Return to the VPC Lobby
FlightAdventures Virtual Pilot Center™

Need an account? Register here.

Return to AerobaticSource Lobby
Get the VPC OffLine Reader here!

"VFC Photographic Scenery"

Printer-friendly version of this topic
Bookmark this topic (Registered users only)
 
Previous Topic | Next Topic  
VPC Forums FSFORUM
Original message

jonahbird[Crew]

Click to send private message to jonahbird Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

"VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-14-02, 17:50z 

Hi Pete (et al)

As this may prove to be debated further I'm starting a new thread to reply to Pete Dowson's post in the Concorde thread.

Well... my FS friend did visit last night and we gave this software a good going over. We found it interesting and promising, but did not prefer it to my everything maxed, near 30fps,terrain meshed and land classed, Gary Summons improved rendition of the UK. Yes, we had a moment's fun flying over our present homes and the places where we were born and went to school but felt this was a novelty which would quickly wear off. The constraints of height and speed would not appeal to many of our FS friends (vide Ray Proudfoot)

In addition to its flatness - irritatingly evident in take off from London City - my friend was not too happy with the colours ( although I had no problem with that) and we both missed the trees and buildings. Also we spotted some mystical interlopers here and there.

The camera has caught some passing aircraft - one was spotted on approach to Gatwick. How about a new competition - "Spot the Interloper"? There must be others.

I think my opening comment summarises it for me: interesting, promising but not compelling. One man's opinion. Others?

Best regards
Frank

Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


  Table of Contents

  Subject      Author      Message Date     ID   
  RE: VFC Photographic Scenery PeteDowson[Crew] 11-14-02 1
   RE: VFC Photographic Scenery jonahbird[Crew] 11-15-02 2
        RE: VFC Photographic Scenery PeteDowson[Crew] 11-15-02 3
             RE: VFC Photographic Scenery jonahbird[Crew] 11-15-02 4
                  RE: VFC Photographic Scenery PeteDowson[Crew] 11-15-02 5
                       RE: VFC Photographic Scenery jonahbird[Crew] 11-15-02 6
                            RE: VFC Photographic Scenery PeteDowson[Crew] 11-15-02 7
                       RE: VFC Photographic Scenery James[Sysop] 11-17-02 8
                            RE: VFC Photographic Scenery PeteDowson[Crew] 11-18-02 9
                                 RE: VFC Photographic Scenery James[Sysop] 11-18-02 10
                                      RE: VFC Photographic Scenery PeteDowson[Crew] 11-18-02 11
                                           RE: VFC Photographic Scenery James[Sysop] 11-18-02 12
                                                RE: VFC Photographic Scenery PeteDowson[Crew] 11-18-02 13
                                                     RE: VFC Photographic Scenery James[Sysop] 11-18-02 14
                                                          RE: VFC Photographic Scenery PeteDowson[Crew] 11-18-02 15
                                                               RE: VFC Photographic Scenery James[Sysop] 11-19-02 16
                                                                    RE: VFC Photographic Scenery PeteDowson[Crew] 11-19-02 17
                                                                         RE: VFC Photographic Scenery James[Sysop] 11-19-02 18
                                                                              RE: VFC Photographic Scenery PeteDowson[Crew] 11-19-02 19
                                                                                   RE: VFC Photographic Scenery PeteDowson[Crew] 11-20-02 20
                                                                                        RE: VFC Photographic Scenery James[Sysop] 11-20-02 22
                                                                                   RE: VFC Photographic Scenery James[Sysop] 11-20-02 21
  RE: VFC Photographic Scenery DavidH[Guest] 12-25-02 23
   RE: VFC Photographic Scenery jonahbird[Crew] 12-26-02 24
        RE: VFC Photographic Scenery DavidH[Guest] 12-26-02 25
             RE: VFC Photographic Scenery jonahbird[Crew] 12-27-02 27
   RE: VFC Photographic Scenery BillC[Crew] 12-27-02 26

Forums | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic

Messages in this topic

PeteDowson[Crew]

Click to EMail PeteDowson Click to send private message to PeteDowson Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

1. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-14-02, 20:00z 

Hi Frank,

> Well... my FS friend did visit last night and we gave this software a
> good going over. We found it interesting and promising, but did not
> prefer it to my everything maxed, near 30fps

I get more or less the same frame rates with the VFR scenery. Are you noticing a drop? You shouldn't, as all it is doing is replacing repetitive textures with different ones. Also it is losing the AutoGen, which costs a bit.

