Cas141

Well, I’ve think I’ve succeeded. 

Since your last post , I have downloaded the DC 4 …”FSX Douglas DC-4 and C-54 V3.0".

from Avsim, and using this version I have got the DME as you have.

I amended the panel config as you said, and put the Tripacer cab file in the panel folder.

( Note- the cab file I put in as was, I did not put in the files of the cab file as extracted separate files. That may, or may not be relevant)

I concluded from this that it only works with the above version of the many downloads that Jens has done of the DC4.

I have also noted that the DME only works with the VOR 1 of the DC4, and not with the VOR 2.

 This is on my laptop running Windows 7. I have yet to try it on my main FSX set up on my XP desktop.

On 8/3/2023 at 9:52 PM, jgf said:

It should have appeared on the main panel just above the rpm1 gauge.   If you have

 

[Vcockpit01]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=512,512
visible=1
pixel_size=1024,1024
texture=$pan1

gauge00=douglas_dc4!manifold_12,  20,137,118,118
gauge01=douglas_dc4!manifold_34,  138,137,118,118
gauge02=douglas_dc4!rpm12,  256,137,118,118
gauge03=douglas_dc4!rpm34,  374,137,118,118
gauge04=douglas_dc4!fuel_pressure_12,  20,255,118,118
gauge05=douglas_dc4!fuel_pressure_34,  138,255,118,118
gauge06=douglas_dc4!oil_pressure_12,  256,255,118,118
gauge07=douglas_dc4!oil_pressure_34,  374,255,118,118
gauge08=douglas_dc4!flaps_indicator,  383,377,92,92
gauge09=douglas_dc4!radio_compass,  20,19,118,118
gauge10=douglas_dc4!PropSync,  404,34,81,81
gauge11=douglas_dc4!OMI Lights C54G,  138,19,118,118
gauge12=douglas_dc4!LightInTrans,  73,391,23,23
gauge13=douglas_dc4!LightsGear,  40,421,86,27
gauge14=douglas_dc4!annunciator_oil_left,  183,  399 ,20,26
gauge15=douglas_dc4!annunciator_oil_right,  182,432,20,26
gauge16=Tripacer_DME!DME,  260,25,133,54

 

and the Tripacer cab file in either the gauges folder or the airplane's panel folder it should display.

hi.

my panel config is as above.

the files in the Tripacer zip are in the gauges folder.

In my sim objects/airplanes folder are two folders relating to the DC 4.

1. JBK DC4 Panel and Docs V3

2. JBK Douglas DC-4 V3.

In the panel folder of #2 it says the config is aliased  to the panel of #1.

the panel config is in the panel folder of #1.

I still have no DME shown in the  V cockpit.

I am at a loss as to why , I have found that any amendments to fsx have worked in this laptop running Windows 7.

Thanks for your help but could there be a requirement to do something in the panel config file at the beginning under Windows Titles or Views.?

is the version of the JBK Im using, I.e      JBK Douglas DC-4 V3.     be the right one ?

I did say earlier, in error, that I was using V30x.

Could that be relevant?
 

cheers

On 8/2/2023 at 6:20 PM, jgf said:

CalClassic recommended the DME from Shupe's D18S, which I had, so hope there's no issue with attaching it here;  extract it and place in the gauges folder or in the panel folder of the DC-4. 

 

Add the following line to the end of the "[Vcockpit01]" section of panel.cfg:

 

gauge16=Tripacer_DME!DME,  260,25,133,54

 

This places it in the top center of the panel just below the lamps.

 

 

Tripacer_DME.zip 24.97 kB · 1 download

Thanks for this but I haven’t managed to get it to work .

I extracted everything to the panel folder and inserted the line in the panel config as instructed but nothing showed.

So I tried putting the line at the end of the Vcockpit 5? Which pertained to the overhead panel ( in view of where you said it would appear, I.e. under the lamps by which I took to  be the landing lights?), but it didn’t work there either.

The FsX I tried it on was on my laptop using Windows 7 - Could that be the reason?, shouldn’t have thought so, but you never know.

my main sim computer uses fsx on windows XP, and I try any amendments on the laptop first.

oh, and I first tried by putting the extracted stuff in the gauges folder.

