Is it possible to power units on/off at the power buttons on the face of the units? The menu selections seem to offer either battery or avionics bus. However, on page 12 of the manual - Custom Commands provides "PWR_PUSH_1/2". My desire is to have the ability to power on/off from the face just like v1 in FSX. I added the PWR_PUSH entry into the RXP CFG file, but that didn't work . Can you expand on the Custom Commands? 

 

Hi,

In designing a product like the GNS 530W/430W V2 we're maintaining a balance between usability and realism.

Unlike the legacy GNS which implemented just on/off switch, we wanted the ( C ) knob to control COM volume. Because it is a new product feature most of our customers are not familiar with, we didn't want them to just click once to power on and complain our plugin mutes FltSim COM radios. Effectively, the first step after OFF is the lowest volume level.

We therefore opted to get the ( C ) knob to reflect the COM volume level when opening a GNS device, and keep it synchronized thereafter, hence, the device starts powered since the knob is not in the OFF position.

How I've almost forgotten, the volume control is now live in the v2.3.3 update just released! (implemented for P3D4, P3D3 and P3D2 for now)

It was also a question I had, if it would be possible to switch the units on and off as their real world counterparts. But if I understand correctly this is not possible and the units only switch on and off with the avionics master switch?

Yes you are right. I've answered a similar question a few days ago:

The power on/off is not activated (yet implemented in our simulation) for a simple reason for now: since the knob is controlling the volume, and the first time our customers discover the product they might just click once, see the unit power up and be fine with it. Then, they'd wonder why is it there is no sound anymore (believe me, this question would be raised more than often). Or conversely, you power off, change aircraft, there is no sound anymore in the new aircraft.

To make it simpler for our customers and support, for now it is a volume 0% to volume 100% control, but yes, it may come enabled in the future maybe then via an additional "advanced" option in the settings panel. No ETA yet, but I'll see how the best we can manage to sneak this feature in.

For the time being, you have 3 options: always on, avionics bus, main batteries.

You can also selectively 'fail' the GNS (and the GTN) like explained in the User's Manual!