Guide: Getting the most out of Flight Simulator X

[Mearehear]

FSMOVMAP - http://www.rahsim.com/

FSMOVMAP is a live "googlemap" thingy for Android devices, allowing you to see your positon on the live map with waypoints, while you are flying in FSX.

You download a small server program to run on your PC (from the website), then get the APP from the Google PLAY store.

Plan-G (v4moose linked to it earlier) is a better option if you have a spare monitor, but if like me you only have one screen, but have an android device, it works quite well.

[v4moose]

awesome. I dunno what's happening but i keep getting the lights coming through my panels.. Might have something to do with bloom cause the runway lights are all blending together which is no good

i had a problem with overly large lights on the runway which blended in together. I'll try and think what I did to fix it.

[Ash_Williams]

FSMOVMAP - http://www.rahsim.com/

FSMOVMAP is a live "googlemap" thingy for Android devices, allowing you to see your positon on the live map with waypoints, while you are flying in FSX.

You download a small server program to run on your PC (from the website), then get the APP from the Google PLAY store.

Plan-G (v4moose linked to it earlier) is a better option if you have a spare monitor, but if like me you only have one screen, but have an android device, it works quite well.

I'm gunna buy a Galaxy Note just to use this, considering I never know where I'm going xD

[Mearehear]

I'm gunna buy a Galaxy Note just to use this, considering I never know where I'm going xD

I'm using a Galaxy Ace, and it does the job quite nicely. I rest it on its side just below my monitor, and that gives me a decent overview of where I am on the map and in relation to any waypoints I have set.

It does lose sync sometimes, normally if I pause FSX, but a simply touch on the screen connect button gets it back on track.

[v4moose]

on another note - i'm surprised how many people our there in the simming community still use products such as FS9 and even FS2004.

I draw my data from places like here but also from the clients I see when connecting to FsHost and Vatsim. I wonder what the appeal is of these older clients? Is it that people have invested a significant amount of cash into one particular version (addons n such) or people just havn't been bothered to upgrade? I'm looking at you Mearehear... using XP

[Mearehear]

I'm looking at you Mearehear... using XP

Ha! Well while I really can't give any insight into the use of the older FS titles, I think you could have a point with the fact people may well have significant investments made in them.

Imagine if us race simmers had been made to pay for most of the mods in rFactor, and over the lifespan of the simulation we accrued a few hundred dollars worth of mods. If rFactor 2 then came along, without "out of the box" support for the previous series modifications, the people that made such investments would be less enthusiastic about making the "upgrade".

As far as things like me still using Windows XP, it has been a matter of holding off in wait of "the next best thing". When Vista came along, my room mate at the time purchased a new PC with it installed, and after playing around with it on his system I knew that Vista wasn't going to be reason enough for me to upgrade (given that it was an annoying p.o.s).

Windows 7 I have seen as reason to upgrade for sometime, but combined with its typical price gouging in Australia and the fact I still can get away with most things I do under XP, I have held back waiting to see what will be "next best thing".

It really has only been since the start of this year that I have felt now is the time to do it. With there now being a growing trend towards 64bit titles, or more truly DX11 based games, the days of my hardware and OS are coming to its end, yet it is truly amazing how far Windows XP has been able to sufficiently run since its release.

Windows 7 can be picked up for as little as $100 if I look to the right places, and hardware seems to be at a reasonably fair price point, for anything that is not a premium new release item. Yet I still find myself looking and thinking, if I just hold off another 6 months more I will get even more bang for my buck, and that is the biggest thing that keeps me using my current system. I really don't like throwing money at a PC or my gaming, unless I can really feel I am doing so at a point representing great value.

[brimlad]

worked through your guide on friday v4moose and that shader3 mod delivers a huge performance boost, the crash dll seems to have fixed the crash issue and that demo tasmania scenery is outstanding. did a flight from hobart to strahan and might have a do a few more around tassy as that scenery is very good.

I wonder what the appeal is of these older clients? Is it that people have invested a significant amount of cash into one particular version (addons n such) or people just havn't been bothered to upgrade?

I think compatability would be one, I never bought 2002 or 2004 as it wasn't compatible with cfs2 whereas fs2000 was and I could keep all my terrain mesh for both games in one folder and just point them to that folder. I could also import city data from 2000 into cfs2 which improved the look of cites like sydney and brisbane when making "whatif" missions based in these cites.
sims are also about the flying and for some the look of the scenery isn't that important, more the mechanics of flying.

cheers

[cyclobs]

do you have any issues with lights with the shader mod brim? Trying to figure out what's causing it cause it's really annoying

[Ash_Williams]

Recommend me some really detailed planes and such to get.. I've found a nice B-52 that looks like it will be fun to fly.

I'm a military person so anyone that knows any decent jets or bombers that are good to fly let me know.

[brimlad]

no the external nav lights work fine, I haven't done any night flying since I installed the mod so not sure about the cabin lighting but I'll have a look tonight.

cheers

[cyclobs]

no the external nav lights work fine, I haven't done any night flying since I installed the mod so not sure about the cabin lighting but I'll have a look tonight.

cheers

it's mostly any external lights like nav lights, runway lights, nav lights on other planes, i can see all nav lights shining through my 3D panel

[v4moose]

i turned on all lights i could fins last night and went for a night fly. Sorry mate my lights were all fine. :/

[brimlad]

cyclobs I just did a night test and as v4moose no problems with lights all looks normal; if you have an ati card I'd suggest the latest (12.4) drivers; if a driver reinstall doesn't fix it then maybe post on sim forum such as SOH, they're pretty helpful folk.
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/forum.php

Recommend me some really detailed planes and such to get.. I've found a nice B-52 that looks like it will be fun to fly.

I'm a military person so anyone that knows any decent jets or bombers that are good to fly let me know.

best place I've found to d/l flight sim stuff is simviation, have browse and choose to your liking; f-86 is a good jet and the spitfire is a great ride especially the late models with the clipped wings.
http://simviation.com/1/browse-Military-57-0

cheers

[v4moose]

just found the autopilot for the PC9. Yessss

[v4moose]

well well - I finally got round to updating the payware section of the guide. So it's pretty much complete...

I haven't progressed with VATSIM so far but if I do I will add the guide for that too.

I was really unsure how to go about picking certain addons over others, if there is anything out there which anyone is using a feels should definately be included - let me know!