Radio Tuning
Radios are used both for communication, and also for navigation.
This tutorial will teach you how to tune the radio of the aircraft to pick up
the ATIS - Automatic Terminal Information Service. This is broadcast by all
but the smallest airports and provides information on the current ground-level
weather, the altimeter setting and the runway in use.
Tutorials/startup
morning
PHTO
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125
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/controls/gear/brake-parking
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/environment/weather-scenario
Fair weather
/controls/flight/elevator-trim
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In this lesson, you'll learn how to tune the radio to the ATIS of Hilo Intl,
which is the nearest one with ATIS.
0.0
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73.6
10
First you need to power the aircraft by switching the battery on.
9.2
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/sim/model/hide-yoke
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We now power the radio-stack, so you have to switch the battery on.
/controls/switches/master-bat
/controls/switches/master-bat
Then switch the master avionics on to start the radio stack
12.2
-35.2
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Flip the master avionics switch...
/controls/switches/master-avionics
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/controls/switches/master-avionics
1
The radio is in the middle of the center console.
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/sim/model/hide-yoke
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5
There are 4 radios on this aircraft - two for communication (COMM1, COMM2) and two for navigation (NAV1, NAV2).
Each radio has an active frequency and a standby frequency.
We tune the radio by changing the standby frequency, and then swapping the active and standby.
10
To change the standby frequency, click on the highlighted knob.
339.4
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The outer knob changes the number on the left of the decimal place. The inner knob changes the number on the right of the decimal place.
The left mouse button increases the value, while the middle button decreases it. Alternatively, you can use your mouse wheel.
336.3
-13.9
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Set the standby frequency to 126.4 MHz. This is the ATIS frequency for Hilo Intl Airport, and is printed on sectional charts.
336.3
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/instrumentation/comm/frequencies/standby-mhz
126.40
Now, switch the active and standby frequencies by pressing the swap button so the active frequency is 126.4 MHz.
339.4
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/instrumentation/comm[0]/frequencies/selected-mhz
126.4
We need to set the COMM1 output to our headset using the audio panel.
Use your left mouse button to drag the COMM1 switch upwards if it is not already in that position.
336.5
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/instrumentation/kma20/com1
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Listen to the ATIS message. If you cannot hear it, look at the Sound Configuration dialog on the File menu.
It will tell you the current weather conditions, the runway in use, and the altimeter setting.
Once you've heard it, you can switch it off by swapping the frequency back to standby, or toggling off the audio panel.
Switch off the audio panel by setting the switch to the middle position.
336.3
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Great job. COMM2 is located immediately below COMM1 in the radio stack, and is tuned in the same way.
The NAV radios work in exactly the same way, except they use a different frequency
range, and their output goes to the navigational instruments.