JSACKS

I am ready to pull the trigger on a hefty new rig for the first time in 11 years that includes a ton of flying the PMDG 747-400 in FS2004. However, before I do so, I want to check, is the PMDG 747-400 V2 that was in Alpha state in November going to be compatible with P3D V3.0 when it is released? I can't imagine a sim life without the 747 so wanted to ask here. Appreciate any replies, many thanks. Jonathan Sacks McLean, VA

I fly FS9 with REX and a lot of PMDG and other commercial add ons on a 42" LG LED. It is fantastic with very high quality and excellent visual performance. I have a 24" DELL LCD for moving maps and gauges, etc. I used Triplehead2go with 3 LCDs for several years--a 24" center and 21" side monitors--and that was great. I do miss the fuller peripheral vision from triple LCDs, but I became frustrated with the limited vertical height of the screens physically, so I decided to switch to one large LED screen. I love the bigger cleaner single screen with its large vertical height, and I use my hat swiitch for peripheral vision, but it's still not the same as triple monitors. I am thinking about possibly getting a 55" LED now although a better thing to do would probably be 3x32" LEDs. The trouble is you need a lot of space for that kind of set up and then a lot more PC and video horsepower! JS

Thanks, Robin, I appreciate your post. I actually ran the DBC as the first order of the day in trying to fix this because I wondered whether all the airports had dropped out magically (I mean, it is FS!). But it didn't make a difference. I did have a feeling that it might be one of the little FSNav sidebar icons, so it's interesting I didn't look more closely at the time and check every single one. JS

I am flying the default FS2004 Beechcraft Baron with the autopilot active. My current IAS at 14,000 feet is 158, but the speed displayed in the DMA Nav panel reads 190 knots. Is that my current Groundspeed (GS) in knots? I appreciate any posts, thanks. JS

Hooray! That worked, yay! Thank you. You know, when I was with my friend, it occurred to me to look down the list of icons, but after having a superficial glance, I thought to myself, Nah! this can't be right. This is a good example of overlooking the blindingly obvious and it makes me wonder how often it's done in real life with fatal results. Next time, I shall go with my gut and look more carefully. Thanks again, phew! JS

I have an old friend who started using his FSNavigator 4.7 in FS2004 for the first time in about 3 years. This evening we found that when we bring up FSNavigator within the sim, no airports or runways are displayed on the FSNavigator moving map. We are totally baffled by this. My friend says that last time he used FSnav some years ago, all airports and runways showed up normally. He showed me a screenshot from back then and sure enough there were the airports and runways. I ran FSNav DBC to see whether this would make a difference. It didn't do anything at all. So as of now, my friend has all waypoints, nav aids, and ILS's displayed within FSNav, but absolutely no airports, runways, taxiways, parking spots, etc. Can anybody assist with this bizarre matter? Thanks for any posts! JS

I echo the relief, thanks, and gratitude of others in this thread. Thank you, Tom, and all AVSIM staff ! Jonathan .

Hmm, this isn't going too well. I tried MipMap Manager three times and no diff; still have blurred text in VC mode, especially overhead panel labels with night lighting. I am not sure how to use DXTbmp; the HELP section isn't much use to somebody like me who's got no experience doing bmp work. Any further guidance appreciated, thanks. JS

Mike, Thanks for your helpful reply. Much appreciated. Johan: Thanks for posting. I never migrated to FSX. It was always too much work to contemplate! I still dream of a new rig and migrating, but will probably never get around to it. My FS9 setup is better than ever with a 42" LED for the sim and a 24" LCD for FSNavigator and instruments. Cheers to you both! JS

Excuse my ignorance and lateness to this topic, but I just discovered it and downloaded and installed the replacement VC textures successfully. They look very nice. However, I would like to know how to remove the mipmaps to reduce the blurriness and also how to re-save the textures in DXT3 format as well. Can anybody kindly assist? Many Thanks! (p.s. greetings to you, Johan. Hope you're doing well after all these years!) JS

Thanks to all for replies. Much appreciated! JS

I am about to start making the transition from FS9 to FSX (yes, I know I am 7 years late!) and this week will be ordering a new super-rig to upgrade my virtual life. I've been flying PMDG in FS9 for years and recall that the sequence of installation of their Boeing jets was important. I want to ask, when I get my new rig, will I have to instal the PMDG Boeing fleet in any particular sequence? Or can I go ahead and just buy the 747-400X first, for example, or maybe the new 777 when it is released? Or do I need to instal the NGX as the "base" model for all subsequent PMDG Boeing jets? I appreciate any reply with guidance, thanks. Jonathan Sacks

Excellent piece of writing. Conveys a vivid view and a sense of immediacy that videos do not provide. Verily is the pen mightier than reality. Thank you and well done. I wrote a piece in a similar vein when I attended the AVSIM Denver fest in 2004 and about two hundred of us were unleashed on UNITED's training simulators at Stapleton for a long weekend. As I read through your article, I recalled Denver and was able to see and feel your excitement and sense of virtual destiny in rotating the mighty PMDG T-7 for the very first time! I guess I really do have to order that new rig from Jetline Systems now. JS

My two eyes are approximately 54" away from the 42" LED screen. I measured very carefully and went to check out a huge range of LED ascreens at Best Buy. They must have thought I was a madman because I had a 10 foot measuring tape and spent 2.5 hours standing and measuring many different screens. I was tempted to get a 55" monitor but 54" is too close. 54" works very well for me. I have a huge flat office desk and the LED sits at the very back of it, just ahead of the structural wall. I get an additional 15-18" of distance thanks to my CH Yoke which is screwed into the desk. I had also thought about getting 27",30", and 32" LEDs in Triplehead format, but it was too difficult to fit. You need to be careful with size and distance. Sorry for late reply, hope this helps.

I just got a new ultrathin LG 42" LED TV for FS2004, swapping out my triple DELL LCD display with TH2G. It's lovely to put a 747 on this big screen in spot mode and see everything all at once on a larger scale and with no bezels. And the vertical height of the monitor is great too. Takeoffs are more realistic with much bigger runway views and the resolution is tolerable. Colors are vibrant and very realistic. EWith Flight Environment, the skyscapes are sensational and totally realistic, especially the clouds. I think FS runs smoother as well on just the single monitor than the triple setup, but am still trying to validate this. However, in doing this, I've had to give up peripheral vision and it's a major give up. I did an approach to Kai Tak in the PSS 777 and could see the PAPI until nearly at the checkerboard and then when I turned, I lost the runway view and the PAPI on the screen. It's like being blind in one eye after 6 years of peripheral vision. I thought about resurrecting Track IR5 but frankly it never really worked that well for me over the years although recently I was told that this is probably due to light reflection somewhere in my sim room. I may stick with this bigger screen. Not yet sure. Still experimenting. Thought I'd post for the benefit of others considering a similar migration. JS