency is in 8.33 such 118.775, FS cannot use the 5 on the end so you just tune 118.77 in your radio stack. The other difference is that many of the larger airports and busier control zones in the RW have many more frequencies than Vatsim usually use so you won't necessarily see the ones you are used to if you listen in to the RW, the local Vatsim guys will usually pick one of the RW ones as the "normal" ferquency. Be guided by the identifier that you see next to the frequency as to what their function is, a click on that frequency in the ATC box will also bring up the ATIS for that controller which will normally tell you what his position is. Do not change the Unicom frequency in your settings, Unicom in 95% of the Vatsim world is 122.80. You do not need to go into any of the FSInn frequency settings once you're connected. Use the frequencies that you see in the ATC box and tune your radio stack accordingly, when you connect to a frequency you should hear a beep in your ear as soon as it connects. Please DO NOT set your mic to voice activation, that's absolutely Rule One of mic settings! I suspect from what you say that you havn't correctly set a Push-to-Talk (PTT) key which would enable you to talk to ATC. Again in the FSFDT control panel (traffic lights in the task bar) you can set a PTT key, most people use something like left or right CTRL, which you press and hold when you want to speak. Releasing the key then switches yur mic back off again. This qgain must be set for V V L and not Teamspeak. If you have set a PTT key correctly then I suspect your lack of success has something to do with trying to use TS as your voice software. If you wish to run TS to speak with friends then run it as a separate program outside of FS/FSInn and most importantly set a different PTT for it or you'll be broadcasting over TS and the ATC channel at the same time. I hope this helps, connecting really isn't as complicated as you may be thinking right now once you have your client (FSInn or SB3) setup correctly. It just becomes a single-click and fly exercise. Best of luck, prepare to be utterly addicted and if you have any more quessies then please come back in this thread. Bill Casey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Nuss 887798 Posted April 29, 2007 at 04:17 PM Author Posted April 29, 2007 at 04:17 PM Bill, thanks a ton for your thorough and prompt reply! This morning, I got on and was able to speak immediately to a controller, thanks to your help. I am a real world commercial pilot so this new aspect of the sim hobby is facinating to me. One question: to begin, I believe I must file a flight plan (in the sim, not online) through the Copilot interface. The form is straight forward enough, but can you explain the buttons at the buttom, "request from tower" and "send to Tower"? Also, strangely enough, the controller that I spoke with this morning said he saw me showing up on his board as a controller, rather than an aircraft...do you know what would cause this bug? He could hear me fine, but didn't see my aircraft on the ground where it should have been. Thanks again Brian "The clueless newb of today is the seasoned loyal pilot of tomorrow." -Elchitz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Casey Posted April 29, 2007 at 06:57 PM Posted April 29, 2007 at 06:57 PM If you're showing as a controller then in your FSInn settings you have ticked the "Connect as an Observer" box, uncheck it and you become an aeroplane again. "Request from Tower" - I have no idea what it does, it never gets used on Vatsim. Ignore it. "Send to Tower" sends your FP to the Vatsim servers so that it shows on the controllers screen (and in Servinfo, vRoute etc). Hitting that button one once you've written your plan is rather important! Sounds like you're getting there Brian Bill Casey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Fels 871459 Posted April 29, 2007 at 11:51 PM Posted April 29, 2007 at 11:51 PM "Request From Tower" retreive a FP from VATSIM... In case you relaunch FSInn, FP is stored by VATSIM, you can retreive it, etc ... FSInn a 3 ans/ 3 years of FSInn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Casey Posted April 30, 2007 at 08:09 AM Posted April 30, 2007 at 08:09 AM "Request From Tower" retreive a FP from VATSIM...In case you relaunch FSInn, FP is stored by VATSIM, you can retreive it, etc ... Well I never knew that Benjamin! I must admit I always Save my FPs in case of having to resend it after a problem. Bill Casey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts