I currently have the VRInsight M-Panel and it is doing the job well as far as it goes. I was wondering whether the logical next step would be to add their CDU or upgrade to their Combo panel and perhaps later add the CDU. Or are the Combo panel and the CDU mutually exclusive? And if I buy the Combo panel should I no longer bother with the M-Panel? Does anyone have any advice on which way to go? When I read the descriptions there seems to be a bit of an overlap. Or am I missing the point altogether?

There is definitely overlap between the M-panel and the MCP combo, but to be honest the MCP is far better than the M-panel as it is far easier and quicker to use. The major thing the M-panel has that the MCP doesn't is a dedicated Gear switch and Flap switch. There are also other small differences, with the M-panel you can see what percentage throttle you have applied in one of the modes, this isn't available on the MCP Combo. Your also see the barometer reading when you select baro mode on the M-panel, this isn't the case with the MCP combo you only have a dedicated dial on the panel with no readout anywhere. So I suppose you could say that you can use them both together quite well, I certainly do use them together. The CDU is very useful if you do a lot of airliner flights that include an FMC but I don't think you will get as much use out of it as you would the MCP combo. I use the CDU even with aircraft that don't have FMC's as you can use it to control other gauges and switches if you want to, its all down to your imagination I suppose.

There is definitely overlap between the M-panel and the MCP combo, but to be honest the MCP is far better than the M-panel as it is far easier and quicker to use. The major thing the M-panel has that the MCP doesn't is a dedicated Gear switch and Flap switch. There are also other small differences, with the M-panel you can see what percentage throttle you have applied in one of the modes, this isn't available on the MCP Combo. Your also see the barometer reading when you select baro mode on the M-panel, this isn't the case with the MCP combo you only have a dedicated dial on the panel with no readout anywhere. So I suppose you could say that you can use them both together quite well, I certainly do use them together. The CDU is very useful if you do a lot of airliner flights that include an FMC but I don't think you will get as much use out of it as you would the MCP combo. I use the CDU even with aircraft that don't have FMC's as you can use it to control other gauges and switches if you want to, its all down to your imagination I suppose.

Thanks for the quick response AndyDigital. I am glad to hear that the various panels can work together so I think that my next step will be to add the Combo panel and then the CDU much later. I really do like the build quality of VRInsight's products but they are rather expensive so I will have to wait a while for the next step. I see what you mean about the overlap but it sounds like that can work to my advantage. Thanks again.

They aren't as expensive as the rest of the competitions prices, you will spend twice as much as the MCP Combo costs just for a MCP that doesn't include a EFIS or COM at some of the vendors.

They aren't as expensive as the rest of the competitions prices, you will spend twice as much as the MCP Combo costs just for a MCP that doesn't include a EFIS or COM at some of the vendors.

Looks like the Combo panel is the next step then. If I am using both the M-Panel and the Combo panel do I see two instances of SerialFP2 or one instance that accomodates both panels. If so, can you switch between the M-Panel and Combo panel?

Many versions of SerialFP2 can run at the same time, each one doing a different job. Depending on what devices I'm using with an aircraft, sometimes I will have 4 instances of it running at the same time i.e. one each for the M-panel, MCP Combo, CDU and a final one for the Radio Stack, they all work independently and wont interfere with one another.

Many versions of SerialFP2 can run at the same time, each one doing a different job. Depending on what devices I'm using with an aircraft, sometimes I will have 4 instances of it running at the same time i.e. one each for the M-panel, MCP Combo, CDU and a final one for the Radio Stack, they all work independently and wont interfere with one another.

If I do add the Combo panel should I go through the complete install process or is there an abbreviated process used when you already have SerialFP2 installed?

I pretty certain that all drivers for all of VRi's hardware are installed at the same time as you installed the M-panel package and SerialFP2 is the same for all hardware as far as I know. Just make sure you are using the latest version and all should be well.

