FSINN setup

What is FSINN and why have we changed?

FSINN is a newer technology which has evolved over the recent years, to become the preferred multiplayer option amongst those whom take this hobby seriously.

The benefits of using FSINN make it an attractive proposition to serious simmers...

Other player's position on the ground and in the air relative to yourself appear realistic and their movements smooth.  No jumping around the sky like a demented flea.  Observing landings becomes a worthwhile exercise - a genuine approach and smooth landing!  Formation flying and mid-air refuelling takes on a whole new meaning.

Weather scenarios become ultra realistic (something not possible under FSHOST).  Weather can be set up for any airport area - you can fly from bright sunshine, into a thunderstorm and out the other side.  Wind directions can be set differently making crosswind events even more exciting.  We can have multiple cloud layers and different visibility levels.  Precipitations can vary between areas.

Finally, a serious benefit is getting around those annoying connection issues where you find yourself "kicked" from a session because someone joined using an unconfigured router.

How does it work?

FSINN is a client add-on module which manages multiplayer connections - we no longer need to connect via the traditional method, although it will still be possible to do so even with the FSINN client installed.  The two methods can co-exist happily.  Note that once installed, you will need a unique ID to identify you to the server.  This can be obtained from any of the following managers...

Ian Cooper (G-X439)
Dave Belbeck (AC308)
Mike Vlug (PH-105)
Eric Stein (Towerctrl)

...as a temporary measure, you can connect with a universal ID and password.  There are 9 universal IDs set up, one of them should be successful.  They are all 6 digit numeric IDs starting at 111111 up to 999999 - the password for them all is "password".

Note - these instructions have been written for those who are running Flight Sim on Windows XP.  If you are using Vista or Windows 7 then there are some additional steps that need to be taken after installation to enable certain features which are blocked by additional security in those systems.  None of them will stop you flying - just speak to any manager when on-line (or search for the latest comments).

Client Installation

The install process is quite simple, the zip file is called FSINN.zip.  It comprises files, each is an executable.  All the relevant instructions are listed below...

1. Download FSINN.zip and place in a temporary folder on your HD.

2. Unzip the contents and extract (or run from within winzip) first SetupFSCopilot17B2_4.exe follow the on-screen instructions and accept all the default settings.

3. Run SetupFSInn13B2_3.exe follow the steps listed here...

Step 1		Welcome Splash
Step 2		You should see this intial screen confirming FSFDT FSInn 1.3.  Click Next
Step 3		To accept the Terms & Conditions, click I Agree
Step 4		Check the first 2 boxes, uncheck the "Pre Configured Networks" - click on Next
Step 5		Leave ALL boxes UNCHECKED - click on Next
Step 6		This tells you where the program is installed - don't argue - just click Install
Step 7		You will see this progress chart as the installation progresses.  When complete click Next
Step 8		Install complete message - click Close.

Configuration Settings

Initialise		On
Step 1		After installing, fire-up FS9 and identify the "Copilot" menu item and click on it
Step 2		Look for "Inn Control Panel" and click on it.                             The system will update itself from your aircraft library - let it continue - it make take a while depending on the size of your library.   Now you will be connected to multiplayer within Flight Sim (this is just local to your own PC)     On completion you should just see the Control Panel
Step 3		We now need to configure the settings to make this unique to you. Clik on SET...
Step 4		This is the Setup panel - all personal settings are stored here.  Not all the optiosn require input, but we will visit them all anyway - so Click on "Basic".
Step 5		Input your Default CallSign - this is what others will see you as when in Multiplayer.  Enter your name or alias and the default SELCAL as shown.  Click on "General"
Step 6		Make the options as shown. Click on "Charset".
Step 7		This should default to "Ansi" as shown. Click on "Multiplayer"
Step 6		This setting will depend on just how powerful or up-to-date your PC is.  The higher these values then the more your computer will struggle.  We suggest you start off with the values shown.  Move the sliders. If you set the checkbox ON, then static aircraft wil not be displayed.  Again this is to save processing power.  If you have an old PC then set this to ON. Click on "Various"
Step 7		Set the values as shown. Click on "Sound".
Step 8		Set the values as shown. Click on "VA Voice"
Step 9		Set the values as shown Click on "Flight"
Step 10		Set the values as shown. Click on "Weather"
Step 11		Set the values as shown Click on "Network" and expand the sub items.
Step 12		This is where we store all the connection info to join UKATC. Ignore the VATSIM option, that is just the default. Click on "Net2"
Step 13		The ID field is how you are identified to the server.  This should be set up in advance, but you can use a temporary ID - see top of pager.  Temporary ID's all have their passwords set to "password".  All assigned passwords are set to "ukatc". The "Net Specific Callsign" should be set to how you wish to be seen by other players.  If you use other FSINN servers, then you can use a different callsign on each. The "Net Label" should be set to "UKATC" - and it will replace the word Net2 in the Control Panel. Net3, Net4 and FSFDT can be ignored - Click on "Peer to Peer".
Step 14		Set the values as shown. Click on "UPnP"
Step 15		You should see this (or a similar message). Click on "Forwarding"
Step 16		You should see this (or a similar message). Click on "Default"
Step 17		You should see this (or a similar message). That's it - your done! Click on the "x" (bottom right) to close this panel.

Launching Multiplayer

Now select Inn Control Panel from the Copilot menu and click on the button left of UKATC to connect to our server...

...if the connection is successful you should hear a "ding-dong" cabin-alert and
a white cloud should appear to the right of the label and the word UKATC
should color invert..

Congratulations - you are now connected to UKATC.