Anyway, much thanks for trying. I expect it is my lack of computer skills somewhere but I do very much appreciate your efforts to help me. 

 

Thanks jgf, for your offer of help. I am no good with links. I’m flying the fsx DC 4 by Jens Kristensen v30x.

I have also downloaded the plane you refer to as having the DME gauge but installation into fsx ( It’s an fs2004 plane) refers me to a set of instructions presumably found on cal classic site, but there being no search facility  God knows how I find them.

I’d have thought a paragraph describing what to do would be ok , but no, I’m referred to a hard to find article.

oh, well  …..

thanks again

I have this brilliant aircraft which I fly a lot.

Makes a lovely change from my fmc jet airliners and Garmin G.A planes.

I always use VCs and good as the one in the DC 4 is, I do wonder if it is missing a DME gauge.  ?

Navigating an approach using VOR frequencies and a stopwatch does concentrate the mind, but I would have thought that DME would have been available in the cockpit.

( I have tried to follow the instructions in the CalClassic link about editing the panel cog to bring one in, but it hasn’t worked for me)

Is there a way version of Jens plane somewhere that might have a DME gauge? Or has anyone managed to get one into the VC somehow?

Can anyone assist please?

Thank you , Kalisz I.

I think I have cured the problem

every day since my last post I have flown everything from Mooney Bravo to Airbus and I have not had one reset or shut down.

What I think did the trick was the dehumidifier blowing cold air at the input fan , that I purchased, throughout the computers usage.

seems to have done the trick . Small and cheap, but it works!

thanks to everyone for their inputs .

9 hours ago, kalizzi said:

The first symptom of a broken capacitor would be a dead motherboard. Wouldn’t go past the POST test. These are visibly easy to spot, looking bloated and oversized. And like Jorgen pointed out you can’t replace these easily yourself. Is your computer case small or overcrowded? 

I’m not going to worry about trying to correct iffy capacitors, but I did wonder about them.Stuff on the internet did suggest my symptoms  could be iffy caps. ( I don’t think an iffy capacitor necessarily means a dead MB, from what I’ve read)

I don’t think that is the reason, but if it were then I wouldn’t mess any further with the computer.

 I’m now encouraged that it is a heat problem. As I’ve said, the computer case - a large one- has been opened and cleaned with small air compressor . The case used to be on the floor but is now on a stand. Also, I now have a fan blowing cold air into the front intake all the time.
When  I start the computer I let it run a while before starting FSX  etc

( At no time when using the computer just for files etc, I.e. not flight sims , has the computer stopped!)

Since the above actions, I had a trouble free flight all morning - hurrah- so, fingers crossed, I might have gone in the right direction,.

Watch this space

Thanks for all your inputs.

18 hours ago, kalizzi said:

A lot of the people who replied to your post have said solid things. The shutting down of processes will not do much good and it isn't practical either. In my humble opinion your computer will benefit from a good, thorough dust off, using an air blower. reseat your cards and memory chips after cleaning the contact pins with a rubber eraser. and finally if you are conversed enough, take off the heat-sinks including the CPU and GPUs clean up the old thermal paste scraping then with alcohol and apply fresh high quality paste then reseat the heatsinks and fans. make sure nothing is blocking the ventilation of your case or is obstructing the thermodynamic flow of cool air.  Additional fans won't go amiss or heck even using a larger, more spacious case like a full tower (you don't need to take out a mortgage to buy one, try eBay for pre owned, these last an eternity).  Good luck hope my two cents' worth helps.

Thanks …..

Yes, I have  gone some way to alleviate the effects of heat. Opened up the case and blown away dust with air compressor; resting case off the floor now; got a cold air blower at the front intake. And ordered some thermal paste.

however, it has been pointed out to me that broken capacitors give the symptoms I have  been experiencing . Shall have to have a good butchers re. that.

