FSInn/VATSIM FAQ - Apollo III Communications
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Frequently Asked Questions about Connecting to VATSIM using the FSInn Pilot Client

This document is not to replace the PRC found on www.vatsim.net/prc , the FSInn Manuals, FAQ's and Wiki Documentation found on www.mcdu.com .  I'm providing it as a quick reference for the many questions that are being ask frequently, mainly on VATSIM.  I conveniently placed it here so that as the most frequently questions change, I can just as quickly add or modify this page.

As you can see, this document is starting out very small.  I'll check it most of the time when answering questions in the forums.  If the question has been asked and answered many times, I'll put the question and answer here.

1 How do I configure the Voice for Talking to ATC?
2 I configured my PTT, why can't the controllers hear me (or vice-versa)?
3 Why does a plane follow me most of the time?
4 Why am I having connection problems?
5 Why do I only have Flight Simulator's Default Aircraft on VATSIM?
6 Why isn't my VIP/MPP being displayed?
7 Why does the FSInn Button Stay Amber when I click it (Multiplayer/Lobby Connection Failure)?
8 Why does my addons (LevelD Aircraft, other Aircraft panels and gauges, Scenery, etc.) Fail when FSInn is installed?
9 How can I increase my FPS with FSInn?
10 How can I change my Default Callsign?
11 Can somone point me to an easy to follow step-by-step install guide for FSInn?
12 Where can I download the latest version of FSInn?
13 Why can't I see Aircraft on VATSIM?
14 Why can't ATC (and others) see me?



Configuring Sound and the PTT (Push To Talk)

The PTT option is found in the FSFDT Control Panel.  It can be found in the Start Menu under the FSFDT group, labeled Control Panel.  It's the icon in the tasktray that looks like a traffic light.  You can right click on it to bring it up.  The option is under Voice -> VATSIM -> Key mappings.  You can set the Key or Joystick button to click from this panel.

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Troubleshooting Sound Output

Check the device settings for Headset and Speakers.  You can actually specify the same or difference devices for the two.  For each check and verify each device you have available for both the wave and directsound mode.  Ensure that all volume controls are set sufficiently to the right.

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Troubleshooting Sound Input

Check the volume levels in the FSFDT Control Panel (FSFDT Control Panel -> Voice -> VATSIM -> Volumes).  Make sure the controls are sufficiently to the right.  Some drivers will mute the mic or input device when a program first access it.  You can check this by going into the Windows Sound option (found by right clicking the speaker icon in the tasktray).

Look for the microphone or input device and ensure that the volume levels there are sufficient raised and that it's not marked as muted.  Also ensure that you have the same device set in the FSFDT Control Panel as the one you verify in Windows as available and working.

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Testing the Sound Device

I would recommend installing Teamspeak, which is easily configurable for testing the sound.  It has what's called a "Local Test Mode". Use that to check the working device, then configure FSCopilot to use the same device.

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Check Network connectivity (if you can't hear ATC or Vice-Versa)

Check the bars in the VVL panel. You can get to this panel by clicking from the Inn Control Panel -> Advance -> VVL. When you switch to a frequency you.ll see three horizontal bars. The middle bar will show your connection to the Voice Status. Green will indicate you.re successfully connected to the voice server. You can point to it with your mouse cursor and it will indicate to you the function. If you have a problem with connection, check your network connectivity, firewall and antivirus configuration. A most common problem is a third party firewall/antivirus block.

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A plane follows me

Disable P2P.

Inn Control Panel -> Set -> Network -> Peer To Peer -> (Tick) Peer to Peer disabled.

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I keep getting disconnected

Many connection problems are resolved by the presents of a loopback network adapter.

You can install Microsoft's Loopback adapter by going to Add Hardware (Control Panel) -> Next -> (select) Yes I have already connected the hardware -> Next -> (Select) Add a new hardware device -> Next -> (Select) Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advance) -> (Select) Network adapters -> Next -> (Select) Microsoft (Select) Microsoft Loopback Adapter -> Next -> Next -> Finish

For the IP and Subnet mask use 172.20.1.1 and 255.255.0.0. Leave the Default Gateway blank.

After installing the loopback adapter, find the Network Connections icons VIA Windows Control Panel. Right Click on the loopback adapter's icon for the properties menu. Go into TCP/IP and set the IP and Subnet mask.

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I'm Seeing only Default Aircraft

FSinn uses whatever Aircraft you have installed on your computer for displaying when on VATSIM. This includes all AI both default AI, any commercial AI packages, as well as any freeware AI installed.

