Connecting to the VATSIM Network

Ok, software installed, sim fired up, ready to get this Squawkbox stuff running. SB acts as an interface between Flight Simulator and the VATSIM online network. Let's follow a few steps to first get SB running and connected to the sim, then we will connect to the network.

STEP 1. Start a Flight Simulator Multiplayer session

From the Flights menu, select Multiplayer, then Connect.

This will bring up...you guessed it...a multiplayer connect dialog. Put a player name in (doesn't matter what it is, use your ALT number if you want), select TCP/IP in the protocol list, then press the Host button. The IP address should be already filled.

Next step, complete the Host dialog. Put in the Session name (again doesn't matter) and set Max. pilots to 16. I set observers to 10 (max) but don't know if this is needed or not. You'll follow these steps every time you run Squawkbox, but the values will all be retained from the last session. Just clickthrough the "host" and "ok" buttons.

STEP 2. Start Squawkbox

From the Modules menu, select HostSB, then Run.

This opens an empty container for Squawkbox to run within. It can be minimized to move it out of the way for most of your flight. It can also be sized so that, for example, the HSI display can be seen and left open.

Now start the Squawkbox program itself. This will be Squawkbox for FS2002 from the Windows Start/Program menu, desktop shortcut or other depending on how you installed it.

STEP 3. Connect to the Sim Multiplayer session

Put in a player name (doesn't matter what it is), select "Internet TCP/IP" for the protocol and press OK.

This brings up the multiplayer dialog. SB will search for the FS2002 multiplayer session. Simply press the "Start Search" button.

A "Locate Session" box pops up. Press OK. No need to put a computer name or IP address in.

Note: If for some reason you are unable to connect to the FS multiplayer session, try putting 127.0.0.1 in the Locate Session IP address field. Start first by leaving it blank and only put an address in if you have a problem.

The search should find the multiplayer session you entered in the Host Dialog in Step 1 ("SB" in the example here).

Select the displayed session and press the "Join" button.

Squawkbox will now start and connect to the Sim.

Finally you will get the Squawkbox splash screen. Should say "2.3 Beta" at the top and "Build 5 for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator" bottom right.

Press the "Click Here to Get into the Action" bar on the bottom. Squawkbox starts.

Note that at this point, you are not yet connected to the VATSIM network. That's the final step.

STEP 4. Connect to the VATSIM network

At this point, you should have a black chat window within the SB Host area. This is where received messages from controllers and other pilots scroll by. The white area at the top is where you type text (if not on voice or when necessary). Note the little window which says "IDENT" (shown here it says "-SBY-").

You are ready to connect to VATSIM. Before you do, it is important you first do the following:

1. Squawk standby

2. Move your aircraft to a ramp area.

You will use SB to squawk normal once a beacon code has been assigned by ATC and you are at the runway ready for departure. After landing and clearing the runway, and at all other times, you will squawk standby.
When moving an aircraft to a new airport, Flight Sim will plop you down on a runway. Very bad place to be when you connect because other aircraft may be taking off or landing on that runway! Move to a gate, parking or ramp area, clear of runways and taxiways prior to connecting.

Squawk Standby - Right-click anywhere in the SB chat window (black background). The menu shown here appears. Select the "Squawk Standby" option, a checkmark will appear and -SBY- now appears on the top of the SB window. Repeat the process to remove the checkmark and squawk normal (sometimes called "Mode C").

Moving the aircraft - Once at an airport (either through a saved flight or using the World menu "Go to airport" option, press the "Y" key to go into slew mode, use the controller (joystick, yoke, or number keys) to move the aircraft. You may find the overhead view (press Ctrl-S) to be convenient for slewing around an airport.

You are ready to connect to the network.

Right-click to bring up the SB menu again. Select "Connect" this time.

You are presented with the network connect dialog. Select one of the servers where it asks for Internet Address, put your callsign in (use Altair pilot number), and enter the Pilot ID (PID) and password obtaining when you registered with VATSIM earlier.

Check the box to indicate use of Roger-Wilco. We'll explain how to find the best server to connect to later. Press OK.

You will get some blue text signifying that you are connected and Roger Wilco should pop (although first time you may not connect to a RW channel). If you receive an error message of any kind, make sure your PID and password are correct, and maybe try a different server in the list of Internet Addresses on the connect dialog.

Let's go fly!

At this point you are connected to the network and ready to go. Use of all the Squawkbox features are beyond the scope of this tutorial and it is highly recommended that you read the Squawkbox manuals for use of the FMS, filing a flight plan, changing ATC frequencies and so forth before attempting an online flight. It is also useful to sit at a ramp tuning into the respective frequencies listening to others interact with ATC. But caution, not everyone follows correct operating procedures so you may pick up some bad habits!

Finding the best server connection

To optimize network performance, you will need to install ServInfo. Details about this useful utility are found on the tools page. Install and start this program, then click on the "Network Servers" tab. Check all the servers, and press the "ping servers" tool button on the tool bar top-left. Servers will be pinged and you should connect to one of the servers provided the shortest (smallest number) response time. Here's what it looks like. In this case, of the six servers tested, any of the USA- servers would be providing good response.

You can also update the list of servers available to select when connecting inside Squawkbox. From the ServInfo File menu, select the Export ipaddr.tx option to create a new list of servers for Squawkbox to use. Confirm this file is being saved in your SB 2.3.5 subdirectory. Normally this will be the case.