After 6 weeks or so of using FS2004 quite successfully I find there is still just one thing about it I don't like too much - the GPS.It certainly isn't so clear and easily readable as the basic one that came with FS2002.Does any body know? Has anyone tried? Is it possible by any means to copy/move or whatever, the FS 2002 GPS int FS2004 and substitute it for the fancy thing we have there?I can live with it- I'll probably have to- but if there's a chance of changing it I'd give it a try.Dave

See this;http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...44433&mode=fullThough I'm not sure why anyone would want to go back to the fictional and basic GPS of FS2002. Try the learning center in FS9 for tips on GPS use.Dave

>why anyone would want to go back to the fictional and basic GPS Some do like the fiction ;)Michael J.

Yea, I know. No disrespect meant. However, the inclusion of real Garmin GPS' in FS9 is (IMO) one of the best new features. Why not take the time and learn how to use a real GPS instead of the basic and fictional one that was in prior versions? Dave

DaveIt's not a question of knowing how to use it- I agree it has many advantages- But(there always a but)As the poster(?) on the other thread says - it's big (and ugly) and as I said before ,it's by no means as clear and easy to read as the "fictional" one( even a better font would help that).I fly on line a lot and use a second monitor to display the GPS/Servinfo /Kneepad etc.but even so I find it takes up far more space than the old oneIn addition,tho' I don't have any problem,some people have complained that it has a bad effect on framerates.CheersDave(there seem to be a lot of us all of a sudden)

I know this won't address all your concerns, but you can permanently re-size the GPS window using notepad. Open the panel.cfg file for the aircraft you want to adjust. Scroll down to the GPS window entires. Adjust the line "window_size=0.50" up or down accordingly. The "window_size=0.50" entry simply stipulates how much screen space the GPS takes up. For example, 50% of the screen for the defaults. I've adjusted all mine down just a bit to "window_size=0.45" so it takes up 45% of the screen. Not much of a change, but it helps. Depending on your monitor size (mine is 17") you can adjust it down significantly and still have it readable. With a 21" monitor try as low as "window_size=0.25" (25%) and see if that's more to your liking. For a 19" monitor I'd guess 35%-40% would do the trick. As always, proper panel display and design in FS is a compromise between the many elements of readability, functionality, personal preference, etc...Here's my entry for {Winodw02} which is the GPS;Window02 ----this line is bracketed.size_mm=456,378window_size=0.45position=8BACKGROUND_COLOR=0,0,0VISIBLE=0ident=GPS_PANELgauge00=fs9gps!gps_500, 0,0Hope this helps, DavePS; You can also use the Garmin 295 in place of the Garmin 500 (or vica versa) by simply exchanging the gauge "fs9gps!gps_500" for "fs9gps!gps_295".PPS; Have you tried re-naming the default FS2002 GPS and incorporating it into FS9? If you don't re-name it and simply drop it into FS9, it will display as the Garmin 295 for panels that use it. If you re-name it to something like "GPS2002" and change the entries for the desired panel.cfg files, it might work. However, I haven't tried it and honestly don't expect it will (because of the GPS coding of FS9 vs. FS2002). However, it's worth a try.

DaveThanks for all that.I have resized it which helps - but I think the main thing is that IMHO it's just not as clear and easily readable as the old one.Might try your suggestion about shifting the FS2002 version when I've got some spare time.If it works I'll post the results as I know there are a few others who feel the same..CheersDave

Tried it and no go.The way that the new GPS is contained within FS seems to be radically different from 2002 - guess I'll have to live with it.CheersDave

Where can I find info on how to use it? I also had the plane do a 360 and still didn't get onto course with it. I don't know guys but fs2002 is sounding more and more fun to use. I am getting to hate Century of Flight. I just don't have the patience to learn I guess or just growing tired of fs all together.

