skystar

Guten Tag aus Berlin. Aircraft: PMDG 737NGX P3D V1.10.6461 FlightSim: P3D V3 3.0.10.14945 Today I received my new HOTAS WARTHOG. I'd like to assign switches to "special" PMDG 737 functions. Using FSUIPC V4.948 I've been able to find some general functions. Using the CDU(FMC) -> PMDG SETUP -> OPTIONS -> KEY COMMANDS -> ... I've found some further options to assign PMDG functions to swithes using Key-Commands. I was searching for an option "Taxi Light" to learn, there is nothing assigned. So I've "googled" and found informations about the file ..(FSIM)\PMDG\PMDG 737 NGX\SDK\PMDG_NGX_SDK.h In line #519 the THIRD_PARTY_EVENT_ID_MIN number is defined by 69632 Beginning at lIne #583 the "define EVT" section show various PMDG options. I've learned, I could use them with FSUIPC -> Buttons + Switching -> Select for FS Control -> <custom control> and if I'd like to switch on the Taxi-Light I need to type in 69749, which is 69632 plus 117, because of (EVT_OH_LIGHTS_TAXI (THIRD_PARTY_EVENT_ID_MIN + 117) Using the Parameter 1 (on) and 0 (off) I can switch the taxy lights on and off. I thought, I could start the APU the same way, but unfortunately when I use the ID 69750, which is marked as "APU Start" in the file (+118), I'm able to switch the APU on and off only, but not to start (ignite). This is, what I know... Does someone know more ? How can I start the APU using a USB-Controller switch... Danke! Ralf Fitzner

Guten Tag aus Berlin. Because of P3D V2.5 I made a complete re-installation of my PC with WIndows 8.1 Pro P3D has been installed on an extra 240GB SSD. While the setup was running I saw, PMDG released the 737. I have purchased the 737 and after some reboots and settings of screen, scenery aso. I had the first flight with the 737. Without FSUIPC, without even Joystick and with "Controllers" disabled. After about 30 minutes and after reaching the TOD the 737 began to leave the flightpath, to turn slowly right and to descend slowly but uncontrolled. I had no chance to avoid the crash. I could click at spots on the 2D screen of the 737 and got visual response, but there was no control input. The Cockpit was kind of "freezed". So there was no other software involved at that time. No FSUIPC nor any other than P3D V2.5 and 737 for P3D. Mit freundlichen Grüßen Ralf Fitzner

Well, I get a lot of AntiVirus messages when I try to setup the CS777. I was looking for information about this and after a few minutes of reading several informations on several pages I decided to never again install any of my (5) purchased CS aircrafts again... Ralf

Thank You!!! Ralf

Guten Tag. Could any owner of FTX Global please be so kind to post a screenshot here of these 2 airports: SLLJ and AYMR. Here the FSX standard screenshots. Maybe from a similar point of view. Thanks. Danke! Mit freundlichen Grüßen Ralf

That idea is not "compatible" with PMDG. They clearly state: "The PMDG 737NGX is fully compatible with FSUIPC except that we recommend that you do not calibrate your flight controllers through FSUIPC". from PMDG NGX Introduction Page 20 of 134. Ralf

That's the issue, why I didn't purchase that package so far. I have a 7" Galaxy Tab 2 running FSMovMap on my desk. Using the "old" FTX SP4 Australia packages, I often wondered, what I see in FSX and what the reality is on GoogleMaps. I also prefer photoreal packages like the free NL2000 pakage of photoreal scenery for the entire country of the Netherlands. Germany VFR from Aerosoft aso. So, if I only see some more trees and colors but nothing that compares to the reality, I don't think I'm going to spend that much money. When there will be some sreenshots of FTX Global including the announced European LC package, I might come to a different conclusion. I'll wait and see :-) Mit freundlichen Grüßen Ralf

