Hello,

Just curious how stable GSX these days in MSFS. I'm a new MSFS convert that just left P3D arena, so I'm learning stuff. So far, I have completed 5 full flights with PMDG 737-800, 3rd party sceneries and PSXT traffic. Zero problems. Memory tells me that back in P3D days, GSX had been a culprit for some CTD and other unstable things.

Also, would appreciate if you mention any current practical limitations of GSX comparing with P3D. I really don't like the idea of replacing jetways in add-one airports, for example those such as at Aerosoft EBBR (they are a piece of art). May I choose not to do so?

Would appreciate your honest answers.

 

GSX is ok at this point. It gets the job done if you want pushback and some pax/cargo loading activity. I've never seen it crash MSFS. On the downside, it's not nearly as intuitive as the P3D version, but at this point those limitations almost all land squarely on Asobo to address. Because of this, the "Pro" marketing labeling is misleading. 

You can choose not to replace jetways at third party airports. The jetway replacement feature hasn't worked for me in months anyways, so I don't bother with it. 🤷‍♂️

Stability from the standpoint of does it crash the sim? No. It does not. The Couatl engine might occasionally stop for no apparent reason, but it can be quickly and easily restarted from the start menu.

You do not "have" to replace any jetways if you do not wish to do so, but the option is available to you if you do. I like the GSX replacements for the default jetways. They look really nice, and they have an operator in the cab, which is a nice touch. All of my add-on airports retain the jetways the designer put there. 

Overall, it's very similar to what we had in P3D. The models have been updated. The materials look very realistic. Watching those shiny aluminum ULDs getting loaded into the Fenix at dawn or dusk is visually stunning. It feels like you are watching real equipment on the ramp. FSDT did a great job with the vehicle lighting as well.

The obvious limitations still exist. GSX has no way to detect static objects and vehicles on the ramp, so collisions still occur in some cases. I'm constantly surprised by how often the default GSX vehicle placements just happen to work out okay. If you're OCD, then you'll want to customize them to get things just right. Otherwise, you'll be fine. 

MSFS has some jetway issues. Primarily, if you get too far away with the drone, MSFS' LOD functions kick in and it somehow changes from the "docked" model to the "undocked" model when it changes the level of detail. When you get back to the plane, the jetway might not return to the "docked" model and the pax will walk through the air where the jetway used to be, Asobo needs to fix that. 

The pushback feature alone is worth the price of the SW. Some folks have a problem with the brakes overheating in the Fenix when the tug with the bar is used but I have only seem that once. Not sure why. 

I personally wouldn't do without it. All of the features work as advertised. If you liked it in P3D, you'll be happy with it in MSFS. It's only going to get better. Umberto never rests on his laurels.

Edited December 14, 20223 yr by MDFlier

6 minutes ago, Chapstick said:

 On the downside, it's not nearly as intuitive as the P3D version, but at this point those limitations almost all land squarely on Asobo to address.

Could I ask what, is missing on the MSFS version? Just curious as I never got the P3D variant

1 minute ago, Lucky38i said:

Could I ask what, is missing on the MSFS version? Just curious as I never got the P3D variant

I believe that he is referring to the way the menus work. It's sort of a 2 step process. Make sure the GSX icon on the handlebar menu is active (white), and then use a hot key to open the menu. If the icon is not active in the menu, the hot key doesn't work. It's a little odd compared to the straight up hot key activated menu we had in P3D.

in the last few flights I have had the pushback tug really rattle the plane loudly and make it jump before disconnecting.. so i usually play with the "raise aircraft during pb" option.. sometimes it helps.. wasn't this bad in the earlier versions of Msfs and gsx... i'm on latest su11 and latest gsx version too..

1 minute ago, vin747 said:

in the last few flights I have had the pushback tug really rattle the plane loudly and make it jump before disconnecting.. so i usually play with the "raise aircraft during pb" option.. sometimes it helps.. wasn't this bad in the earlier versions of Msfs and gsx... i'm on latest su11 and latest gsx version too..

That's funny. I just got pushed back in the 738 and heard all of that rattling and banging from the tow bar under the plane. I like it, but it is a little loud. Must have been added recently because I do not recall hearing it before.

4 hours ago, G-YMML1 said:

Just curious how stable GSX these days in MSFS

I'm very cautious on messing up my now perfect performance in MSFS.  Plus, I just do not tolerate a lot of setup and configuration effort any more after decades in FSX/P3D.  So took the GSX Pro plunge just a week or so ago and I'm ultra happy w/ GSX and have yet to do any customization of it.  I have installed zero of the 600+ GSX Pro profiles available for the downloading and maybe never will as it works pretty well without it.  I use A Pilot's Life v2 and PACX and both work well with it, and I fly only the PMDG 738, Aerosoft CRJs and retired the B78X HD as it's got performance issues now it never had so am awaiting a longer range airliner.  I used GSX I&II in P3D and it's better in MSFS in most ways than it was in P3D.   

4 hours ago, MDFlier said:

I believe that he is referring to the way the menus work. It's sort of a 2 step process. Make sure the GSX icon on the handlebar menu is active (white), and then use a hot key to open the menu. If the icon is not active in the menu, the hot key doesn't work. It's a little odd compared to the straight up hot key activated menu we had in P3D.

It's not a two step process.

You just open it once with the mouse from the Toolbar the first time you start it, to make the Toolbar icon active (and responsive to keys), then you always use the Hotkey to open it and close so, after than the first opening with the mouse, is functionally identical to how it was in FSX/P3D. Normally, you always keep the Toolbar icon active, and close it only if you don't expect to use it again for a while, for example just after takeoff.

Of course, if it was possible to create open a Toolbar menu with a Simconnect call ( not currently possible ), even the first opening could be done with the hotkey so, if this ability would eventually arrive in the SDK, we'll be using it.

The missing feature is being allowed to make a Coherent call to open a closed Toolbar menu, which is possible from Javascript but not from Simconnect, but Javascript code stops being executed when the Toolbar menu is closed (because we are not an airplane gauge), so it creates a chicken-egg situation.

Edited December 14, 20223 yr by virtuali

Umberto do you see any potential for getting arrival parking improved without the use of add-on GSX Pro profiles?  Or is that area locked down by MS/Asobo such that it is likely to stay how it current is?  I typically get ATC direction to a gate, then I bring up that gate in GSX Pro.  As I am rolling in very slowly to the gate the GSX marshall wants to always bring me in past the ideal parking spot relative to the jetway so I have been stopping short.

10 hours ago, Noel said:

 I have installed zero of the 600+ GSX Pro profiles available for the downloading and maybe never will as it works pretty well without it.

They're mostly for immersion.

I like the VDGS system.

Edited December 15, 20223 yr by Tuskin38

My recommendation is to try the demo.

Easyjetsimpilot did a video recently showcasing GSX.

*GSX UPDATE* - Bug Fixes for MSFS | New Features & How to Add Passengers to Airports Tutorial - YouTube

6 hours ago, Noel said:

the GSX marshall wants to always bring me in past the ideal parking spot relative to the jetway so I have been stopping short.

The trouble here is that it is all relative to what aircraft type/size that you are operating. 

Anybody using GSX with the airports from the MSFS marketplace? I believe GSX now supports the airports purchased from the MSFS marketplace. If so, how is GSX working now with the airports from the MSFS marketplace?