Simviation Forums

Can anyone tell me just exactly WHY my world's compass directions get all scribledy-S&^% sometimes? IE: for some reason I can't fathom, my world will shift it's "North is this way" reference in apparently random directions and amounts. I am NOT certain but it appears related to editing .BGL files with AFCAD.EXE while the sim is running, but I'm not certain, I can't seem to isolate it....

ANY suggestions, answers, hints, clues, ANYthing will be appreciated greatly!

Thanx in adavnce...

Pat~

PhantomTweak wrote:Can anyone tell me just exactly WHY my world's compass directions get all scribledy-S&^% sometimes? IE: for some reason I can't fathom, my world will shift it's "North is this way" reference in apparently random directions and amounts. I am NOT certain but it appears related to editing .BGL files with AFCAD.EXE while the sim is running, but I'm not certain, I can't seem to isolate it....

ANY suggestions, answers, hints, clues, ANYthing will be appreciated greatly!

Thanx in adavnce...

Pat~

Well for starters I would never edit anything with FS running and BGL files can indeed effect your compass reading and to change a BGL file with FS running there is no telling the effect that might have. The problem here is that Fs will still have the old BGL file in memory and now you want to add a change to it? FS is going to get confused big time here as it will still see the old file that says north is this way and now here comes a change that says north is that way FS will go HUH

Yeah, I kinda figured, and quit doing that....only have to hit me 4-5 times over the head with a skillet before things register.... However, having said that, even quitting and reloading the sim had no effect. I had to reboot my whole computer.

Anyhow, thanx very much for the response Gary, appreciate it!

Pat~

Ok, after numerous test, I can NOT find any correlation between ANYthing I do and the random variations. I can load the sim up immediately after a cold boot, and it STILL does it. I just loaded up my default flight, an FA-18E in North Island, San Diego , California, USA after a cold boot, no other action taken, and it was nearly 180° out of phase with what it should be, and as I flew out over the ocean in a staight line, it shifted in random direction and amount at random times.

Can ANYone help me out with this, it's really getting tiresome!!

thanx in advance...

Pat~

Just a thought.... ....

On some of my aircraft (not all) I have to remember to press the "D" (Direction) key on my keyboard to get the electric compass instruments to correspond to my magnetic compass...otherwise I will be flying in the wrong direction (especially if the Autopilot is set!)!

The same goes for my Altimeter. I have to press the "B" (Barometric Pressure) on my keyboard to display the correct altitude on my Altimeter at my location.....before AND during my flight, when the atmospheric pressure is constantly changing and therefore the altimeter indication!

Both of these adjustments are required during the pre-flight check!

Get the direction AND altitude wrong and you are in serious trouble!

Paul.... ...!

Fozzer wrote:Just a thought.... ....

On some of my aircraft (not all) I have to remember to press the "D" (Direction) key on my keyboard to get the electric compass instruments to correspond to my magnetic compass...otherwise I will be flying in the wrong direction (especially if the Autopilot is set!)!

The same goes for my Altimeter. I have to press the "B" (Barometric Pressure) on my keyboard to display the correct altitude on my Altimeter at my location.....before AND during my flight, when the atmospheric pressure is constantly changing and therefore the altimeter indication!

Both of these adjustments are required during the pre-flight check!

Get the direction AND altitude wrong and you are in serious trouble!

Paul.... ...!

I have had this same problem but it only effects a few planes for some strange reason. I have found out if you slew any at all in a flight this can happen It gets confused as to where it is. If you fly with flight tips on it will tell you to press D to correct heading problem.
It has also happened while just taxing to the active runway as you makes turns the message Press D will pop up. But As I stated I have only seen this on 1 or two aircraft's I have. I can not remember which one now for the life of me.
If you do not fly with tips on I suggest you try it to see if you get this error message. You can always turn them back off when done. As for myself I leave them on just in case of crazy little thing like these. Especially when the Altimeter changes on you. You will not know about this until you check in with ATC.

I do the D and B keypresses both before and during every flight, part and parcel of all preflight , cruise and descent checklists. I add it myself if it's not included in the default checklists. Unfortunately, in this case it has no effect....I do sincerely appreciate the answers tho, guys, and I will run thru my hangar to see if it's universal or limited to certain aircraft. If it IS limited, I'll try reloading those aircraft and see what happens...

Thanx again for the thoughts, I do sincerely appreciate the help!!

I'll keep y'all appraised...

Pat~