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 Unboxing the Active Link |
rogrammable
Active Link or PAL. Thats the name Precision Flight Controls gave to their
latest creation for the Flightsim (and Gaming)
communities. The Pal unit actually replaces the need for controlling anything
in your program through the keyboard. At first hearing about PAL I didn't really think
it could add that much to my flightsim experience. After all my keyboard
was pretty handy, I already knew where everything was, and there are plenty of
templates for the keyboard if I wanted to label the keys. I'm also
at the stage of my flightsimming experience where the keyboard is really
secondary. Equipped with a Yoke and rudder pedals I don't really use the
keyboard enough to feel a strong need to replace it with one of these units.
I was in for a big surprise once I started to use PAL.
After unpacking the box it was very quick to get things setup. I unplugged my keyboard from the computer, connected it to the Pal Box (PAL is equipped with both AT and ATX keyboard connectors), then connected the box to the computer with the cable provided. After placing one of the three overlays on PAL, it was ready to go. Setup time was about 1 minute. A sheet of instructions comes in the box for setup. There are still more instructions printed on the back of the CD jacket, and a complete README file provided on the disk.
The first time we set PAL up on our machine, the computer no longer recognized the keyboard. After speaking with Mike Altman (President at PFC) and Kimberly Budak (Marketing Director) I learned that one keyboard out of every hundred might have a timing problem that interferes with this type of device. PFC is in the process of a work around, and have a new USB port being added this fall. Also, if your keyboard exhibits the problem and you don't want to upgrade to a newer keyboard, PFC will be happy to take the PAL unit back. I decided to try PAL with another computer system. Everything worked fine.
 View after setting up the Active Link |
PAL comes with a CDROM equipped with several very useful and helpful programs. The first program I suggest running is TEST. Each template that you want to use with PAL has its own downloadable file. The test program even requires the download of a special file to use during the test. Downloading is easy. You start the PAL program, it pulls up a file selection box, you select the file you want and then it asks you to flip the program switch on the back of the box to the on position. After downloading your file it asks you to turn it off. Its that easy. I spent time downloading and testing each of the files for the three templates that came with the box. Microsoft Flightsim, Jet Fighter III, and F/A-18. The Test file is used to make sure all of your bottons are working correctly. There are a total of 96 buttons.
 The Active Link Control Editor (Pal Editor) |
In my phone conversation with the president, he assured me the USB version would be out this fall. The Flight Unlimited III template will be available in a couple of weeks, and (this part was a secret), PFC is going to release a library of graphics that people can use to create their own templates. It seems PAL has a 1001 uses, games, simulators and even business applications. Equipped with the editor they provide you, and a graphics library you can create your own layout, build a download file for it, and print the template on your printer. This allows you to use the PAL box with any program you want.
It didn't take very long before I found myself very reliant on the PAL device. It was much easier for me to do those complicated controlled approaches to busy airports. With my right hand on the Yoke and my left on the PAL controls I have to say that it was a great enhancement to my flight experience. So much that I couldn't fly without one now. This device was so easy to use I created a download file for my Flights Unlimited III beta and used it with the Microsoft Flightsim template until I get the official one from PFC in a couple weeks.
PFC offers a 12 month limited warranty against product defect in materials and workmanship. They provide phone and fax numbers for return authorizations should you have any problems. They also provide technical support voice numbers, fax numbers, email and web site.
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Dan Linton
dlinton@mediaone.net
