This tutorial is designed to assist you on your first flight into the online world of Virtual Flight by means of a step by step guide to starting a multiplayer session in FS2k2, connecting the Squawkbox s/w to FS2k2 and then to the Vatsim Network.

Before we start I would suggest you read further information regarding online flight at the Vatsim website to compliment this tutorial. Please note this tutorial includes many images which may take a few seconds to load in your browser...

Ok let us begin........

The software required (Squawkbox v2.3.5, Host SB, Rodger Wilco, FSUIPC available from our downloads page) must be installed as directed with each package for use with FS2k2.

You must have registered and recieved your PID (pilot identification number) from Vatsim

The first step is to postion your aircraft at a gate at your departure airport. This is very important as when we connect.....we do not wish to pop up on a controllers screen sitting on the end of his active runway!

Next we need to have an active internet connection established so we may connect to the Vatsim network when ready.

Before we continue.......I recommend you also have your flightplan details to hand times, route etc........allways best to be prepared before connecting and having to explain your intentions :-)

Ok...we are ready to begin....sitting comfortably at your virtual gate?....first lets start a multiplayer session in FS2k2. As can be seen below in the series of pictures we select to connect FS2k2 to a multiplayer session from the drop down menu File/Multiplayer/Connect....

This starts the process running and FS2k2 presents us with this next screen...

Here we enter our Pilot Name (callsign, player name etc...) in my case my Eurostar PID ESA722. Once entered we click on "Host"

This screen above then appears......here we enter the session name...normally SB or Squawkbox, set the Max.Pilots option to 16 and click "OK".

Now we have a multiplayer session running in FS2k2 we can continue with getting Squawkbox up and running. First as is the nature/design of FS2k2, we need to run another small piece of s/w called Host SB so that we can run the squawbox s/w in a seperate window. We run the Host SB s/w from the toolbar menu option....Modules/HostSB/Run as below...

This then opens a new window like this...

This window will be where the Squawbox s/w will run and be displayed. If you have a second monitor it may be moved to that or if not just minimized as required.

Ok........next step is to start the Squawkbox s/w....either by a shortcut you may have set-up or from the start menu in windows eg. START/Programs/ etc....

Things may pause for a second before opening this window (see below)

Here we need to search for the multiplayer session we have started in FS2k2 so we click on "Start Search" which brings up this window below...

where we enter as above the IP address of 127.0.0.1 which is the local address of a pc and should be where our multiplayer session is being hosted. (note: If you are using Win XP with the internal firewall running...you may have problems...please check out the FS2k2 Forums for advise) All being well after clicking OK...a session will be found hightlighted in blue.....and the JOIN button will become available. Simply click the "Join" button to join this session......once you join the session you should see this screen appear....

Now....simply Click where it says "Click Here to Get into the Action" and the squawkbox s/w will run in the Host SB window as below....

Nearly there........this always takes a while the first time...but is done in seconds once you are used to setting things up. Ok provided you have the screen as above now open in your HostSB window...( if not go back and start again..) we can at last ask Squawkbox to connect us to the Vatsim Network.

Now...with your mouse pointer hovering anywhere in the black region of the Squawkbox screen below....Right Click to bring up the menu as below..and select Squawk Standby....this is so we don't appear on screen imediately to the ATC as we have not filed our flightplan yet....and we will Squawk IDENT (by unticking this selection) when ready to request clearance........now right click again in the same area of the window and select connect.....

Ok.....once connect is clicked we need to enter our details for the connection to the Vatsim Servers. These are entered in the next window that appears as below...

Here you can see we enter the IP address of the Vatsim server, our PID and password, the Rodger Wilco server address and most important our Callsign. The details above are correct for the UK server......only the PID,Password and Callsign will be different. Ok..once all are filled in.....just click "OK"

Now you should hear some pinging sounds.....and maybe RW will start up if you have selected as above......but you should see in the Squawkbox window this.....

The blue writing informs you that you are connected to the Vatsim Network.....well done! (if this does not appear.....please re-trace your steps to this point and double check)

Ok.........now you are connected to Vatsim....sitting at your departure airport. As a professional pilot your next step is to either load or file a flightplan for your intended flight. Below is a sample one to illustrate what is required...to bring up this window...just right click in the SB window as before and select "ATC Func/File Flightplan

Ok......lets take this slowly....first from the drop down box select your a/c type as this provides the image you will be seen as by other pilots, but more importantly allow ATC to route/ vector you correctly. You need to decide what type VFR/IFR/SVFR..normally IRF for all ESA flights, enter your dep airport ICAO, your estimated DEP time and actual (intended) DEP time followed by your intended cruise altitude....

Next you must include your flightplan information..Dep airport / SID / flightplan points (VOR/NDB/Intersections etc) / STAR/ Arv airport.

Next your destination airport, flight time, any comments, Fuel on board, and any Alternate airport.

Your name and home airport should be filled in already from your PID with Vatsim, finally the number of passengers on board the aircraft.

Now click "OK"....this will pass your flightplan to ATC and the Vatsim servers....you can check this using the SERVINFO s/w and WASSUP (see downloads section) if required.

Ok..........now you have your connection set-up, your flightplan filed you need to be aware of how to request clearance and get airborne, before doing so we must IDENT by clicking the "Squawk Standby" as we did earlier....we are now visable to all the world...........I will be adding these tutorials in time, but for now the best option is to read the large resorce of information available from the Vatsim website regarding training preceedures. All the staff at Vatsim and other pilots are easily approached for questions......so just shout, we are all more than happy to assist anyone with their first flights online....

I hope this small tutorial has now given you the confidence to try flying online.......we look forward to seeing you online and airborne in ESA colours....

Tony Pick

ESA-722 AAM UK