>Just what function can't the FS9 gps do? i find that it will>do everything it should. Be more specific ... what can't it>do that it should be able to do?>>Could it be you don't know how to use it?>For starters the default unit only has enroute sensitivity. There is no terminal or approach sensitivity with the default unit, which means that GPS approach practice is terrible at best with the FS9 version. RXP version models all three sensitivities perfectly.

>For starters the default unit only has enroute sensitivity. >There is no terminal or approach sensitivity with the default>unit, which means that GPS approach practice is terrible at>best with the FS9 version. RXP version models all three>sensitivities perfectly.Sorry, but that's just plain wrong! It's evident that someone hasn't actually read the manual... ;)Directly from the G500 documentation:Terminal:"Within 30 nm of the destination airport, the GPS will switch from en route mode to terminal mode (as indicated in the lower left corner of the screen), and the course deviation indicator (CDI) scale will transition from a 5.0 to 1.0 nm full scale deflection."Approach:"Within 10 nm of the airport, the GPS will switch from terminal mode to approach mode. CDI scaling will be tightened from 1.0 to 0.3 nautical mile, full scale deflection."The G500 documentation mentions this no less than SIX TIMES, then later, in the FAQ Section, it repeats it yet again:When does the CDI scale change, and what does it change to?"The GPS will begin a smooth CDI scale transition from 5.0-nm scale (en route mode) to 1.0-nm scale (terminal mode) when you reach a point 30 nm from the destination airport. The CDI scale will further transition to 0.3-nm scale (approach mode) within 10 nm of the airport during an active approach. The CDI scale will also be 1.0 nm (terminal mode) within 30 nm of the departure airport."

the Real GNS transition from 1nm to 0.3nm when reaching the FAF... this is for this particular example!However there are many more differences. A couple few:- the Reality XP GNS permits user selected CDI sensitivities.- with the Reality XP GNS, you can select if your angle references are TRUE, MAG, or User selected (in this case, the GNS Trainer automatically receives the FS Mag Var)- the Reality XP GNS supports the complete Shadin Fuel interface with your aircraft (capacity, flow, quantity) as well as the fuel type (AvGas, JetA, JetB) for correct lbs<->gallons convertions (and actually any of lbs/kg <-> liter/gallons etc...)- the Reality XP GNS supports the complete Shadin Air Data inteface, offering the complete AUX page features related to the wind (TAS/Density Altitude / XWind components) AND trip and fuel planning.- the Reality XP GNS permits running 2 independant GNS with a complete cross fill between the two.- the Reality XP GNS permits using (and importing from a file) complete per-aircraft checklists.- the Reality XP GNS, with the GnsCore XP that wraps the Garmin Trainer in a Win32 Shell, turns to be a C++ program that runs with less CPU overhead than ANY other XML based GPS (default FS9 GPS, any derivative of the default in any form and shape). Tests shows that 2 GNS v2005 runs better than 1 GNS v2.x now!- the Reality XP GNS can be switched off.- for convenience, the Reality XP GNS offers a practical dual radios set to the pilot with a single GNS (com1-nav1/com2-nav2 selections)- the Reality XP GNS supports dozens of datums (WGS84 of course, and a huge selection of others)- the Reality XP GNS correctly interfaces to EHSI/EFIS/VOR indicators. The needles and flags are accurate (including sensitivity) and work like in the real world.Basically, the Reality XP GNS user's manual is the Garmin User's Manual. It is 200 pages of features, the same you'd found in the real GNS!Hope this helps!

In my opinion it's a very good solution to use the Trainer, because it's a fact that something is always missing if a complicated system is re-programmed by someone else than the real author. But, the Trainer, as said, is basically the same software which is in the real unit and therefore pretty much 100% accuracy can be expected from the Reality XP GNS.Hopefully Garmin will be able to update the internal database of the Trainer. However, I don't feel that there's something important missing right now. Many real GPSs I've used have also had 4 years old databases, so no worries!! :)