VCCS

• VCCS

VCCS

Introduction

Several communication channels are combined into a single system via a voice communication system (VCS). A basic telephone may be adequate for certain ATS units (like an AFIS or Tower unit at a small airport), but this is typically not the case for large ATC centres that house a variety of sectors or when multiple ATS units are housed in the same building (like Tower, Approach, and Area control units).

In Euroscope, this is known as VCCS.

Features

There is no defined standard on what a VCS should have, but below are some common features.

• Graphical User Interface
• Part of the screen dedicated to frequency management (frequency selection and adjustment, coupling, etc.).
• Part of the screen (normally the largest) dedicated to phone shortcuts (phones that can be dialed using a single button). These may be placed on multiple pages in some systems.
• Additional phone options, e.g. a dial pad, a phone directory, etc.
• A control panel, containing options for e.g. volume adjustment, selection of output devices (e.g. headset or speakers), incoming call sound selection, etc.
• Functional buttons, e.g. for transferring calls, conference calls, push-to-talk feature, etc.
• Definition of roles and corresponding layouts. For example, different ACC sectors may have different phone shortcuts or different frequencies available, while an assistant panel may lack the frequency section.

Fig 1: Euroscope VCCS Window

Fig 2: VCS Window (Source: Skybrary)

Setup

To access your VCCS panel, open Euroscope and go to:

1. Other SET
2. VCCS dialog ...
   

Alternatively, right click on the left column in the window below.

Fig 3: Euroscope mini VCCS window

Editing Settings

To edit settings, select EDIT in the VCCS dialogue.

Fig 4: VCCS setup Dialog

You must edit the following settings:

• Nickname
  • This shall be your VATSIM CID
• G2A PTT
  • Your LINE 1 push-to-talk
• G2G PTT
  • Your LINE 2 push-to-talk
• Capture device
  • This is your microphone
• Playback device
  • This is your headphones/speakers

Editing other settings may cause your installation to break!

Click OK after confirming your settings.

Usage

To call a user on VCCS, either:

• Right click them on the controller
• Open the VCCS window (Fig. 1)
  

Select the station you wish to call by clicking on them.

During the call

When a station is speaking, their window on the VCCS panel (Line 1 on Fig. 1 & Fig. 3) will turn to a lighter shade of white.

When you are speaking, it will turn to an orange colour.

Ending a call

There are two ways to end the call.

• Click on the station in the VCCS mini window (Fig. 3)
• Click END on the VCCS Dialog window. (Fig. 1)

Other VCCS functions.

Euroscope has other VCCS functions such as TRANSFER, CONFERENCE, ROLE and HOLD, however, these have not been implemented it.

Fig. 5: Euroscope warning screen