disregard...sorry Ralf

Even if this is not the main issue: No. So far the AU FTX SP3 Packages (all 4) haven't been updated. I had a long discussion with "Ed" at the Orbx forum about the installation problem of several ORBS Airports in P3D, if I use the ORBX dual installer. You need to manually add some airports to the scenery galery, if you don't have the FTX Packages installed prior. Notebook? I haven't seen anyone beyond the state of playing using a notebook for flightsimulation... To the left are some details of what I use. You don't call the Aerosoft Airbus an adequate aircraft, don't you? No SID/STAR at all... I fly some hundred hours online at IVAO per year... Carenado doesn't offer P3D installers for all their aircraft, for a few only. They don't even offer an update for existing ones. Should I mention the Q300 ? Not even with the estonian tool able to run with P3D... Js41000. So you have IAS mode available? You can start the engines seperately? Would be a miracle to me... Anyway: Everyone like he wants. Like I said: At a later stage, I have no problems to set up P3D again if things go better. Ralf

Well, I purchased P3D the day Windows8 came out. Since that day I haven't had a period of more than 3 days without a full re-installation of my computer. Yes, I was enthusiastic too. I thought, everything would improve now, would go a step forward. Would come to a kind of FS XI. But that feeling didn't really last long... First mistake was to believe what they write on the P3D website: Every FSX addon would run with P3D. No, absolutely not.I need at least the estonian tool to get several FSX tools and addons to work somehow, but many absolutely don't work with P3D. Just 2 days ago I gave P3D another chance (this time with Windows 7), I guess it's been the 4th or 5th... I tried to install 2 ORBX airports but they failed to automatically appear in the scenery library, even with the new dual installer. Why? Because you need to install the FTX (Region) files first, but they are still not with a dual installer. The most important aircrafts for me are the PMDG 737NGX, then the PMDG JS4100. They are not allowed to use within P3D and one of them has some minor problems, while a 3rd PMDG Product has serios issues in P3D. I'd like to use those addons, so I can't use P3D. Very simple. I miss that start/choose screen from FSX. It was there and P3D doesn't have it. It takes "hours" to get where you want at the time you want with the aircraft you want... I did try to use that tool from Maarten, but that is not the comfort I had with FSX. I miss the weather download from Jeppesen. Yes, I own REX Essential+, but that software became so different: I can't start a wheater engine without waiting 3-4minutes until the main program has loaded whatever... I miss my own language. FSX was a really international software and I had my German version, while others had it in French, portugues or whatever. That ability got lost. I can't complain about the FSX frame rate. I haven't seen a better frame rate with P3D. ORBX YBBN is still slow... At Aerosofts EDDT I really had 0.7FPS with P3D. The moving map of FS-MAP doesn't work with P3D - The FS Flight-Keeper, which I have used some time to file Pireps for the virtual airline I used to fly with, doesn't run with P3D. If you compare those 2 simulators: What is the main benefit of P3D? Tell me a single feature that is better in P3D than with FSX. Even the choose of the day/time/season got more complicated... I have spent 199$ for something I already own: A flight simulator with the same kind of "heart" and the same basic scenery (yes, I know, there is some new airports somewhere in the nowhere, but nothing to compare with a "real" FSX scenery so far...) . It is way to early to "love" P3D. It's a pain to get it work without a fatal error and even when its working smothely: I already had that with FSX ;-) I own it, but until there is a MAJOR increase in comfort and options I won't use P3D anymore. Unfortunaltey the credit card I used to purchase P3D got replaced by another. Otherwise I would have already asked for a refund. Ralf

