A Few General Q's About Flying Multiplayer

[BTilson]

Hello All!

I have been flying MSFS2004 for about 7 months now. Due to having a family and a full time job, I don't get to put as much into it as I would like, but I am learning a lot, and finally feel that I might be able to try to jump onto a multiplayer server for a bit of fun. However, there are some questions I have.

1) How is chatting handled? I know a lot of people use TeamSpeak or some other voice chat option, but that isn't an option for me. Let's say I'm going to come in for a GA landing at a small non-towered airstrip. What do I do to announce my intentions and let any nearby pilots know what I am doing?

2) I am sure it most likely depends on server, but how "real" does everything have to be? Will I be expected to hold very specific entry patterns, fulfill all ATC communication obligations, etc? There are most definitely many aspects of real flying that I do not understand yet. I definitely look at this as a simulator and a learning experience, but my main objective is the fun of flying.

3) How would I know where other pilots are? Seems like with the whole world as our playground, unless thousands and thousands of pilots are logged in, that it might be rather difficult to find people flying near you.

Any other input and advice would be greatly appreciated. I hope I don't come off as too noob'ish or anything! Hopefully I'll see some of you in the air sometime soon!

Thank you!

[Mictheslik]

1) If you dont want to use teamspeak there are many servers where the chat box is the primary form of communication...check out Sam's official SimV server (details in a sticky in the MP section)...most of the time we use the chat box

2)You are correct....it depends on the server....a friendly laid back server such as the one mentioned above means that you can do whatever you like without having to do any proper procedures.....however, log onto a VATSIM server and correct terminology and actions are a must

3)You can either purchase a third party radar software (such as FSNAV which I highly reccommend - you can get a 30 day free trial) which will show you a radar screen with all other mp aircraft on, plus give you more advanced planning options. If you are just on a server and want to know who is where type ?where into the chat box...

Hope that helped....I look forward to seeing you on the simv server

.mic

[Fozzer]

...Mic has just about covered it all....

Just remember that the Air Traffic Control voices which you have been used to hearing in the Flight Sim (FS 2004) are no longer available in Multiplayer.

All the communication with other Pilots is done via the "Chat Box" as Mic explained..;)..!

Also, another tip....Most of the time any non-default aeroplanes which you have in your Hangar, and use in Multiplayer, will not be visible to other Pilots...unless they all have the same aircraft in their Hangar!

For simplicity, pick one of the Default aircraft, which everyone else WILL have, and therefore will show-up... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]...!

Have a peek here to see if anyone else is on line....>>>>

http://cockpit.netfrag.org:8090/

With the usual "Hello", you may then ask to join them... ...!

It's a lot of fun, and you will generally find someone else on-line to help with any questions you may have!

Best of all....Have fun... ...!

F....G-BPLF....FS 2004 + FS Navigator... 8-)...!