Greetings,

 

Is there some where I can see the pro's and con's between the three pilot clients for VATSIM.

 

At the moment, from what I've read/seen:

 

- FSInn is the most comprehensive/detailed but also needs FSCopilot to operate, also the most complex to install

 

- Squawkbox has a less capable interface, is easier to install compared to FSInn, but seems to be having quite a few problems with the server at the moment

 

- vPilot, the new boy on the block, easy to install, very limited interface

 

Can anyone provide comments about the system they use please?  Just trying to make the decision making process a little easier as I start my VATSIM journey.

 

Thanks.

I have used all three, i run a low'ish spec pc and vPilot wins for me.

 

We have been waiting for a new pilot client for a while and vPilot was well worth the wait...massive round of applause from me to the person/team that put this together.

I use FSInn. I'm keeping my eye on VPilot.

 

With regards to FSInn:

 

I run it over two PCs. My USB Headset is plugged into PC2. And FSX runs off PC1. I have the software installed on both PCS anyhow. 

 

It was a pain to get this working, but now it does, it runs absolutely fine. 

 

Some modal matching is off, but that may be my fault. 

FSInn is worth the trouble.  The mini control panel is my favorite part.  You can hide it in the bottom corner of your screen and have instant access to connection status, transponder modes, nearby ATC online, adjustable radar range, and weather metars via individual pop-up windows.  It takes a little more time to learn, but works great for me.

 

GD

 

P.S. It also allows you to fly shared cockpit in the LSH Maddog with one radar target for ATC.

/** Can i have vpilot and fsinn instlled on the same Laptop then alternate between them depending on my preference ?

/** Can i have vpilot and fsinn instlled on the same Laptop then alternate between them depending on my preference ?

Yes

All 3 clients have model matching. It just depends on how much time you want to invest in setting it up for the same result -- hours (or at least many minutes) for FSInn and Squawkbox vs. about 10 minutes for vPilot if you use vmrgenerator. I am told that vPilot has less of a fps hit.

FSInn setup is a lot trickier than vPilot to set up, takes many minutes to hours longer to set up, and really only buys you the ability to do voice unicom, a radar screen and push back feature. FSInn is only community supported, as it was a beta that was never released, and is now developer-abandoned (for many years now). Squawkbox is easier to set up out of the box and the model matching is easier to set up than FSInn, but it is also now developer-abandoned (for several years now).  As a result, when equipmetn suffixes changed real world, there was no one there to change them on SB, so the incorrect ones are the only ones you can choose from .  vPilot was recently released, and is supported by not only the community, but by the developer as well, who continues to make feature improvements.

Please don't take my comments the wrong way -- FSInn and SquawkBox are great pieces of software, and for people who have already gotten it set up, it probably makes no sense whatsoever to switch from FSInn.  For accuracy in flight plan filing, it DOES make sense to change from SquawkBox (unless you still use FS9, because vPilot doesn't support FS9, also abandoned nearly 10 years ago). But if you are a FSX or P3D user and just getting set up for the first time, I personally think that vPilot is the much better choice.