Advanced Simulated Radar Client
(ASRC)

Mike Evans
David Hendleman

Usage

This section describes the usage of ASRC. This section presumes that you have already familiarized yourself with the configuration of ASRC.

Connecting to the network

To connect to the network:

1. On the FILE menu, click CONNECT

2. A dialog box will appear

3. Fill in all blanks.

4. Enter a single letter ‘TAG’ that you wish to use to represent aircraft owned by yourself in ARTS mode.

5. If ‘TAG’ is left blank, ‘TAG’ will be decided by the POF, or assigned by ASRC if no POF exists.

6. Click OK

If you place a file named ipaddr.txt in the ASRC directory, the server box will be populated with entries from that file.

Disconnecting from the network

To disconnect from the network:

· On the FILE menu, click DISCONNECT

VSCS (Voice Switching & Control System)

A word of warning: VSCS communication is NOT private. Moreover, unlike regular voice communication in legacy programs, there may be situations (override, monitor) where your microphone WILL BE HOT when you are not transmitting to pilots. While pilots can only hear your transmissions when you are actually transmitting on the frequency, other controllers may be monitoring your microphone at any time. For this reason, consider the implications of background chatter, personal communication, and personal activities when using ASRC’s voice features.

Press <TAB> to open or close the VSCS.

Air-to-ground communications

After you have set up your frequency buttons in the VSCS (see configuration), select which frequency you will use as your primary frequency by clicking on PRIM FREQ, and then clicking on the button representing your frequency of choice. On the “primary frequency”, you will always transmit AND receive. In SB 2.3b4 (and earlier), this is the only frequency displayed to the pilots in the controller list. If you wish to use the voice channel, click the middle button and verify that it has turned green. If all three buttons representing the frequency are green, you will be ready to transmit, and receive on both voice and on text.

If you are going to be on the frequency with another controller, and may need to override the other controller (eg. no transgression zone, or instructing a student), you may wish to set up the “preempt” function. To do so:

1. click “FUNC ALT”

2. click “PRMPT”

3. click on the frequency that you wish to “preempt”

When you are in preempt mode, if you are transmitting and another ASRC client tries to transmit ton the same frequency, they will not be able to transmit.

When the VSCS is closed, the active frequencies are displayed along the bottom of the radar screen. These frequencies displayed above the input line will change color depending upon state. The colors will be as follows:

1. Green = transmit and receive mode

2. Yellow = receive mode only

3. Red = transmit mode only

4. Green box around frequency = connected to voice frequency on this channel

5. Amber box around frequency = currently transmitting (pressing push to talk)

6. Red box around frequency = disconnected from voice frequency on this channel

Ground-to-ground communications

As previously mentioned, ASRC sports exciting new features enabling controllers to coordinate traffic using voice, without leaving their voice frequency. This is achieved through the VSCS. The appropriate buttons must have been setup in the ground-to-ground section of the VSCS (see configuration).

To “OVERRIDE” another controller’s position to do a pointout or coordinate traffic:

1. Press <TAB> to open the VSCS.

2. If the first button on the lower left does not say G/G 1 at the top, click the first button, and then click G/G 1

3. Click on the OVR button that you have setup for the position that you wish to override.

4. Click on that position.

5. You will hear all of his radio traffic, and anything going through his microphone, WHETHER OR NOT HE IS PRESSING PUSH TO TALK.

6. Hold down the right CTRL key, and speak.

7. When you are done, press RLS to release the override.

Alternatively, to override another position, whether or not you have a button set up for that position, you may type:

.ov CC <enter> (where CC is the two-digit identifier of the controller to be overrided)

To cancel or stop overriding another position, you may type:

.rls <enter>

To “MONITOR” another controller’s position for educational purposes:

1. Press <TAB> to open the VSCS.

2. If the first button on the lower left does not say G/G 1 at the top, click the first button, and then click G/G 1

3. Click on the MON button that you have setup for the position that you wish to monitor.

4. Click on that position.

5. You will hear all of his radio traffic, and anything going through his microphone during radio transmissions, intercom calls, and WHETHER OR NOT HE IS PRESSING PUSH TO TALK during overrides.