Hi. I also had the same question sent to Mirosoft some days ago and only got a copy of an answer to someone else as response. That typical "Support Ping-Pong" style answer: Ask you hardware vendor <-> Ask you software provider... I own 3 different Saitek yokes (Cyborg V.1 , X and FlightSimYoke) They all suddenly and withount any logical reason disappear in the device manager or get listet faulty. Usually a reboot of the computer is the only way to "fix" the issue for some time. Flying in an FMS equipped aircraft, it is hardly possible to AUTOLAND the aircraft somehow, but I need to explain this to the IVAO controller at that airport every time... Flying VFR? Nearly impossible. You never know, when it hits your machine... After about 25 full re-installations of Windows8 on 3 different machines with different motherboard vendors (ASUS, ASRock, Gigabyte) with FSX and/or P3D the last 4 weeks I came to the conclusion that there is only one way to prevent this: Step back to the last working configuration, which is Windows7 in my case but might be XP for others. It's not only the Joystick issue. It's several minor WIndows8 incompatibilities with missing ISDN support (lost my FAX capability that way...) , my daughter complained about her HP printer/scanner not working anymore, my son is missing the Chess game... Java 6 Update 37 seems to not work with Windows8. I need to send tax documents to the german "Finanzamt", which is impossible using Windows8 as their software only supports Java6... Even my Microsoft (Sidewinder) USB-Keyboard lost it's ability to adjust the volume several times...(but this significantly came up after installing the "Media Package) Why should I punish myself all the time with Windows8. What is the benefit Windows 8 brings to me, compared to Windows7? I can't see ANY. Even compared to XP I hardly see any advantage I need, as FSX/P3D are still 32bit programs. OK, I purchased three licenses and they don't get bad If I don't use them. I will wait for a service pack or whatever and will read at least 10 comments from others stating: The Joystick issue is fixed. Until that happens I have no problem to fly with my nicely working "old style" Operating System without having USB Port issues. Ralf

And TrackIR_5.2.Final is available too. Hopefully they do not continue to "spoil" my C: drive with "homeless" folders anymore (like ALLUSERS_DIR) Ralf

Hi Rich. Appears that "Ed" doesn't find the time to update that list. In fact several packages have been updated so far. The easiest way is to look at your FlightSimStore account at "account history" -> "downloadable files" Those files that have been updated usually have reset the download counter to "100". 2nd hint is the option to download from 3 different sources. If your download starts immediately, then it is the old FSX Version. If you could choose where to download from, then it is the new released FSX/P3D Version. Unfortunately the four AU SP3 files haven't been updated so far. Most Australian Airports and even the Lancaster IV-P already have dual installers. Ralf

Meanwhile IVAO released new versions of all necessary tools incl. a dual installer. So there is full support for P3D in IVAO Software now. No further need for "integration/migration tools" Ralf

@apollomaker Well: Don't look at the REX forum, look at your Flightsimstore account ;-) The new REX Essential+ can be downloaded from the Flightsimstore for free, if you login there and look at your "downloadable files". REX2 is history and no longer needed. A full new Installer is available for REX Essential+. Everything else is "self explaining". If you like to use REX Essential+ within P3D, a one time fee of 4,99$ has to be paid, but that is also well explained within the software. Make sure, on using REX Essential+, to choose (this is new!) a Username and Password you remeber(!), as your purchase of these 4,99$ is saved together with this username. Beside REX there are many, many ORBX files, that have been updated (for free !) to a dual installer version FSX/P3D. Ralf

@crosswind: After this all happening, I just completed a full re-install of my PC from scratch, incl. deleted partitions on my SSD. I also called the Emergency Number at my bank yesterday, to lock my credit card to prevent a fraudulent use and attached you find a photo of my credit card, cut to pieces. I ABSOLUTELY can't accept to have my Credit Card data stored on my PC in any way. You might promise me everything: I DON'T BELIEVE YOU! Even if you only use it for creating any kind of key or whatever: The data has been entered into my computer somehow and I don't have control anymore about what is happening with it. It is absolutely NOT the way ANY other company handles it's validation process AFTER purchase (like you mentioned...). This is something absolutely inacceptable and I don't accept any try to excuse this behaviour! Everyone might decide on his own, if he supports "your way" and would purchase anything from your "exceptional" company. Ralf

