I'm totally new with Airbus and decided to take the plunge starting w/ FBW just this morning.   It's impressive to say the least coming from PMDG 738 which seems simple by comparison--I mean to build.  While simming along w/ a tutorial was able to get the EFB and MCDU more or less partially understood.  Got the the runway and took off but for some reason despite engaging AP and AT it didn't track my plan that was input correctly and showed a viable route from KDEN to KLAS. I looked all over for familiar LNAV/VNAV controls but didn't see them so aborted this first practice run and am about to start a second try to reinforce what I learned.   I guess there is a Nav mode switch which I don't think was mentioned in the tutorial I was using I read later.

Some stuff is intuitive but I found it odd the plane would not generate an TO elevator trim and instead he referred me to find a chart and go off the CoG displayed.  Overall, it seems busier and more complex than PMDG 738.  I look forward to flying it successfully hopefully shortly!

Anyway, my sense is the Fenix is best in class, but why is that?  What's so different or better about it over the FBW?

While I have installed both the FBW and Fenex versions of the A320, I have found myself using the Fenex bird almost exclusively. For me, the tight integration of the Fenex EFB and MCDU with Simbrief flight plans and Navigraph charts is critical; they just work seamlessly. Further, unless there have been more recent updates to the FBW model that I have missed, the FBW aircraft has not fully implemented VNAV. I believe it is only available on the experimental version, although that could change. But with the Fenex A320, you have a fully functional LNAV and VNAV, and you will see top of cruise and top of descent calculated and those points displayed on your Nav display. 
With the A320, you do not have distinct LNAV and  VNAV switches explicitly labeled as such, such as you find on a B737.  Rather, the knob by the heading display operates in LNAV mode when pressed in so that the display reads 

- - - .  Similarly, the altitude adjustment knob functions in VNAV mode when it is pressed in, so that you again see the solid dot by the selected altitude.

Hope this helps.

Rich

6 hours ago, rlashier said:

Rather, the knob by the heading display operates in LNAV mode when pressed in so that the display reads 

- - - .  Similarly, the altitude adjustment knob functions in VNAV mode when it is pressed in, so that you again see the solid dot by the selected altitude.

Those buttons don't seem to want to be pressed.  Somehow I got into the ------- mode but now I can't get it back to HDG or VS modes.  

Push the button - managed by the Airbus! (LNAV/VNAV)

Pull the button - selected by the Pilot!

For me the main difference between the Fenix and the FBW is that the FBW induces a significant stuttering on my system whereas the Fenix is totally smooth.

Unless FBW have solved this issue recently,  I haven't used it for a while.

 

Other than that watch a few tutorials on youtube on how to fly the Airbus. There are lots of them.

8 hours ago, Noel said:

Some stuff is intuitive but I found it odd the plane would not generate an TO elevator trim

It does. Can be found after engine start in the fuel pred menu, the CG % value you need to set on the wheel. Keep in mind that this is calculated via the ZFWCG you entered on the init B page, which you get from the loadsheet.

8 hours ago, rlashier said:

For me, the tight integration of the Fenex EFB and MCDU with Simbrief flight plans and Navigraph charts is critical; they just work seamlessly

Ditto the FBW. Simbrief and Navigraph work seamlessly. So that is not an advantage. At best a tie. 
VNAV also working well on the Experimental branch at least, so again, a tie at best.

Love them both, Once had quite bad FPS in the Fenix so flew the FBW for a long time and loved it, now I'm back trying the Fenix and I've put FS2Crew in it, love it too again. 

The FBW has cabin sounds (boarding, crew announcements). 

Taxiing the FBW A320 is a royal PITA even after following directions given in FBW's documentation. This is the one and only reason that I use Fenix A320 exclusively.

Just now, hvw said:

Taxiing the FBW A320 is a royal PITA even after following directions given in FBW's documentation. This is the one and only reason that I use Fenix A320 exclusively.

Huh? Why is that?

17 minutes ago, Fiorentoni said:

Huh? Why is that?

You tell me 🙂 

Or the simple answer:- Fenix A320 is the the Standard (Old version) and The FBW is the NEO (Newer version), I use both, both have pro's and con's, both are brilliant.

On a sidenote from an A320 sim pilot who tries to fly the 737:

Why does this old-fashioned piece of aluminum has so many unnecessary knobs and switches? 😉

8 hours ago, Paladin2005 said:

6 hours ago, Fiorentoni said:

It does. Can be found after engine start in the fuel pred menu, the CG % value you need to set on the wheel. Keep in mind that this is calculated via the ZFWCG you entered on the init B page, which you get from the loadsheet.

I got the CG% value from there but the tutorial referred me to find a chart online to convert that into the correct setting for pitch trim.  Apparently it can be determined looking at the trim wheel I guess you are saying?  I'll look in a little bit thanks!