Hi all,

I've seen very little said about this but I really wanted to come on here and sing the praises of Virtual Avionics' virtual CDU for the NGX/iPad!

I can live without much of the hardware available such as MCPs and radio stacks etc, but with this type of aircraft we spend so much time with our eyes on the CDU and so much time inputting data, that no matter how excellent our virtual screen cockpits are, having external hardware to manage this task is SO helpful!

 

I saw a previous offering for the iPad from another company and was not very impressed but this one is the biz, so don't confuse the two of them! Here is the link: http://www.virtualavionics.com.br/Page/product/9_Virtual-CDU.html

It cost me £13.99 to download from the appstore and it works flawlessly :-) You just download the app directly to your iPad, install the tiny bit of interface software on your PC which is downloadable from VA's website - fire it up and it works! It works accross your home WiFi network and there is no lag on input, everything is exactly as you see it in the virtual cockpit and it makes complicated and repeated interfacing with your NGX's CDU a real pleasure!

 

When there are so many add-ons, both hardware and software, ranging from brilliant to awful, complicated to easy, this one really shines in my opinion and I think it deserves wider recognition. It's not quite the same as having 'real' CDU hardware on your desk but frankly, we're all so used to touchscreen interfaces now that after a minute of using it, you don't even realise! I guess the only drawback is that you need to have an iPad... However, it would even be cost effective to buy a very low spec iPad from EBay just to run this as the overall cost will still be less than a chunk of hardware.

Now, I just can't wait until they bring out a version for the T7...

 

Best wishes to all....

 

Luke

Luke,

 

I fully concur with you. Actually there has been quite a lot written about it here in the forum but perhaps in just one thread. Everyone was singing its praise and then PMDG started wondering about how it actually worked and whether it actually didn't break any EULA. The app was then taken down by the developer and I didn't know it was brought back online until I checked it now.  Will make many people happy!

 

One nice feature is also that you can have it running on two iPads independently of each other, so one can be the Captains and one the FO's MCDU! I use the first version iPad and generation 3 and do not notice any performance differences between them.

 

As you said, hoping for a 777 version - the developer seems eager to come up with new products!

Hi Krister,

 

I hadn't spotted the thread but I did search for it. I'll have another look because I'd be interested to see what was discussed! If there was a EULA issue I hope that it was fully resolved because it would be such a shame if it was not fully available in the future. It's certainly greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the NGX so I hope PMDG approve!

 

Luke

Another useful addon for any plane is a 2nd monitor:

 

You can place all your popups and GUIs there (CDU, displays, MCP, external addons) ... plus your browser window to check AVSIM in cruise ...

Hi Krister,

 

I hadn't spotted the thread but I did search for it. I'll have another look because I'd be interested to see what was discussed! If there was a EULA issue I hope that it was fully resolved because it would be such a shame if it was not fully available in the future. It's certainly greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the NGX so I hope PMDG approve!

 

Luke

Luke,

 

this is the thread http://forum.avsim.net/topic/415254-can-pmdg-enable-fmc-control-via-internet-ip-address/  

 

Ryan aka Tabs didn't really say anything in the thread, just that it MIGHT be an EULA violation until they knew how the developer had done it and later that the app had been taken down but not at their request.

It's been put back since - looks like the software itself has not violated SDK EULA and the developer worked out whatever was needed with PMDG.

I actually ran in to this app a week ago, tried the demo version first.

I was so impressed That I ended up purchasing the full version the same day.

 

From what I have been reading both parties are on the same page, so no violations.

 

I is so much more realistic pressing the buttons on my tablet compared to clicking with the mouse. Also I no longer have to move the mouse back and forth between monitors.

 

I definite "must have" for anyone that doesn't have a touch screen monitor.

does FSX need to be in window mode?

does FSX need to be in window mode?

No, it works in full screen too. That's one of the nice things about it!

 

Luke

I bought this app some weeks ago and use it every time I fly the NGX, really adds to the immersion. works great, no lag, just looks great next to my Saitek panels and warthog setup.

The biggest plus for me was the developer help and input. Initially I couldn't get the app to connect to my network, tried all sort of things over a week or so, nothing worked. During this time had many e mails from the developer with many useful hints and ways to approach for a resolution to the problem.

Even when I was ready to give up they kept at me to keep trying and eventually we worked out the solution.

This from a $20 app, where they could have just dismissed my situation and moved on. Great support, about the best from any software company I've experienced.

I hope they go on to develop more screen types and aircraft, as tablets are getting cheaper by the month and a viable cockpit setup with 3 or 4 tablets would look amazing. 

Highly recommended.