Here's a few pointers I've found about installing SquawkBox.

One of the best tutorials I've seen on getting started with SquawkBox is David Tidwell's "Pilot Training Manual" (version 2, released June 14, 2002). Originally written for White Rose International VA pilots whose on-line flying experience was limited, now it's available from AVSIM'S file library at Online Air Traffic Control (the filename is wribas1.zip).

After you've had a chance to look over the "Pilot Training Manual" you'll want to check that you've downloaded and installed sb-fs2002.zip (located in our file library) in your FS2002 Modules folder, as this is the version that works properly with FS2002. It's used instead of the "SB Host.exe" that comes with the standard download package of Squawkbox for FS2002. So you load FS2002 and start your 'multiplayer' session, then start SB using the SB Host item in your FS Modules menu, and then squawkbox.exe from your computer's start menu. The advantage is that the SB screen now will appear in FS2002 just as it did in FS2000 so you can fly in full-screen mode (no need to switch to a windowed view to use SB). (This part is covered on pages 14 - 15 of the Pilot Training Document—except ignore the part about changing your fs2002.cfg file—that applies to WindowsXP users, and anyway the problem's been fixed in this release.)

Once you've got SB set up and running within the 'HostSB window' and you've set up your basic flight plan name and location data (see figure 24 on p19) you'll need to locate an active VATSIM server with which to connect. Set up a 'favorites' on your web browser pointing to VATSIM's "Who is Online?" and look for one of the available US server addresses – you'll need that to paste into the SB Connect dialog box (see Fig. 25 on p20). The one I'm using currently is "USA South 1" at 64.246.28.98. Once connected you'll see a few lines about the server location; once you've put SB in 'Standby' mode select 'ATC Directory' and find a controller who's on-line and within range, and double-click that (you'll get a standard welcome message from there). For example, I tested my new setup by asking for a "Radio Check" from LAX_V_CTR. The 'navigation' to do all this is quite simple; it's explained on p19-22.

With that done and tested, the next step is to set up Roger Wilco with SquawkBox. That's explained on p22, so I'll leave the details to that. BTW, the "V" in any controller's label means he's using voice communications (though he'll respond to text messages as well).

One other thing – take David Tidwell's suggestion to download and install both Michael Frantzeskakis' ServInfo and Enrico Schiratti's WhazzUp — these show who's flying, where they are, and how well each airport/center is manned at a particular time, so you can set up and file your flight plan accordingly. (Flight planning is another story; back to the main portion of this article for that.)