cyberpilot

Four 5-minute freezes in a 3-hour flight today which is something of a record. Normally only one or two and sometimes (but not very often) none at all. Occasionally they happen when I click on something in the MCP or CDU at cruise altitude but most often they just happen without warning. To be frank it's a damn nuisance and I wish someone from PMDG could reassure us that they're looking at this issue and doing something about it. It seems to be happening to a lot of people but their concerns appears to be falling on deaf ears. Frank

Any suggestions?

Since getting the B777 VNAV has performed faultlessly at the top of descent, but now it wont allow the aircraft to descend, despite resetting the MCP altitude and the Vertical Path Indicator appearing on the ND. VNAV ALT remains on the PFD and doesn't change to VPATH. So the only way to descend is by using FLCH or V/S and then reverting to VNAV when I am on the correct descent profile. I haven't changed any settings in the aircraft or FSX so I'm at a loss to know just what is going on. Perhaps someone may have a few ideas? Compounding the problem are the lengthy "freeze -ups" that so many other B777 users are getting. Typically I get around two of these in 3-hour flight and they can last for up to 5 minutes at a time. Great product but it has some very frustrating glitches. Frank

Any update on Air NZ "black" liveries? Frank

Another 5 min freeze today while in the cruise. Happened just as I clicked on Lvl Chg for a step climb. Frank

I've been plagued with pauses too, typically up to 5 minus in duration before everything resumes as normal. They are very erratic with some flights being pause-free while others get two or three. They nearly always occur 30 mins or so into the flight when the 777 is at cruise level. Initially I suspected that OPUS was the culprit but I've pretty much ruled that out now. Doesn't happen with any other aircraft and I have to say it's pretty darn frustrating. Would be nice to think that a fix is on the way. :rolleyes: Frank

I have same problems with VNAV - erratic descent rate and nearly always arriving 3000 to 4000ft above selected waypoint altitudes. I'm also confused over PMDG set up "AT not in hold/arm mode only/always etc". I would be really grateful if someone could explain in plain English what these settings mean and how they should be applied. Apart from this I love the B777 which is a joy to hand fly. Thanks Frank

Ok Kyle, I'm done with venting. This isn't going anywhere so best to call it a day. Frank;

So Jordan, if it was "an unforeseen bug with the online store" why haven't we been told?

Kyle (my apologies for calling you Ryan) I hear what you are saying, but it was patently clear from way back there was going to be an unprecedented demand for the B777. Thus, systems should have been in place to cope with this, but for reasons which aren't clear, weren't. As far as I'm concerned PMDG "dropped the ball" on this occasion and, for the moment have left many of us in the lurch. Hopefully matters will be resolved sooner rather than later but as I said before I'm not holding my breath. Frank

With respect I think some of you have lost the plot here. As I pointed out in my earlier post PMDG went through this sort of hiatus with the B737NGX release. I assumed some lessons were learnt from that and systems put in place over the intervening period to prevent something similar from happening again. But that clearly doesn't appear to be the case. The other problem is that those in my situation are being kept in the dark with no explanations forthcoming as to why some people are having no problems with their purchases while others are. And yes, Ryan, I am entitled to better service having spent the thick end of US$100 on a product and not knowing when I'm going to receive it. PMDG is not a charity - it's a thriving business that produces some excellent products - so it must expect criticism if it's customer service is found wanting. Frank

Ryan - I have read the sticky at the top but given the sheer number of frustrated customers like myself it would be kind of helpful if someone from the PMDG hierarchy fronted up on this forum with an apology and an explanation. Hiding behind a ticket system is not good enough - folk want some answers and they want them now - communication is the name of the game. Dealing with PMDG is like dealing with an automated message system - you never actually get to speak to a real, live human being. Jeff - thanks for your advice but it didn't work. I checked out my previous orders but there was no record of the B777 purchase. Frank

