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.

Hi Andy,thank you very much for your attention to me.If I understood well what you means, I give you some example - I'm talking about the freeware airplanes or similar, in my case Perfect Flight Alitalia vol 4:I have the MD80 or the A321 or the B747 ecc.I suppose these planes are builded on the default carfts structure.If I want, I'm able to drive the above MD80 using only the keyboard.I.e. I press "G" and the landing gear is coming down or up.I press F7 flap down or F6 flup up and other keyboard commands the plane is answering fine.So, my question is: this aricraft should be ok for the MCP combo VRInsight?Actually at my home I have the Pro flight Yoke and Pedals by Saitek and I'm able to program all buttons of this aicraft. Can I make the same for my MCP?If the plane is properly answering to the commands coming from the keyboard, It should be OK also for the MCP.It's right what I said? Pls let me know, I'm wating your precious info about that.Thank you again and have a nice dayciaoAndrea

Hello Andrea, could you confirm for me please that you can adjust the altitude and heading in your freeware aircraft when the auto pilot is enabled with default keyboard keys.Example default keys to control autopilot are shown below.Z = Toggle Master Autopilot enable/disable.CTRL + H = Toggle Heading hold on/off.CTRL + Z = Toggle Altitude Hold on/off.CTRL + SHIFT + H = Heading bug select, now repeatedly press or hold the + or - keys to change heading.CTRL + SHIFT + Z = Altitude bug select, now repeatedly press or hold the + or - keys to change altitude.Use the same above key combos but replace it with the R key to control speed hold and + or -If your freeware or payware aircraft can utilise these default keys above then you will be able to use the MCP combo or M-panel straight away with very little set up time.Things like gear and flaps are easily controlled by default MSFS keys (and so this means by the VRI hardware too) in any aircraft apart from some very top of the line complex aircraft, and even then these complex aircraft usually provide another way off assigning keys with software that comes with them.VRi supply software with the panels that allows you to create profiles for different aircraft, these profiles convert the button presses and dial turns on the hardware panels into key presses, and the key presses then allow you to control the aircraft. It sounds a lot more complicated to explain it writing than it is in reality. But as mentioned previously the default aircraft or aircraft that use default keys already have the profiles included, so its just a case of selecting the default MSFS profile in the software, connect and you are ready to fly.

Hello Andrea, could you confirm for me please that you can adjust the altitude and heading in your freeware aircraft when the auto pilot is enabled with default keyboard keys.Example default keys to control autopilot are shown below.Z = Toggle Master Autopilot enable/disable.CTRL + H = Toggle Heading hold on/off.CTRL + Z = Toggle Altitude Hold on/off.CTRL + SHIFT + H = Heading bug select, now repeatedly press or hold the + or - keys to change heading.CTRL + SHIFT + Z = Altitude bug select, now repeatedly press or hold the + or - keys to change altitude.Use the same above key combos but replace it with the R key to control speed hold and + or -If your freeware or payware aircraft can utilise these default keys above then you will be able to use the MCP combo or M-panel straight away with very little set up time.Things like gear and flaps are easily controlled by default MSFS keys (and so this means by the VRI hardware too) in any aircraft apart from some very top of the line complex aircraft, and even then these complex aircraft usually provide another way off assigning keys with software that comes with them.VRi supply software with the panels that allows you to create profiles for different aircraft, these profiles convert the button presses and dial turns on the hardware panels into key presses, and the key presses then allow you to control the aircraft. It sounds a lot more complicated to explain it writing than it is in reality. But as mentioned previously the default aircraft or aircraft that use default keys already have the profiles included, so its just a case of selecting the default MSFS profile in the software, connect and you are ready to fly.