6. When you are done, press RLS to release the monitor.

To place an “INTERCOM” call:

1. Press <TAB> to open the VSCS.

2. If the first button on the lower left does not say G/G 1 at the top, click the first button, and then click G/G 1

3. Click on the button that you have setup for the position that you wish to call (shows his identifier).

4. Click on that position.

5. The button will begin to flash green.

6. The button will turn steady green when the call is in progress.

7. When you are done, press RLS to release the call.

Alternatively, to commence an intercom call with another position, whether or not you have a button set up for that position, you may type:

.ic CC <enter> (where CC is the two-digit identifier of the controller to be overrided)

To cancel or disconnect the intercom call with another position, you may type:

.rls <enter>

When you receive a call, a sound will chime (if setup, see configuration).

To ANSWER a call:

1. Press <TAB> to open the VSCS.

2. If the first button on the lower left does not say G/G 1 at the top, click the first button, and then click G/G 1

3. Click on the orange flashing button

4. It will turn green once you are connected.

5. When you are done, press RLS to release the call.

The controllers in the CL will change color based upon certain events and conditions.

The following CONDITIONS will be displayed in the CL if a controller is:

CONDITION	DISPLAY

Using ASRC	Yellow
Overriding you	Red
Intercom calling you (ringing)	Orange
Intercom call in progress (active)	Green
Monitoring you	Turquoise
Requesting position relief	Pink
Text messaging you	Flashing Gray background
Selected for text messaging	White border

Text radio transmissions

In normal mode, when regular text is typed on the keyboard, and the <enter> key is pressed, the text is sent out blindly onto any active radio frequencies. If an aircraft is “radioselected” (see below), text typed on the keyboard is sent out onto any active radio frequencies, and the target aircraft will hear a special sound.

To scroll backward through the radio communications history, press:

<PGUP>

To scroll forward through the radio communications history, press:

<PGDN>

When in scrollback mode, a red box will appear around the radio communications area.

To return to normal radio communications mode, press:

<END>

To copy the ASRC input line to the windows clipboard, type:

<CTRL-C>

To paste items from the windows clipboard to the ASRC input line, type:

<CTRL-V>

To save the entire radio communications history to a text file, make sure that the radio communications area is active, and type:

.log FILE <enter> (where FILE is a filename)

The history will be saved to the filename, and placed in the path indicated in the “logpath=” entry in the asrc.ini file. By default, this will be the ASRC directory. If you wish to change this, you may edit the “logpath=” entry in the asrc.ini file.

To copy the entire radio communications history to the windows clipboard, make sure that the radio communications area is active, and type:

.copy <enter>

The CL (controller list)

The controller list resides, by default, in the upper right corner of the display. Click on the CL bar itself to toggle it open and closed. Click on the small letter on the right edge of the controller list to toggle the display filter.

The letter on the right end of the title bar indicates the display filter status:

· “B” shows both active controllers and observers

· “A” shows only active controllers

· “O” shows only observers

· “P” shows only positions that are in your POF file

· “C” shows only those individuals who have sent you a message, or whose chat box you have opened at least once during this session

Each active controller will have a two character identifier to the left of his callsign. This two-character identifier is used for handoffs, pointouts, and for controller-to-controller communications.

The POF (Position File) is used to establish static two-character identifiers that may be used to always represent the same position for consistency (see configuration).

The controllers in the CL will change color based upon certain events and conditions.

The following CONDITIONS will be displayed in the CL if a controller is:

CONDITION	DISPLAY

Using ASRC	Yellow
Overriding you	Red
Intercom calling you (ringing)	Orange
Intercom call in progress (active)	Green
Monitoring you	Turquoise
Requesting position relief	Pink
Text messaging you	Flashing Gray background
Selected for text messaging	White border

Whenever you have unanswered chats, the letters “CL” will be flashing yellow.

