On 2/24/2025 at 11:15 PM, Rogen said:

Do the other sounds work for you ? e.g. the tyre squeal if you apply the handbrake while moving on a hard surface, noting these are in a different pathing.

Also what about the Milviz_Lighting_Service.exe, is that running Ok too ?

Yes, it works and produces a tire squeal on the aspalth with a smoky effect. It's the file [Sound_TyreLockupSqueal.wav]

To clarify why this works, let me summarize the external installation process:
This is aimed mainly at users with a minimum of experience of add-on.xml and Lorby A.O. (not recommended for novices).

1-As soon as you launch [setup _210720.exe], you need to point the installation to the desired installation directory:
   In this directory, you will have created the main folders used by P3D to install an aircraft
    e.g.  SimObjects\Airplanes
   This applies only to installation of [setup _210720.exe] with 1st launch of VMAMS. and  XMLTools64Installer.exe

2-Then the contents of the folders in this basic installation are easily rectified as the Cleanup +V1.0+V1.2+ V1.3 process progresses.1.3

3-Here are the contents of the external installation directory:
   

       
      One little detail: I've created a Modules folder in which I've moved the XMLTools64.dll file installed in the root of this directory.
      This file is automatically installed by XMLTools64Installer.exe and declared in the dll.xml path C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5.
      I've removed these declaration lines from the dll.xml file and integrated them into my add-on.xml file (see below).
      In this way, we keep to the logic of the Package, which integrates all the elements required for the aircraft.

4-As you can see, DHC2-Beaver will be declared as a complete Package, i.e. its add-on.xml file will be placed directly in this installation directory.
     In this case, simply declare the new package in the file [add-ons.cfg] path C:\ProgramData\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5
    [Package.X]
    Path=D:\ADDONS P3DV5\P3D-ADDON-AIRCRAFTS\MILVIZ_DHC2-Beaver
    Title=MILVIZ_DHC2-Beaver
    Active=TRUE
    Required=FALSE
        
        Place it at the end of the list, so its numbering will be +1, and the order doesn't matter anyway.
        However, be careful not to change the name of the installation directory, which becomes the name of the Package, in this case [MILVIZ_DHC2-Beaver]

5-Here are the contents of my add-on.xml file which declares the components required for P3D to load the Beaver:

Spoiler

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<SimBase.Document Type="AddOnXml" version="4,0" id="add-on">
<AddOn.Name>MILVIZ_DHC2-Beaver</AddOn.Name>
<AddOn.Description>Aircraft MILVIZ_DHC2-Beaver</AddOn.Description>
  <AddOn.Component>
    <Category>SimObjects</Category>
    <Path>SimObjects\Airplanes</Path>
  </AddOn.Component>
  <AddOn.Component>
    <Category>Fonts</Category>
    <Path>Fonts</Path>
  </AddOn.Component>
  <AddOn.Component>
    <Category>Effects</Category>
    <Path>Effects</Path>
  </AddOn.Component>
  <AddOn.Component>
    <Category>Sound</Category>
    <Path>Sound</Path>
  </AddOn.Component>
  <AddOn.Component>
    <Category>DLL</Category>
    <Path>Modules</Path>
    <Name>XMLTools64.dll</Name>
    <DLLStartName>module_init</DLLStartName>
    <DLLStopName>module_deinit</DLLStopName>
  </AddOn.Component>
</SimBase.Document>     

6-Lorby A.O. will now be required to declare this new package to the Simulator.
    If everything is correct when Lorby A.O. is launched, no error message should appear, and the package and its components should look like this:

Package :

 

Other_addons components :

 

All components should appear in dark green
If one or more components are displayed in dark violet, you've done a poor job and the path declared is wrong.

Last point: as soon as a change is made in MVAMS, validated by [Save default], all aircraft.cfg files are modified and a backup is created.

I guess this double installation option gives this nice Beaver update an extra edge, with a great flight model perfectly enhanced by you @Rogen.

Cheers

Since you cannont receive messages, I would like a copy of your Milviz upgrades for the Beaver.

I have MV_DHC-2_Beaver_210720.zip installed in P3D V5.4

 

Thanks

 

4 hours ago, B38058 said:

Since you cannont receive messages, I would like a copy of your Milviz upgrades for the Beaver.

