I have done a couple of multiplayer flights at MSN zone and have noticed something odd.  When I have joined a flight, the only other player I can see is the host, maybe.  Even if there are more than the two of us actively flying, all I see is just one other player.  I asked the "other player" how many aircraft he saw, and he said maybe six or seven.  In the chat queue, I can see other players' names, but in the simworld, just the one other.  Also, I don't get the chat traffic from the other players.  ???

OK.  I have been to VATSIM and downloaded SB.  I am now facing difficulties connecting to any of the servers.  I don't think I am getting beyond my own network.  I have a home network -->  cable modem to wireless access point router to computer(s).  Would this do anything within the flightsim network?
I'm also getting time-out messages when trying to connect to a server, or Invalid callsign or password.  I use my VATSIM info, right?

Please help a confused and really interested flight sim enthusiast!

There's a great tutorial on the VATSIM getting started page that will help a lot.

The problem is probably with your router.  Most of the people I know who try to do multiplayer flying with a router in the mix have run into problems.  Search around these forums a bit.  I know there are several threads about it.

Through a variety of a experiments, I finally made it onto VATSIM.     I've flown a number of VFR and IFR flights with multiplayer ATC.  Let me tell you, the first time was rather daunting.  I think I was flying out of Boston, taxiing to an active runway.  I was given taxi instructions, to include holding short of a runway enroute.  Got to the intermediate runway and saw another player landing right in front of me.  THAT was cool.   8)  I was then given clearance to proceed to my runway, which was a cross runway!  FS98/2K/2K2/2K4 AI ATC does not have THAT much flexibility in assigning landing and departure runways - it just chooses the longest runway based on wind direction.
I do remember flying from Cuba to Miami, which was a pretty neat flight.  The coolest thing about the flight was the approach and landing.  As I was vectored into my ILS approach fix, I saw probably a good dozen other players on the KMIA tarmac or runway.  Let me tell you, those ATCs were really busy that day!
Anyway, thanks a bunch for your assistance, and I hope to see you in the air on VATSIM sometime.

Musicman