Is there any IVAO/Vatsim Software for PSX yet?

[United744]

Do I understand correctly that to fly online I need to have all the time another simulator (X-Plane, FSX or P3D) up? Or does one of these addons provide a direct link bypassing the requirement to use the second simulator? As I do like to use X-Plane on approach and departure but once flaps are up it only increases the CPU load a lot.

Unfortunately they need to run all the time for PSX to be linked. You could try minimizing the sim after takeoff, though it won't change the fact it is loaded.

What you could do is reduce a lot of the settings to reduce the CPU processing required.

[Alec246]

I really think it would be amazing to have a IVAO VATSIM interface for PSX only. We could taxi using external addons that displays Taxiway, and we could focus on our realistic flight using a modest PC from anywhere we are

[matchball]

I really think it would be amazing to have a IVAO VATSIM interface for PSX only. We could taxi using external addons that displays Taxiway, and we could focus on our realistic flight using a modest PC from anywhere we are

As I am in IVAO staff I have sent mail to the Software Development Department asking them to review the situation. Let's hope they are interested .

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Oh, if there would be 15 days in any one week...    sigh

[mikeindevon]

Hi Jeroen,

I presume then that you signed the VATSIM NDA.  I refused on the grounds that they could sue me for unlimited damages if I divulged their "software techniques".  These of course were unspecified and there was nothing to say it was ok if the technique was in the public domain.

Mike

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

No I did not sign! The software was out and about before that started and I never signed, instead I just never got the inside info, which in hindsight wasn't required anyway ...

With IVAO I had a letter of agreement but that was all much more informal and actually OK. They were rolling out semi-soft encryption during the logon process to be able to detect software revisions in the wild and, if necessary, block certain revisions if they were known to be harmful to the operation.


Hoppie

[Garry Richards]

Here's a summary of what has been discussed in this thread and some tips for a successful outcome for those wanting to take PSX online with VATSIM.

Having a specialised VATSIM pilot client for PSX will lead to the same problems that arose years ago when PS1 had access only to Hoppie's excellent pilot client that operated independently of MSFS.

The vast majority of VATSIM pilots use FSX or P3D and see other traffic in that environment. This matters when taxying around an airport or when using a runway because the FSX/P3D runways, taxiways and gates are often not in their real world locations.

This was also the case when PS1 was the best 747-400 simulator. When PS1 pilots were online independently and on the ground, controllers would see them taxying in unusual locations and taking off from taxiways or through buildings and other aircraft in the MSFS world. The same would happen now if PSX had an independent pilot client.

This problem was fully solved for PS1 with the introduction of VisualPS1 about 10 years ago. It allowed an MSFS aircraft to be controlled by PS1, but to appear to other online pilots and controllers to be the MSFS aircraft. That meant that PS1 pilots could connect online through the pilot client that worked through MSFS and use the MSFS taxiways, runways and gates.

That problem is also solved for PSX by using VisualPSX together with TrafficPSX to link PSX to FSX/P3D. PSX pilots can go online with VATSIM using vPilot as their pilot client. So, if ATC tells you that you are number 3 for takeoff you will see the other aircraft on the taxiway ahead of you. Likewise, if you are at the holding point and cleared to line up after an incoming 777 has landed, you will see it cross in front of you.

That's a great solution for those who have a high end gaming PC, perhaps with multiple monitors for the scenery, but what about those situations where you have limited computing power, but still want to fly PSX online?

The minimum requirement for successful interaction with other traffic when on the ground is to be able to see the runways and taxiways in the same positions as other users see them. So you need to run a version of FSX or P3D, but with the graphical display options set to minimum values. And cost is not a limiting factor: FSX-SE is the cheapest at only a few dollars, followed by FSX Gold, then P3D Academic.

In particular, minimise or turn off anything that the tooltip states "Higher settings may decrease performance". All you need to see are the runways and taxiways with their signs. You can use the apron markings to park accurately at a gate, even if there is no jetway visible, or even no terminal building.

When lined up for takeoff you could minimise FSX/P3D and use the PSX runway display, provided of course that you set the runway offset in VisualPSX for that runway.

When landing, the offset will be applied automatically so you can use the PSX runway display until you are on the ground, then restore the FSX/P3D display so you can taxi to the gate.

To further reduce processing load on your PC you could minimise the FSX/P3D window when you are not using it. If, instead, you hide it behind another window, its display will still be updated, even though you can't see it. This is a Windows feature that makes it efficient to slide one window over another without tearing the image of either. Minimised application windows are not repainted by Windows, saving resources for other things, such as PSX.

I hope these thoughts help members of the PSX community to find the best solution for their circumstances to take PSX online with VATSIM.

Cheers,