Simviation Forums

I've been considering flying online at VATSIM.  Has anyone had any experience with it?  I looked at the site last night and found a bunch of downloads I'll need - no idea which ones are really necessary and it looks like a lot of documentation.

Is it newbie friendly?  I can take off, navigate and land (still some probs landing big jets with consistency) but my flightsimspeak isn't so good (I can understand ATC but can't speak ATC-ese).

Any other recommendations/comments?

Vatsim is nice as it is the only MP system that includes ATC. Also if you have a mic etc you can 'talk' to ATC like a real pilot.
You don't need to download everything there, just look through the basic info and decide which bits you need at the moment.
The Vatsim guys are great, and really helpful, if you have a problem, just post them and they get back to you straight away. I've had nothing but positive experiences with them.

Ozzy

I agree with Ozzy-VATSIM is great. (though I must point out that VATSIM isnt the only one with ATC-there's also NVAS & IVAO-though VATSIM beats the others hands down in my opinion).

As for downloads,you have to get Squawkbox,if you have a mic get Roger Wilco,get ServInfo-its just a good way to check who's online.

Thanx for the adv.  So I need at least squawkbox - I don't have a mic.

What's the  worst that can happen - I get booted off?  I'll dl the software this weekend.   I Just hope they're user friendly for newbies.

They are v.newby friendly. And there are a lot of people from here that fly there, so DON'T worry!

Ozzy

HI  ALL  ON  THE  NET  COME  TO    VATSIM .COM  AND  TALK  TO  ALL  THE  GUYS  ON  THE   CHAT

there  is  also    AVSIM.COM  WE  HAVE  A  CHAT  ALSO

well, i can't fly on VATSIM because i've DX9 installed on my pc and i can't remove it!  :(

i have DX9 on my comp and can fly on Vatsim, providing squawkbox works

If you have Wins XP it was recommended to set a restore point. If you didn't, then i think it you shouldn't download it. Wanna fly really bad? Re-format your PC.

The worst that can happen is that you get taken away your "pilots license" but that happens when you are really stupid and start mouthing off to ATC, not following directions or just being plain stupid. If you are new, just put Newbie on the remarks or First Flight online and ATC will understand,

My first flight on VATSIM was with a pilot from GMA and I remember the conversation like it was yesterday and you probably will to. GO ahead and try! THey don't bite. Any questions post away here or E-mail anyone here.  ;)

I'm not going to comment on any of the other ATC sites, just to say that VATSIM isn't "technically" the only one.  (There are others, but mentioning their names would just advertise them.)

If you're interested though, you can check out the others.  (COUGH...vatsim...COUGH)

As for being newbie friendly...we started with VATSIM, switched to another one, then went BACK to VATSIM, simply because we found them the most newbie-friendly site available.  

As Astro and Ozzy said...just let them know you're new, and they'll talk you through just about anything.