Congratulations to all you guys who've successfully download the B777 and commiserations to the many who are still trying. Unfortunately I'm in the latter camp. Been trying for 4 hours to make a purchase but keep on getting the dreaded Error 4 message - "for security reasons your order is being reviewed." Thought I'd cracked it when it when I later received a "thank you for your order" email from PMDG complete with an invoice number. But...there was no link to a download. I've since submitted a ticket but the way things are going I'm not holding my breath. Yes, I know patience is the name of the game but when something is 2+ years in development these issues should have been foreseen and addressed before now. It's not as if PMDG has not been through this scenario before. Not good enough chaps. Frank

As we all know there are all manner of audio call-outs on the flight decks of big jets such as 80 knots, V1, rotate etc on take-off, height call-outs on landing, GPWS call-outs etc, but why aren't there audio call-outs for airspeed on final approach? Surely this would make life a lot easier and safer for pilots, especially on a visual approach when they could keep their eyes mostly outside the cockpit without constant reference to the airspeed indicator. Given that one of the factors in the Air Asiana B777 undershoot at San Francisco was an apparent failure by the crew to properly monitor their airspeed it would appear that an audio call-out for airspeed is a no-brainer. I would be interested in anyone's thoughts on this. Frank

Check this out guys .... it's going to be a beauty. http://www.antsairplanes.com/trojan.html Ant's work is always top class. Frank

Have smoothing functions in ASA and FSUIPC turned on.Thought it might have been a c of g issue but that's not the case.It's a real mystery, especially as it came right out of the blue without me changing anything in FSX.Frank

I've been using the MD11 in FSX for many weeks with great success with everything functioning as it should.But in the last fortnight an inexplicable problem has occurred ... when in autoflight/nav mode the aircraft struggles to hold the programmed fmc course.During climb and cruise it will veer up to forty degrees either side of the course as it struggles to hold the desired heading.At first I thought it was due to wind shift changes (I use Active Sky Advanced) but I've since ruled this out.The aircraft has been behaving perfectly up until now and I can't figure out what's going on.Anyone else experienced this and if so what's the solution?Thanks.Frank

Thanks Jim, that did the trick.Frank

ASA has been working perfectly until today but now it wont function properly.When I activate the desktop shortcut the programme loads but wont display the opening screen.Instead it appears in the taskbar and will not open when I click on it with the mouse.I have reinstalled ASA a couple of times but the problem persists.Can someone please help!?Thanks.BTW my operating system is Vista 64.Frank

Having recently upgraded to an Intel Q9550 2.83GHz with 8.00 GB memory I decided to go the whole hog and get what seemed to be the best GPU.So I replaced my 512MB Asus 4870 with a GeForce GTX 295 which promised "blazing speed and performance."What a joke!Using exactly the same FSX settings as before it runs like an old banger compared to the 4870.Here's an example using the Carenado C152 parked at the end of the runway at Coffs Harbour (FTX Australian scenery) with frame rates set at unlimited, sliders in the middle, autogen medium, default fine weather.Asus: 29fps (vc panel) 28fps (ext spot view with terminal in background).GeForce: 18fps (vc panel) 20fps (ext spot view with terminal in background)Setting the frame rates to anything less than unlimited makes the GeForce perform even more poorly.Thinking it might be a driver issue I installed the latest version 181.20 but that made no difference whatsoever.BTW I run a 24inch lcd monitor set to 1920x1200x16 and Windows Vista Home.Oh dear ... what a very expensive mistake.

I have just downloaded the ASA upgrade for ASX.Do I have to uninstall ASX before installing ASA?Frank

I've just got a new computer with a 24 inch widescreen display.Will this work fine with the MD-11 VC or will I have to make any sort of tweaks to make it compatable with this format?Thanks.Frank

Yeah, I made all the adjustments but could never get it to my satisfaction.Perhaps my head is too twitchy!The solution, as I see it, is a device that allows eye movement to change the field of view, not head movement.When this happens I'll give it another go.

Desert Flyer,I tried it with FS9 after reading all the rave reviews.Personally I found it very hard to get used to.The slightest head movement would change the view and I found it disorientating.I persevered with it for several weeks before giving up and selling it at a loss.Trying to click on things in the VC was especially difficult.That said, many others clearly think it's the bee's knees so clearly I'm in the minority.

Thanks for that Jim.