INTRODUCTION
This tutorial is a VERY basic introduction to online flying using Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2000 or 2002 using Windows 98, 2000 & ME. IF YOU USE WINDOWS XP, PLEASE READ THE BRIEF ADDITIONAL TUTORIAL ON CLOSING DOWN THE WINDOWS XP FIREWALL (or it won't work!).
It is primarily designed to allow first time Multiplayer Flight Simmers in the Flight Club to get online & simming with like minded friends across the world! While there are many similar tutorials available on the web, many do not cater specifically for simple groups of friends getting together for a bit of
flight-simming fun. Hence they can be quite complex & sometimes confusing to the 'newbie'.
This particular tutorial is to teach you how to JOIN a Multiplayer flight that has been set up by another member. If you wish to start or HOST your own Multiplayer flight, read the Tutorial titled HOSTING A MULTIPLAYER FLIGHT.
At the end of this Tutorial is a simple checklist to help you until you become familiar with the process.
FIRST STEP
OK, you have received an email or read about an upcoming Multiplayer flight from a friend or
flight-simming group.
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You want to break new ground & take part! Fantastic - it's a hoot! The first thing I recommend is that you purchase an inexpensive microphone/headset if you don't already have one. They cost around US$5 & are perfectly adequate for online flying. You can use text chat rather than voice, but is actually more complicated trying to type in a 'chat box' while flying up a canyon at 100 feet than simply keying a mic button & talking!
Once you have it in your hand, simply plug it into the sound card at the back of your computer. There are usually 3 jack sockets on the sound card, a red one, a blue one & a green one. The headset usually has 2 jack connectors on it. Simply place the 'Mic' or red plug into the red socket & the green plug into the green socket. How's that for simplicity! Your mic/headset is now connected!
Some people (like me) prefer to listen using the main PC speakers rather than the headset. If you wish to use the main PC speakers, just don't plug in the green plug. You should still be able to talk with the mic on the headset but will hear all the normal flightsim sounds as well as any voice chatter from your friends.
ROGER WILCO
This is a really clever bit of free software that allows you to speak with anyone else online in real time. It is easy to install & set up, & will not slow your computer at all. Make sure you use Roger Wilco Mark 1c (rw_Win32_Mk1c_Mod1.exe) or Mark 1d REV 3 (rw_mk1d3.exe) as more recent versions are full of problems & bugs.
Once installed, run the program to set up the basic parameters.
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(You should only have to do this the first time you use the program). Open the TRANSMIT box. Check the "Press to Talk Transmit Key" box & enter the key that you wish to use whenever you want to transmit. This key should not be a key that is already used by Flightsim! (I use 'x'.) PLEASE don't use the Voice Activated mode!
Now open the ADJUST box. Put the Mic Level slider up around 90% & the Mic Input Level up around 80%. Put on the headset with the Mic close to your mouth but not directly in front of it (i.e. slightly to the side). Press the Test Mic button & speak normally but clearly for a few seconds. Roger Wilco will play back the recording. Keep adjusting the Mic Input Level until you can hear the playback clearly without distortion. If you don't do this, everyone will not be able to understand what you are saying!
Now open the CONFIGURE box, then click NEXT. Check the "Use WAV recording" box, then click NEXT. Select your "Playback Device", which is usually "Primary Sound Driver". Then select your "Record Device", which is
usually your installed sound card, from the list. Click NEXT.
As you have already tested your mic, click NEXT again. Check the "Full Duplex" box & then click NEXT.
Check that the "Transmit Key" is the same that you entered earlier, then click NEXT.
You MUST select your internet speed as "Slow Modem" even if you have the fastest connection known to man. Otherwise, we won't all hear you! Click NEXT again.
Check the "Run Roger Wilco at High CPU Priority" box, then click NEXT.
Enter your callsign. It should be the same one you use in the Mulitplayer flight (see next section) so that there is no confusion about who is who.
