Hello dear PMDG programmers, I think a lot of people is very glad to see your 737NG series for FSX announced.I'm one of those...Of course the very high quality of your add-ons is very much appreciated by the simmers community.There have been rumours on the net, telling that maybe the FSX version would provide more possibility for cockpit builders to interface hardware knobs with the functions of your plane, like keyboard commands for all the functions or another way like an sdk ...As you know there is a fast growing community of home cockpits builders, especially for the 737 because it is the most documented and supported plane (and one of the most agrable to fly).As you also know this community is still (cruelly) lacking of a completely functionnal 737 easy to interface with hardware panels, and mmore specially, custom made harware panels like opencockpit's ones.There is no one doubt that your 737 would be the ideal one, with a strong demand for it, if you could do something to meet the needs of cockpit builders.Things like keyboard commands for all the functions as a payware option for example, would keep you from revealing programming secrets, would meet a very strong demand and there is no doubt that it would generate for you a big market if the price for such an option could be moderate.Because actual high price is probably a major problem for cockpit builders when considering to buy things like plug and play CDUs for example, compatible with the PMDG 737NG.I invite all potential buyers for such an option to answer this post to show the large interrest for it in the community.I also hope that this post could find a positive answer from you to this expectation.Best regards, Popolmarcel.

I greatly approve what you are saying and am ready to pay a good price for a such good 737NG aircraft. I know we are many builder in the same situation. Recently I wrote to PMDG for that issue but did not received answer yet...AlB737NG builders express yourself here...!

>There have been rumours on the net, telling that maybe the FSX>version would provide more possibility for cockpit builders to>interface hardware knobs with the functions of your plane,>like keyboard commands for all the functions or another way>like an sdk ...Just for your information:The Level-D 767 300ER is available for FS2004 with a full SDK (at no extra costs) for about two years now. No keyboard commands needed, a real digital interface.The FSX 767 version has been announced (within a few days from now) and there will be a FSX 757 too later.So you can always change plane, note that this is also a Boeing... ;-)Regards,Nicohttp://www.nicokaan.nl

Keyboard commands are already available for use with the PMDG aircraft.That's not what you are looking for.They are slow and inaccurate.The problem is that there is no way to get feedback from the aircraft as to present settings (HDG, ALT, a/p status etc), so no way of knowing how many of your keyboard commands were indeed received by the aircraft!LevelD 767 on the other hand, is the first and only aircraft for the time being that not only gives you all the feedback and information that you need for every switch on the panel (including the whole of the overhead), but also allows complete digital control of every switch of the panel (again, including the whole overhead).For cockpit builders this is THE best and only way to correctly communicate with the aircraft and simulate its systems.Unfortunately, not everybody listens. And some, just play deaf so they just earn more money by selling "drivers". 'nough said.Check some previous posts in the forum, both this and PMDG's, PSS's etc.You will find what you are (not!) looking for there...George DorkofikisAthens, Hellashttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/811520/1704.png

>Keyboard commands are already available for use with the PMDG>aircraft.>That's not what you are looking for.>They are slow and inaccurate.Indeed, and they only work if your cockpit window has focus. In Spot view they don't work, or even worse, may lead to unwanted side effects (for instance if a weather or multi-player program has focus)Nicohttp://www.nicokaan.nl

Thanks for answering.You're right : we do not only need keyboard commands for the functions but also informations to use for the annunciators and gauges.But I 'm sorry, maybe did I miss something with the PMDG : I have no notion of keyboard commands for the FMC keyboard for example, or other overhead functions...If the Level-D planes are so completely made, they could be the ideal ones for cockpit building.Do they at Level-D think about publishing a 737 as complete as their other planes ?And, what can be a potential limit, is the FMC database for existing planes as well documented as the PMDG's ones ?Regards, Popolmarcel.

I added a post on there forum http://www.iemit.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8724 about a futur B737ng with offsets like the 767... But did not received answer yet... Maybe you could add your voices there...:-wave

>If the Level-D planes are so completely made, they could be>the ideal ones for cockpit building.They ARE ideal for cockpit building, for examples see my website www.nicokaan.nl , page FSCONV, section show case. See for example the pit of Ian Cameron.>Do they at Level-D think about publishing a 737 as complete as>their other planes ?No, I don't think so, but you have to ask them yourself.>And, what can be a potential limit, is the FMC database for>existing planes as well documented as the PMDG's ones ?Don't know if I understand this question completely, but the FMC of the Level-D is as complete and advanced as can be.Nicohttp://www.nicokaan.nl

The answer of the question " Do PMDG love the cockpitbuilders ? " is already know by everybody : NO ! It's not the first call to them without answer...Anyway, I've tried some basic interfaces with PMDG 737: MCP,EFIS,FMC and it was "my" way to start a homecockpit. But I find that overhead ( and more generaly aircraft systems ) are very hard to interface. But the thing witch stops me was the very bad framerates when having multiple windows from only one PC ( to have scenery on main screen, PFD/ND on another, then upper EICAS FMC and lower EICAS ... ). With a comfortable Pc with two graphics cards and four screens, result was 10-15 FPS...So one question to Nico ( the one best supporter of Level-D in the world ! - No jocking, his job of FSCONV seems very great, and he's the master of sioc programming too ) : did you try to separate main visual scenery and gauge cockpit with Level-D ( meaning to make a mip in the future ), and are the FPS friendly ?

>So one question to Nico : did you try to>separate main visual scenery and gauge cockpit with Level-D (>meaning to make a mip in the future ), and are the FPS>friendly ?I did not, because lack of space in my room, but I know of others who succesfully managed to make the split without a significant drop in fps. Look for instance at Ian Camerons cockpit (my site, page FSCONV, show case section).Level-D has networked gauges on its 'still to do' list. So in the future we hope to be able to map gauges at different PCs.Nicohttp://www.nicokaan.nl

For the record, some three years ago us cockpit builders asked the PIC 767 team (now Level-D) for a digital interface. I'm very glad they have listened to us.I do hope for you that PMDG will do the same, competition is good.Nicohttp://www.nicokaan.nl

With LevelD 767 for FSX around the corner (they say in their forums that it will be out soon, and the manual is already released), it will be one of a milestone add-on.Not only the first of REAL Quality aircraft for FSX,but also with an SDK to interface!I do hope the competition will get the message, but honestly, I doubt it, since they didn't get it by now.George DorkofikisAthens, Hellashttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/811520/1704.png

>>And, what can be a potential limit, is the FMC database for>>existing planes as well documented as the PMDG's ones ?>Don't know if I understand this question completely, but the>FMC of the Level-D is as complete and advanced as can be.Well, sorry for the misunderstanding...What I mean is that having a good FMC is one thing.The other one is what you put in it.You need an acurate and updated database (for SID, STARS,AIRACS).So my question was : do the LEVEL-D airplanes have Sid or Airacs database regularly updated ?If so they could be the ideal ones for cockpit building.What I need (and much other like me) is then a "Level-D 737 NG" to achieve my project.I love the "guppy" and wouldn't like to change to another plane because there is no accurate plane to put in my cockpit.. :)Regards, Popolmarcel

Popolmarcel,I am in the same situation as you. I expect to be ready to the software shortly, but nothing else exist actualy but Project Magenta. If nothing is expected soon I will have no choice than pay $3000 for it.... It is not chance no one (PMDG or Feelthere) decides to make it...:-hmmm

>So my question was : do the LEVEL-D airplanes have Sid or>Airacs database regularly updated ?Yes of course, monthly via Navigraph's Navdata service for instance.Nicohttp://www.nicokaan.nl