Kermit_70

Hi all, this is a very specific question about the use of multiple monitors in FSX. It is not about how to set them up, but about two alternative ways to use them in a cockpit configuration. When you have multiple monitors (three for me) and an Nvidia graphic card (GTX 650 for me), my understanding is that you can configure one of the following: FSX run "windowed" (=not in full view), and each monitor will display a different "viewpoint" of the virtual cockpit. You can fine tune the viewpoints and their relative position on each monitor to simulate a surrounding effect of the virtual cockpit. Use Nvidia surround mode to link the three monitors into a single screen; run FSX as full view on this single long screen so that a single virtual cockpit fills all three monitors. No individual viewpoints are necessary in this case. I would like to know: a) Is there a major difference in performance between (1) and (2)? b) can I use TrackIR in both configs? c) can I see the instrument panel of the virtual cockpit in both configs? d) If I had a fourth monitor, could I put on it a 2D panel for instruments and use (1) or (2) only for the outside scenery? Please answer what you know or have experienced, but also give me your opinion on all this. Is there a config that is obviously much better than the rest? Am I making it too complicated? For reference, I am running Windows 10 and I have a bunch of physical controls (yoke, pedals, TPM, trim wheel, radio stack, autopilot, light switches, etc), but not single instrument panels (altimeter, VOR, etc) so it is a bit of a hybrid. I am not sure if giving up the virtual cockpit completely and switching to a 2D instrument panel to complement my hardware. This is related to the topic, because it depends how well (1) or (2) perform and give me extra "juice" to run a 4th monitor. Thank you for your time!

Many thanks! Is it also possible to hide it completely and call it back with a keyboard stroke?

Hello, just one quick question or suggestion for potential future feature: is it possible to work with a minimal version of the GUI on the screen? I mean just the SpeechAssistant/Clear/SayIt/PTT/? section. Personally I prefer to use the GPS, weather radar, radios, transponder on my aircraft virtual cockpit, and keep P2A only for realistic ATC communication. Would then be possible to maintain P2A as a small window on top of Full Windowed FSX? Even better if I could make it appear/disappear with the click of a button (maybe through FSUIPC?). Is that currently possible? Thanks!

OK, i didn't know that FSUIPC could "read" the traffic conditions, as I only use it to program my switches and controls. Does anybody here know which AI Traffic add ons can report traffic status to FSUIPC? I think this would be good information for Dave, to put in a future manual or Q&A page in support of his product. Thanks!

That sounds fantastic, Dave. Thanks. Will that work with any third-party add on injecting AI traffic in FSX? For example, I am currently using UT2. It would be great to hear back reports from users who actually see all this in action.

Hi there, congrats again for the amazing speed this product is taking shape. I can't wait for final release. Could the developer please elaborate and explain a bit what is the "AI Traffic awareness" built in release v2.0.0.26? Does it mean that now runway assignments and takeoff/landing clearances take into account the movements of existing (not controlled by P2A) AI traffic? That would be a great thing! Thanks

Hi Mike, I posed very similar questions in my post "Pilot2ATC & other add ons", and was suggesting the developer to have potential customer vote for most desirable new feature. Please take a look and leave a message if you think it might be a good idea. My impression is that right now P2A is mainly aimed to carefully planned IFR missions (airliners?), The fact that it currently ignores simulated AI traffic and simulated weather (it does work with real weather, yes!) is a bit disappointing. Potentially a great product, though.... cheers

Thank you for your clear and quick reply, Dave. I know that building a truly complete ATC add on for FSX is a big task, but I also recognize it is a commercial opportunity. Personally I am Certainly willing to pay for an addon that simulates the real-life reason of ATC: keeping me separated from traffic, both on the ground and in the skies, and in doing so coordinate approaches and landings according to both traffic and weather. An ATC service that is blind to both weather and traffic sounds a bit "light"... Please don't take this as a hard criticism, as I understand P2A does take in consideration real weather, and this is indeed a good starting point. I am just wondering how important are to potential customers simulated weather and traffic, that is what is actually going on in the simulator. I would like to offer a simple suggestion: would it be too difficult to set up a sort a electronic board on your website, where potential customers vote on possible improvements to put in your to-do list? This would take away most of the guess work on your side about what should be on top or bottom of your priorities. You might be surprised to see that a lot of us are not necessarily flying airliners in long and standard IFR routes, but maybe enjoying shorter VFR routes in Ga aircrafts, where ATC is equally important and enjoyable. You could require that people sign up to some news mailing list, before being able to vote on the list that you set up. So they would already become "potential customer". Trello might an easy platform for that, but anything would do, really. Looking forward to seeing the new improvements during beta, and wish you the best luck with this very promising product! Cheers

