VRC Setup

VRC is the primary controlling tool you will use. It has your radar screen, flight plan editing abilities, and communication capabilities. This is the software you will use to connect to VATSIM. This lesson will cover how to set it up prior to your first session on sweatbox. It will also cover ZLA specific notes on using this software.

You must first get a sector file and position (POF) file in order for VRC to work. These are available from local ARTCC’s. ZLA’s sector file and POF file are available on the ZLA website. You are required to have the most current version of these files at ZLA, update notifications are posted in the ZLA forum.

Once you have these files follow the VRC quick start guide (available here) to connect and configure VRC. Below are specific ZLA steps to take.

When logging onto VATSIM using VRC you should log in using the your proper rating, full name, and as a observer. To log in as a ZLA observer you should log in as ZLA_XX_OBS where XX are your operating initials. When logging in to work a position with an instructor use the following conventions:

(Airport code) _S_(TWR/GND)
When solo doing SMT, use the _S_ callsign.
When fully certified at a position drop the _S_.

When doing step 17, use the following conventions at ZLA:
Frequencies: Available in the general requirements policy. Done to 3 digits (example 135.000)
Voice Server: rw.liveatc.net
Voice Channel: Frequency to 2 digits. (Example 135.00)

Your first session will be on the sweatbox server. This server is not on the default list of servers in VRC. You must manually add it. To add it follow the following steps:

1. Navigate to your main VRC folder
2. Check if you have a file called myservers.txt.
3. If you do not have myservers.txt in your main VRC directory, create it(Make sure you do not save it as myservers.txt.txt, or your server may not show in the list), and skip to step 5.
4. If you do have myservers.txt in your main VRC directory, open it.
5. Add this line at the end of myservers.txt
“sweatbox.vatsim.net SWEATBOX “
6. Save and reload VRC.
7. When you go to File, Connect, scroll down the server list and you should see a new server called "SWEATBOX".
8. Connect.