It tells all in the Help index under GPS

Well I am printing it and go to read it but this is a poor GPS. I just wished MSFS kept the old or created the FMC which I think would be alot more useful than this GPS. The best if they had kept both the Old GPS but added a FMC as well.The main problems that I have with it is:1. You have to or so it seems to activate the next leg on the flight plan, it doesn't seem to automatically change course, It flies around in circles until you activate the next segment with the route.2. There doesn't seem to be an actual ETA for the whole entire trip, instead an ETA for each waypoint on the left side.3. The time zone stays the same and doesn't change on the GPS for each waypoint. The actual clock does on the plane however.4. It just seems to complicated. KISS it should be (Keep it Simple Stupid).I just think there needs to be a patch to this program. Microsoft may loose me as a customer if they don't improve their product. I will stay with what works. Anyone else agree?How many of you been happy with the GPS so Far?How many wish to dump the GPS and use fs2004 and a site seeing sim and fs2002 as a real navigational sim?I think I might take this approach. I just am completely disgusted with this piece of software. I am glad I didn't get the Combat Sim 3 though. What trash.X-Plane or something else is what I may consider for new sims. I just don't know. Sorry for ranting but this is just a software program that has been worked on without much thought or the old saying "Haste makes Waste".

First a qualifier - I haven't used the GPS yet and I don't know how close it is to the real GNS530 unit (I am afraid that at least graphically it is inferior). If you want to find out how the real GNS530 'feels' and operates - download the free Garmin trainer from their website. And if you like the real thing you can purchase the Reality-XP version of this GPS for FS which is as close to the real stuff as you can get. My comments below apply to the real/RXP GNS530. As always Microsoft likes to dumb-down their avionics/panels and this GPS may be no exception. >Well I am printing it and go to read it but this is a poor>GPS. I just wished MSFS kept the old or created the FMC which>I think would be alot more useful than this GPS. This GPS is in fact equivalent to FMC - the versatility of this unit is enormous. But if you don't know how to use it - yes, it looks like a useless piece of metal eating lots of panel real estate.>1. You have to or so it seems to activate the next leg on the>flight plan, it doesn't seem to automatically change course,that's no good. the real unit (or Reality-XP gauge) switches to next leg without any problem and changes course. Maybe the Microsoft's version is poorly integrated with the autopilot.>2. There doesn't seem to be an actual ETA for the whole entire>trip, instead an ETA for each waypoint on the left side.There is - on the active flight plan page but you have to change the page default fields (read GSN530 manual). You can see ETAs and ETE for every segment of your flightplan.>3. The time zone stays the same and doesn't change on the GPS>for each waypoint. The actual clock does on the plane>however.Not sure about this. Real pilots usually fly in a "single" time zone - UTC time. I am not sure whether the real Garmin unit knows anything about local time zones. I will check.>>4. It just seems to complicated. KISS it should be (Keep it>Simple Stupid).Well, apart from some initial learning curve (ok, I read - with no undue rush - the whole 200+ pages of the manual) the operation of the GNS530 is in fact extremely simple. No, it is not idiot-proof but I find it quite simple. It is a lot simpler than any FMC.Michael J.http://www.reality-xp.com/community/nr/rsc/rxp-higher.jpg

Thank you Michael. Can you test some GPS flights to see how it works? I am just wondering if you have all default scenery or the new addon from PC Aviator the Mega Scenery of Socal. I hope that didn't screw something up. It is very nice scenery if you like southern california. I am really having a difficult time here so I will look at the garmen page and see what to do. You said read the gsn manual 530manuel. Is that included in the fs2004 or is that on the website. I was wondering how to edit the pages like that. I am using both the 500 and 295 which seem quite a bit different.

Kurt,All the info, including the manual and the trainer are available on www.garmin.comThe manual is about 4 MB download, the trainer is almost 14 MB.I just checked and no, GNS530 has no knowledge of local time zone. You can set the time to your local time zone if you prefer it over the UTC but the unit will never switch to a different zone automatically based on your location.Like I said - reading the whole manual is the best thing but the trainer comes with some sample flight plans and index - you can actually learn quite a bit just playing with the trainer - without reading the whole manual. Also the manual offers a quick "getting started" section - you learn most functions in just first 40 or so pages.Michael J.http://www.reality-xp.com/community/nr/rsc/rxp-higher.jpg

Okay thank you. Also what is this "No options when I try to change the settings with the menu button. I thought that is where you can change the way the route display is set up.