Avid members of the VA's (United, Delta, American, etc) may be pleased to learn that the long-sought-for 64-bit version of X-Squawkbox 4.0 is about ready for a closed private Beta-test, which should mean it is getting very close to public release!

 

Having gone from NO development after being abandoned by the original developers, it now looks as if this much-needed VATSIM interface will happen in the not-distant future, though it's anyone's guess as to 'when, exactly.'  This product is of keen interest to the many X-plane pilots who are for various reasons, insistent on flying ONLY in 64-bits.

 

Now, you can have the Vatsim experience AND enjoy the benefits of 64-bit flight.  Of course you already can do something even better if you have tried PilotEdge ATC, their VSPro interface already works in 64-bit x-Plane.  While PilotEdge is a pay service versus Vatsim (which is free), PilotEdge is used for training and certification by RW airlines and the military.  The grade of service quality and audio performance is worlds above Vatsim, and operates 15 hours a day, 7 days a week.  This is greatly different from the hit-or-miss services on Vatsim.  To be fair, Vatsim offers a much larger coverage area _WHEN THE CONTROLLERS ARE ACTUALLY AVAILABLE_ as compared to PilotEdge.  

 

The VA I belong to is locked into Vatsim and refuses to accept flight hours I log on PilotEdge, which makes zero sense to me.  I fly Pilot edge 2 hours a day, which is like 60+ hours a month, and instead, I am FORCED to fly 2 minimum duration flights a month in 32-bits with X-Squawkbox 32 so I can maintain my rating for the 777 on the VA.  Once 64-bit X-Squawkbox appears, I will have far fewer issues maintaining my currency.

 

FYI.

That's gr8 news, thanks for sharing Robert!!

It would be great news, except it has not a bit of truth to it.

Hi Robert,

 

I am the original developer of XSquawkBox.

 

"Having gone from NO development after being abandoned by the original developers, it now looks as if this much-needed VATSIM interface will happen in the not-distant future, though it's anyone's guess as to 'when, exactly."

 

XSquawkBox has not been abandoned by the original developers.  Who did you talk to, exactly?  Are you actually talking about XSquawkBox?  We're not on version 4.0 or even 3.0; the last shipping version was 1.0.6.  Perhaps you mean a different add-on?

 

cheers

Ben

I'm guessing its a little bit of confusion between xsquawkbox and squawkbox 4 for fsx/fs2004 which according to their own website, has potentially ceased development as of 2009.

 

I've yet to look into vatsim with XPX, but its on the cards, so a 64 bit version of xsquawkbox will be more than welcome, In time of course.

 

Best wishes,

Jess B

Hi Robert,

 

I am the original developer of XSquawkBox.

 

"Having gone from NO development after being abandoned by the original developers, it now looks as if this much-needed VATSIM interface will happen in the not-distant future, though it's anyone's guess as to 'when, exactly."

 

XSquawkBox has not been abandoned by the original developers.  Who did you talk to, exactly?  Are you actually talking about XSquawkBox?  We're not on version 4.0 or even 3.0; the last shipping version was 1.0.6.  Perhaps you mean a different add-on?

 

cheers

Ben

 

Many apologies Ben (and all), I may have misinterpreted Mr. Wycliffe Barrett's remarks over in the X-Plane forums.  I now think he may have been referring to a "NEW" 64-bit pilot client software that will allow VATSIM communications with X-Plane.  I'm betting Ben may have more on this topic than I do.  Mr. Barrett is a controller on Vatsim, and seems to have some knowledge of the 'closed-beta' for a 64-bit Pilot Client that I am writing about here.  I apologize, as it seems he may have been referring to something other than x-squawkbox.

 

Ben, can you please comment on the current state of X-squawkbox?  Is a 64-bit version under development, and is it something we might expect to see released in the near-future?  Or, Do you know of some other alternative vatsim client that will work in 64-bit x-plane X?

 

AFAIK, at this time, there is no 64-bit pilot-to-vatsim voice client for X-Plane 64-bits.  Am I mistaken?  The lack of this ability is definitely nettlesome to those of us who persist in flying 64-bits "only", yet wish to (from time to time) be able to log hours on Vatsim.

Hi Robert,

 

A 64-bit version of XSquawkBox is currently held back by a lack of a 64-bit Mac audio interface for VATSIM's audio library.  This code is not under NDA, but it is necessary to ship a beta.

 

I have no idea whether any other clients are being developed, but if they are it might be a bit silly ... we just need audio code, not a whole new client!

 

cheers

Ben

Just a wee question on XSB, what airplane models does it use to represent other users?

