I am now up and running using SBHost.exe. But I have couple or 3 questions. When I get an audio sound for an incomming message I have to click on the FS screen to see it. Also after I send a text message I have to click on the FS screen - WHY?Is there any point in flying online if there are no controllers active in your area and just use Unicom?Sorry if these Q? are basic but I am trying to learn.

Its because SB becomes the active Window.Nothing you can do about it, just make sure you have the Pause on Taskswitch box not checked in the options menu or you will pause everytime this happens and it will upset the ATC

>Its because SB becomes the active Window.>>Nothing you can do about it, Well - there is if your video card will support a second monitor(and assuming you have a spare monitor laying around) because then you can drag SB to the second screen and you'll still be able to see all of your FS screen even when texting etc.Like Dave says make sure you uncheck Pause on Task- and everything will keep going nicely while you're communicating.If you're serious about online flying - then a second screen really is a very big help as you can put all your other bits and pieces needed for online flying over on to it ( EG: Servinfo, flight planning software, GPS etc).If you want to find out where ATC is active so you don't spend all your time on UNicom then use Servinfo to get the worldwide picture of current activity.Have funDave

Dumb question, does this mean that you have to fly in their airspace?Thanks fo the help guys.

yah buddy... you gotta fly in their airspace in order to get atc directed by them... a good thing before even managing on a flight is to contact the center you are arriving to and make certain that lets say if ur flight was 1 hour... make sure to ask them if they are going to be online for about 2 hours ... or what i usually do is to ask them if they can wait for my arrival as i need atc directories during landing.So really... plan ahead before flying buddy, to make sure both ur Departure and Arrival ATC's are online during your flight...Best Time Frame For Arrivingall Pacific Time5:00 PM - 10:30 PM If flying in Western CoastOr If flying in the east coast 2:00 PM - 7:30 PM Pacific TimeSo for example, lets say you had a flight fromLAX - JFKa good time for departure would be 12:05 NOON Pacific... so your Arrival time would be somewhere around 6:00 Pm Pacific which makes 9:00 PM Pacific... which is right in the time frame... so yahHope these are usefull resources.Thanks,

Thanks for the info. I fly mainly in the UK/Europe and there does not appear to many controllers active here.

UK Best times from 1900Z to 2200Z- right now 2138Z Servinfo is showing around 14 UK ATC positions active and approx 50 flights within or into/out of UK airspace.You can fly wherever you like - even if no ATC available - then use the Unicom freq 122.8 to inform others (within reasonable range) of your intentions(IE: No need to tell everyone what you're doing if the next nearest flight is 500 miles away) .DAve

Thanks Dave, I noticed there were more contollers last night but I had no time for a flight. One more question, I got one flight in yesterday pm from EGCC where there was a ground controller. I files a VFR plan but the weather was definitely IFR but I was cleared to take off? Is this normal, FS9 ATC would no allow this.