StripCol – EuroScope Plugin

StripCol is a real-time synchronization plugin for EuroScope that connects your position to a StripCol WebSocket gateway and allows external applications (or other StripCol clients) to:

• Sync assumed aircraft
• Update assigned data (ALT, HDG, SPD, MACH, SQUAWK, etc.)
• Accept / refuse / initiate handoffs
• Push SID/STAR amendments
• Share ATC list
• Retrieve nearby aircraft
• Synchronize state after reconnect

The plugin communicates with a StripCol WebSocket server running on port 3000.

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Features

🔌 WebSocket Gateway Connection

• Connects to configurable gateway IP
• Automatic reconnect
• Heartbeat (ping every 30s)
• Safe non-blocking shutdown
• No UI freezing

🛩 Aircraft Synchronization

• Sends aircraft data when assumed

• Tracks:

  • Cleared altitude
  • Final altitude
  • Assigned heading
  • Assigned speed
  • Assigned Mach
  • Squawk
  • Direct-to
  • SID / STAR
  • Route
  • Remarks
  • Coordination points

• Sends release when tracking ends

🔄 Live Updates

• Detects flight plan changes

• Sends fpupdate only when data changes

• Sync command re-pushes:

  • Registration
  • ATC list
  • All assumed aircraft

🤝 Handoff & Transfer Support

Handles:

• Accept handoff
• Refuse handoff
• Initiate handoff
• Transfer to me detection

📡 Nearby Aircraft Query

Returns aircraft within 50NM of controller position.

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Installation

1. Build the DLL.
2. Place it in your EuroScope plugins folder.
3. Load it inside EuroScope.
4. Start your StripCol gateway server (port 3000).

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How It Works

StripCol acts as a WebSocket client.

Flow:

1. EuroScope position connect → plugin connects to gateway.

2. Sends a registration JSON containing:

   • Pairing code
   • Callsign
   • Controller name
   • Facility
   • Rating
   • Frequency

3. Gateway manages multi-client sync.

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Commands

.striprestart

Restarts the gateway connection.

.striprestart

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.stripset <IP>

Sets the gateway IP address.

.stripset 192.168.1.15

If no IP is provided, defaults to:

127.0.0.1

After setting, the plugin reconnects automatically.

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.stripcode

Displays the current pairing code.

.stripcode

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Pairing Code

On first successful registration, a 5-character pairing code is generated:

Example:

StripCol Pairing Code: A7X9Q

This code is used by other StripCol clients to join your session.

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Network Requirements

• Gateway must be running on port 3000

• If using LAN:

  • Use local IPv4 (e.g. 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x)

• If using internet:

  • Use public IP
  • Configure port forwarding

• Allow StripCol through Windows Firewall

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JSON Messages

Sent to Gateway

• register
• ping
• aircraft
• fpupdate
• release
• transfer
• atclist
• nearby-aircraft

Received from Gateway

• set-cleared-alt
• set-final-alt
• set-assigned-heading
• set-assigned-speed
• set-assigned-mach
• set-squawk
• set-departureTime
• set-direct-point
• set-sid
• set-star
• accept-handoff
• refuse-handoff
• ATC-transfer
• assume-aircraft
• end-tracking
• sync
• get-nearby-aircraft

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Threading Model

• Dedicated WebSocket worker thread
• UI thread never blocks
• Safe shutdown using atomic flags
• Socket protected by mutex
• Aircraft state protected by mutex

This prevents freezing inside EuroScope.

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Architecture Overview

EuroScope
   ↓
StripCol Plugin (WebSocket Client)
   ↓
StripCol Gateway (Port 3000)
   ↓
Other StripCol Clients

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