Is there a way for squawk box to autoconnect?

[Nick1150]

Hi there,

I am a 737-80 home cockpit builder, and I am trying to find a way to minimise clicks, including the clicks for squawk box to connect to the server.

Please note that my squawk box is installed on the lower EICAS pc, which means that it is installed on a client and not the server. I would like to create a keyboard stroke, or a button switch with the help of my leo bodnard card and FSUIPC which will connect squawk box to the vatsim server.

 

In simpler words, I would like to be able not to click at all on the L.EICAS client. I would like when I want to connect to VATSIM, to press a button or a key-press on the server, and SB to connect.

 

As you may know SB can connect when radios are switched on ONLY, and disconnects when radios are switched off. 

So the usual procedure for me is BAT ON from the FWD OHD, SB connect, and then the usual start up procedure, and after the end of the flight, when on blocks with engines off, after the usual shut down procedure, you only need to set the BAT to OFF position and then SB disconnects on its own, not stb, it disconnects. I would like to assign a button to do this job for me instead of clicking on the client.

Is that doable?

 

If yes how can I achieve that ?

Has anyone tried this?

Thanks

 

Nick

[Pete Dowson]

Hi there,

I am a 737-80 home cockpit builder, and I am trying to find a way to minimise clicks, including the clicks for squawk box to connect to the server.

Please note that my squawk box is installed on the lower EICAS pc, which means that it is installed on a client and not the server. I would like to create a keyboard stroke, or a button switch with the help of my leo bodnard card and FSUIPC which will connect squawk box to the vatsim server.

 

In simpler words, I would like to be able not to click at all on the L.EICAS client. I would like when I want to connect to VATSIM, to press a button or a key-press on the server, and SB to connect.

 

I don't know SquawkBox, but if it accepts keystrokes to do as you wish then you should be able to do it through WideFS. You assign to a KeySend value in FSUIPC on the Server, and edit the WideClient.INI on the Client PC to respond to that specific KeySend by sending the required Keystroke to Squawkbox.

 

Which method of those available for directing keystrokes (see the WideFS documentation) depends more on Squawkbox -- the way it detects the keypress. It might be better is you had WideClient loading Squawkbox as then it can direct keystrokes more specifically and reliably.

 

Pete

[Nick1150]

Hello Peter,

In fact SB has FSUIPC offsets

Please see here http://squawkbox.ca/doc/sdk/fsuipc.php

But I really can not see any offset similar to what I want to do, and I have no idea if SB has keystroke capabilities.

Maybe someone has seen this before and report?

Thanks

Nick

[Pete Dowson]

In fact SB has FSUIPC offsets

Please see here http://squawkbox.ca/doc/sdk/fsuipc.php

 

Ah, you are talking about SB3 and FS9? If you are using SB4 and FSX then there are none as SB4 doesn't use FSUIPC at all.

 

And as you have seen, the offsets are only related to "push to talk" and "ident" and related cockpit actions. Starting and connecting SB is really not an "in-cockpit" action (there's no real world equivalent, obviously), so it seems it isn't considered for such implementation.

 

Surely there's some documentation for SB which tells you its keyboard shortcuts if any? Are you saying it can only be operated with the mouse?

 

Pete

[Nick1150]

Hello peter,

No I am talking about SB4 and FSX, but I thought that SB3 and SB4 have the same offsets and possibly keystrokes. Sorry for that I didnt know.

I totally understand about realism and SB but as you know in order to achieve online ATC realism we need such a software.

As far as I know there is only SB3 manual on the SB site, I really am not aware about any other documentation.

Thanks again Peter,

Regards

[Pete Dowson]

As far as I know there is only SB3 manual on the SB site, I really am not aware about any other documentation.

 

The only answer might be you get SB up and connected before "climbing into" your cockpit. I have a 737NG cockpit and make sure FSX and ASN are up and running, and all 7 of my client PCs are set and ready, all before getting into the pilot seat. From then on I have normal 737 controls available to me.

 

Perhaps the on-line ATC organisation you fly with has a Forum on which you can seek more help?

 

Pete

[Nick1150]

Thanks Pete