I recently downloaded sectionals and terminal charts for the US and did a bit of old-school radio / map navigation around Seattle. I used Photoshop as my viewer as it allows me to check headings by transforming lines (the transform tool shows the angle of rotation), which is handy, but ultimately I'd like to use a program that's INTENDED for viewing and using virtual maps.The things I'm looking for, in order of importance, are:1) A virtual.. err, I don't actually know what you call it in English. That circle thing you use to measure degrees (heading) on a map? Needs to be freely rotateable and scalable to work at various zoom levels2) A virtual measuring tool that can be rotated and scaled freely and can be configured for any map scale (for example, on some maps 1 mile might be 50 pixels, on others 77, etc)3) High performance with large files. The map files in question are over 10 megabytes each and easily 10,000 pixels by 10,000 pixels in size, so the program has to be able to load, zoom and mouse-pan around maps quickly (as an example, Windows' own image viewer is an absolute DOG when it comes to these files, but Photoshop is pretty good)4) Support for multiple files. It'd be great if I could keep multiple map files open at the same time and CTRL-TAB between them, without having to go through a load dialog every time I need to take a look at some other mapAnother important thing, but which can't really be rated, is that the program's freeware. If it's not freeware then most likely I can't buy it, but I'd still like to learn what my options are. The program also needs to be standalone - I don't want a plugin to run inside FS9. I don't have any particular needs for flightplanning tools either.Any suggestions?

I don't know of any programs off hand...but....Why not use the real thing? I use my real aviation terminals and sectionals when flying in FS. Since you are so serious about flying by the books, then nothing comes closer. You can pick these up at your local pilot store. However, there are some great online resources. http://www.skyvector.com :) I'm surprised how updated this site is. http://www.airnav.com <- airport info. Same as having an airport guidebook.http://adds.aviationweather.gov/metars/ <- get your real-world METAR and TAFS here. Also any SIGMET or AIRMET in your area. I scan this site daily looking for good weather. I can only fly VFR in RL....hope this helps. -fz

I'm not "that" serious about flying - I just realized this was something I hadn't tried before and figured I'd do a better job at it if I had a good software tool to help me :) Real sectionals and terminal area charts cost money, plus I have absolutely no other use for those (not even if they were for my own country, let alone a foreign one like the States), since I'm not a pilot.I checked out SkyVector and a few other sites that offer online VFR maps, such as FlyAGoGo which has a few very neat overlays that don't seem to available elsewhere yet:http://www.flyagogo.net/..but the problem with these sites is that they offer absolutely no measuring / heading tools. Compared to them I'm better off with Photoshop :/ I figured I'd see if someone's already found a program like this since the only programming tool I have some experience with is Flash, and somehow I doubt Flash is robust enough for such a project ;)

Hi,Personally I am very happy with Oziexplorer, a map viewing programme that I already used for planning my hikingtracks with GPS. I found out that this programme communicates per gpsout.dll with FS2004 on a second PC (in my case a notebook). It then shows your plane's flying directions against the background of every map that was calibrated within the programme. But, Oziexplorer is not freeware. But I think it is worth the 25 dollar or so. Check the website www.oziexplorer.com and this forums for posts of mr. Uwe Rademacher, a specialist on these issues.Herrie

>Hi,>>Personally I am very happy with Oziexplorer, a map viewing>programme that I already used for planning my hikingtracks>with GPS. I found out that this programme communicates per>gpsout.dll with FS2004 on a second PC (in my case a notebook).>It then shows your plane's flying directions against the>background of every map that was calibrated within the>programme. Herrie:This looks like a great program; however, I'm confused. If I were to purchase OziExplorer, where would I then get 'calibrated' maps for it for use with FS9? I fly all over the world, but can't see myself creating/calibrating maps for its entirety.Any hints?

