first time, thoughts and questions

[sullyhoover]

Hello,
Connected for the first time tonight. I ran into a few problems and have some questions about the network.

Im using P3D 2.5 with OPUSFSI and FSUIPC. About half way through my flight my receive volume dropped to barely audible. I could tell someone was talking but it wasn't loud enough to make out the words. Pressing ESC brought the audio back to normal while the ESC menu was up but as soon as I went back into the game everything went quite again. Engine sounds stayed at normal volume throughout.

I tried following the instructions to setup a PTT joystick button using FSUIPC but every time i pressed the button pilotedge would crash. There was a disconnect error in the console window and about 10 windows popped up within pilotedge with an error message. Im using FSUIPC v4.939n and the "PTT Transmit ON/OFF (SB3,RW,AVC)" control. Switched to a mouse click in the pilotedge options and everything worked as expected but it would be nice to use a joystick button.

I filed an IFR flight plan with the intent to practice an instrument approach. My weather was set to IMC conditions and i requested an ILS approach in the comments section but i was cleared for visual approach. Should i have requested the instrument approach over the air? How can i indicate that i am IMC?

Besides all that, I am really impressed with the service and look forward to logging on again soon.

[bbuckley]

I fly FSX but maybe this will help. I assigned a button on my yoke in FSUIPC to the "Transmit ON (SB3,RW,AVC)", no repeat and in that same dialog assign "Transmit OFF (SB3,RW,AVC)" for the action on release. Then hold the button for PTT and on release the transmit stops. Latest FSUIPC ver is 4.944a I think. Don't know if that is an issue or not.

On the approach, if you're told to expect the visual (will usually happen) just read back your clearance then request the approach you want. They'll almost always accommodate. You can get ahead of it by advising approach when you have the ATIS that you are requesting a specific approach. Again they'll almost always accommodate. Your Wx is up to you (try to stay consistent with runway direction on wind) but the controllers don't know if you have set Wx other than real world. The only time I ever have to advise that I'm IMC is if they call out traffic.

Can't help on the audio but maybe someone else has an idea.

Welcome and enjoy! This is a great service and network.
Bruce

Edited to add image.

PTT FSUIPC4.jpg (72.61 KiB) Viewed 4999 times

[stevekirks]

EDIT--note below is correct...

[Ryan B]

That pesky volume thing is not a P3D thing, it's a Windows thing...

Go to Control Panel>Hardware and Sound>Sound>Audio properties>Communications tab>select Do Nothing from the dropdown box. Apply & OK.

[sullyhoover]

Thanks guys Ill try those fixes.

One thing i forgot to ask: I filed a pretty simple flight plan so that i could get to my destination and practice an approach real quick. The clearance i received was WAY different, which i liked because it was realistic, but on the other hand I kinda just wanted to practice the approach. Is there anything i can do if i just want to practice a few approaches in a row without a super long flight?

[HRutila]

"N1234, expect visual approach Runway 20R."

"Requesting vectors for ILS Runway 20R, N1234."

"N1234, roger."

[bbuckley]

I like to do exactly the same thing. What I often do is start at KSNA and file IFR: KSNA SLI KSNA at 4,000 and I put in remarks: Local IFR for practice IAPs. When I call clearance I say "local IFR for an ILS 20R approach". Works great. I think if you want multiple approaches you could just advise approach airborne before switching to tower that you'd like to return to them on termination of the approach and then tell tower you want the option (or low approach or touch & go etc, and to go back to departure for another approach.
Bruce

[Kyle.Sanders]

Thanks guys Ill try those fixes.

One thing i forgot to ask: I filed a pretty simple flight plan so that i could get to my destination and practice an approach real quick. The clearance i received was WAY different, which i liked because it was realistic, but on the other hand I kinda just wanted to practice the approach. Is there anything i can do if i just want to practice a few approaches in a row without a super long flight?

1. Fly to/from the same airport. Example: KSNA-KSNA.

2. The PilotEdge training program is great for seasoned and new pilots. A lot of what you asked today is covered in them. I suggest joining the ranks of those who have started/completed the program.
http://training.pilotedge.net/page/overview

[HRutila]

On the approach, if you're told to expect the visual (will usually happen) just read back your clearance then request the approach you want.

Request the approach prior to being cleared for the visual. Instrument approaches have distance-to-FAF criteria that visual approaches do not. If you've been cleared for the visual it may be too late to re-clear you for an instrument approach without re-vectoring or resequencing.

[bbuckley]

I did say to get ahead of it. And I often am told "expect visual" long before being cleared for anything. Usually when first switched to the approach controller.