To have more variey, install more AI packages.

There are a couple packages provided to give compatibilty with the Squawkbox packages on the mcdu.com site called VIP and MPP. While they are not the best in design for FPS effeciency, they will fill the immediate void while the user accomulates his own more effecient shareware AI models.

When you add a large number of models, it might be advisable to click on the "Reset All" or "Reset All Auto Added" in Inn Plane to allow FSInn to update it's current matched models.

Also, rescan the Aircraft Repository (Inn Control Panel -> Aircraft -> Aircraft Repository -> [Rescan new Aircraft]).

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My VIP/MPP isn't being displayed

For VIP download and install the enabler from the mcdu.com site ( http://wiki.mcdu.com/fsinn:configuration?s=vip ).

FS9 uses the AI (or addon aircraft) in the Aircraft directory. FSX uses the SimObjects\Airplanes for this same purpose. So for place your VIP directory or MPP packages (by default) into:

FS9:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\Aircraft

FSX:
C:\program files (x86)\Microsoft games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes

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FSInn Stays Amber when I click it (Multiplayer/Lobby Connection failure

This is a symptom of a corrupted FS9 registry. Either of the following sould resolve the issue. The first one would most likely be the easiest.

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Addons (LevelD Aircraft, other Aircraft, panels and gauges, and Scenery) Fail when FSInn is installed

Move the FSCopilot entry to the bottom of the dll.xml file. To locate it, type this in the "Run" field of Windows Start Manu:

%appdata%\Microsoft\FSX

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Tips for Enhancing FSInn's Performance (Increase FPS)

You can increase your FPS by changing some of the default settings:

  1. Adjust the MP range down from the default 150 miles to a far lower figure.
    (Found in the Inn Control Panel under Mulplayer)
  2. Increase the Weather refreash rate from the default 5 seconds to something in minutes.
    (Found in the Inn Control Panel under Weather)
  3. When you have high detailed third party addon aircraft installed such as the PMDG and LevelD, FSInn might resolve other planes in the area as those high detailed models and eat up system resources displaying them. Verify to uncheck (unchecked by default) Resolve to exact model priority.

    You can also check "Only use lowres Models" (unchecked by default).

    These settings are located at Inn Control Panel -> Set -> Various. You can make the changes on the fly without disconnecting from VATSIM and immediately see any difference they make.

  4. Turn off FSInn Graphical borders.
    (Inn Control Panel -> SET -> General -> (Uncheck) FSInn Graphical borders.)

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How can I change my default callsign?

There are two ways to change your callsign. One way is to change the callsign entry in Inn Control panel's Network configuration. This immediate way will override the default callsign, staying permanent for VATSIM unless you change it usign this same procedure:

    Inn control panel -> Set -> Network -> VATSIM -> [type in Net Specific Callsign]

A more portable way would be to leave this Net Specific Callsign field blank. With this being blank, the callsign seen at the bottom of the Inn Control Panel will be the one that will be effective when you connect to VATSIM.

You can easily change it here just by typing over the callsign on the bottom of the Inn Control Panel and pressing ENTER.

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A quick VATSIM/FSInn Install Guide

Announcement - Installing FSInn
http://forums.vatsim.net/viewtopic.php?t=20466

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Where can the latest version of FSInn be downloaded?

The latest version of FSInn is FSInn1.3B2_3. FSInn requires the FSCopilot API (FSCopilot1.7B2_4). When this changes, this FAQ will also change. The links are provided via a "Readme" message from the author, Benjamin. Please read the whole message, then download and enjoy the files. http://www.mcdu.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4363

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ATC and Pilots can see me, but I can't see Aircraft On VATSIM

The most likely culprit is your third party firewall/antivirus program. First ensure you've given full access to the three modules mentioned in the quick install steps. If this fails, try disabling your third party firewall/antivirus program.

Some third party firewall/antivirus programs can only be disabled by uninstalling them, even though they have an option that says disable. So the uninstall might be the only way to check if this is the culprit (which almost always is).

If uninsalling your third party firewall/antivirus program cures this issue, then work with the support people of your third party firewall/antivirus program on how to fix the issue (or change the third party firewall/antivirus program for one that works).

Windows builtin firewall should suffice during the instance of this check.

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ATC and others can't see me

Ensure you haven't put a check mark under observer.

This option is found where you put your Name and homebase information.

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