FGCom 3.0

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Revision as of 21:27, 15 November 2013 by F-JJTH (talk | contribs) (Remove the {{note}} since the documentation is now compatible with every versions)
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FGCom 3.0
FGCom 3.0 logo
Developed by Holger Wirtz
Martin Spott
Csaba Halasz
Clément de l'Hamaide
Development status Active
License GNU GPL v2
Website

What is FGCom ?

FGCom is a voice communication feature. That way you can communicate with other pilots and airspace controllers during your flight.

The main idea is to reproduce the real aviation communication, in other words this feature is designed to make radio communication as real as possible during your flights.

FGCom is available by two ways:

  • Integrated into FlightGear (FGCom builtin): this is certainly the better solution because easier to use
  • External software (FGCom standalone): you should use this one only if you plan to use FGCom in a special case


IMPORTANT:

  • FGCom builtin is available for FlightGear 3.0 or higher and is certainly the solution you are looking for because really easy to use.
  • FGCom standalone is only for those who want a complex setup or don't use FlightGear 3.0 or higher.
  • If you are not using FlightGear 3.0 or higher you have to read the FGCom standalone section and follow "If FlightGear is not installed" instructions.

FGCom builtin

Installation

The good news here is that FlightGear has now an FGCom client built in the software. That means there is no additional installation step. If you have installed FlightGear you can immediately use FGCom.

How to start FGCom builtin ?

  1. Start FlightGear
  2. Open the dialog located in "Multiplayer > FGCom Settings"
  3. Check the "Enable" checkbox
  4. Close the dialog

You can also use the command line if you prefer:

--enable-fgcom (equivalent to --prop:/sim/fgcom/enabled=true )
--disable-fgcom (equivalent to --prop:/sim/fgcom/enabled=false )

FGCom will be automatically enabled for your future sessions until you uncheck the "Enable" checkbox.

How to test your setup ?

In order to check that your microphone and speakers are correctly connected and functional you can test it with the following steps:

  1. Start FlightGear (if not yet done of course)
  2. Open the dialog located in "Multiplayer > FGCom Settings"
  3. Check the "Enable" checkbox (if not yet done of course)
  4. Check the "Test" checkbox

At this moment you should hear your own voice with a delay. If you can't hear your own voice it means your microphone or your speakers are wrongly set.

  1. Unckeck the "Test" checkbox
  2. Close the dialog


How to use FGCom builtin ?

Once you started FGCom from the How to start FGCom builtin procedure, you can simply use your radio stack like it done in real life.

When you want to talk you have to press Space. When the Space is pressed you can't hear other pilots.

You can switch between COM1 and COM2 by pressing Shift + Space


Dialog details

FGCom dialog

The dialog located in "Multiplayer > FGCom Settings" provide some features described here:

  • Enable : you can check/uncheck this for enable/disable FGCom feature
  • Display messages : display FGCom transaction message for debug only
  • Speaker volume : set speaker volume
  • Registration > Enabled : enable/disable registration on server (you must disable FGCom, enable registration and set your username/pwd then re-enable FGCom)
  • Registration > Username : username to be used for registration on server
  • Registration > Password : password to be used for registration on server
  • Server > Test : check/uncheck this for testing server communication (Echo-Box)
  • Server > List : Select the server to be connected (immediat effect)


FGCom standalone

Installation

If FlightGear is installed:

The good news here is that if you have FlightGear installed on your computer you already have FGCom standalone !


If FlightGear is not installed:

If you haven't installed FlightGear on the computer where you want to use FGCom standalone you can simply download FGCom standalone with the following steps:

  1. Download FGCom standalone: Windows 32 bits | Windows 64 bits | Linux 32 bits | Linux 64 bits (take care to select the correct version for your computer !)
  2. Unzip the downloaded file
  3. That's all ! Of course you can place the "FGCom" folder where you want on your computer

On Linux, you have to setup the permission as "executable" for the files "run_fgcom.sh" and "test_fgcom.sh"

How to start FGCom standalone ?

If FlightGear is installed:

On Windows you have to execute FGCom located in your Start menu > FlightGear > Tools > FGCom

On Linux you have to execute FGCom located in your Application menu > Games > FGCom


If FlightGear is not installed:

On Windows, in your unzipped "FGCom" folder, you have to execute (double clic on it) the file "run_fgcom.bat".

On Linux, in your unzipped "FGCom" folder, you have to execute (double clic on it) the file "run_fgcom.sh".


In both case

Now a terminal has been opened and you should be able to see the following lines:

Successfully parsed commandline options
Loaded file [../share/flightgear/special_frequencies.txt].
Reading airports [../share/flightgear/positions.txt]
loaded 46927 entries
Initializing IAX client as guest:xxxxxxxxxxx@fgcom.flightgear.org

How to test your setup ?

If FlightGear is installed:

On Windows you have to execute FGCom located in your Start menu > FlightGear > Tools > FGCom-testing

On Linux you have to execute FGCom located in your Application menu > Games > FGCom-testing


If FlightGear is not installed:

On Windows, in your unzipped "FGCom" folder, you have to execute (double clic on it) the file "test_fgcom.bat".

On Linux, in your unzipped "FGCom" folder, you have to execute (double clic on it) the file "test_fgcom.sh".


In both case

Now you should be able to hear your own voice with a delay and see the following lines:

Successfully parsed commandline options
Loaded file [../share/flightgear/special_frequencies.txt].
Reading airports [../share/flightgear/positions.txt]
loaded 46927 entries
Initializing IAX client as guest:xxxxxxxxxxx@fgcom.flightgear.org
Originating an audio only call
Failed video codec negotiation.
Call 0 accepted
Echo Box - For testing FGCOM
Call 0 answered

In order to stop FGCom standalone you have to press Control + c

How to use FGCom standalone ?

Once you started FGCom from the How to start FGCom standalone procedure, you have to start FlightGear with the following option:

--generic=socket,out,1,127.0.0.1,16661,udp,fgcom

Now you have to leave FGCom standalone running and simply use FlightGear without taking care of FGCom standalone.

When you want to talk you have to press Space. When the Space is pressed you can't hear other pilots.

You can switch between COM1 and COM2 by pressing Shift + Space

During your FlightGear session you should be able to see some lines in the FGCom standalone, it's totally normal, they are here to inform you about the state of FGCom standalone (when you are listening, talking, changing frequency, changing COM1/2...)

In order to stop FGCom standalone you have to press Control + c

Options details

Starting FGCom standalone with "-h" argument will show you all available options.

IMPORTANT: Keep in mind that FGCom standalone works fine for a standard operating system without options at all ! Use them only if you know exactly what they do.

FAQ

How to add the --generic option for FGCom standalone ?

On the last page of the FlightGear Launcher, press "Advanced" then select "Input/Output" item. Press "New" and set the fields as:

  • Protocol  : generic
  • Medium  : socket
  • Direction : out
  • Hz  : 5
  • Hostname  : 127.0.0.1
  • Port  : 16661
  • Select UDP
  • Generic  : fgcom

I want to use FGCom builtin but I haven't any item "Multiplayer > FGCom Settings" in FlightGear

Because you are not using FlightGear 3.0 or higher. FGCom builtin is only available for FlightGear 3.0 or higher. You have to use FGCom standalone until you upgrade your FlightGear installation.

I want to use FGCom standalone but I haven't any FGCom item in "Start menu > FlightGear > Tools"

Because you are not using FlightGear 3.0 or higher. FGCom standalone is automatically installed only for FlightGear 3.0 or higher.

You have to follow "If FlightGear is not installed" instructions until you upgrade your FlightGear installation.