I have MV_DHC-2_Beaver_210720.zip installed in P3D V5.4

Thanks

Patience mate, simming is not the only thing I have going on...

Cheers

Nice modifications that you have done for the Beaver! Whenever you have time, please feel free to share those by pm (if possible)? 🙂

 

On 3/31/2025 at 9:51 PM, Blasb said:

Nice modifications that you have done for the Beaver! Whenever you have time, please feel free to share those by pm (if possible)?
🙂

PM me with your email address.

Cheers

Just wanting to let you know Roger got this installed and running. I flew it today for the first time and it is so much more enjoyable to fly.  I was flying under a thunderstorm it was great.  The unmoded beaver would have crashed.   The only problem is I haven’t got the weather radar working. It says it is not connected.  Still I never used it before.  I put my  Garmin 750 and Garmin 650 in it and they worked great. I thank you so much for all your hard work you made this classic plane so much better.  Thanks!

23 hours ago, MrDirt said:

Just wanting to let you know Roger got this installed and running. I flew it today for the first time and it is so much more enjoyable to fly.  I was flying under a thunderstorm it was great.  The unmoded beaver would have crashed.   The only problem is I haven’t got the weather radar working. It says it is not connected.  Still I never used it before.  I put my  Garmin 750 and Garmin 650 in it and they worked great. I thank you so much for all your hard work you made this classic plane so much better.  Thanks!

Hey MrDirt, nice to hear you are enjoying the Beaver.

If I recall you were running P3D v4.5 ?

Running P3D v4.5 means you can use the MilViz WX radar unit which has no dependency on Active Sky.

Assuming you've installed the MilViz WX radar as part of your original Beaver install you can edit the WX based panel configs by commenting out the Roland's Radar gauge and uncommenting the MilViz WX gauge, see this link for the info.

I cannot recall if MilViz actually distributed their final WX dll with the Beaver, but for reference I'm running (in P3D v4.5) a MV_WX.dll version 1.40.0.45 updated by by the "Milviz WX Radar v1.200819.exe" installer, which updates the radar dll for all the planes MilViz included WX with.

 

The above said... Blackbird have broken their radar updater download link 😞 

However, you can download a later version of the Porter PC-6 (later than the freebees version) at the below link which includes the v1.40.0.45 radar MV_WX.dll, which I believe is MV's final version, noting for myself the link worked without needing to login, and the installer  itself uses the default P3D Porter PC-6 freebees key.

https://milviz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=211&t=13153

I copied the MV_WX.dll from \SimObjects\Airplanes\MV_PC-6_Base\panel\ and dropped it into \SimObjects\Airplanes\DHC-2 Beaver Milviz\panel\ and it's working fine.

Note the Porter PC-6 download link is a P3D 5 installer and didn't give me the option to choose a folder meaning you'd probably have to dummy up a P3D v5 registry path.

Interestingly, while reviewing the MilViz Forum, I backtracked the URL and came up with the below URL to MilViz's military aircraft which they sell for P3D v4 & 5, pity they don't offer such aircraft for enthusiast sale, although maybe if the price is right ?? no doubt very expensive.

https://milvizusa.com/aircraft/military/

Cheers

 

Thanks for the information Roger .  I went back and read the info closer on the downloaded weather radar and found I had made a mistake by not putting the DLL in the right place. I corrected that and it is working now.  The only thing is I can’t get it to move the range or move up and down. I have the PC -6 I will look into the suggestions you made.  Again I thank you for all your work. The Beaver is so much more fun to fly !

Spell checker changed your name so sorry.

On 4/6/2025 at 12:46 PM, MrDirt said:

Thanks for the information Roger .  I went back and read the info closer on the downloaded weather radar and found I had made a mistake by not putting the DLL in the right place. I corrected that and it is working now.  The only thing is I can’t get it to move the range or move up and down. I have the PC -6 I will look into the suggestions you made.  Again I thank you for all your work. The Beaver is so much more fun to fly !

Hey, happy to hear you managed to get RR up and running.

RR comes with its own quirks, as you've found out.

1), The range and tilt and in fact all its controls are click spots on its screen, on the LHS half, at the top and bottom of said screen.