>I recently downloaded sectionals and terminal charts for the>US and did a bit of old-school radio / map navigation around>Seattle. I used Photoshop as my viewer as it allows me to>check headings by transforming lines (the transform tool shows>the angle of rotation), which is handy, but ultimately I'd>like to use a program that's INTENDED for viewing and using>virtual maps.>>The things I'm looking for, in order of importance, are:>>1) A virtual.. err, I don't actually know what you call it in>English. That circle thing you use to measure degrees>(heading) on a map? Needs to be freely rotateable and scalable>to work at various zoom levels>>2) A virtual measuring tool that can be rotated and scaled>freely and can be configured for any map scale (for example,>on some maps 1 mile might be 50 pixels, on others 77, etc)>>3) High performance with large files. The map files in>question are over 10 megabytes each and easily 10,000 pixels>by 10,000 pixels in size, so the program has to be able to>load, zoom and mouse-pan around maps quickly (as an example,>Windows' own image viewer is an absolute DOG when it comes to>these files, but Photoshop is pretty good)>>4) Support for multiple files. It'd be great if I could keep>multiple map files open at the same time and CTRL-TAB between>them, without having to go through a load dialog every time I>need to take a look at some other map>>Another important thing, but which can't really be rated, is>that the program's freeware. If it's not freeware then most>likely I can't buy it, but I'd still like to learn what my>options are. The program also needs to be standalone - I don't>want a plugin to run inside FS9. I don't have any particular>needs for flightplanning tools either.>>Any suggestions?I've tried all the payware moving map software and BY FAR the BEST FREEWARE for moving map is this:http://www.sping.com/seaclear/It was made for nautical charts but works great with all the Sim Charts I bought from Aeroplanner. Moves to the next sectional automatically. Has a user defined radius ring. Will show track path & the best of all even has ability to dim the screen for night flying.Have fun!Carmine http://forums.avsim.net/images/wave.gifhttp://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7118/phoenixtp8mg.jpg

There used to be a nice freeware called fgis, but they took that one down. You might be able to find a copy around somewhere. There is a nice program called PocketFMS you can try. A feature of that is that it has its own database that you can download from by FIR reqion.You can also try MicroDEM. It loads a wide variety of data besides just DEMs.I haven't tried the GPS feature of most of these, but I have success in a couple programs using the FSUIPC and another module from Dowson called GPSOut.zip which converts FSUIPC output to GPS format which can be read by these GPS recording programs.scott s..

Carmine wrote:>>I've tried all the payware moving map software and BY FAR the>BEST FREEWARE for moving map is this:>>http://www.sping.com/seaclear/>>It was made for nautical charts but works great with all the>Sim Charts I bought from Aeroplanner. Moves to the next>sectional automatically. Has a user defined radius ring. >Will show track path & the best of all even has ability to dim>the screen for night flying.Carmine, does SeaClear need FSUIPC and/or GPSOUT in order to receive coordinate data from MSFS?- Jeff

Yes, gpsout and I run mine on a 2nd computer or laptop.Carmine http://forums.avsim.net/images/wave.gifhttp://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7118/phoenixtp8mg.jpg

Carmine, I know I should RTFM, but how do you link FS via GPSOut to SeaClear on the second PC (laptop)? Serial cable? Ethernet? Wireless (WiFi)? Thanks for your patience!- Jeff

Yes, null modem cable between the 2 PC's serial port's.Carmine http://forums.avsim.net/images/wave.gifhttp://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7118/phoenixtp8mg.jpg

Haven't tried this, but a registered user of WideFS could use this to get the FS data to a second computer via TCP/IP network, and then use the GSPOut convertor. Included with that is a virtual serial port driver which you can use to create vitual ports. I have it set up for COM4 and COM5 so GPSOut is set to one and the map program GPS input is set to the other. I use 9600 bps seems to work fine. There are some parameters in the GPSOut inin file which you must set to generate the proper NIMA data formats, depending on what your map software is expecting to see in the input.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/148548.jpgscott s..