Hi,I finally have the pc now which is good enough to run high settings and the NGX, so I thought, why not start to fly online? I heard a while ago that Squawkbox is a easy to use programm, so I downloaded it and installed it. I just have a few questions about it. The getting started guide of Squawkbox is telling me to login using an air traffic controller service account? Does this mean I need a VATSIM or IVAO account? Or a specific Squawkbox account?How does real world weather work online? Do I need to run a programm like ASE or is the weather all coming from VATSIM? If so, how can I make the weather come from VATSIM? And also, do I need to set the current date in FSX to get the correct real world weather? Because normally I always like flying using the summer scenery (because the fall scenery looks ugly in my opinion). So for example I'm flying at the 16th July FSX date, does that mean the real world weather will be the weather from 16th July 2011? Or real world weather from today?Thanks!

Hey,It doesn't matter what date you set, real weather is live downloaded weather. If you have ASE then keep using it online, the SB weather is poor and most people don't use it.No SB account, just use your Vatsim login.Your best bet is to head over to the Vatsim forums as these questions have been answered many times.Regards

It'll be vatsim/ivao, that's the actual atc network. As for weather, vatsim weather can cause problems for some users (search fsinn temperature inversion) so I'd recommend rex or ase for weather. Also it's a good idea to keep your navdata updated & use current charts because the controllers will be expecting you to use current procedures. You don't necessarily have to update every single cycle, but don't let it get too far behind.

It'll be vatsim/ivao, that's the actual atc network. As for weather, vatsim weather can cause problems for some users (search fsinn temperature inversion) so I'd recommend rex or ase for weather. Also it's a good idea to keep your navdata updated & use current charts because the controllers will be expecting you to use current procedures. You don't necessarily have to update every single cycle, but don't let it get too far behind.

Ok thanks, I'm connected and it's all working fine now. But how do I find my frequencies? Do I need another programm to see those? Cuz I'm not seeing any at the moment.

If you are definitely connected and see no frequencies then no controllers are in your area. You can Switch to 122.80 and ask another pilot if your still not sure.Best thing to do if your new is load the aircraft somewhere remote at a busy major airport and tune into various frequencies to get an idea of how things work. Also tune ground or delivery and ask them for a com check to test your PTT and mic is setup correctly in SB, they will give you a readability of 1 to 5Regards

If you are definitely connected and see no frequencies then no controllers are in your area. You can Switch to 122.80 and ask another pilot if your still not sure.Best thing to do if your new is load the aircraft somewhere remote at a busy major airport and tune into various frequencies to get an idea of how things work. Also tune ground or delivery and ask them for a com check to test your PTT and mic is setup correctly in SB, they will give you a readability of 1 to 5Regards

OK I went to KJFK, connected to VATSIM USA East, and all frequencies I'm seeing are PHL_N_DEP and CZYZ_CTR, where are all other frequencies? Even when I tried to connect to USA West, North, UK, Europe, this is all I'm seeing at the moment. Seems very unlikely that there are only 2 controllers at such a busy airport as KFJK. I'm also not seeing any other online players (aircraft). The airport is entirely empty.EDIT: I tuned to those frequencies using the COMM 1 on the 737NGX comm panel, I simply dialed in 124.35 for PHN_N_DEP, put it over to the active side and I'm not hearing anything. Is there maybe a specific button I have to press?

I really don't think the PMDG team want this to turn into a Vatsim/SB support forum ;). Head over to the Vatsim forum, as mentioned you will find plenty of people to assist.One last thing, it is around mid day in New York on a weekday, controllers work for free and obviously have other commitments. I used to fly London - Boston quite a bit, if I departed in the evening UK time once I hit the East coast of the US it will be evening there, that way I was always guaranteed full coverage for the route.Cheers