Hello, I have been looking for a complete ATC product for my FSX setup, and I am really impressed about this product, and I am trying to understand more its features before purchasing it. I read the manual of version 2 (beta), which covered most of my questions. I read threads here, but I still have a couple of unresolved questions. Basically it all comes back to the way Pilot2ATC is set to interact with other add ons: Weather (I use ASN or REX Architect) and AI traffic (I use UT2). (1) AI traffic I understand that P2ATC does not inject or control AI, but I think it is aware of it. What I don't understand is to which extend ATC takes in consideration AI in the sim: (a) is the active runway used by P2ATC the same used by AI in the sim? (b ) does P2ATC make me taxi/hold according to AI on the ground? ( c)) does P2ATC provide adequate separation with AI traffic in flight? (2) Weather I understand that P2ATC gets its live weather conditions online, BUT reads ATIS from the sim. Is it still true? The obvious problem is when flying with simulated weather (e.g. ASN historical or REX Weather Architect), which will generate a mismatch in ATIS and runway assignments. I know there is an option to override runway assignment in P2ATC, but it is not very elegant. Has this been fixed? Overall I have to give "two thumbs up" to the developer. Really a nice piece of work so far! Any sense of when the beta will finish? Thanks

Hi Randall, thank you for your comment, it helps. So you think it is not too basic/easy? I am already familiar with basic concepts of IFR procedures, but I was looking for an enjoyable way to practice them to become proficient. I am not a real pilot, but I like to be challenged. Thank you

hi there, did anybody try the newly released FS Academy On Instrument for FSX? http://www.fsvisions.nl/released-fs-academy-on-instruments/ I would like to have a honest review or at least opinion. I am using FSX boxed with tons of ORBX, REX and A2A GA Aircrafts. Cheers

Thank you GaryGB, much more clear now. Cheers

I still don't understand. It is really confusing, and clearly hard to explain. When you say "after FS has been re-started, the NewScenery.cfg file will over-write..." seems to suggest that it is not read yet as actual scenery.cfg? But that us exactly what I want, that my newly modified scenery becomes active now. Let's try again. Let's say I use the Scenery Editor to modify scenery list before I run FSX (so FSX is off); then I save the modified version as NewScenery.cfg (as suggested). Now I launch FSX, will it immediately read the NewScenery.cfg file or still the old scenery.cfg? Also, will the NewScenery.cfg be renamed and overwritten to old scenery.cfg at this time? I cannot think of posing the question in a clearer way, I hope the answer will finally clarify this... many thanks! And of course this sounds like black magic to me... What is FSX doing different when reads a NewScenery.cfg that would not do if reading a simple Scenery.cfg? This could help clarify the utility of this rather mysterious "convention"...

So, just to be clear, if before running FSX I use SCE to tick off unwanted scenery, then SCE will save it as NewScenery.cfg, when I start FSX this will use my new NewScenery.cfg instead of the original scenery.cfg? When will the NewScenery.cfg be renamed as Scenery.cfg, then? My question sounds a bit silly, I know, but I am confused. Thanks I will give you an example: I have FTX England and PNW, but also "third party" London VFR. If I want to flight in PNW I will select "North America" in FTX Central (which will deactivate FTX England), but Will also want to deactivate London VFR. I could do that through SCE. In this all process I would like the groups I made in SCE (for example of all my "third party" airports in UK) to be conserved as a structure, even though ticked off in SCE. Makes sense? Thanks!

Sorry guys, one more question on this topic. Maybe it has been answered, already, but I could not find it... I understand there are issues with FTX Central erasing SCE groups. I also understand it is strongly suggested not to mess up with ORBX sceneries via SCE. Ok, agreed. Now, the question: Can I do the following without being sorry: 1) Use FTX Central to select (activate) ORBX region. 2) Close FTX Central 3) Use SCE to untick all "third party sceneries" (to use ORBX language) that I won't use. Especially if previously "grouped" in SCE (e.g. London VFR, etc) 4) Save new as scenery.cfg 5) Close SCE. Launch FSX Comments? Previous experience? many thanks