Funnily, yesterday, I had the computer on doing some looking at files etc, no flight simming etc, and it behaved. I then went on to have a good flight sim session with no lock ups!
Almost as if the computer needed some time to settle before really tasking it.?.

is that wishful thinking, or pure hope, or could that be relevant for some reason

( connection warming up?)

ftldave….point taken, but a new computer would throw up its own problems re loading and running fsx and peripherals etc etc….. but, it might come to that…last resort.

Well, still got issues. It looks like I will have to replace the thermal paste.

I am somewhat apprehensive about this , but I should be all right if there aren’t any unexpected hitches.

first, this replacement is a long time coming, so from what I’ve just read on YouTube the paste could be solid!?
Someone said to run the computer for a few mins before doing the paste change because the heat will make it easier to remove the old paste.?? Good idea, or not.?
 

looking at worst case scenario, I.e a new computer. I would want to run the FSX install that I presently  have on my computer.  As well as going to the dark side, I.e. MS2020

( I would have SSD drives  etc and no doubt get MS2020, or 2024 to run on it, but I’d like somewhere on it , to have this old FSX install.)

I know I’m getting a bit head of myself, but if it comes to a new computer, and I install FSX from my discs, I know there is advice about how to get it to run properly on Windows 11 etc.

my question is, once I get FSX running , is it possible to then replace the FSX folder with a copy of the FSX folder I have on my present computer (if I make a backup of my present FSX folder, before I give up on it.)

IOW, would that give me the same scenery, planes, config file, etc , as I presently have.

Or is that not possible because of the different Windows O.S.

And if that’s the case, could I download Steam FSX, and do it that way?

I may  be way out with my thinking here, but if I don’t ask I won’t know

I think I have (am) experienced a similar problem. I tried to put a DME gauge in the JBK DC4 VC. I followed a procedure I was referred to in Calclassic forum.

I found that no changes seemed to be shown.

The only thing I could think,of was that this was all originally for FS9.

So, like everyone else, I cannot get. DME gauge in Jen’s DC 4. 
Such a shame he didn’t model it. Surely the actual plane had a DME.

If anyone has an answer as to how to get one, I’d be obliged.

Thanks chaps. I should have added that as a result if the first shutdowns I cleaned the inside of the computer with compressed air. 
It is an oldish computer ,:I.e made when XP was preferred to ME

And, Jorgen, yes, it is on the floor. Thought that’s where the colder air was, but yes, I take your point re the dust.

Loki, take your point re the thermal paste. Though twenty years ago I built a computer, now I’m at the wrong side of 70, I’m not sure of delving into the bowels that far now

( think that will be a last resort.)

Inuss….that’s an idea re the small fan. I have a large humidifier elsewhere in the house which puts out cool air, but it would be too high methinks.?   Will look to see if small humidifiers exist.

Thanks  again.

Hi, 

lately when running FSX the computer has intermittently stopped as if overheating. If I restart I seem to get away with it not happening again.

It got bad a while back, with frequent lock ups,  and I finished up going into the bios and loading optimised defaults. Things seemed cured ,immediately, however there have been a couple of freezes since, but some days I have no problem.

I am still hopeful that this is an overheat problem ,now almost non existent and , if it is, I am mindful that stopping some Processes which load automatically on booting the computer, may help.

My computer runs at 2.93.  It runs Windows XP.

It now is only used for FSX and Over Flanders Field flight sims.

Trackir 4 and Flightsim Commander run too.

settings limit fps to 30.

It is not now connected physically to the Internet.Hasn’t been for a couple of years.

it had been overclocked mildly for some while , but then this problem started about a month ago.— Warm Summer,? Upstairs room.?

The “optimised load defaults” bios  move clearly changed that, and things dramatically improved. In fact, I thought the problem was gone, but a couple of times it has come back. Last time was when flying David Maltby’s Comet 4b using VC…….. a very detailed cockpit.

So, maybe a heavy demand on the cpu.

Anyway, if it is heavy use of the cpu plus heat, I was thinking of reducing the number of Processes which start at boot up and which run in the background, a lot of which are not used and just use up resources. 
Years ago I remember a site called Black Viper,

(Black Viper’s Windows XP x86 (32-bit) Service Configurations)? in which it was shown which of these processes should/could be stopped from loading.

