Fitting GPS

[sammach]

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to fit a GPS display into an aircraft panel, I have done this FS2004 by copy and paste from an aircraft cfg to another I have tried it on the Flight 1 simulation Level D 767 panel, the GPS was listed put i did not have a display.
                                                                    Is the set up different in SFX, the panel cfg seems to be similar, but I do not seem to be able to do the same procedure as in FS2004.
                                                                 I learn`t the procedure for FS2004 from Simviation Forum, I would be grateful to anyone with SFX experience for advice.

[FlightHound]

You'll probably get more help in the
Scenery & Panel Design Forum.

[reider]

I can get you a pop up GPS in the Level D 767 but the it is for viewing purposes only.  The aircraft has not been set up and configured for GPS control as per the other aircraft in FSX.  If your intention was to fly it this way then you`re out of luck.  You really need to register with the Level D forum, read the tech help in there and learn how to properly fly the aircraft from the manuals/tutorials.  Joining the forum is open to all who legally purchased the aircraft.

If on the other hand you want a visual GPS so you can see where the plane is at any given moment I can do this quite easily.  You will not, I repeat will not be able to make this work like the GPS in other planes.  This aircraft is operated by the FMC (CDU) only, not the GPS unit.

Reider

[sammach]

Thanks to all for your input and yes reider i am aware of the fact that the GPS would not work in the Level D 767 as in other aircraft, I mainly want the option of another aid for navigation in foul weather,  i am not an expert in navigation I have successfully flown the level D but I have my own way of doing things, it is avery complicated programme setting up the FMC, I admit I have not got my head round it , I learn as i go along .
                                    I would be grateful to any help you could offer and to see the difference in installing GPS in FSX.

[reider]

You need to make a copy of the original panel file before you start!  If its a standard install in the default locations the file you want will be in this path:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\LVLD_B763\Panel

The file is the panel.cfg

Open it with Notepad and straightaway you will see a menu that follows this structure.....

[Window Titles]
window00=blah blah blah
window01=blah blah blah
window02=blah blah blah
window03=blah blah blah
window04=blah blah blah
window05=blah blah blah
window06=more blah blah blah
window07=alternative blah blah blah
window08=completely different blah blah blah
window09=even more blah blah blah
window10=might be the last blah blah blah


You may find the last Window=10 or some other figure, your next instruction that you add must increment this number by 1, do not skip a number as this is important.  So if it is 10 you add:

Window11=GPS

If your last one is 11 then the GPS one will be 12.......  Now whatever this number is you need to record or remember it, because the next bit has to match that number.  Look through the rest of the document and you will see several sections starting like this:

[Window00]

All of each section are called by that first menu where you added the GPS.  When you find [Window10] all of that section up to just before it starts the [VCockpit] parts is for Window10.  So in the gap at the end of the section, before the VCockpit starts you paste in the following so its the last Window section just like [Window10] was.

[Window11] // GPS
size_mm=456,378
window_size=0.5
position=8
BACKGROUND_COLOR=0,0,0
VISIBLE=0
ident=GPS_PANEL

gauge00=fs9gps!gps_500, 0,0

Save the panel.cfg  and start FSX.  The GPS should be there.  But please read the following NOTE first.

NOTE: You may have a problem seeing it in 2D, so swap to virtual.  If you have dual monitors you can go full screen, move the GPS to the second one or alternatively unlock the GPS window.  Just play around and you will find whats best for you.

I know for a fact this works, I tested it to make sure.  If it does not work for you then you`ve missed a step or done it wrong.  It will not work as a GPS to follow a route (only visually).  You are still best to learn how to operate the FMC (CDU).  If you do not then you`re not doing justice to the aircraft or the way it operates.  In this case you would have been better off with a default plane, the 767 was devised to run with the FMC in real life, very few used GPS.

You need to make a copy of the original panel file before you start!

Reider

[macca22au]

Come on, the Navigational Display on a jet is much more informative and pictorial than the Garmin GPS.  Heck if the Garmin, even the 1000 was better wouldn't you think that the airlines would have them?  Nah, fly the littlies without the GPS to learn how to navigate, and fly the big ones with the full works, and the pictorial ND to do it their way.

[sammach]

Thanks for your comments macca22au your comments are noted,

Thanks rieder for your trouble, this is all good experience, I value all contibutions and criticisms, i have not the time today but I will come back.
         

[reider]

Come on, the Navigational Display on a jet is much more informative and pictorial than the Garmin GPS.  Heck if the Garmin, even the 1000 was better wouldn't you think that the airlines would have them?  Nah, fly the littlies without the GPS to learn how to navigate, and fly the big ones with the full works, and the pictorial ND to do it their way.