Text ground-to-ground communications

When you receive an incoming message via text, the background behind the calling controller will flash gray. To view the message, click on the controller’s callsign, or type the two-character callsign, and then press the CONTROLLER select key (hereafter called the <csel> key, see configuration).

A ground-to-ground text box will appear above the air-to-ground communications area. When it has the focus, this area will be gray.

To toggle the focus from ground-to-ground to air-to-ground, press:

<enter> (without any other text on the input line)

To toggle on or off the ground-to-ground communications area, press:

<csel>

To open a communications box with anyone in the controller list, type:

DD<csel> (where DD is the ID to the left of the callsign in the controller list)

The currently-selected individual in the controller list will have a white rectangular box around his callsign. Pressing <csel> without any two-character identifier will open the last selected controller.

To open a communications box with someone not in the controller list, type:

.chat CALL <enter> (where CALL is the full callsign)

To open a group chat with more than one callsign, type:

.group groupname [CALL or DD] [CALL or DD] <enter> (where CALL is the full callsign, or DD is the controller ID)

To add individuals to a group chat, type:

.a [CALL or DD] <enter>

To remove individuals from a group chat, type:

.r [CALL or DD] <enter>

To scroll back in the communications box, press:

<PGUP>

When in scroll back mode, will display a red outline to the communications box.

To scroll forward in the communications box, press:

<PGDN>

To return to normal communications mode, press:

<END>

To close a chatbox, and delete all contents, type:

.x <enter>

To send an ATC message to all controllers in range, type “/your message here”

To copy the ASRC input line to the windows clipboard, type:

<CTRL-C>

To paste items from the windows clipboard to the ASRC input line, type:

<CTRL-V>

To save an entire chat history to a text file, make sure that the chat box is active, and type:

.log FILE <enter> (where FILE is a filename)

To copy an entire chat history to the windows clipboard, make sure that the chat box is active, and type:

.copy <enter>

The CRD

The CRD (Computer Readout Display) is the area to the lower right of the display. It is divided into three areas, the CRD, the RA (Response Area), and the MC (Message Composition).

The CRD portion may be toggled back and forth between two modes. One mode will display all transponder codes of aircraft that are being tracked, and of those that will be automatically tagged. And the other mode will display all altimeter settings being followed.

The RA is where responses to commands are displayed. This is where abbreviated flight plans, metars, and responses to almost every command are displayed.

The MC is where error messages are displayed.

Functions and dot commands

Most of the advanced functions in ASRC are implemented using standard function keys <F1> through <F9>. Each function key has a corresponding text command beginning with a “.” that is inserted into the input line when the function key is pressed. These text commands may be used in lieu of the function keys.

For example, to open or close the datatag for an aircraft the following two commands are equivalent:

<F1> {click on aircraft}

.QP {click on aircraft}

To quickly learn the text commands, watch the command that is inserted into the input line when you press a function key.

Inserting altimeter settings

To insert altimeter settings that are to be monitored, press F2, then the four digit ICAO code for up to 6 airports.

To remove an ICAO code, press F2, then the ICAO code to remove.

The altimeter settings will automatically update whenever they change.

Checking weather

To check weather for any facility, press:

<F7> ICAO (where ICAO is a four digit ICAO airport code)

The result will appear in the RA.

To check weather for the arrival airport of a given aircraft:

1. Radioselect the aircraft (CALLSIGN<asel>)

2. Press <F7><asel>

To check weather for the departure airport of a given aircraft:

1. Radioselect the aircraft (CALLSIGN<asel>)

2. Press <shift F7><asel>

Understanding datatags

This is perhaps the most important section of the user manual. Understanding datatags is fundamental to the successful use of ASRC.

