Hey Gang,

 

The latest 'restore' of the Avsim forum files lost everything to do with the discussion we were having about finding a 'Super Coder' to work on a magic box that would capture the necessary file structure and/or keystrokes to get the Reality XP GPS units to read default FSX Flight Plans.

 

Can you please post the good stuff again. Bert, CoolP, Scott, Ryan, Bill, and all the others.

 

I think we were about to create enough momentum and interest to finally get some test beds running.

 

I expect a nenewed interest in using default flight plans with the Reality XP 430/530 GNS units in the coming weeks.

 

It started with a quote from Bert about Reality XP units being in a class of their own. See below. I am hoping someone will figure our how to crack the nut that is keeping the default flight plan data from being read by the sacred Garmin internal code of these units.

 

The new Flight1 and Carenado G1000 units will read default flight plans. One much better than the other but still you can import and fly with a default generated plan with either of those Garmin look alikes.

 

Coolp posted some file locations and the start of a plan to decode or seek hooks. Bert also suggested a possibly strategy.

 

 

Thanks.

 

Ray

 

The Reality XP GNS units have much better resolution, easier to read, will store saved flight plans, Nav data can be updated to something semi recent and most importantly you can fly those thousands of new LPV approaches.

 

Ray

I wasn't able to read anything from last night ... Did someone figure out a way to read rxp flight plans?

No, not yet. CoolP posted some file locations that may be used for hook or links or somehow.

 

Ray

My alternative approach was to, since we do not know the format of the Garmin flightplans, instead operate the

front panel of the GNS unit via FSUIPC/LUA and generate the necessary button pushes and knob turns to feed the flightplan into the GNS.

 

This would mimic the manual activity of reading a printed flightplan and entering it into the GNS by hand.

 

Maybe the user could be asked to click "Confirm" after each entry, just to make sure that possible database mis-matches are caught..

 

I'm sure that some Visual Basic / LUA whiz could whip up an app in a few hours..

Yep, now we are looking for one of our LINDA programmers or a Pete Dowson type or maybe a combo of the two to look in and see what they can find. We don't really care how it works as long as at the end of the day it 'appears' that the Reality XP units read the default flight plan.

 

I'm sure the present system of twist turn push type twist turn is not really seen by the Trainer.exe It probably just thinks it see it and reacts accordingly. a little smoke and mirrors.

 

Sounds simple, doesn't it.

 

Ray

 

Now we need to get CoolP to post his file locations and thoughts again.

 

Ray

I woke up last night after getting the ultimate solution to this problem in a dream. I immediately posted it all in that topic because I know dreams often disappear overnight. When I woke up this morning to see what I posted the forum was down and now it's all gone. Bummer... I am sure I cracked it but I forgotten what I dreamt... Shoot...

 

:rolleyes: ^_^

 

The only thing I remember from that other topic is that I said that RXP is too lazy to solve the problems because everyone buys their products anyway. Because OF COURSE it should be possible to load plans into that trainer. You can SAVE your plans in it, so... saying you can't load them is utter nonsense.

Do they even still update RXP? I always wondered why no other 3rd party dev has jumped on filling that void. I would buy an updated GNS 530/430 that offered flightplan loads, networkable and updated Navigraph data. Simavio offers all that, but is Xplane only. Rant over.

I woke up last night after getting the ultimate solution to this problem in a dream. I immediately posted it all in that topic because I know dreams often disappear overnight. When I woke up this morning to see what I posted the forum was down and now it's all gone. Bummer... I am sure I cracked it but I forgotten what I dreamt... Shoot...

 

:rolleyes: ^_^

 

The only thing I remember from that other topic is that I said that RXP is too lazy to solve the problems because everyone buys their products anyway. Because OF COURSE it should be possible to load plans into that trainer. You can SAVE your plans in it, so... saying you can't load them is utter nonsense.

 

I almost woke up to read what you posted before it was lost in the cyber world, but didn't. Shoot. :rolleyes: ^_^

 

Ray

 

Do they even still update RXP? I always wondered why no other 3rd party dev has jumped on filling that void. I would buy an updated GNS 530/430 that offered flightplan loads, networkable and updated Navigraph data. Simavio offers all that, but is Xplane only. Rant over.

 

Heck, I would take a default GPS500 if it was upadated with newer nav data and would let me fly the new approaches.

 

Ray

I'm sure the present system of twist turn push type twist turn is not really seen by the Trainer.exe It probably just thinks it see it and reacts accordingly. a little smoke and mirrors.

All the RXP units are simply "front ends" for the Garmin Trainer. Keystrokes, mouse clicks and wheel rotations are sent to the trainer program. The "screen image" the trainer generates is captured from memory and recast into an FS type gauge image.

 

How the trainer writes fp files and loads fp files is the question. The only viable way I could see any hope would be some program that would convert an FSX flightplan to the same format that the trainer package uses. But then that's hardly a seamless operation, since it would take place outside the sim environment.

The only viable way I could see any hope would be some program that would convert an FSX flightplan to the same format that the trainer package uses.

Seams that would be the key! Then might as well use a third party flightplan that can be updated. Like PMDG navdata flightplans?

Hmmmm. Maybe I just need to teach the neighborhood kids how to input the RealityXP units and hand them 100 default flight plans to input. I could pay them with ice cream and get to eat all the leftovers and have a bunch of flight plans to fly or modify.

 

Sounds like the suggestion for a new product may be in order.

 

How about a Garmin look alike that does all the same things that the Garmin do, as far as flight sim stuff is concerned, but can be updated with Navigraph or the new Aerosoft Navdata Pro, be easy to operate, easy to read, has all the approaches for the world including all LPV, has WAAS accuracy, comes with 3 or 4 faceplates that will fit every panel on the market, and comes in grey, black or anything but faded gold. Oh, and cost $49.00.

 

SP1 would make it compatible with all PMDG, all Airbus, LDL757, etc.

 

SP2 would make it portable and work in the J-3 cub on battery power.

 

How about it, Bill? Maybe you could write the spec.

 

 

Ray

Back to basics. What exactly are the default units missing that would enable flying LPV approaches in FSX? Updated nav data? Maybe that is something more achievable. Send the old default units back to the shop for an upgrade.

 

Heck it worked for the DC-10s. They came out almost looking and flying like the MD-11 with just less power.

 

Hmmm

My original contribution:

 

I must say I am in agreement with the OP's sentiments here. I have been an RXP Garmin user for what must be going on ten years - but much less of late becuase of the annoying digit by digit flightplan entry hassle. The RXP Garmins look great and have great functionality but even with recent payware purchases that support easy RXP integration I just haven't bothered. Much rather create a flightplan using point and click with third party planners and import directly into the Garmin look alikes available from Carenado etc. However I doubt that we are gong to see an FSX flightplan importer for the RXP garmins unless RXP does it and there has bee zero interest from them over the years whenever this matter has been aired. Furthermore, quite apart from the technical challenge, I wonder if copyright issues would stymie the efforts of others. Just my two cents worth.

 

Bruceb

but much less of late becuase of the annoying digit by digit flightplan entry hassle.

 

How do you think we enter flight plans in real life?

Yeah I understand the this is how it's done in real life so that's the way we do it thinking.

 

Having to manually do it doesn't really bother me anyway, however, if someone did figure out a way to do it I might use it here and there.

 

There is a product for the real life 430/530 that allows you to enter your flightplan with your voice, now that would be cool! And probably 100% impossible

 

And there's no reason why if your doing a long flight or a flight plan with lots of waypoints you have to enter all your waypoints on the ground. It's perfectly acceptable to save some for cruising time.

 

Looking forward to what you guys come up with!

 

Regards