Did you even try reading the thread before posting that garbage?   I already said exactly what you did several times.  The user requested it, the user got it for visual purposes only.  I said it does not work with the 767 system at all.  I said more than once he needs to learn the aircrafts own system, the FMC (CDU). Time to wind your neck in I believe.  Not difficult to read or understand is it?

Reider

[macca22au]

Way down here in Australia I feel the heat of the flamethrower approaching.  Mea Culoa, gulty as charged.  Still, if the man wants the GPS fine, but for his purposes one of the add-on moving maps might be better, or one of the google maps.

[sammach]

Thanks Rieder all is sorted, you have explained to me why the GPS display could not be seen, now I have it. Thanks for all your trouble, but please dont fall out with Macca22au, on my account I have no wish to cause an international incident.
                                                       You guys really take this Flt Sim seriously, I have no wish to be be disrepectfull to you or anyone on this forum,for since I have been posting on Simviation i have learnt a hell of a lot, as with this post, but I take it for what it is a facinating game. Maybe you Rieder and macca22au have avionic, computer backgrounds or maybe you are real world pilots, my background is purlely mechanical, airframes and engines I retired from BA four years ago after 30 years. If anyone had told me I would be involved in flt sim a few years ago I would have laughed, since retirement I have the time and i do try to grapple with PC langauge and belive me I am more PC literate now than ever before, I still have a lot to learn and thanks to guys like yourselves I am getting there. One day i will master the Level D 767 and the PMG 747, I have one or two questions for thier forums concerning the FMC.Until then I will get by and rejoice when I get things right and have a reasonable landing, thanks again for all your help

[reider]

Ok here we go.  Check out this link for the PMDG 747, its an excellent tutorial and includes FMC instruction too.  If you get the idea with the 747 FMC, then very loosely it will give you some idea how the Level D 767 FMC operates.  Learn one FMC you learn them all, which I`m sure macca22au will heartily agree with, if I`m not much mistaken.  Just take it in steps with the FMC.

(1) Learn how to correctly program it to get off the ground, then just land any way you can.  Including switching on the FMC and correctly aligning it.

(2) Learn how to program it for a route using something like FSBuild or manually entering waypoints (gawd, thats hard work).  I include in this taking out the discontinuities-check this in the manual.  

(3) Learn how to proceed with a landing

(4) Learn how to perform a go around

(5) Learn how to switch to an alternative airport

(6) Learn how to place a 30 mile marker before the destination airport

Not a single one of the above is going to stop you flying the aircraft, once you take off with or without the FMC you know how to land so you`re sorted.  However, you can tick off the take off from the list once you`ve learnt it, then proceed to the next step and tick that off after ward.  Eventually you will have learnt 6 small steps, none of which stopped you flying the aircraft for not knowing them all as a sequence.  Once you have all 6 ticked though you know enough to confidently program and use the FMC.  Then you move on to the sublist and do the same again.

(1a) Learn how to shorten any zig zagging parts of the route waypoint line

(2a) Check the fuel remaining

(3a) Check ETA

(4a) Check advised optimum altitude

(5a) Reprogram the FMC in mid flight to ascend to the new advised optimum altitude

(6a) Learn what to do when the waypoints show the TD (top of descent) marker.

(7a) How to temporarily use Heading instead of FMC when ATC tells you to take a certain heading that deviates from the FMC route

(8a) Learn how to go back to the FMC operation after the previous deviation

These are by no means all parts, you`ll never stop learning the FMC but get all these ticked off one by one and you`re well on your way.  What was one big puzzle was separated into many small tasks.  By completing all the small tasks the big puzzle solved itself!  ;D

http://smithplanet.com/fs2004/pmdg/

and heres a really good video of the PMDG 747 Cold and Dark Startup just for something different.  I keep these links in a file for later use or to help others.

http://www.truveo.com/Cold-and-dark-Sta ... 3030602000

Reider

[sammach]

Thanks for all your help Reider I will follow up all your suggestions, it will possibly take a while because the weather here in Derbyshire is glorious, at the moment .
                                    Thanks again for all the trouble you have gone to on my behalf

[macca22au]

Hey Sammach:  I didn't read the thread carefully enough and I deserved the blast.  

Reider has given you excellent advice.  Given that you have recently retired from BA you and I are within the same age zone.  

Yes I had a lot of real world experience in smaller aircraft, including instrument flying and twins, but none in large commercial aircraft with full autoflight.  I flew instrument approaches but only had an autopilot with nav tracking but not ILS coupling.  

I just got hooked on flight sim and learned the skills I never had to when I was flying.  It just makes the whole thing so much better.

As for Reider if he ever comes near me I'll buy him a beer and get him to tune my rig - it needs it!

[sammach]

Macca22au, glad to hear you and Rieder are still friends, all the best to you and Rieder for the future, I may have to pick your brains again