I think the idea is that it frees up more of the cpu for FSX ( or other games) to use.

Has anyone any experience of this and whether it is beneficial or otherwise to try it.?

19 hours ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

 

 

And Cas, since you didn't answer my question concerning specific peripheral you may have, I can only suggest that you go to the manufacture's website (CH Products, ThrustMaster, Logitech, etc) and see if they say anything about Windows 11 compatibility.

 

 

Hi Phrog.

Thought my 12.45pm post where I listed my peripherals might assist. I think my Cougar HOTAS might work in windows mode, but the Foxy programming of it  I’m pretty sure won’t.

I have TRACKIR 4-   Vital for me, I use only VC cockpit views. Seen a couple of requests re whether it works  in windows 11 but can’t see a definite conclusion whether it would work flawlessly, as it does in XP

F.S. Commander and F.S Recorder versions I have work brilliantly in XP. I’ve got a strong  idea they would struggle.

It boils down to this for me, (and this is only what I’ve been trying to say)

Replace the graphics of FSX in my set up, with the graphics of MS2020 or 2024, and everything else stays as is……. then I’d buy it , and a top line computer to run it,in a heartbeat.!

But of course that isn’t guaranteed, so hence doing it isn’t worth the hassle.

I’m glad that many have achieved more or less that, from what I’ve seen on some YouTube videos, and  that others enjoy it in varying ways.

I’m grateful for my FSX setup. But,  don’t want to risk it.

Cheers

Well, I am willing to answer and ask further re Phrogs points, (because I haven’t  seen anything assuring me that all hardware needing and using drivers for Windows  XP will work with Windows 11.) and   obviously such a discussion is not wanted here by you.

Though it does seem pertinent to some who may be contemplating buying MS2024 , whether” old” hardware will work with its required Windows OS, do you not think?

so, Loki, tell us where to write and those that wish to , can go there .

4 hours ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

Although I do not have MSFS(2020), I follow these threads very closely as part of my decision to purchase a newer version.

May I ask specifically which control input peripherals (make/model) do not work? I have seen very little negative comments on this being an issue.

This is just for my edification and consideration with my peripherals and a possible version 2020/2024 upgrade.

Thank you.

Hi- Phrog. If your question is asked of me, I don’t know which of my peripherals don’t work on a Windows  11 computer. I  suspect those of mine (which supported Windows XP) may not work, thus it’s too much of a hassle ( and expense ) to find out

12 hours ago, Nels_Anderson said:

 

 

It's kind of sad that your need for "state of the art" controls is preventing you from enjoying the latest sim with a simpler setup, like many of the rest of us do.

It’s not a question of it being “sad”, Nels.  From what I have seen, the graphics, eye candy , on 2020( and now no doubt on 2024) are outstanding. But ,those (state of the art, as they were then) peripherals are what I’ve got and I’d lose a lot of enjoyment to be on 2020 with another joystick, and my present ones laying idle- just for the sake of the graphics.

some say the navigation abilities are not up to FSX, I don’t know, and that if the graphics in FSX were up to 2020 standard, then FSX would win hands down.?

Dunno…..but as I originally said, for me it is not worth the hassle. 

If I was rich I would have one room with my FSX ,and in another I’d have a 2020 setup, and delight in both, but like most, I can only have one practically speaking.

( now where’s that lottery ticket..?)

7 hours ago, chicagorandy said:

To keep this 2024 topic on topic, I have many of the previously mentioned 'enhancement' hardware items, and yes they DO increase the feeling of immersion in the sim flights plus they really are not PC hardware critical components. I have no worries about being able to use them with the 2024 sim, IF 2024 doesn't prove to require me to buy a new PC. That will determine whether or not I stay with 2020 or move on up.

 

But hey - enjoy sim flight at whatever level your desires and budget allow with whatever sim software you like. It's all good and it's great that we have so many solid options to fly the friendly sim skies.

22 hours ago, Nels_Anderson said:

 

That simply is not true. There are people who actually fly the sim with nothing more than their keyboard. I do most of my flying with nothing more than a joystick that I bought second-hand for $15.