> ,terrain meshed

did you not use your Terrain Mesh with the VFR scenery? It comes with its own, which is a subset of his full UK terrain mesh of some time ago. But I actually prefer the Lago Terramesh, it seems VERY accurate for England -- even the little hills around my house here in Staffordshire seem right!

> and land classed

Land class is for autogen buildings and trees.

> Gary Summons improved rendition of the UK.

Has Gary done a UK rendition now? Where? I have ALL of his UK2000 airports, and they sit most excellently into the VFR textures. In fact Gary himself is promoting the VFR scenery for just this reason.

> Yes, we had a
> moment's fun flying over our present homes and the places where we were
> born and went to school but felt this was a novelty which would quickly
> wear off.

Of course. VFR flying doesn't mean that. VFR flying is working out where you are going from charts and identifying your position and direction via the view out of the window. You CANNOT do that with the default scenery, nor in fact any other UK scenery I know of.

> The constraints of height and speed would not appeal to many
> of our FS friends (vide Ray Proudfoot)

VFR scenery is totally irrelevant for airliner flying at 35000 feet, especially in the UK where there's almost always going to be a cloud layer below. For airliner flights you really need no scenery at all apart from airports!

For this scenery get out you nice slow Cessna or Piper! <G>

> In addition to its flatness - irritatingly evident in take off from
> London City - my friend was not too happy with the colours ( although I
> had no problem with that) and we both missed the trees and buildings.
> Also we spotted some mystical interlopers here and there.

The default London scenery buildings are misplaced, I agree, Buck House is seen in 3D in a different place to the photo scenery, and some buildings fall into the Thames. If you want to VFR central London only, this scenery is no good at all, I agree.

> The camera has caught some passing aircraft - one was spotted on
> approach to Gatwick. How about a new competition - "Spot the
> Interloper"? There must be others.

LOL!

I think, from what you say, you are not really a VFR flyer at all. I agree there is little point in investing in this scenery if you do not want to see roads and rails and fields and ponds and so on where they really are. For me the default FS scenery for England looks all wrong. Mostly the fields are ridiculously small, the colouring is too bland and not at all like you actually see aloft, and, worse, apart from motorway routes you cannot VFR with it at all.

As I said in the other thread, with this scenery I can actually identify every detail from the O/S 1¼" maps!

I like airliner flying too. At 35000 feet I can't see this detail. At 35,000 feet I'm lucky to see anything at all over the UK except clouds. And anyway, at Mach 0.84 I'm not over it long enough to worry! <G>

Best Regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Peter L Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.82-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


jonahbird[Crew]

Click to send private message to jonahbird Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

2. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-15-02, 00:27z 

Hi Pete

I accept all your points about the VFR benefits of this scenery. In my young days when I learnt to fly in Tiger Moths many enjoyable weekends were spent on VFR exercises out of Fairoaks. And I suspect that I shall use this scenery to re-experience some of that, but it won't be my choice all the time.

To some of your specific points -
>>I get more or less the same frame rates with the VFR scenery. Are you noticing a drop?<<
No. My frame rates and the smoothness of the graphics are unchanged.

>>did you not use your Terrain Mesh with the VFR scenery?<<
I think I must have. I did not remove it before installing VFRPS. We did not like the way the new scenery 'wrapped itself' around the contours but could understand why it appears like that. Would that look better with the Lago software?

>>Has Gary done a UK rendition now?<<
Sorry, I didn't express that very well. I am a great fan of Gary's work and have all his airports to date including his latest - and in many ways his greatest - Part 5. It was those I was referring to. Incidentally,I thought I read somewhere that he was going to adjust his green colour to fit in with this VFRPS am I just dreaming that? Also, we got a very strange looking area around Reigate airport and the M23, I must look at that again.

>>I think, from what you say, you are not really a VFR flyer at all<<
Not so. To me that is pure flying and I bought this scenery to hopefully re-visit the thrill of spotting the familiar church, railway station, etc to trigger the appropriate turn to return to base. Our VFR training out of Fairoaks involved the use of a kneeboard with an OS map marked with a triangular route from which we directed the pilot through the speaking tube. It was great fun. What is the O/S software you refer to? And, how do you display it to work alongside your FS?

Best regards
Frank

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


PeteDowson[Crew]

Click to EMail PeteDowson Click to send private message to PeteDowson Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

3. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-15-02, 01:19z 

Hi Frank,

> I suspect that I shall
> use this scenery to re-experience some of that, but it won't be my
> choice all the time.

