The GNS 530/430 from Mindstar is out!

OK i checked their website.

 

1. I don't see any help forum, looks like you have to send an email if you have questions, issues?

2. No features are detailed, just one photo.  I have RXP and am wondering is this puppy better?

3. There is no installation module like RXP, you have to individually code each panel?  Not very useful.

4. No video, not screenshots...kinda weak marketing?

OK i checked their website.

 

1. I don't see any help forum, looks like you have to send an email if you have questions, issues?

2. No features are detailed, just one photo.  I have RXP and am wondering is this puppy better?

3. There is no installation module like RXP, you have to individually code each panel?  Not very useful.

4. No video, not screenshots...kinda weak marketing?

1 - We don't run a forum because the last one got hacked and we seriously have zero time to deal with that kind of junk.  We do, however, have a strong support process via email.

2 - Depends on 'better'.  RXP is ~$400 to work in Prepar3D... or wait, does it work in Prepar3D?  RXP nav data isn't updatable, ours is.  No, we didn't make every single "bell and whistle" of the units, but there's enough to make them useful.

3 - Correct, however it's really not that hard to do.

4 - Zero marketing.  Our primary market is real-world training and as such we do not need to market.  We released this to the flight sim community because some individuals had asked for it.

 

If you don't want to purchase it, for whatever reason, that's ok... really, you won't hurt our feelings. :smile:  We just put this out there for those that might want it.

OK i checked their website.

 

2. No features are detailed, just one photo.  I have RXP and am wondering is this puppy better?

Evidently you missed the page with the Frequently Asked Questions...

 

http://www.mindstaraviation.com/Product_430_530.html

I saw the FAQ.  As with most FAQs, not greatly of value, lots of stuff about real nav data, P3D, but I was left unclear about installation and whether or not there was a simple module to make installation as a popup window easier.

 

i just went back to the webpage and read the sidebar about the company.  A much larger business enterprise than I realized.

 

Personally I don't think forums are "junk", I find them useful but it would appear that they are not useful in the company's particular business model.  Fair enough.

 

Given the priorities identified above it may be useful to enhance the webpage to identify how flightsim fits into their business model rather than leave it to guess work. IE a simple message like "support is provided directly though email we do not operate a support forum." could be helpful.  A prudent investor in flightsim software addons does their research into products before buying, especially when there is no return policy. It is hard to do research into a product when there is limited info about the product.

 

Before I invest another $50 I would like to see more detail. The price point seems to be reasonable and the compatibility with P3Dv2 users is a plus for those users. I guess I will wait until some other users who have more ability to buy products that me and post info or reviews on the active flightsim forums.  IE I am unclear about what "enough to make them useful" actually means.

 

 

Our primary market is real-world training and as such we do not need to market.

 

Real world training of what, I wonder? Of that GNS? Isn't there a site of that real world training program? It seems to me that for real world training you also have to market?

 

Just curious. ^_^

I can report that the installer program is really slick. It automatically detected that I had FS9, FSX, P3Dv1.4, and P3Dv2 installed, and installed the system to all four platforms.

Can someone please post a screenshot of the GNS in action on the real air lancair legacy in P3D v2? Just want to see how it compares to the RXP one.

Real world training of what, I wonder? Of that GNS? Isn't there a site of that real world training program? It seems to me that for real world training you also have to market?

 

Just curious. ^_^

Of how to fly. Primary platform: Redbird AATDs. Marketing: Redbird.

 

As I stated, we don't have to market. This is not something you install on your desktop which apparently is what you think it might be... or something.

 

Regarding panel installation:

http://www.mindstaraviation.com/RetrofittingGaugesGNS.html

I have Abacus Custom Panel Designer which I haven't used in a ton of time, but I suspect that I could use it to place and size this gauge into panels of my choice.  This would eliminate the trial and error on size and location that would suit each panel.

A2A Cessna 172 with Mindstar GNS 430:

 

 

 

A2A Cessna 172 with MS GNS 530:

 

 

 

MilViz C310:

 

 

 

Aerosoft Twin Otter:

 

 

 

RedBird full motion simulator at local flight school:

 

 

 

Todd

 

I can report that the installer program is really slick. It automatically detected that I had FS9, FSX, P3Dv1.4, and P3Dv2 installed, and installed the system to all four platforms.

 

 

Says who?   B)

twharrell thanks for the pics, how come on the otter the gauge is shown as a popup and on the others its a part of the virtual cockpit? If it could be implemented into the vc on all planes, then I may consider buying this. Are you running P3D v2 btw? 

 

 

Real world training of what, I wonder? Of that GNS? Isn't there a site of that real world training program? It seems to me that for real world training you also have to market?

 

I believe Mindstar can be found in Redbird Simulators.  My company just bought a Redbird Simulator for just over $1 Million USD so I'm going with Mindstar is professional grade.

Thanks for the photos Todd, looks very good.

 

I have a friend who integrated the RXP into the Twin Otter, so I imagine it can be done with the Mindstar.

Is there a chance that you guys post the settings/config files for all the successful integrations?

 

If it works in the Twotter, Miliz C310, A2A C172 and Civ P-51D with the next update, and the Realair Dukes, I think that's the critical mass for me.