Simviation Forums

learning flt sim 2004 gps mode. i entered an airport location on gps for ap control, yet the ap veers off to another nearby location. puzzled, maybe you can help. than ks

Do you have the Autopilot coupled to the GPS?

May I suggest printing out the 46page manual and placing the C:\Documents and Settings\Bill\My Documents\garmin500gpsmanual\Using the GPS.htm icon on your desktop.

It reads in part:
1.) Read this article.
2.) Experiment.
3.) Repeat as necessary.
You'll be an expert in no time

Have fun!

P.S. Further suggesteed reading from Using The GPS:

"The Nav/GPS Switch
Flight Simulator aircraft featuring the GPS 500 (as well as the Bell 206B JetRanger III and the Extra 300S) have a Nav/GPS switch on the instrument panel:

When the switch is in the Nav position, the aircraft's VOR 1 indicator (or HSI) and autopilot/flight director use data from the Nav 1 radio.
When the switch is in the GPS position, the aircraft's VOR 1 indicator (or HSI) and autopilot/flight director use data from the GPS receiver.
Note: To couple the GPS to the Nav 1 receiver (or HSI) and/or to the autopilot/flight director in order to follow the course in the GPS, set the Nav/GPS switch to GPS. Note that the GPS only provides lateral guidance to the Nav 1 indicator (or HSI) and the autopilot/flight director. You cannot fly an ILS or land automatically using the GPS as the sole source of navigational data."

1.) Read this article.
2.) Experiment.
3.) Repeat as necessary.
4.) Have fun . . .

Awwwwww wji... you take all the fun out of it!  ;)

Seriously... it is amazing how often we overlook the resources that are right at our fingertips.  I don;t know how many times I have asked questions on a forum that are right in the docs that come with the program.  :-[

Norco1..... spend some time playing with it (you can't kill yourself in the sim)... and you'll figure it all out.  the GPS has a a LOT of sweet features once you understand them all.... like GPS approaches.

best,

................john

flying cessna 172 .  can u elaborate on the 'coupling' system?  
i'm using the gps button and entering  a nearest  airport location, then activating  ap and apr.  the nav heading is unchanged but different than gps heading as entered. ap does swing to almost the entered airport but (as mentioned) flys to one nearby.

norco1,

On the main instrument panel there is a switch...... it has two positions NAV and GPS.

thanks john. u cleared alot of stuff up for me. i'm ready for takeoff.

Good to hear you got your GPS mojo workin'

FS9's Using the GPS explains it pretty clearly:

"Flight Simulator aircraft featuring the GPS 500 (as well as the Bell 206B JetRanger III and the Extra 300S) have a Nav/GPS switch on the instrument panel:

When the switch is in the Nav position, the aircraft's VOR 1 indicator (or HSI) and autopilot/flight director use data from the Nav 1 radio.

When the switch is in the GPS position, the aircraft's VOR 1 indicator (or HSI) and autopilot/flight director use data from the GPS receiver.

Note: To couple the GPS to the Nav 1 receiver (or HSI) and/or to the autopilot/flight director in order to follow the course in the GPS, set the Nav/GPS switch to GPS. Note that the GPS only provides lateral guidance to the Nav 1 indicator (or HSI) and the autopilot/flight director. You cannot fly an ILS or land automatically using the GPS as the sole source of navigational data."

Gee, couldn't have said it better myself :-)