(Apologies for asking this question about another company's product, but it's about how it works with MCE so I hope it's on-topic)

 

Inspired by references on this forum and in the MCE documentation to its ability to interface with GSX from FSDreamTeam, I thought I'd take a look at it, since I'm a sucker for anything that adds to the sim experience. I've downloaded the GSX demo and played around with it a bit and it certainly looks like a lot of fun. The improved pushback alone looks almost worth the price, and the voice control from MCE makes it a much more natural, immersive experience than calling up a menu to request services. I'm still a little uncertain about the purchase though.

 

So those of you who run GSX with MCE, and I know there are at least a couple of you out there, would you share your experiences with me? Does the appeal of watching baggage loading while preparing to fly wear thin after a while? Any tips on the best phrasing to get the results you want (I seem to struggle a bit getting the ramp co-ordinator's attention sometimes) Any other tips or tricks for getting the best out of the MCE/GSX combo (like the "GroundServicesMode=GSX" option in the MCE.ini file)

 

I'm teetering on the brink of buying. Anyone gimme a push? Or a pushback? :-)

 

Dr V

dv

 

let me push you over the brink !

 

both gsx and aes are worthy investments if like i one likes to see some action on the apron whilst you pre-flight / shutdown.

 

both are customisable to suit your aircraft...... gsx more so and with it you can also customise the gate. just remember not all aircraft have all their doors / cargo / service access' modelled & hence you don't get to use gsx / aes to their full abilities.

 

why both gsx & aes......well gsx suits all airports with dynamic jetways, whilst one needs aes with sceneries that don't (aes adds the dynamics).

 

so, back to the use of mce with either, firstly, mce's abilities are limited to the aircraft's (depends again on the modelling / keystrokes etc mce can command). in this, i can only say, using the ngx / gsx / aes / mce mix covers all & works a treat ... despite my preference to customise that aircraft thru gsx such that i don't need mce to operate the doors (using keys / macros for that).

 

i find simple phrases ... "simon request catering"....work best.

 

hope the above pushes you over .... the pushback would anyway !!

Just get it, it ends up being like mce, you get used to something that brings to your pc what you know occurs in real life and you won't be able to fly without it.

 

Best part is, it is not scripted, so you have control of it, you don't want catering or boarding? Well just don't request it! The pushback feature alone is, in my humble view well worth it.

 

Having said that, the pushback feature on mce is very good as well, but you don't get to see a baggage truck or engineer walking beside your aeroplane.

Well you chaps certainly tipped me over the edge. Bought it yesterday and tried my first flight using it at both ends. There's something strangely satisfying about seeing the bus ferry your passengers away before you finally shut down the sim.

 

It's a shame MCE isn't currently able to engage any of the GSX services at your destination airport though. Is it a case of "not yet" or is there an insurmountable technical obstacle?

dv

 

one of the "quirks" of gsx you will notice is that at fsdt's own airports, there is an extra key / step in gate selection / gate services.

 

maybe this is the technical issue ... though i suspect the many options in gate selection (terminal / gate # / follow me ) will be a tad complex for voice regognition.

It's a shame MCE isn't currently able to engage any of the GSX services at your destination airport though. Is it a case of "not yet" or is there an insurmountable technical obstacle?

 

 

De-boarding should be easy to handle. We left it out because we weren’t sure how to best implement it.

 

Now have decided will just trigger the service after landing as soon as the engines are shutdown and parking brake is set.

 

No need to bring Simon (or other agents) for that matter

 

As for the follow me to gate implementation, yes it’s one of those technical hurdles we'd have to overcome.

Hmm I can see how the GSX gate selection could be tricky, with a complex and non-standardised menu tree to navigate.

 

Looking forward to seeing the post-flight deboarding support though, whenever it happens.

 

Dr V