Well, I have never seen before a flightsim addon requiring my cradit card details INCL SECRET NUMBER (!!!) within the installation. To make it clear again: The purchase at the online shop (full of erroneus spelling) already checked my credit card details before downloading. I don't want to store my credit card details anywhere on my computer! Never ever! While running the Majestic Dash8 Q300 for the first time, the Windows Firewall comes up and wants me to accept anything I don't understand. But in fact, it just comes up after this strange Dash installation.. What does this Majestic Dash do here on my computer? Do they send my data to the russian mafia? I don't have a clue, what's going on here and none of my other addons has ever done this before in 20 years. I absolutely can't trust on this behaviour. This is nothing, a helpdesk or support might fix, this is simply something I don't accept for the money I've paid! Ralf

Hello Ian. I just made the mistake and purchased the Dash8 Q300. I must say, in 20years of flightsim hobby, this was my worst purchase ever. Not only they ask for my credit card details when the software setup is starting (after the purchase and download is already completed), i feel this aircraft looks like in the "stone age" of flightsimming. A cockpit like in FS95. Not really to compare with the screenshots they offer... And: Nothing is working here so far. No flaps, no condition lever, no... nothing at all..... The description (I can't really say "manual at all) is so badly written, how can anyone understand it. I think I just wasted 30Euro... Ian, if you have any hint or help or whatever, please let me know. Cheers Ralf

Merci Pierre! That would be another 40Euro, only to create a flight plan... So far it has been for free by using tools like on the "Simroutes.com" website. I just got a response from the admin of "Simroutes.com". He wrote, he hasn't changed anything of "Simroutes.com" Flight Planner for years and he has no plans to do anything more on that tool. FS-Commander has a lot of tools, but I would only need 1 simple thing of all those options. I already had the test-version on my computer and I don't really like that tool. Appears like an old MS-DOS Software... Ralf

Dag Maarten! Well, I can't choose the aircraft I'd like to fly with, at this time? (SimLauncherV2.5 & P3D Pro) I can only look at some informations of the aircraft of my previously saved flight, but SimLaucher so far doesn't allow to switch to another plane. Or did I miss something? Met vriendelijke groet Ralf

OK, got a quick response in the P3D forum: The Flight Planner of P3D doesn't accept FSX plain text file flightplans anymore but requires XML format files. Ralf

"Unfortunately" my flightplan already has a title. VRoute? Never seen before, but I will have a closer look. OK, I will move this topic to the P3D forum on their website. Thanks Ralf

Hi. I had another bad surprise today: P3D seems not to be able to import flight plans created by "simroutes.com". Example: The DHC6 is easy to fly, but doesn't have a FMS. I need to fly IFR from EDFH to LSZA. (Lugano - CH) Lugano has a really difficult IFR approach for Cat A or B aircraft only. So I usually create a flight plan including the SID and STAR points using simroutes.com (generate routes), export the route in FSX format and load it into the FSX route planner. Then it is easy to use the GPS and activate NAV mode of the autopilot to follow that route. Even in a nonFMS aircraft. But P3D doesn't even list that flightplan. I am able to find a lot of flightplans which came with addon aircraft, but the one I need isn't there. Could anyone please confirm, P3D doesn't accept simroutes.com flightplans? Could anyone recommend any other online flight plan creation (and download) tool? Thank You! Ralf

Hi. I was asking at CaptainSim, if their 777 (recent Version 0.9) would have a native P3D installer in the final version, but that was the simple answer... I hope, some day they will regret... ;-) Ralf

Hi I haven't heard anything about a version 2 from LM at all. There are several people, who "think" about a version2, but in fact we are at version 1.4 now and I would guess, the next steps are V1.5 - V1.6 - V1.7...maybe V1.834... There is the moment, when you have to decide what you want to spend for your hobby. OK, 199,- seems to be a lot. For me it was more or less 150Euro. I think that was acceptable, as P3D is a "living" software. There is a really big company behind that product and if you look at the update history: They really DO something. There IS support. Let me help you with my recommendation: Are you flying less than 5 times per month? By the academic version. Are you flying at least several times per week: Go for the Pro version btw: LM says: No Upgrade from academic to Pro is possible or planned. Ralf