Vertical Situation Display in B737 GC

[touwersl]

Some time ago there has been a thread here in the forum that was started by Ray Proudfout about the VSD.
I played around a bit with it and it worked as long as you are in an area that is covered by a terrain texture file. When you'r outside of the coverage of such a file the VSD still works but there is nothing to see.

Unfortunatley the only way to switch the VSD ON or OFF is through the CDU (go to index/maint/efis/terrain). But maybe Ray has found a method of performing this through another method. I have some switches left on a Go-Flight toggle panel that could be used for this purpose, Ray could you share your fiindings with us?

Furthermore I looked-up this VSD on the internet and found quite some information about it. When you compare the VSD as installed in the PM SW with the real thing you have to conclude that it's nice but just not complete.
I'm sometimes wondering why PM doesn't document the features of the SW, looks like a kind of eastern egg now.

[touwersl]

Hi Guys,

I played around a bit with FSUIPC and Offset 04F4 and managed to control the VSD (Cap & FO) with two GoFlight buttons, Works great!
Is there anybody who knows if you can get more info on this display e.g. the flightpath line is missing.

[Ray Proudfoot]

Hi Guys,

I played around a bit with FSUIPC and Offset 04F4 and managed to control the VSD (Cap & FO) with two GoFlight buttons, Works great!
Is there anybody who knows if you can get more info on this display e.g. the flightpath line is missing.


Hi Theo,

87 is the magic number as discussed here http://mycockpit.org/forums/showpost.php?p=36067&postcount=7

My discussion only involved the Captain's side. Sorry I didn't see this earlier otherwise I would have replied sooner.

Cheers.

[ak49er]

Does any one know of a VSD capability in any freeware?

[Ray Proudfoot]

Does any one know of a VSD capability in any freeware?

Sorry, no.

[touwersl]

Thanks Ray for your reply.
It worked fine by defining one of my spare GoFlight buttons to this offset through FSUIPC. Push the button once and the VSD appears, a second push and the VSD is cleared again. The only little disadvantage by showing the VSD is that all other (extra) info on the ND is removed (e.g. the STA and DATA info). But maybe this is due to me defining the offset incorrectly.
If you want to control the FO side VSD just add 100 to the offset number (in this case 187) and let it be controlled through FSUIPC by a spare button and there you go.

The VSD is a nice tool when flying in moutain areas, I use it when I fly to Nice or Insbruck. But it's a pitty that the display is not complete yet e.g. the predicted flightpath of the aircraft is not shown (yet).
Mybe this will be added in the future.

[Ray Proudfoot]

The only little disadvantage by showing the VSD is that all other (extra) info on the ND is removed (e.g. the STA and DATA info). But maybe this is due to me defining the offset incorrectly.

I doubt it. It's probably the way Enrico programmed it. Without documentation though it's only a guess.


If you want to control the FO side VSD just add 100 to the offset number (in this case 187) and let it be controlled through FSUIPC by a spare button and there you go.

Ah, the luxury of a FO! :D I only have the Captain's setup.


The VSD is a nice tool when flying in moutain areas, I use it when I fly to Nice or Insbruck. But it's a pitty that the display is not complete yet e.g. the predicted flightpath of the aircraft is not shown (yet).
Mybe this will be added in the future.

LOL! I didn't even know it was meant to show the predicted path. We'll just have to hope that when Enrico finds time he can complete the functionality.

Cheers.

[NicD]

Thanks for the heads-up on this. I didn;t even know it existed!

With Terrain files - are there downloads for these on the net anywhere? I know you can make them using WhazzupPlus but I was wondering if we could combine a collection into a library so that we aren't all creating them individually.

[Bob Reed]

I have been thinking about this as well.... I think it is a good idea.

[touwersl]

There are terrainfiles available for download on the Project Magenta site. They only cover some areas around airports and are far from complete but there is still enough material to experiment with.
Go to:
PM site - Documentation - Main documentation, under the heading Additional documents you will find an URL to Terrain data files. There are 8 zip files to download each of them covering around 5 area's.
You also find some information on how to make your own terrain files but you need Wazzup to do that.

Have fun.

[NicD]

Thanks - yeah I already have those terrain files. I downloaded whazzup a few months back but the documentation on creating terrain files is so scant. Can anyone post a quick step-by-step on that?

There is an html shortcut in one of the whazzup folders to worldwide free terrain files for whazzup. Anyone tried those?

[Bob Reed]

Hey NicD. Go to the Terraindata folder and click on the the terraindata html file. There it gives you the instructions on how to create the de files you need.

[Ray Proudfoot]

Thanks for the heads-up on this. I didn;t even know it existed!

With Terrain files - are there downloads for these on the net anywhere? I know you can make them using WhazzupPlus but I was wondering if we could combine a collection into a library so that we aren't all creating them individually.

I've downloaded / created a total of 77 DE1 files. I'm happy to upload them to somewhere where they could be available for others.

[Bob Reed]

Hi Ray. You could upload them to here. We will be happy to make a spot for them!

[Ray Proudfoot]

[quote=Bob Reed;37582]Hi Ray. You could upload them to here. We will be happy to make a spot for them![/quote.]

Hi Bob,

I've tried to upload but the forum has a limit of 97Kb for a zip. I don't have a site that people can download from so how do I get these files to you?

Cheers,

[Bob Reed]

I will take this up with Matt. I think we can work it out. If not I will setup a FTP on my site for you and house them there for anyone who wants them but I think here is better. Going to look for Matt...

[Ray Proudfoot]

I will take this up with Matt. I think we can work it out. If not I will setup a FTP on my site for you and house them there for anyone who wants them but I think here is better. Going to look for Matt...

Thanks Bob!

[touwersl]

would be nice to get some more terrain files to cover more airport areas. When they are available for download I'm very interested.
By the way I included a picture from an offical B737 VSD display, just for information.




Regards,

[NicD]

Why don't we use the 'Download library' part of this site to upload/download terrain files? Would be better suited to the task than the forum.

[Bob Reed]

Why don't we use the 'Download library' part of this site to upload/download terrain files? Would be better suited to the task than the forum.

Hi NicD. The problem there is the size limit. I am working on that.

[NicD]

I've uploaded a stack of terrain files for Australia and New Zealand - they are in the file library here http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=51

So c'mon all you slackers ... get your terrain files up and shared! :)

[Ray Proudfoot]

I've uploaded my 77 DE1s but the file isn't showing. Maybe it has to be checked first.

[Peter Nielsen]

I've uploaded my 77 DE1s but the file isn't showing. Maybe it has to be checked first.


I just tried to uplaod my Terrain fles as well 8mb but they are not showing either:roll:

[Ray Proudfoot]

I just tried to uplaod my Terrain fles as well 8mb but they are not showing either:roll:

If your file is named EastUSDe1.zip it's there now.

[Bob Reed]

If your file is named EastUSDe1.zip it's there now.

Nope that file is mine....:o

[Ray Proudfoot]

Nope that file is mine....:o

Oh, right. It doesn't show the name of the uploader so I guessed!;)