As previously mentioned, ASRC has two main user modes:

1. DSR (Display System Replacement) mode, used in ARTCC’s (Centers)

2. ARTS-III mode, used in TRACON’s.

Two additional modes, Tower and Ground, are basically ARTS-III type modes. Tower and ground mode differ from ARTS-III mode in the following ways:

1. Tower mode datatags are always turned ON.

2. Ground mode datatags show CALLSIGN ONLY, and are always turned ON.

The datatags are entirely different in the two modes and will be discussed separately.

DSR mode datatags:

A.
This is a primary target (the transponder is off, or on standby).

B.
This is a target squawking 1200 (or other VFR code, see configuration). The altitude of the target is displayed.

C.
This is a “Mode C intruder”. It is a target that falls within your altitude strata (altitudes turned on in your filters), AND is not squawking 1200, AND is NOT OWNED BY ANYONE. The target shows it’s transponder code, and its current altitude. If you wish to see more information about this type of aircraft, press F1, and click the target.

D.
When you press F1 and click on the target, a full datablock will appear, showing more information about the aircraft. To close the datablock, press F1 and click the target again. In figure D, this aircraft is a voice enabled aircraft (/v), level at it’s assigned cruise altitude of FL410 (410C), with a computer ID of 247, and a groundspeed of 490 KTS.

E.
This is a target OWNED BY ANOTHER CONTROLLER.

F.
Again, if you press F1 and click on the target, a full datablock will appear, showing more information about the aircraft. To close the datablock, press F1 and click the target again. In this datablock we see that the aircraft is a voice enabled aircraft (/v), assigned a temporary altitude of 12000 (120T), currently at 12100 (121), with a computer ID of 953, owned by sector 1W (R###O-1W)

G.
This is a target NOT OWNED BY ANYONE, AND ABOVE OR BELOW YOUR ALTITUDE STRATA.

H.
This is a target owned by someone else, assigned a cruise altitude of 7000 (070), descending out of 11100 (v111), with a computer ID of 953, and we see that it is a Boeing 737. Note that the lower right field toggles continuously between groundspeed, destination/scratchpad, and aircraft type in all modes, except when owned by someone else, the groundspeed is replaced by the ownership info.

I.
This is an aircraft OWNED BY YOURSELF with no voice tag, assigned a cruise altitude of FL250, who is level at 15000, has a computer ID of 958, and has a groundspeed of 310 KTS. Notice that the position indicator is a backslash with a triangle over it. The triangle indicates that he is more than 5 NM off course from his flight planned route. He will become a diamond when he is within 5 NM of his flight planned or amended route. Note that the distance line is user configurable (see configuration).

J.
This is an aircraft within 5 NM of his flight planned or amended route. Notice the diamond shaped position indicator.

K.
This is an aircraft assigned a cruise altitude of FL250, climbing out of 1600.

L.
This is an aircraft assigned a transponder code, but on a different transponder code. The transponder code that he is currently on is displayed in the lower right field of the datablock (3202). Once he changes his transponder to the assigned code, it will revert to a normal datatag.

M.
This is an aircraft on a DUPLICATE TRANSPONDER CODE, a code that is also being squawked by another aircraft. If you see the word CODE, in the lower right field of the datablock, you know to reassign a new transponder code to this aircraft.

N.
This is an aircraft assigned a final altitude of FL410, climbing out of FL348 who is in handoff mode from us to sector 0B (H-OB). When accepted the lower line will read R247O-0B. See figure F. for an example of someone already accepted by another facility.

O.
This aircraft was assigned a cruise altitude of FL260, was at that cruise altitude of FL260, and descended 300 feet or more below that altitude without a clearance without the controller having entering the descent into the computer. Notice the (-) sign. If he were more than 300 feet above the assigned altitude, and had already been at the assigned altitude, he would have a (+) sign between the two altitudes.

