Fly Engravity v's Flight Deck Solutions..............

[oal331]

First, I agree with ian, about the shipping cost and import taxes. Check them !!

Also, have in your mind, that if you want a turn of key solution, you have to buy all the products from one company, do not mix them !! Ie, don't plan to buy the MIP from one and the MCP and Glares from the other. They will not fit together.

But if you want and you can also work like "do it yourself" and you have the available free time you may mix some parts, but not in the same place.

Both companies have high quality products and long time history.

I choose Engravity's MIP and Overhead, even they was a little more expensive, because they are inside European Union, so i don't have to afraid about import taxes and also they have a high quality after sales support.

Good luck with your cokpit

[Kitsok]

Well, another 2 cents from me.

We have both of them, so I can compare.

FDS:
- poor support. Near to nothing. Can't fix the bug with A/T switch for 2 weeks.
- bad connection layout. MCP + 2 EFIS = 3 USB cables + 3 power cords (9 volts if I'm correct) + 1 12Volt cable (for that A/T switch) + backlight cable. The last two are cables, not connectors, keep this in mind.
- MTRS button on F/O EFIS doesn't work
- software (FDS-Glare) is buggy. The backlight of the buttons was fixed far too late after the purchase. Actually they sold us unusable device, and it still has many major problems.
- the direction of the V/S wheel is swapped (comparing with the real B737)
+ real looking. I think the buttons, knobs and switches are from the real B737
+ correct colors for indication and backlight

Engravity:
- incorrect colors
- looks like the really expensive, but ... toy
+ very good connection layout. 2 EFIS + MCP = 1 USB + 1 power cord. And that's all.
+ Software is OK. Was found and connected in minutes
Support... I don't know. We had no reasons for the support.


All is IMHO.

[aviaparts]

I'm sure that both companies have good products, but I can say that Fly Engravity gives very good products, on time delivery, good and fast support.
I have been very happy with their products, next to that, their work with CPFlight, another well respected company, resulted in a nice set of avionics.
So A+++ from my side for Fly Engravity.

[ivar hestnes]

Well, another 2 cents from me.

We have both of them, so I can compare.

FDS:
- poor support. Near to nothing. Can't fix the bug with A/T switch for 2 weeks.
- bad connection layout. MCP + 2 EFIS = 3 USB cables + 3 power cords (9 volts if I'm correct) + 1 12Volt cable (for that A/T switch) + backlight cable. The last two are cables, not connectors, keep this in mind.
- MTRS button on F/O EFIS doesn't work
- software (FDS-Glare) is buggy. The backlight of the buttons was fixed far too late after the purchase. Actually they sold us unusable device, and it still has many major problems.
- the direction of the V/S wheel is swapped (comparing with the real B737)
+ real looking. I think the buttons, knobs and switches are from the real B737
+ correct colors for indication and backlight

Engravity:
- incorrect colors
- looks like the really expensive, but ... toy
+ very good connection layout. 2 EFIS + MCP = 1 USB + 1 power cord. And that's all.
+ Software is OK. Was found and connected in minutes
Support... I don't know. We had no reasons for the support.


All is IMHO.

I have personally worked on this project, and I can say that there is a lot more into this story than what is being discussed on the quoted post. But that is information that will be only between the two parties involved. Not for public amusement.

I dont think that Peter will come here to discuss a software issue like that, when it should have been discussed between the two groups involved.

My personal experience with FDS support during the last three and a half years is very different to the description above. Software issues can take some time to fix, specially on items that are not even officially released. But they always fix. And they do it good.

Talking on a hobby forum like this, calling engravitys MCP a toy, which is very unfair to them, and damaging FDS reputation like this wont help the software issue that you have. Perhaps the owner of the sim is already discussing the issues with Peter, and they both are fully aware of the things that need to be corrected. And the rest of the job. You can have a look. It does look very good to me. http://www.flightdecksolutions.com/view_page.php?id=71

[ChrisKLAS]

I'm with Ivar here. My MIP and shell are FDS (in the interest of full disclosure, I'm using the CPFlight/Engravity EFIS and MCP pro line in place of the FDS hardware), and I've never had any issues with the FDS hardware. Their support has also been nothing short of outstanding.

[Jackpilot]

Always got fast and efficient help from FDS, and I am very far from being a major customer.

Jack

[Kitsok]

People,

first of all, I don't have a goal to somehow damage anybodys' reputation. I'd rather prefer that people are ready for the special features of both products BEFORE they've paid.

I had both of the MCPs in my hand and my personal opinion is - FDS MCP is definitly not the "ready off the shelf product", and Engravity MCP is not intended for the FBPT.

All other aspects are welcome to be discussed in private.

[ChrisKLAS]

... and Engravity MCP is not intended for the FBPT.

I have Engravity's MCP, and I love it. It's dead-on accurate to a real 737NG MCP, and even the (brushed metal) knobs have the same look and feel as those in the NG sim I used to fly at Alteon in LGB.

Since you seem to dislike the products from these companies so much, maybe you'd like to tell us your suggested alternative?

[ran56]

Always got fast and efficient help from FDS, and I am very far from being a major customer.

Jack

Same here.

[Matt Olieman]

I have Engravity's EFIS/FCU Best Ever.

I've lost touch with FDS so I can't comment on their product, although I've heard wonderful things about them.

Matt Olieman