 

There's lots of gear that you can add, but it's entirely optional and you can have plenty of fun without it.

 I’m not really at odds with the views which say you can enjoy a flight sim with whatever hardware you use.  (I do think that flying with keyboard only or a simple joystick is limiting on trying to create the illusion of being in a cockpit, however)

But what I was  picked up on was  this, which I now see can be read two ways

18 hours ago, loki said:

For me, the new sims require so much new gear, joystick, tracker, old peripherals etc, it just ain’t worth the hassle.

1.“ New sims require so much new gear, “etc.  Just that bald statement.    That wasn’t what I meant ,but I can see how it was understood . No, had I  been more comprehensive , it’s not the sim that requires the new peripherals, it’s the OS that the sim requires, that the peripherals won’t probably work with.

2..  What I meant needed the”  For me… “. bit, inasmuch that new sims need a much more powerful computer with modern Windows O Ss. That’s what I ain’t got.

Im running FSX on Windows XP, , and I very much doubt my peripherals created for XP, —Cougar HOTAS, TRACKIR 4, Spitsim joystick and rudder pedals, FS. Commander, Fs recorder, -would been able to work on these new O.Ss. . Only way I would find out means buying the computer…and then they might not work…and , all in all, it isn’t worth the hassle , for me.

7 hours ago, Nels_Anderson said:

 

That simply is not true. There are people who actually fly the sim with nothing more than their keyboard. I do most of my flying with nothing more than a joystick that I bought second-hand for $15.

 

There's lots of gear that you can add, but it's entirely optional and you can have plenty of fun without it.

I’m sorry, of course it’s true….for most people. When I got  my peripherals I didn’t get some simple joystick, (or decide to just use the keyboard . How does someone fly a VC, looking around as if being there, and clicking on many of the switches etc as a real,pilot would , when you fly keyboard,,,,!,.?).

your choice, of course, how you fly, but you and I fly completely differently . And most serious flight simmers , I bet, fly more like me, than like you.  

my peripherals were/are state of the art, and it happens they will not work with modern Windows numbers. Some say they might, but I’m not buying a new top computer to maybe then find they don’t . Hence the “not worth the hassle”

It’s the way it is…. a MS reality.

Well, only found out yesterday about this new flightsim. I’m finding it interesting,though it is academic for me.

I'm still on FSX. Really enjoying it. My mate got 2020 and is a bit lost. We are a couple of old codgers so,” Old dog, new tricks “

For me, the new sims require so much new gear, joystick, tracker, old peripherals etc, it just ain’t worth the hassle. And, I fly offline, not even connected to the Web on that computer…..so FSX is the best option, I think.

In fact, some say that FSX is best re proper navigation as opposed to the later sim being for eye candy, but whatever…

Hope you chaps that get 2024 really enjoy it. I’ll look forward to the videos.

Further re using the  Honeywell. I now seem to have got it as good as I can.

I can start off with an IFR flight plan loaded into FSX. Then I programme the Honeywell with cruise height as in the F Plan.

when I take off using IFR, the ATC instructions when followed eventually get to marry up with the Honeywell route.

However, if I follow the ATC instructions right through to the landing , the Honeywell and ATC don’t keep in sync ( if I can put it like that.)

So, what I do is follow the Honeywell cruise legs, and during those, I leave the ATC IFR .

and go to “flight following”

As the Honeywell route is continued to be followed, I get to around 30 miles from the destination and then, using the ATC menu, I ask for the nearest airfield list to come up. In that list I find the destination airport and ask it for permission for full stop landing.

I get permission and I’m given instructions on which runway to land .

Then, back to the Honeywell , I press the Arr button and , selecting the appropriate runway button, I press the Vectors or approach button, and then # activate it.

Going back to the Legs pages, you will see one or two legs have been  added since the original flight plan was made.

These last two pages are the STARS , and the “caret” shows to which waypoint the plane is now headed. (This caret moved from the original pages when the # activate button was pressed )

The map then shows the progress towards lining up on the runway……

When on the last leg, I change from GPS to Nav, then press APR to then go down the glide slope.

