voice isolation change: Part 5
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 3:07 pm
EDIT: 4/21/20: Tower and approach repeater will be combined as of tomorrow.
If you've flown on PilotEdge before, you probably noticed that there are shared repeaters on the clearance, ground and tower frequencies. This allows you to hear other pilots on those positions within a given coverage area (ZLA or WUS) any time you are on a clearance, ground or tower frequency. This reduces the instances of blocked transmissions and increases the number of calls that you hear on the radio.
These repeaters don't exist above the tower level, though. So, once you're on approach and center freqs, you only hear pilots who are on the same frequency as you and are within range.
As of today (10/10/18), the service now includes repeaters on the approach positions, and separately, repeaters on the center positions, too.
What does this mean for you as a pilot on the network?
It means that when you're on an approach frequency, you'll hear all the other pilots who are also on an approach frequency within that coverage area. 4/21/20 update: tower and approach repeaters are being combined.
If you're on a center frequency, then you'll hear all the other pilots who are also on center frequency within the service area.
This should mean that it's a bit less lonely during the departure, enroute and arrival phase of flight. We cover so much airspace, we were finding that in most cases pilots weren't hearing any other pilots other than when they were on the ground.
It's a challenge to balance technical realism with a strong user experience. We feel as though users are better served by being able to hear other contextually relevant traffic (ie, approach level calls when you're tuned to approach, and center level calls when you're tuned to center), stopping short of simply having a party line where you hear all the pilots being worked by a controller.
If you're an active member, give a try and let us know what you think of the change!
If you've flown on PilotEdge before, you probably noticed that there are shared repeaters on the clearance, ground and tower frequencies. This allows you to hear other pilots on those positions within a given coverage area (ZLA or WUS) any time you are on a clearance, ground or tower frequency. This reduces the instances of blocked transmissions and increases the number of calls that you hear on the radio.
These repeaters don't exist above the tower level, though. So, once you're on approach and center freqs, you only hear pilots who are on the same frequency as you and are within range.
As of today (10/10/18), the service now includes repeaters on the approach positions, and separately, repeaters on the center positions, too.
What does this mean for you as a pilot on the network?
It means that when you're on an approach frequency, you'll hear all the other pilots who are also on an approach frequency within that coverage area. 4/21/20 update: tower and approach repeaters are being combined.
If you're on a center frequency, then you'll hear all the other pilots who are also on center frequency within the service area.
This should mean that it's a bit less lonely during the departure, enroute and arrival phase of flight. We cover so much airspace, we were finding that in most cases pilots weren't hearing any other pilots other than when they were on the ground.
It's a challenge to balance technical realism with a strong user experience. We feel as though users are better served by being able to hear other contextually relevant traffic (ie, approach level calls when you're tuned to approach, and center level calls when you're tuned to center), stopping short of simply having a party line where you hear all the pilots being worked by a controller.
If you're an active member, give a try and let us know what you think of the change!