Popup-terrain-GPS needed - Feature request

[rudi0310]

Hi all,

thanks a lot for this great plane, which I really enjoy.

I would find it useful for mountain ranges to have a GPS showing terrain with color coded altitude. GPS like the Flight1 GTN750 are no solution, they use their own databases as far as I know. Some airports which are included in scenery addons are missing. And do not show up in GPS for that reason. And vice versa.

I failed when adding a simple window entry to panel.cfg to add a standard GPS500 like I did for older FSX aircraft (other vendors) several times.

In future service packs you might consider to add a Standard GPS or another solution which
- uses database from SIM
- shows terrain, altitude color coded
- available as popup

I use P3D v2 and in the future v4.

Cheers
Rudi

[N4GIX]

Actually, our version of the GNS530 is based on the sim data. More to the point it is a grandchild of the default sim's G500 gauge...

Several years ago I added "terrain shading" to the GNS530 only to discover that it tanked FPS in the sim to the point of distraction, so I reverted the additions. Even so, our GNS530/430 have far more functionality than the default G500.

If you have a popup window from another aircraft, it is easily added to your panel.cfg file(s). Simply substitute the G500 with our GNS530 since it is a direct replacement.

[rudi0310]

Hi Bill,

thanks a lot for the response. The built in GPS has many advantages and much more functionality, and a crisper display.

That it uses the built in sim data is perfect for me, my posting might be confusing in that point.

What a pity that your terrain shading costed too much fps, but I agree, that would not be a solution.

Because I do not want to loose the built in GPS, substituting in panel.cfg might not be perfect for me. I would prefer to have
the G500 only as a popup version to show terrain, not built in in the aircraft. I never had the intention to suggest that you replace your famous GPS completely, yours is much better.

Cheers and thanks again
Rudi

[N4GIX]

You have misunderstood my suggestion. You can easily have the GNS530 as a popup also, not instead of...

Code: Select all

[Window Titles]
Window00=Main Panel
Window01=GPS


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window01]
Background_color=0,0,0 
size_mm=1280,650
window_size_ratio=1.000  
position=2
visible=0
ident=GPS_PANEL
window_size= 0.710, 0.552
window_pos= 0.290, 0.480

gauge00=C310_XMLGauges!FBS_GNS530_1d,  0,0,640,468

[rudi0310]

Hi Bill,

that is exact what I not dared to ask for, many thanks!

Due to my limited knowledge before I had the wrong

Code: Select all

gauge00=fs9gps!gps_500, 0,0

But unfortunately your version doesn´t work, same error. Instead of GPS the (disabled) wx radar pops up. Key assignment seems to be defined elsewhere? Had copied entire code from your posting.

I even tried to use a free key:

Code: Select all

[Window Titles]
Window00=Main Panel
Window01=
Window02=GPS
...
[Window01]

gauge01=

[Window02]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=1280,650 
...

I hope this syntax is OK, but does not work with shift 2 also

Cheers
Rudi

[N4GIX]

There are many different panel.cfg files used, each based on the choices made in the MVAMS "GPS" options. This is directly from my sim's root ..\panel\panel.cfg file and works 100% for me using Shift-2 to open it:

Code: Select all

[Window Titles]
Window00=Main Panel
Window01=GNS530


[VIEWS]
VIEW_FORWARD_DIR=8.000, 0.000, 0.000



//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window00]
Background_color=0,0,0 
size_mm=208,129
position=8
visible=0
ident=MAIN_PANEL



//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window01]
Background_color=0,0,0 
size_mm=500,366
window_size_ratio=1.000  
position=0
visible=0
ident=20
window_size= 0.380, 0.440
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000

gauge00=Milviz_GPS!FBS_GNS530_1d,  0,0,500,366

The [WindowNN] number +1 corresponds to the Shift-N key required. In this example [Window01] + 1 = Shift-2

If the panel.cfg you are using already has an entry for [Window01], then you would simply use the next available number (such as [Window02]).

[rudi0310]

Hi Bill,

now I got it!

I use "Milviz 530/430" in the MVAMS options, so I had to change panel.cfg in folder
SimObjects\Airplanes\DHC-2 Beaver Milviz\panel.mv530_430

I changed code to get default GPS500 as popup which shows terrain. And can have both now. MilViz GNS530 in front panel, default terrain-GPS500 as popup.

Having 2 different GPS in one aircraft configs, can this lead to problems? In this case I will have to use MVAMS option "GPS-none" instead. And would have to modify panel.cfg in folder
SimObjects\Airplanes\DHC-2 Beaver Milviz\panel
Then only default GPS would be available, and popup only.

Thanks a lot for your patience and your kind help, Bill!
Rudi (callsign D-L-1-U-Z)
------------------------------------------------------------------

Relevant code for other people who want to have that also, shift 3 has to be used to open popup:

Code: Select all

[Window Titles]
Window00=Main Panel
Window01=WX Radar
Window02=GPS500

... (non relevant code not shown)

[Window02]
size_mm=456,378
window_size=0.30
position=8
BACKGROUND_COLOR=0,0,0
VISIBLE=0
ident=GPS500

gauge00=fs9gps!gps_500,            0,0

[BSM]

I have tried the same as Rudi, and got it working but using the
gauge00=C310_XMLGauges!FBS_GNS530_1d,  0,0,640,468
for the Milviz GPS does not work, just briefly shows a box and disappears....

not sure what that is about but the
gauge00=fs9gps!gps_500,            0,0

works OK.

Brian

[N4GIX]

In future service packs you might consider to add a Standard GPS or another solution which
- uses database from SIM
- shows terrain, altitude color coded
- available as popup

I just realized that I never did address this part of your post, for which I deeply apologize.

I could quite easily add "terrain" to this version of the GNS530, as indeed it once did. I removed the "terrain" feature one and only one reason: the real world GNS530 doesn't include this feature. As we were trying to faithfully replicate Ken Stalling's real-world C310R as closely as possible, we opted for reality in our avionics.