Hi all, first post here. I received an email from one of the admins that my connection was terminated because I didn’t respond to their message. I have asked for a followup and as I await clarification, I have a question.
I use VPilot and normally when I fly, I minimize it (for saving real estate on my monitor) or it’s tucked away on a monitor that is kind of far from my normal sim setup. I maximize it as I need it (for ex. freq lookup, change, etc.). I wouldn’t think I’m the only one who has this situation. I can only assume that if someone at Vatsim wants to get a hold of me, they would have to wait till I open up vatsim as I’m flying my plane, talking to controllers on frequencies, etc. Are we expected to monitor PMs as well from guardians of the Vatsim system? I’m not complaining (yes, the email could have been more cordial but let’s leave that one alone) as I like the overall concept of this wonderful service and I learn a lot from it but would like to know so I can add this (monitoring of PMs) step to my cockpit workflow.
Hi there!
To answer you briefly, yes you’re expected to monitor your PM’s.
A15 While connected to VATSIM, and when requested to do so, account holders shall respond to messages from, and comply with all instructions issued by VATSIM Administrators and/or VATSIM Supervisors.
That is why you get the “BEEP BEEP BEEP”-chime when receiving a new private message. In practice however, maps are not always correct, and if you’re unresponsive to a supervisor, you would also most likely be unresponsive to an ATC.
As you were present, but did not catch the message; have you disabed the chime or aren’t you receiving it properly?
Thanks for the clarification that PMs from Supervisors are part of the Vatsim experience and must be monitored. I have used it to communicate with controllers and now I get that there are text simmers too. I wouldn’t make the leap about unresponsiveness you’re making (I assumed the method one picks is default) but I get the point you’re trying to make.
Having said that, Where do I enable these Chimes? In Vatsim settings? All I see is flash on my taskbar, etc. Should I get a different client?
Please clarify “Maps are not always correct”, not sure what you mean.
For multiple reasons like outdated data, airspace boundraries being different at different altitudes, a controller controlling only a smaller sub-split of their sector that is not implemented on the map you ar viewing, or other reasons, a controller can cover more or less airspace than it might seem according to the online map, so sometimes a controller will have the need to talk to you even though you think you are not within his airspace.
Vpilot normally has quite a loud beep for private messages (and the same beep for contactmes), maybe try to reinstall the pilot client or check the audio settings in the client and in windows so the beeps are not muted.
Thanks for your helpful response. Will check my settings/reinstall as needed.
Edit: Just checked. Default sound for my vPilot was set to PC speaker (which was set to low). I changed it to my headset, why I probably didn’t hear it in the first place. Let’s see if it helps. Anyway to test this or should I just have a controller or someone PM me (if they’re not busy).
There is a volume adjust in vpilot settings. I’ve always wished it could be tied to aircraft ACP volume knobs because I find myself needing an adjustment with every controller change, just based on the mics they’re using.
