vrinsight & PMDG

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

hello there slip-stream.....
the driver i got was back in december '08 and was a release candidate. however it worked real well and release candidate or not, i didn't care because it was doing what i wanted.
so it is logical to assume that the latest driver will be a final version of that. just a tip though......vrinsight want you to replace your PMDG 737kbd.ini file with the one they ship. if you have anything sending keys into the PMDG, DONT DO IT because it messes everything up. better to spend an hour or so, changing the keys (in the vrinsight key mapper utility) to suit your existing assignments.
good luck anyway....
cheers ... ian

[slip-stream]

Thankyou for that tip. I was going to copy the .ini file as instructed in the manual. I will use your method. Could you just confirm the initial setup as the manual confused me slightly.

Plug in unit initially, check LCD screens. Remove Unit, Install driver(s), re-plug in unit?

[Michael Carter]

Some of these sim part manufacturers could really use a technical writer.

It might be great equipment, but if they can't clearly explain how to use it or install it, it detracts from the overall experience.

[slip-stream]

Ian, I ignored your advice sorry and went ahead and placed the kbd.ini file into the pmdg root folder as per the manual, (I could not find the original .ini file). Then I started fsx and loaded the pmdg 747. The mouse pointer flicked between hourglass status and pointer continously, something I have never seen before. I ran the serialfp2 driver anyway and, lo and behold, the mcp did not work. I removed and re-installed my pmdg 747.

I have since purchased level d 767 and it works a treat. However, I love the pmdg 747 and really want it to work.

I am a little confused with the 'broken English' manual. When you ran the keymapper utility did you Open an existing pre-defined key file or did you create a complete new one?

And the last bit confuses me in terms of having to add entries into the FMER.ini file. I just cannot understand what I am meant to do.

Please, please could you answer my 2 main questions and any other tips for the whole procedure very briefly, and perhaps paste the correct entries for the FMER.ini here for me.

Thanks Ian. (Or anyone else who has the foggiest idea)

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

First I have to agree with Micheal, manuals have to be written better.

for slipstream:
" Ian, I ignored your advice sorry and went ahead and placed the kbd.ini file into the pmdg root folder as per the manual, (I could not find the original .ini file). Then I started fsx and loaded the pmdg 747. The mouse pointer flicked between hourglass status and pointer continously, something I have never seen before. I ran the serialfp2 driver anyway and, lo and behold, the mcp did not work. I removed and re-installed my pmdg 747. "

oops, using the Key-Mapper is much safer.

" When you ran the keymapper utility did you Open an existing pre-defined key file or did you create a complete new one? "

first of all, you need to print off a list of your assigned keys in the PMDG. then install hardware/software. when you install the SerialFP2 software, it will automatically install 1. the keymapper utility and 2. a bundle of 'stock' keymaps which are identifyable by their name (e.g. PMDG 747, PMDG 737, MSFS737_400 etc or something like that).
open the file you want to change in the keymapper and change VRInsights assignments to your own, that is from your print list.
start Flightsim and your 747, start SerialFP2 (which will find the 'FMER' panel, select the file you want loaded from the dropdown menu, load it and way to go.
if all has gone to plan, you will have a functioning EFIS and MCP.
dont worry about the radio section, it uses standard FS variable so you dont need to pay that any attention.
hope that helped you out. good luck and have a great weekend...... ian

[slip-stream]

Thanks for that Ian, appreciated. Did you have to edit your particular FMER panel? Thats the bit that I don't understand in the manual.

[slip-stream]

Ian, I did everything you stated but still no joy. Gutted. Could this be programmed via fsuipc 4?

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

hi slipstream......
1. you have installed the SerialFP2.
when you run serialfp2, can you select the file you just edited and does the MCP come to life?
2. if so, does it display default values, the same as the software MCP?

just want to check the connection/communication before going on.

just for your information, you cannot use fsuipc because it will not see and recognise the buttons/encoders on the MCP because it's not a joystick.

good luck .... ian

[slip-stream]

Hi Ian. Yes I am able to select the file that I edited. I start fs, select pmdg, start serialfp2, select my edited file.

An observation that I noticed is that there are no keyboard commands in the pmdg menu, they are all blank. Should this be so?

Perhaps you could paste your FMER and edited dat file here and try yours?

Thanks so far Ian.

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

i dont understand, your key assignments can't be blank, you printed them off to edit your keymap file. you didn't move or delete the file by accident did you?
the PMDG MCP/EFIS are controlled by keystrokes and what the VRInsight MCP/EFIS does is
send in single or repeated keystrokes to increase/decrease values in the software.
if there are no assignments in your PMDG key menu, then the keys that your VRInsight unit sends will not be actioned because the keys its sending are not assigned.
ok, email me at ian@737ng.co.uk and when i get home, i'll send you my 737kbd.ini file and my serialfp2 dat (keymap file).
let's see if we can sort this out.
talk to you later.... ian