Page 1 of 1

Cannot hear other pilots?

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 1:58 pm
by Vincent Meier
I was flying the Ratings Rampage on Saturday, there was a little traffic in the area, specifically a Piper Archer on ground at KSNA with me. I did not hear any of the transmissions from him to ground. I was holding position while it passed in front of me.
I have read that you may not be able to hear pilots if they are out of range.
I would like to hear more "double chatter". Is there a setting that I have missed somewhere in X-Plane? Or has everyone been out of the transmission range?

Re: Cannot hear other pilots?

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 2:59 pm
by Keith Smith
SNA has two ground freqs, one for the west side, one for the east side (see the facility diagram).

If two planes are on the same freq, and within range, they will hear each other.

Re: Cannot hear other pilots?

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 3:05 pm
by Vincent Meier
Hmmm, we were both on the West side, maybe I just have to listen "harder". I might be to intent on listening for my call sign or next instruction.

Re: Cannot hear other pilots?

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 3:20 pm
by Keith Smith
The pilot might have used the other freq, I notice that happens on a daily basis.

Re: Cannot hear other pilots?

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:43 pm
by Vincent Meier
Hi Keith,
Well I sat on the apron at KSNA tonight for a while as there were a couple of aircraft inbound. I picked their frequencies fom live map and sure enough I could hear the pilots.
Either I am getting old or senile, either way I now know that I can indeed hear pilots when they are in range.

Re: Cannot hear other pilots?

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:51 am
by Keith Smith
SNA isn't a good plane spotting airport for that reason (multiple tower and ground freqs). If you pick a field with a single ground freq and single tower freq, you can't go wrong :)