Review; VRinsight M Panel
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:33 pmI have now spent a couple of hours using it. The first thing that I noticed was each time I went to push a button with one hand I was holding onto the M Panel with the other. Completely unnecessary and I had to force myself not to do it. I have been so used to computer add ons that have no substance to them when they are in the hand. The M Panel is all steel and weighs accordingly, it also has four very good rubber feet. There is enough weight and friction for it to sit on a desk or on top of a yoke without it moving a millimeter when used. The second thing that I noticed was build quality. As I said, for me it is better than GoFlight. I have always had the feeling that GoFlight was designed in the 70's and production had remained in the 80's. For example GoFlight uses LED displays for number and letter indication, VRinsight us LCD, a completely different feel to it. The third thing I noticed was how totally rubbish the instruction manual was. This was a surprise because I fully expected to tear my hair out trying to set it up, not trying to find out how it worked, but that was not the case. It comes with a DVD that is self starting and very confusing, giving you several things that could/should/if you want to be done. It took a complete folder by folder search of the DVD to find the user manual (turned out to be worse than useless too) The start of it is OK. Install the drivers, install the USB plug in, connect the M Panel, start the interface program, start FSX, click on aircraft load in the interface program and away you go. It all lit up and acted as the first part of the instructions said it would. So I set up a flight and tried it out. This is where VRinsight let themselves down. Up to this point it was all simple and very easy. The first part of the user manual dealt with the radio mode. All very easy to follow and it worked first time out. The second part was about MPC heading, speed, alt etc. Now this took a bit of working out. One part of the manual is completely wrong in telling you how to do things. Only because I do not accept defeat that I persevered and found the error was in the manual and not in the panel that it did not get packed up ready to be returned as non functioning. The third part of the user manual covers the the autopilot. Well the pictures are very nice and in full colour, but that is about it. I got the feeling that the author of the manual got bored and decided that a couple of pictures would do. Again, it was trial and error to work it all out. Once that was clear, it was a quick IFR flight in the default 737-800. All the inputs are easy and clear, though it does take a few goes to get the switching for each level, autopilot, MCP and radios into you head. Although the same switching is used, it not the same sequence in each level but not having a clear manual was the main problem here. All in all entering Heading, alt, speed, VS, squawk and frequencies was a real joy in comparison to holding the mouse over a knob in the virtual cockpit and click, click, click etc etc. The M Panel also has switches for gear and flaps and although not shaped as you would expect (just toggle switches) they are substantial in feel and response. They give a solid click and feel like they will last a long time. The M Panel also has the ability to control trim too, but I have one of the rocker switches on my Siatek yoke programmed for that so I did not bother to use it. All in all I am very pleased with my purchase. At
