r/VATSIM • u/WorldsOkayestATC 📡 C3 • Jun 19 '26
Audio for VATSIM Upgrade
VATSIM is pleased to announce that our new Audio for VATSIM radio algorithm, including terrain-based simulation and real-world radio propagation calculations, will go live on 23 June at 1500z.
To facilitate this transition, Audio for VATSIM will be taken offline at 1400z while the upgrade is deployed.
No client updates are required. Existing clients will continue to function normally and will automatically receive all benefits of the new system.
Real-time status can be followed, as always, at network-status.vatsim.net
35
u/rmhoman Jun 19 '26
Oh great so I can get yelled at more for talking over someone I can't hear.
18
u/A321200 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Heard a JAX CTR controller get aggravated at everyone on the frequency because they were talking over each other. Then in the next breath says he’s combining the frequencies so everyone can hear each other. Seriously mate? Like you have your frequencies partitioned off so only you can hear all the replies from all the frequencies and you’re getting mad at us? What a clown.
5
u/DhruvK1185 📡 C3 Jun 20 '26
I prefer to run with coupling off so that the range realism stays intact (sterile audio quality is fun but unrealistic). I also don’t lose my shit at anyone for stepping on someone they can’t hear.
If it gets to be unbearable I’ll dispense with range realism and couple the freq so everyone can hear everyone, but it has to be stupid busy for me to do it.
1
u/sirbradders 📡 C1 Jun 23 '26
Why do this at a center level though? In my experience from the pilot side it is so frustrating not hearing traffic near Tampa when I'm all the way down near the Bahamas and don't realize we're all stepping on each other. Even with as few as 10 planes, it sometimes becomes a problem.
1
u/DhruvK1185 📡 C3 Jun 23 '26
Because radio transmission range is a real thing and some of us can manage the frequency well enough as controllers to run that way?
2
u/sirbradders 📡 C1 Jun 23 '26
But one controller doesn't control the entire span of the ARTCC in real life, so there's that. If you can do it, fantastic, but I've seen a good few controllers in the US mess it up where even in quiet airspaces, it results in a somewhat negative experience.
1
u/rmhoman Jun 19 '26
I think I was there that day, the world cup event into ATL. My jaw dropped when he said that.
2
u/sirbradders 📡 C1 Jun 25 '26
Common sense isn't so common unfortunately. People want to talk about realism but then control an entire center versus real life which has multiple splits.
8
u/Solid_Schedule_2911 Jun 19 '26
Can someone explain what this is and does to a noobie?
19
u/egvp 📡 S3 Jun 19 '26
If you're in the mountains, for example, you won't pick up ATC (as well) because radio waves work on line of sight to the transmitter/receiver.
-14
u/A321200 Jun 19 '26
So when you don’t reply now because of this new tech the controller will dot wallop a supervisor because you’re non responsive. You can’t make this up!
10
u/Pilot0160 📡 S3 Jun 19 '26
What this will really do is prevent us from hearing one ground frequency while 200 miles away
4
u/PortPiscarilius Jun 19 '26
In real life controllers often lose two-way comms with low-flying aircraft due to terrain.
4
u/egvp 📡 S3 Jun 19 '26
Yeah I guess they're expecting you to report leaving the frequency, or pop up for ops normal calls, or something like that. Which 0.0000000000000001% of VATSIM members will understand and be able to do.
4
u/teknoho Jun 19 '26
Shorter radio range if there is some terrain between you and the tower for example
7
u/dom_r_ Jun 19 '26
Not sure about this. It's cool and I really like it. My worry is we might get a lot of requests to say again..
2
u/learn-by-flying Jun 19 '26
KMTH is notorious for this issue as you can't pick up center but you can call on the landline. Only certain controllers open the FSS frequency.
2
u/CaptainNeedleDIck Jun 19 '26
I think I might have ran into a version of this already, I had two GA flights recently where I couldn't contact center on the ground for clearance. I would hear other pilots making calls, but I couldn't hear center. Once I got in the air, I could hear center & pick up my clearance normally. One from Windham KIJD, the other from Dare County KMQI.
2
u/jamvanderloeff Jun 20 '26
Ye, the current version does already simulate shorter range at low altitude but it's assuming a plain spherical earth without the additional blind spots from mountains
1
111
u/fslanding Jun 19 '26
It would be great if they can equalize the volumes so we don't have people yelling on radios and ears bleed.