Usage note: Which frequency to use?

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Keith Smith
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Usage note: Which frequency to use?

Post by Keith Smith »

This has been added to the Usage page in the beta section, but I'm posting it here for those that join the program and miss the info...

If you are a real world pilot, simply treat the radio as you would the radio in an real aircraft. Dial the frequency that you would use in real life for the situation at hand. If ATC is online, and you are within range (based on your altitude) then they'll hear you. The system models the radio transmitter locations and signal strength for tower cabs, TRACON and enroute controllers, including primary transmitters, backup transmitters and RCAGs.

If you're coming from another online flying network that utilizes top-down staffing procedures, you're probably used to looking at a Who's Online list, and "working up the tree" to determine which facility to call. PilotEdge handles this for you, which is why the controller list on the site does NOT contain their current frequencies. Simply contact the DEL/GND/TWR role that you're attempting to reach using the published real-world frequency. The system will route the transmissions to the appropriate controller based on the current staffing configuration. Bear in mind, the system determines whether you are in radio range of the facility based on your altitude and distance from that facilitiy's transmitter. For example, if norcal is staffed (as determined by looking at the simple status on listed on this site), and you are at San Jose airport, you could dial the San Jose Delivery frequency, and call for clearance. If you attempted to tune in San Francisco tower frequency while parked on the ground at San Jose, you would probably not be able to hear the controller's transmissions, even if the SAME controller is working San Jose and San Francisco at the time.

Occassionally, ATC might ask you to swap to an alternate frequency to reduce the chance of pilots transmitting at the same time, when a single controller is covering a large number of frequencies, in which case, just follow their instructions. Otherwise, the starting position is that you call ATC using the real world frequency, and take it from there. This includes TRACON and enroute controllers when calling for flight following.

If you attempt to contact a tower facility from long distance at low altitude, you're not likely to hear a response, and they will not hear you.
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