Hi all,I went to the " salon du Bourget " yesterday and was fortunate enough to see some new products from Vrinsight displayed by simware. You should wait before buyind the cdu. Indeed I ve seen the next one with a VGA display ! It was realy a nice piece of hardware. There were also 3 other incoming products ... wait and see !

Excellent News Actarus, I wish I had been able to go to the show sounds like it was very nice. Did you not take any pictures :)

Hi all,I went to the " salon du Bourget " yesterday and was fortunate enough to see some new products from Vrinsight displayed by simware. You should wait before buyind the cdu. Indeed I ve seen the next one with a VGA display ! It was realy a nice piece of hardware. There were also 3 other incoming products ... wait and see !

Does it look like ther are going to be any significant changes to the Combo Panel? That is the one that I am planning to add next and would be willing to wait if it was going to change.

Does it look like ther are going to be any significant changes to the Combo Panel? That is the one that I am planning to add next and would be willing to wait if it was going to change.

Sorry I didn' take any picture ... Regarding the Combo panel I didn't notice any change. About the other products : one is a small propit with only 8 gauges displayed and something like 5 knobs ( heading , course , etc ) this one looked a bit small but very usefull. The other new product is a small jetpit with : FCU on the top of the screen and PFD next to the ND and below the FCU ( one turning knob next to the FCU and some pushbuttons to swith between heading / course / alt ) : again smaller than usual but quite useful. What was appealling to me is the new CDU with its sharp VGA screen ( HDMI and VGA input ) : this was only a prototype but I was ready to buy it ! ( note that the bezel is the same as the older one ( the buttons I mean ) : this might look cheap but regarding the price ( not set yet but in the 300 - 400 euros range ) and the screen it's a bargain !PS: Expect 250 euros for the other pruducts mentionned above.

Sorry I didn' take any picture ... Regarding the Combo panel I didn't notice any change. About the other products : one is a small propit with only 8 gauges displayed and something like 5 knobs ( heading , course , etc ) this one looked a bit small but very usefull. The other new product is a small jetpit with : FCU on the top of the screen and PFD next to the ND and below the FCU ( one turning knob next to the FCU and some pushbuttons to swith between heading / course / alt ) : again smaller than usual but quite useful. What was appealling to me is the new CDU with its sharp VGA screen ( HDMI and VGA input ) : this was only a prototype but I was ready to buy it ! ( note that the bezel is the same as the older one ( the buttons I mean ) : this might look cheap but regarding the price ( not set yet but in the 300 - 400 euros range ) and the screen it's a bargain !PS: Expect 250 euros for the other pruducts mentionned above.

Thanks for the info on the Combo Panel. I will be anxiously looking for the new CDU since I plan to add that later in the year.

Thanks for the info on the Combo Panel. I will be anxiously looking for the new CDU since I plan to add that later in the year.

Hi to everybody,pls anybody can let me know if the VRInsight MCP and M-Panel are working also with freeware planes?Or they are working (compatible) only with FS9-FSX default planes and payware like wilco, pmdg and LevelD?For example: usually I'm using the Leonardo Maddog2006, Flight1 ATR 72-500 and some other planes package for my adventures/missions like Perfect Flight Alitalia Vol.4, FS Approaches vol. 3 etc...I'm very atttacted by the VRInsight products but I'm still uncertain due to the compatibility problems... but somebody said that is possible to make some configuration to assign to the MCP the keyboard commands with his internal module program that I don't remember...Pls help me to take to proper decision...Tnks in advance and warm regardsAndrea

You can make VRinsight hardware work with pretty much any plane even third party planes that have custom auto pilot systems (like the PMDG MD11) as long as the developer of the aircraft provides a way of adjusting the autopilot functions with keyboard inputs. To be honest it is easier to set up the more expensive MCP combo than it is the cheaper M-panel because the MCP has more dedicated buttons and dials.Freeware aircraft pretty much always use the default auto pilot system that is part of flight simulator so no special set up of the hardware is usually required, both the M-panel and MCP combo work with freeware aircraft just as well as they would with default aircraft.