John--A question... (Ellie ND)

[stevehookem]

Nope. Doesn't show up.

I'm pressing Shift P to get into Plan Mode.
I'm pressing f to reload the plan
I'm pressing p to toggle plan on and off.

Nothing. I thought maybe my range was too close but I see nothing happen when I try 1-7 to set range and nothing when I try + or - to increase or decrease the range. It looks the same no matter what I do.

No magenta line.

My ND.exe on the avionics computer installed here:
C:\Program Files\EllieAvionics\BoeingND and this is also where the flightplan.sbp is located.

I think something is wrong with my version of the ND.

[JBaymore]

Steve,

did you fix the "damage that the "smiley system" did to that posting?

[stevehookem]

I am in my purchases in my account and it shows my original purchase on Dec 12, 2008. It also shows v 2.2 in February but I don't recall ever getting anything new.

How do I download the latest version? There is nothing that I can click to download.

I got you email and will try those FP's out.

Steve

[stevehookem]

OK, I took the first plan: KBOS-22L-KJFK-13L-IFR.sbp and changed the name to flightplan.sbp. I placed it in my BoeingND folder that is inside the EllieSystems folder.

I put the default 737 on the end of 22L at KBOS. I pressed "P", "p", "f" many times and nothing came on. The only thing that I didn't do is load that flightplan into FSX. I am assuming that since the ND doesn't read from the game, it wouldn't know if it was there or not anyway.

Another thing I noticed is that I have wx, arpts, VOR, NDB on as well and I see nothing from those settings either.

Today I uninstalled everything and reinstalled using the ND 2.2 link in my purchases folder. I'm sure that this is the latest version.

What now?

[JBaymore]

Steve,

AHA!!!!!!!!  Bingo!  Total mystery solved, I think.

Have you installed the NAVDATA file into the Ellie ND?  The "give away" here is that CRUCIAL mention of the lack of seeing any navaids at all.  (If you say "yes" to this question, then I'm pretty much sunk.)

The ND does not know "where it is" without the navdata files being installed into it.  It is just a dumb gauge waiting for the data to know it's location.  Like a GPS receiver that does not have the maps installed.  It is just a point in space with no physical real world references.  

See the Ellie docs for how to do that.  The ND comes with a free BASIC navdata database that is located online at the Ellie site.  You have to download that database separately and install it according to the directions.  That was done so that the ND download was not HUGE.  This is a big separate download.  Remember that database is current only at the time of the original creation.  (see below)

Once you have it, install it.  Then try this all again.  Bet you'll see all the navaids, the Magenta Line, and stuff like the runway approach centerlines when tuned to an ILS, and the radials that are selected on the OBS when you are tuned to a VOR.

An IMPORTANT note here is that the Ellie ND will take current AIRAC cycles of Navdata from Navigraph.  That is a payware service but it is VERY inexpensive.  It keeps your navaids continually up to date.  Those databases are updated every couple of months and absolutely match the real world databases.  The airlines pay BIG bucks for that data.  Remember here though that the FSX internal database is out of date altready.  (I don't know if it was designed to be updated.  The fs2004 one is NOT.)  So there is the possibility that some airports and navaids that show up on the FSX GPS and other stuff are not correct any longer and will not match exactly with the Ellie ND display.  A minor annoyance for most of us........ siince this is not REAL aviation simulator training.

I hope I've figured it out for you.

best,

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

[JBaymore]

The free Ellie Navdata files for the ND are available here:

http://www.ellieavionics.com/downloads

best,

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

[JBaymore]

Steve,

Above I was forgetting that the runway center lines, the VOR radials and such only show up when you are using the Navigraph data files.   Not available wit hthe default free one.   So it is well worth using that version over the free default navdata file.

Here are the instructions for installing the Navigraph data files (from the Ellie ND Manual):

---

Integrating NAVIGRAPH vasFMC Navigation Data:


1. Install the vasFMC Navigation data. (preferably on the same computer running the Ellie ND)

2. Make note of where the Data Directory is... you will add this information to the computer's registry

For the sake of argument, let's say you installed the vasFMC data Here:

C:\vasFMC\Data

Now edit the Registry:
  (Proceed ONLY if you are comfortable with working in the registry)

The key is here:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ellie Systems\BOEING\ND\Left\ (...and Right)

In this location you will find this key: NavaidFolder

Set this key to point to wherever you installed vasFMC: Using our example above, it will be:

C:\\vasFMC\\Data (Note the DOUBLE backslashes...)

That's it!

---

[JBaymore]

Steve,

Here is the place to download the Navigraph AIRRAC updates for the Ellie ND.. It is the same one as the vasFMC:

http://www.navigraph.com/www/fmsdata.asp

The nDAC software actually is for downloading charts.


For questions about Navigraph and its services, try here:

http://forum.navigraph.com/forum/defaul ... =forum&c=2

best,

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

[stevehookem]

Just a personal note here:

John has been so completely patient with my dumb questions and I appreciate the help greatly! The ND is working perfectly now and running the latest Navigraph data. It is so freakin' cool to get out of the "virtual" cockpit and fully utilize the actual glass and controls.

Thanks for all the help!! I'll buy you dinner if you ever make it to Houston.

Steve

(pictures of our cockpit to come..)