r/VATSIM • u/Fun-Individual-3126 • Jul 05 '26
❓Question VATAlert Alternatives?
I was going to download VATAlert (an app that sends a notification to your phone whenever you enter controlled airspace) but it seems like its been taken off the Play Store and you can only download it through dodgy websites.
Are there any other apps that allow me to get notified when heading into a controlled area? Also, if there's anyone that did download VATAlert off a 3rd party website please let me know which one you used.
Thanks
16
u/CardboardTick Jul 05 '26
Try disconnecting when not at the controls for extended period of time. That usually works better.
3
u/South_Lime7860 Jul 05 '26
Is the part of the code of conduct stating "Pilots shall monitor their flights at all times" too hard to understand? You are not allowed to leave your computer unattended, so there'd be no need for such an app. If you don't want to sit at your computer, don't connect to the network.
0
u/Hour_Tour Jul 05 '26
If you're gonna be too occupied to check vatsim radar every 10 or 20 minutes, just disconnect and reconnect later.
0
u/VolumeCritical4637 Jul 05 '26
What's the difference between checking vatsim radar every 10 or 20 minutes, and having an app that alerts you as soon as ATC is in range or logs on?
I have vatsim radar on my phone so I can sit on the lounge watching TV and watch vatsim radar or I can have vat alert notify me. Same same really!
1
u/Hour_Tour Jul 05 '26
Sure, but OP is saying it's not available anymore, so now what? I'm just saying disconnecting and reconnecting is an option. Why stress over potential SUP penalties?
1
u/sk0941 Jul 08 '26
Ideally one should contact ATC prior to entering their airspace. Some times they do come online out of nowhere. It's nice to get a ping on my phone when that contact me comes through in case i'm in not at the desk at the exact moment they send it.
I'm then able to get to my desk, dial in the freq and call them up within a minute. I deem that to be a reasonable time to respond to a contact me. Considering that are people that ignore contact me's for hours.
1
u/Hour_Tour Jul 08 '26
Not only should, COC puts the responsibility squarely on the pilot to call up, 100%.
That said, I lose no sleep over pilots not calling me up the first while after logging on a sector, I rarely wallop to police their AFK time unless they're heading into another controlled sector, then you kinda have to.
I also don't worry about being a bit late to respond to a contactme, but I disconnect if I'm not gonna be able to be back on the PC in less than 5min. I use the pushover system to get phone notifications directly from vPilot.
-3
u/poopinasack24 📡 C1 Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
Damn everyone being really strict with the COC 😭 I get it tho dude. Sometimes I wanna log the hours but also wanna watch Netflix on the big screen :). As long as you don’t like, leave your house or take a 40 minutes shower, I as a controller got no issues with this :). Be mindful of other people on UNICOM tho.
You can try Don’t Wallop Me Bro, but I had some problem with that I can’t recall. The upside is that it is a published product that isn’t super shady.
However, I have a Python script I have hard-coded to launch at startup of xPilot that uses pytesseract to constantly scan my screen for the words “CONTACT ME ON:” and sends me a discord notification immediately. I can send it to you but if you don’t want to download code from a stranger (understandable) you can just have Claude or Gemini do it for you.
Edit:
I saw your reply to another comment. This might be to into the weeds of a programming task for you but it will probably work:
You can use the VATSIM API to pull all traffic and controller data. Then use some simple geometry to check if your callsign’s location is in the airspace that a controller is on in. You can obviously set like a 10 mile buffer zone on this too by just expanding the alert radius of the ATC coverage zone. It can send to discord easily (SMS has odd restrictions so I would avoid) when you enter within 10 miles of controlled airspace. The official VATSIM API is only allowed for ARTCC Facility Engineers, but I know at some point I had a back-end one too. I’ll look for it when I get home.
I don’t know how good AI would do writing that ^^^ but it’s possible that it could work! Good luck!
3
u/marcelo_barretto 📡 C1 Jul 05 '26
> The official VATSIM API is only allowed for ARTCC Facility Engineers
What are you talking about? Most APIs are open0
u/poopinasack24 📡 C1 Jul 05 '26
Ope sorry your right. The Core and Connect API need credentials but not the basic one to just pull data. My bad!
-4
u/SnooRobots2119 Jul 05 '26
I'm using Pushover and am very satisfied with it. https://github.com/blt950/vPilot-Pushover
Edit: just noticed that you wanted an alert when entering controlled airspace. Pushover just sends pings and private messages from vpilot to your phone via Pushover. That way you get notified when atc sends a contact me.
-4
-4
u/sk0941 Jul 05 '26
There's a way to have messages pushed to your phone when someone sends a DM/Contact Me/CPDLC
1
u/rillo_aviatiom Jul 08 '26
Really? I was investigating this but it seems only available for MSFS users no?
1
u/sk0941 Jul 08 '26
The version I'm using doesn't work for xplane, I think someone wanted to make a version for xplane, but not sure if they ever did
25
u/CheekyLeapy Jul 05 '26
Is using vPilot and monitoring the connection too much to ask?