Hello, I am just registuring with VATSIM so some of these question may be weird or just stupid but how does the ATC comunications with VATSIM work?....Also what does squakbox do, is it the box that you can communicate with other pilots while in flight?Chad Moore

Pilots and ATC communication works very close to real lifein there procedures. You speak with ATC using head-set.However, there is only ATC at some of all in real worldpossible places.Not all people have voice (head-set) or the voice-system is broken in some cases. In addision there is text-communication you use same way as voice.Squakbox send your position to Vatsim servers. AndSquakbox get the other airplane (close as 5-40nm) positionsto you computer into FS.Squakbox also send/receive text-messages and some detailessuch as your transponder frequency, while the application AVCtransmit/receive voices.Lennart Vedin SAS202

Mayby I should add that behind ATC there isreal people, often real world ATC-students.They use ATC-software for Vatsim so they see you at radar.Lennart Vedin SAS202

If you want to see things from the "other side" - you can download/install ASRC and go online as an ATC Observer- You will see things exactlyas the controller sees it and hear the aircraft /ATC transmissions - but you can't transmit yourself.Dave

Chad:Once you join VATSIM, you can have access to a website which answers many of your questions. Although its geared toward the pilot side of things, it does answer a lot your questions. Its called the VATSIM Pilot Resource Center (PRC) and you can join it by going to:http://vatsim.net/prcYou must use your VATSIM issued ID. However, don't use your VATSIM password to join the PRC. Make up a different password.To answer your question in short, there are two sides to VATSIM, pilot and ATC. On the Pilot side, you use a program called SquawkBox along with Flight Simulator. On the ATC side, you use a program called ASRC (Advanced Simulated Radar Client) which is used by itself. These two programs connect to the VATSIM network and allow pilot's to hear ATC (or see their text messages) and ATC to see and control aircraft on ASRC's radar screen.What separates VATSIM from Flight Simulator's built in ATC is that you are dealing with real people from all over the world in real time. It works remarkably well. I disagree with the above post that says the voice system is broken sometimes. All of the clients used to connect to VATSIM are very stable and work well. Any problems typically reside on the end user's computer. However, there are plenty of people to ask for help should you run into any problems and the vast majority of those are solved.Welcome to VATSIM. Its a great community which will educate you and add a whole new experience to flight simulation.George S. MarinakisVATSIM6/VATGOV8

I say nothing about the reason why voice get broken sometimes.Just I hear it broken or blurry sometime (say 15%) and I request go to text.I hear other pilots and ATC request go to text due to non readable voice.I'm very happy with the Vatsim in all matter.However I feel difficult to hear some of the ATC clearly, whilemost are of good quality.Lennart Vedin SAS202

Thansk for the replies...so I just joined Frontier VA and am still with VATSIM..I beleive...I downloaded the squakbox and am about to do my first flight..When taking off how do I use the squakbox and where can I get the numbers to go in the squakbox or does it find people for me automatically...also does the ATC vector me around saying things as "descend and maintain 3000 and turn to a heading of 210"?...I know a little confusing..also I don't have the headset yetChad Moore

If you are using FS9 you will need SBrelay as well as SBox. Also - for voice coms you will need AVC (All available at the VATSIM site).Then I suggest you thoroughly read the various setup/use instructions at the Pilots Resource Center on the VATSIM site- The PRC is located via the left hand menu of the home page under a big flashing red sign which says " New Pilots Start Here"Start there.Dave

Suggests according to my experience.You do not need voice/headset. However you are requredto be able to use text. You can get headset later whenever you like.1. Read as much you need/can at "Pilot Resources Center -> Basic Pilot Training".Most are there, add questions to this forum.2. Logon as an observer and test communicate with ATC.As well you can observe when other traffic speeaking.To logon as an observer means no technical different, butyou fill flighplan with e.g. "OBSERVING KBOS PARK 6", "NEWBIE".As well you don't move your airplane.3. First flight, Write your flightplan (how you will travel) and write FIRST FLIGHT.For IFR-flight: There are some rules how to fill flightplans and ATCdon't always vector you, later on you are supposedto read charts and to follow standard procedures (SID/STAR).You can try without charts and let ATC vector you.If so write "No charts, vectors please" in your flight-planso ATC not give you standard procedure instructions.You could use e.g. http://eleventhstreet.com/fb2/ShowPlans.aspxor http://rfinder.asalink.net (the free area) to find you route.Just try your best, you don't need to know all first flight.I'm sure ATC will help you out.For VFR-flights I know nothing.Typical flightplan remark could be: "/T/ FIRST FLIGHT; NO CHARTS; VECTORS PLEASE"/T/ = Text only/V/ = VoiceLennart Vedin SAS202

Don't forget ServInfoIts a nice utility that shows you who is where and when ... pilots, ATC's, servers, weather and lots more ...Download from :http://avsim.com/hangar/utils/servinfo/Kyprianos Biris :-cool[link:avsim.com/greece/hvacc]Hellenic vACChttp://vateud.org/images/vatsim-eurs.gifhttp://vatsim.pilotmedia.fi/statusindicato...tor=OD1&a=a.jpg

Dont forget the VATSIM Pilot Resource Center!Its a nice website the fine folks set up over at VATSIM to help anyone new get set up and flying online!http://www.vatsim.net/prc