Hi Andy,thnak you very much for your promp reply.What I can say: fantastic, I tested and all functions that you list are working properly...So my preferred freeware airplane should be full compatible with MCP.Thank you very much... I'm going to order it right now with the M-Panel integration for the other commands.Tnks again... maybe in the future I will need your assistance again so for me will be a pleasure to communicate with you.Tnks againAndrea

No problem, I am happy to help you, please register at the VRinsight forums so that any future help you need can be dealt with there, this way it will keep useful information all at the same site.The forum can be found at http://vrinsight.com/phpBB3_en/index.php If you have any problems getting the account activated please send me a PM via this AVSIM forum with the username you used to register and I will get it bumped up the queue for you.

Already bought from www.fs-center.com both... MCP and M-Panel.Created the account on the http://vrinsight.com/phpBB3_en - like seanavigator01 but on the mail I received my account is still incative... I'm waiting for the activation mail confirmation.Tnks again and have a nice week endciao

OK I'll send an email to VRi, the account probably wont be activated till Monday now though, I hope you have a nice weekend too.

Andrea your VRinsight forum account should now be activated.

Ciao Andy,thank you very much, I checked and now it seems ok.Thank you again and I will let you know how is the situation with the MCP and M-Panel... next few weeks when I will be at home for my vacation.Ciao

Ciao Andy,thank you very much, I checked and now it seems ok.Thank you again and I will let you know how is the situation with the MCP and M-Panel... next few weeks when I will be at home for my vacation.Ciao

Hi Andy,how are you? Few days ago arrived at home... so yestarday I tested for the first time the M-Panel by VRInshight... then, for the next days, I will test also the MCP Panel...First I wish to thanks you for the support... so I think the M-Panel is fantastic...easy to install and manage the system.I tested it using my default MD-80 Alitalia mentioned before, and it is fully working without any problem.Anyway I found only some little things, maybe due to my low experience with this new system:1) when I change the heading with the heading knob on the M-Panel, the heading data is properly chaning also on the cockpit screen, but i.e. on the M-Panel I moove to 200 but on the screen I have 201... no big problem, but maybe is possible to fix it...2) I'm able to select the AP (autopilot on-off), AT (autothrottle on-off) FD (Flight director on-off) but when I have selected all of these I'm not able to press and select the "HDG" and "SPD" and "ALT" in order to keept them selected, but I need to select still using the mouse on the cockpit screen... I think it's my fault.... because all other commands are working fine....I'm able to control and select everything, nav-approach, frequencies, baro ecc. but only with HDG, SPD and ALT I have not understand how I can press it using the M-Panel Knobs....Do you have some idea or info about that?I specify that I'm using the original cd-rom driver installation and programs... if oyu have some link to give me in order to download updated manuals, tutorials and drivers-programs pls let me know.Anyway until now, my experience is improved and I'm very happy about my choise... so thank you so much, and I'm looking for maybe to order asap the new compact system by VR.Tnks and CiaoA.

Hello Andrea, I'm well I hope you are too,Question number 1, this is something that has never happened to me but I have heard of one other person who has seen this once in a while, I cant explain it and other than closing down SerialFP2 and starting it again I'm not sure what to suggest. Does the problem go away after closing SerialFP2 and restarting it?This next question I'm not 100% sure what you are asking but I'll give the answer I think you want. AP FD AT are switched on and off with the 4 way selector in the AP/M position, HDG SPD ALT are switched on and off with the 4 way selector in the AP/C position. To enable an ALTitude hold mode you first have to move the 4 way selector knob to AP/C, then press the DME/ALT button (ALT will have a small square next to it now) next press in the black dial to switch on ALTitude Hold mode, and press the white button below the dial to switch it off again. Follow the same procedure for HDG and SPD mode.I hope that answers your questions ok.