P.
This aircraft is identing. Notice the three bars over the position indicator.

Q.
This aircraft is squawking 7500.

R.
This aircraft is squawking 7600.

S.
This aircraft is squawking 7700. The whole datatag will flash.

T.
This aircraft is in COAST mode. It has either lagged off the system, been disconnected, or the user has intentionally disconnected. The aircraft will continue to “coast” along on the last known heading and at the last known speed. This is not real data, and it is only an assumption. Do not rely on the position to be accurate. The aircraft may have turned, or changed speed since he was lost from radar. When the aircraft returns, the coasting icon will change to a real datatag. To destroy a coasting target, press F4 and click on the aircraft to “drop track” (see below).

ARTS mode datatags:

A.
This is a primary target (the transponder is off, or on standby).

B.
This is a target squawking 1200. It shows altitude and groundspeed.

C.
This is a target that is not squawking 1200, AND is NOT OWNED BY ANYONE. Again it shows altitude and groundspeed. If you press F1 and click on the target, it will display more information about the aircraft.

D.
This is a target owned by another sector, sector W. In ARTS mode, active sectors have two digit identifiers on the controller list, but only one letter shows up as the position indicator on the datatag. This is user configurable in the POF (see configuration).

E.
Assuming that you, yourself, are ARTS tag D, this is an aircraft OWNED BY YOURSELF. In this example the aircraft is voice enabled, at FL292, has a groundspeed of 510 KTS and is a heavy.

F.
ARTS datatags alternate data on the second line. At first, it may be confusing. When the asterisk is present, the information being viewed is supplementary information. Learn to read current altitude and groundspeed when the asterisk is absent. In this example the asterisk is present, and we see that the last assigned altitude was FL250, and that the aircraft is a LJ45.

G.
The second line of the ARTS datatag alternates through several different informational modes, always returning to ALT GS in between each of the other informational modes. When in informational mode, the left field alternates between DESTINATION or SCRATCHPAD, and CURRENT ASSIGNED ALTITUDE. The right field is always the aircraft type.

H.
This is an aircraft assigned a transponder code, but on a different transponder code. The transponder code that he is currently on is displayed in place of the groundspeed (3202). Once he changes his transponder to the assigned code, it will revert to a normal datatag.

I.
This is an aircraft on a DUPLICATE TRANSPONDER CODE, a code that is also being squawked by another aircraft. If you see the word CODE, in place of the groundspeed, you know to reassign a new transponder code to this aircraft.

J.
This aircraft is being handed of to the sector represented in the POF by the letter “B”. Notice the “B” between the altitude and the groundspeed. Once accepted the “D” indicating that YOU own the aircraft will turn to a “B” and the second line of the datatag will no longer display the “B” between altitude and groundspeed.

K.
This aircraft is identing.

L.
This aircraft is squawking 7500.

M.
This aircraft is squawking 7600.

N.
This aircraft is squawking 7700.

O.
These two aircraft are in conflict alert status (see configuration to customize CA/CA thresholds).

P.
This aircraft is in COAST mode. It has either lagged off the system, been disconnected, or the user has intentionally disconnected. The aircraft will continue to “coast” along on the last known heading and at the last known speed. This is not real data, and it is only an assumption. Do not rely on the position to be accurate. The aircraft may have turned, or changed speed since he was lost from radar. When the aircraft returns, the coasting icon will change to a real datatag. To destroy a coasting target, press F4 and click on the aircraft to “drop track” (see below).

To move the position of a datatag, type:

<F1> P ACFT (where “P” is a key on the numpad representing the desired direction of the leader)

To change the direction and length of the datatag leader, type:

<F1> P/L ACFT (where “P” is a key on the numpad representing the desired direction of the leader, and “L” is the length 1-9)

To change just the length of the datatag leader, type:

<F1> /L ACFT (where “L” is the length 1-9)

Selecting and performing functions on aircraft

There are many ways to perform functions on aircraft. Depending on the situation, you may:

1. Radioselect

2. Use a list letter

3. Click (slew) on the target

4. Use the CID (computer ID)