Click NEXT & then FINISH. That's it. RW (as Roger Wilco is commonly called) is now setup to connect with your friends.
FLIGHT PREPARATION
OK - you are now ready to blast onto someone else's computer screen! To start linking up with your crew, start FS2000 or FS2002 & select your plane & airfield. DON'T park on the end of the runway! You may be the victim of considerable verbal abuse if you cause a crash because you
suddenly materialised at the end of the runway when you joined the group!
Once there, you may wish to download Real Weather before joining the others. If the flight details mentioned in the email or website specify a time or season, be sure to enter that as well. It may also be advisable to set IGNORE CRASH in the Realism Settings so that you don't suddenly disappear off
everyone's screens! If any charts are required, have them ready, because you MUSTN'T use the pause or slew
commands once you are flying. Also make sure that in FS2002, your ATC slider is set to 0% to avoid conflicts with AI aircraft.
Now open the FLIGHTS > MULTIPLAYER > SETTINGS dialog box.
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Make sure that the "Display player names", "Send detailed aircraft information" & the
"Receive detailed aircraft information" boxes are checked. Click OK. You shouldn't have to check this again when you next fly online. The settings are saved.
CONNECTING
Now open the FLIGHTS > MULTIPLAYER > CONNECT dialog box.
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Type in your Player Name. As you are just flying with a group of friends, just enter your first name or nickname. Use something your friends will recognise.
In the email advice issued shortly before the flight, there would be an IP address (e.g. 230.34.30.34). Enter this IP address in that box EXACTLY as it appeared in the email advice. (This IP address is the internet address of the person who is hosting the
flyin'. Make sure that the TCP/IP line is highlighted. Now click SEARCH. Sometimes it may take several attempts if the hosts computer is busy with another member. Keep trying. Once your PC has found the host, an appropriate session name should appear in the "Sessions" box. All you have to do now is click JOIN!
Within 10 seconds or so, you should start seeing all the other aircraft that have already joined the session. If you don't, check that the IP address & session name are correct. If that checks out OK, it is possible you are at the wrong airfield, or your friends may have
already taken off!
Assuming you can now see everyone, check that you aren't sitting on top of some one else! If
necessary, slew a few metres so that there is some clearance between you & your friends!
VOICE CHAT
OK, now you're online with your friends. Now it's time to talk to them before the flight begins. Start Roger Wilco. It should start up with the CHANNEL window open. Click the JOIN button & another window opens up asking for the "IP address or Hostname of the channel" mentioned in the email advice. Only enter a password if one was included in the email.
Click JOIN & in a few moments a small window should open with the names of your friends who have already connected. Return to the Flight Simulator, Wait for a gap in any chat going on, press your transmit key, & speak to the world!
SHUTTING DOWN
Once you have amazed yourself & anyone nearby with this technology, & flown with your friends you will possibly want to stop & get back to the real world! Simple click on the Roger Wilco icon on the bottom task bar & press the LEAVE button. You can then close RW.
Next open the FLIGHTS > MULTUPLAYER > DISCONNECT dialog box. Click YES to leave & FS2000/2002 will exit the Multiplayer session & disconnect you from your friends.
Congratulations - you should now be hooked on online flying!
SIMPLE CHECKLIST
1. FIRST TIME
~ Install mic/headset & Roger Wilco
~ Setup Roger Wilco
2. SUBSEQUENT TIMES
~ Get online.
~ Prepare charts etc.
~ Start Flightsim & go to airfield parking position at appropriate time of day/night.
~ Get Real Weather of desired.
~ Connect & if required, move clear of others in parking area.
~ Start Roger Wilco & join specified channel.
~ Announce your arrival.
~ Have fun!!
3. SHUTDOWN
~ Leave RW & close program.
~ Disconnect Mulitplayer
~ Shutdown Flight Simulator etc.
~ Clean your mess up - I'm not your Mother!