Ciao Andy,thank you very much for your help.Yesy about me all ok, tnks.With your suggestions I solved all my M-Panel problems. Now it's full working without any problem....so it's completely another way to fly :)Next days I will try with the MCP... but right now with the M-Panel is fantastic...Have a nice day ciaoandrea

Thanks for letting me know you have everything working fine now, ciao

Thanks for letting me know you have everything working fine now, ciao

Hi Andy,today morning I tryed to installa the MCP combo panel... but I dont know why I'm not able to see it connected... so my p.c. windowx xp s.p.2 uk is not able to see the usb connection coming from the MCP...but I have the MCP powered by the external usb power supply and properly connected with the usb cable to the p.c.The MCP is lighted on, the normal welcome words coming out on the MCP display but I dont know...Do you have any idea bout that?Can you pls resume a step by step for the installation?This afternoon I will remove the programs, drivers all about MCP and M-Panel and I will re-install it again... maybe I put on the different usb port.... but first I will try the installation on my laptop in oder to check whats happening...Tnks again and greetingsciaoAndrea

Hi Andy,sorry for the inconvenience, but I already sent this message to the VRinsight technical assistance, maybe we are able to find out the solution (I hope)... because it's very strange... but I tested the MCP with both my p.c. one desktop and one laptop, all two are new p.c. and working properly with the M-Panel, so I dont know why this happening.Anyway this is the message I sent few minutes ago:Dear Sirs good morning,the present one to inform you about the problem I'm facing with the MCP in subject.My product details:MCP Combo panel,s/n M09000504VRinsight Co., LTDI bought this product last July 14th, 2009 from your italian dealer "Volo Milano snc" - www.fs-center.com together with the other product "M-Panel".The last one, M-Panel is working fine without any problem.I'm experiencing problems only with the MCP combo panel, that when I connect the usb cable to the p.c. the following error coming out:usb device not recognized.Sometimes I have also the message "usb devide installed and ready to be used".Anyway, after the installation of the "serialFP2 program", launching the serialFP program, under select aircraft, I'm not able to see anything... also the "port" under "panel info" is empty this means no communications between the MCP panel and computer.I tested using also my laptop computer, still the same problem.But the MCP panel is properly powered, tx green and rx yellow leds are on, on the display I'm able to see the SerialFP v2.520 MCP-Combi sn:_VRi_ and SerialFP v2.520 Radio Panel on the respective display.So it seems properly connected and powered... but no data communication between the MCP panel and the USB computer ports... tested using all usb ports and desktop p.c. and laptop.Computer details:desktopo.s. windows xp sp.2 italian versionquadcore q6600 2.4 ghzram 4 gbvideo 512 mb nvidia 8800gtsusb 2.0laptopo.s. win. xp sp 2 english versionacer Aspire 6935GIntel core 2 Duo processor T6400video 1 Gb nvidia 9600Musb 2.0ram 4Gb DD3Do you have any idea about the problem? Suggestions?Could be a USB connection problem, maybe the cable, some contact inside the MCP because it's very strange...I tryed to call the www.fs-center.com but it's closed for summer holidays until next August 24th...I think there is one year warrancy.... do you have some assistance in Italy where to send the MCP?But first I wish to have all your suggestions in oder to check.... Until now I have not opened the box to check inside because I don't like to have my warrancy lost.... but I suppose some HW problem usb side.This is my impression, because the M-Panel is working perfectly, no problem found during the installation, easy to do all, and I spent only 1 minute for all.Pls let me know.I'm so sorry for the inconvenience and for my delay testing it, but I'm working on board and I'm at home only from few days ago.Awaiting your answer about this issueThank you very much and best regards-------------------------What do you think about? Do you have any idea or maybe did you see before somebody esperiencing the same problem?I'm not too lucky, anyway with the electral or computer system sometimes we can experiencing some problem like that.But I hope to receive some help in order to try to solve it first, and then if not possible, to send it to the assistance... I hope in Italy... but the italian dealer is temporary close for holidays.Andy so sorry again, and I'm waiting your precious assistanca, also if u have some direct contact with the VR home company.Thank you again, if you prefer we can talk in private with mp.Let me know pls.Tnks again and ciaoAndrea

Andrea the first question I have for you is have you started the flight simulator first? SerialFP2 sometimes wont connect to the panel if the simulator isn't running first.Also when you move the power switch on the MCP combo to the EXT position what is the text that is displayed in the left display.