I have the Xivap client which uses the CSL library (like MTL but for XP).

 

Cheers.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2

Just a wee question on XSB, what airplane models does it use to represent other users?

I have the Xivap client which uses the CSL library (like MTL but for XP).

 

Cheers.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2

 

Found the answer online, you can use the CSL library with both clients.

The VA I belong to is locked into Vatsim and refuses to accept flight hours I log on PilotEdge, which makes zero sense to me.  I fly Pilot edge 2 hours a day, which is like 60+ hours a month, and instead, I am FORCED to fly 2 minimum duration flights a month in 32-bits with X-Squawkbox 32 so I can maintain my rating for the 777 on the VA

 

And thats exactly why I do not like VAs.

 

About pilotedge: there are 2 problems: it's pay service, and it's covering region I do not fly at all. I could jump across one problem, but two is too much.

And thats exactly why I do not like VAs.

 

About pilotedge: there are 2 problems: it's pay service, and it's covering region I do not fly at all. I could jump across one problem, but two is too much.

 

PilotEdge is spectacular.  I 'get' that their coverage area is not for everyone- however they recently expanded coverage to also include San Francisco.  They now have SoCal and Las Vegas, plus San Francisco - which is a lot of area if you are a GA pilot, and I'm quite happy flying routes in the T7 from KSAN to KLAS, KLAS to KLAX, etc, etc.  When I want variety, I depart via PilotEdge until I reach the edge of their coverage, then switch to Unicom.  Works for me.

 

The coverage at PilotEdge has you quite busy tip-to-tip from delivery-clearance to ground parking at the other end.  The fact they are available every single day, 15 hours per day, is worlds apart from Vatsim.  Also, and this is a biggie, their sound quality is pristine and you can soon see why they have large commercial accounts, not just private sim enthusiasts, using their service.

 

I don't think fifty cents a day is unreasonable, given the amount of money I spend for Cable TV, it's about the same cost as 1 premium cable channel (e.g. "HBO").  $15 a mo. for unlimited use, or you can pay per-hour if you are only an occasional sim pilot.

 

Whenever I fly Vatsim, I am dumfounded by the difference in quality.  Yes, Vatsim can be fun, but not so much when the controller clears your flight plan, then announces he is closing up shop in the middle of the day.  Happens ALL the time on Vatsim, and many times I log on and NO ONE is controlling - anywhere in the USA.  A real buzz kill.

 

The VA issue is nettlesome, to say the least.  I quit Delta because of their inflexibility and I'm getting itchy with American.  There is tremendous loyalty between the VAs and Vatsim.  In fact, you'd almost think they were brother and sister.

Robert, you might want to check out this VA. No rules, just fun.

 

http://www.worldwidevirtual.net//index.php/

Robert, you might want to check out this VA. No rules, just fun.

 

http://www.worldwidevirtual.net//index.php/

 

Looks quite promising. Thank you.

Hello

 

Being the OP of the post over on the xplane forum and the OP of that thread I feel that perhaps the titl eof the thread has caused some confusion. first off release imminent or otherwise of the VATSIM Member Development Team of a new pilot client is pure supposition on my part. I have no hard and fast facts or dates. The development team have made it quite clear that they will not be driven by the members desire but their own success regarding the development of the client.

 

It is in no way connected to Fsinn, Squawkbox or Xsquawkbox and what developers of those products may or may not be doing. It will be a completely new cient.

 

My original and first post in the xplane forum written in Feb of this year, was indirectly a plea to Mr Ben Supnik and I qoute:-

 

>>Ben, here is where my post addresses you directly, unfortunately your product Xsquawkbox is the only one to market and although there are several cross platform projects taking place in the VATSIM world, converting Xsquawkbox to 64 bit would be the quickest answer. So I am asking once again if you can possibly find the time to do that conversion.  I freely admit I am not a programmer, I am more of a visual creator, (picesean) so I have no idea how long it would take for you or anyone to apply the 64bitSDK to Xsquawkbox or if its a total rewrite of the programme, but i do ask if you might not consider spending a little of your finite time on Xsquawkbox.

 

I hope you and all your family, friends and the rest of New England have recovered from the lurgy. (Bubonic Plague) <<

 

I recognised the fact that at the time of writing Mr Supnik was heavily involved in work concerning xplane and its 64 bit release etc and that he had finite time. I hope this clears up any confusion that I may have inadvertanly caused.

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

Wycliffe Barrett

Robert, you might want to check out this VA. No rules, just fun.

 

http://www.worldwidevirtual.net//index.php/

Looks good. With FSX Global just around the corner I'm itching for an excuse to fly elsewhere than the UK for a change!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2