2), RR can be installed embedded or as a popup, but not both, I tried to get it working as both to make it easier to use the screen click spots, alas to no avail.

3), A functioning ActiveSky install is needed (so RR can hook into the ActiveSky API.)

The above said if you opt for the MilViz WX the controls on the bezel will work, the WX can also be popped up and ActiveSky is not a requirement.

The MilViz WX has a pretty good list of Pros, hence why I use it in P3D 4.5, pity MilViz didn't continue its support right through to the end of P3D v5... (or maybe they did given their list of Mil aircraft they sell to the Military).

Cheers

Edited April 7, 20251 yr by Rogen
spelling

Thanks Rogen I am back flying the Beaver amphibian in Alaska.  Everything works but I may change the weather radar back to Milviz.  I have REX WEATHER advantage that I purchased and never used.  I can’t find the download and the Rex store is silent on why I can’t. That’s the way things go.  I flew today in the amphibian and I start cold and Dark I hear the motor start then the motor sound goes away.  The waves against the float sounds are there but no motor sounds after start up.  I will look and see if may I missed a sound file some where.  I may also change to the Milviz weather radar. Thanks again for your wonderful work.

Rogen I tried all my amphibians and have a problem with the engine sounds.  You can hear the engine start then it goes very quiet you can barely hear it in the background.  When you shut down the engine sound is back.  I tied the float planes and they sound great.  Can you suggest a fix.  The water sounds get nosier as the plane picks up speed but no engine sounds.

20 hours ago, MrDirt said:

Rogen I tried all my amphibians and have a problem with the engine sounds.  You can hear the engine start then it goes very quiet you can barely hear it in the background.  When you shut down the engine sound is back.  I tied the float planes and they sound great.  Can you suggest a fix.  The water sounds get nosier as the plane picks up speed but no engine sounds.

Hmm...

• Is the issue occurring for the interior or exterior engine sounds ?
• What prop is configured ? different sound sets are used for the 2 & 3 blade props.

In anycase all the Beavers should be getting their sounds from the same config and source meaning there should be no difference between them.

The sounds and config are located in \SimObjects\Airplanes\DHC-2 Beaver Milviz\sound\ and sound.1

Where Beavers, apart from the main "DHC-2 Beaver Milviz", have a sound.cfg containing an alias pointing to the above paths. 

An obscure item I have seen was related to Windows 10+ speaker layout issues, e.g. when I went from Win7 to Win10 I found Windows didn't include support for a 2.1 speaker layout and I had to create my own layout based off a modified 5.1 speaker layout. To cut it short the mixing took a bit to get right as panning was affected i.e. the engine sounds would drop out as I panned around the aircraft exterior, however that problem typically affected all aircraft so likely not your issue.

I'd review the cleanup and reapply the updates to confirm all is good, just in case something was missed, as in almost all issues people have raised, the problems were related to missing a step or steps or trying to install in an add-on xml path.

And I've put together a 8 minute vid of a demo flight in the Beaver amphibian so you can see it all functioning.

Here I've installed the Beaver, performed cleanup and applied mods 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, configured using MVAMS to include the RXP GTN 750 and the Weather Radar, then swapped out the Roland WX Radar for the Milviz unit and enabled the enhanced P3D v4.5 effects.

Also being used is RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) to set the base frame rate @ 30 fps (bottom RH corner), Lossless Scaling to generate frames to bring the base fps rate to 60 fps (30/60 as seen in the top LH corner) and Reshade to assist in managing the look and feel.

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers

I flew the straight float today I did not go outside the amphibian so can’t answer that.  I thought might be possible I would have to do a reinstall.  I figure I must have missed something. No big deal I will uninstall and reinstall.  I didn’t mind flying the straight floats today.  Yes I watched the video I knew you had everything working great.  I probably messed something up.  I used the touch spots on the weather radar and it worked fine.  Don’t know if I will change it or not. Thanks for your help and have a wonderful weekend.

reinstall brought back the motor sounds to the amphibian.  Thanks for your help Rogen much appreciated.  the next thing I may try in getting the Milviz weather radar working this time.  I do appreciate your hard work in fixing this plane to make it work much better.  I brought this from Milviz many moons ago along with the expansion pack.  Now I got it free and better.  Thanks

Thanks John