Hope that helps those who are not familiar with this FMC, and apologies to those to whom this is telling them how to suck eggs

2 hours ago, airernie said:

 

No comparison to the PMDG or iFly 737, both of which are much closer to study level 737s.  

 

While the documents folder contains a manual for a Universal FMC, the B737-200C was apparently modeled without the FMS and uses the standard FSX GPS.  You can add a weather panel, but that's about it.

thank you

On 3/4/2023 at 1:14 PM, xtc said:

I got the 737 and saved the configuration as powered up and ready to go but it seems cold and dark. Not a deal breaker so I'll have to learn how to start it up. Amazing to get such detail for free!

Hello, does it have a working FMC , and does anyone know how it. Ompares withbthe PMDG. ( which is now not available, it seems)

Someone else did a ‘study’ 737 , was it I Fly or something.?

Initial google search draws a blank

Hi, Phrog. Glad you like it, and from a selfish POV, I’m glad you are using it,.

im fine with programming airfield to airfield,say, KPHIL TO KORD.

on the ACT RTE leg the last thing I see is KORD.

Now, if I press the ArrDep button I can choose an arrival runway and then from that, an approach. 
I can load or activate. But that just adds further pages , it doesn’t ’Insert’ these approach pages before KORD, ( as my logic would expect )

What seems to happen, recently discovered , is that as I fly the plan and when I get to fly the last leg towards KORD, it is then that I can activate the ARRivals pages, and the aircraft responds. I think that’s how I did it, need to try a few more flights to see it wasn’t just a fluke,!

Thinking about it, it seems logical to me in that flying VFR I ask KORD for permission to land . They then direct me as to which runway to use, so I then choose the right one on the ARRivals buttons. 

(If I chose beforehand before take off, then that may be the wrong runway when I get there!  - wind change)

I tried using this Honeywell on IFR flight plan in FSX but they don’t seem to be in sync?

Surely, in RL they should/would be ?
of course, I’m probably not programming it right, but I do believe as an FMC it is reported to have its limitations.

I’ll be very interested in your verdict on it.

cheers

Thanks for the YouTube vid Phrog, actually it is the one I refer to in my Feb 25 th 

post. Didn’t find it helpful. I know English isn’t his first language but even so, he doesn’t show you how to do something so well. He gets an arrival chosen, clicks on ‘activate’ and then doesn’t conclude how it finalises, to then show you the pages and how the arrivals is placed within those pages.

oh well, will plug on

cheers

10 minutes ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

Excellent explanation in the preceding Larry.

 

One thing I take away from reading this thread and other similar forum threads with questions regarding system usage, is that for many of the non RL pilots there is a lack of understanding of the overall ATC system (airspace, rules, procedures), not enough basic hands-on flying (stick and rudder), and an overdependence on the autopilot. Add to this the desire to fly the biggest and most sophisticated aircraft and it is a recipe for confusion.

 

Might I offer some advice, as I did to my students when I was instructing, 1) learn to hands-on  FLY first (keep it simple, C-150, C-172, PA-28, etc). 2) learn the basics of flying by reference to instruments (round gauges, low alt. routing, VORs, ILS), then 3) flying with GPS (approaches, EFIS, MFD, high-alt routing, SIDs, STARs,). 

 

A solid understanding of the basics along the way will allow for a better understanding and appreciation of the next step.

Hi, Phrog,

Whilst what you say is correct, completely so if I were trying to be a real life pilot, perhaps you could give a little slack in that , a) these sims are meant to be fun , b) some of us haven’t got the time left to go the long route so thoroughly-( wrong side of eighty). And finally, I’ve flown reasonably well the Cessna using VORS, through the DC4 Sperry and I’ve got my head round the Mooney glass cockpit.

Just having a go at the airliners ( they do sound so good),and so would like to make a reasonable go at STARS in FSX.

Only place I can learn about the flightsim  SIDS and STARS is on forums like this

I appreciate that the ATC isn’t like the real thing unless I go all out re VATSIM etc.

But all I’m asking  for really is a little education re the flight sim and especially the Honeywell FMC , of which I’ve managed about 70% of its capabilities , I think.