Well I use one PC for airliner flying, with a floor-standing pedestal yoke and centre console, 4 PCs linked and running Project Magenta instrumentation, and 3 screens on a Parhelia for the outside view (only). I use an entirely separate PC for GA flying in a Piper Arrow III using the Aerosoft hardware cockpit and a single screen for the outside view.

Really the scenery is only appropriate to the latter, but I use it one both because I like to keep both installations "on a par" with each other. The fact is, on the Airliner PC it really doesn't matter a toot what scenery is present -- I shall only see a little bit on landing, very little on takeoff (due to attitude), and both times are pretty hectic in any case! <G>

> >>did you not use your Terrain Mesh with the VFR scenery?<<
> I think I must have. I did not remove it before installing VFRPS.

But if you did a full install you may have two terrain meshes installed, as the VFR photo stuff comes with one too.

> We did
> not like the way the new scenery 'wrapped itself' around the contours
> but could understand why it appears like that. Would that look better
> with the Lago software?

I don't understand your comment. If the textures don't wrap themselves onto the landscape, what do you expect them to do? They really do that in real life too, so that's what they need to do in FS. They'd look daft stretched out flat over an undulating landscape below!

The Lago Terramesh seems quite accurate, but whether it is better or worse than the Visual Flight stuff, or whatever other make you have, I really could not say. Sorry. It just seems very good to me, in the UK. (Don't ask about Ireland though! <G>).

> >>Has Gary done a UK rendition now?<<
> Sorry, I didn't express that very well. I am a great fan of Gary's work
> and have all his airports to date including his latest - and in many
> ways his greatest - Part 5. It was those I was referring to.

I have all of them including Part 5, and as I say his airports sit well into the VFR textures. Absolutely excellent in fact! <G>

> Incidentally,I thought I read somewhere that he was going to adjust his
> green colour to fit in with this VFRPS am I just dreaming that?

Sorry, I don't know. What green colour doesn't "fit"?

> Also, we
> got a very strange looking area around Reigate airport and the M23, I
> must look at that again.

Don't know. I've flown over there at some stage, but not landed. Didn't notice anything odd, but them I was just enjoying the views and identifying places and things on the maps, as you do.

> Not so. To me that is pure flying and I bought this scenery to hopefully
> re-visit the thrill of spotting the familiar church, railway station,
> etc to trigger the appropriate turn to return to base. Our VFR training
> out of Fairoaks involved the use of a kneeboard with an OS map marked
> with a triangular route from which we directed the pilot through the
> speaking tube. It was great fun. What is the O/S software you refer to?

Memory-Map Navigator, and the full set of 12 CDRoms with 1¼" OS maps covering the UK. See www.memory-map.co.uk.

> And, how do you display it to work alongside your FS?

On a separate PC with a "null modem" (twisted) serial cable, with my own GPSout sending it data and it set to display positions, altitude, and so on as if FS were a GPS. It's the same process I use when flying airliners except then I use Jeppesen's "FliteMap" with a world-wide database.

Best regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Peter L Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.82-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


jonahbird[Crew]

Click to send private message to jonahbird Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

4. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-15-02, 07:41z 

Hi Pete

What size room do you keep all that in? I couldn't possibly setup like that without extending the house :-)

>>But if you did a full install you may have two terrain meshes installed, as the VFR photo stuff comes with one too.<<
I think you are right. I shall have to explore how to remove one of them. First, I shall visit www.lagoonline.com to read about the Lago Mesh.

>>I don't understand your comment. If the textures don't wrap themselves onto the landscape, what do you expect them to do? They really do that in real life too, so that's what they need to do in FS. They'd look daft stretched out flat over an undulating landscape below!<<
Hard to explain, but I suppose it's the combination of a 2D scenery with a 3D mesh.

>>Sorry, I don't know. What green colour doesn't "fit"?<<
The base green is lighter than adjacent VFRPS green.

Thanks for the info on the OS software. I shall look into that. The rest sounds a bit beyond my skill level though :-(.

Best Regards
Frank


Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


PeteDowson[Crew]

Click to EMail PeteDowson Click to send private message to PeteDowson Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

5. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-15-02, 11:09z 

Hi Frank,

> What size room do you keep all that in? I couldn't possibly setup like
> that without extending the house :-)

LOL! My office, about 16' x 14'. It also includes two walls of bookshelves, a large cupboard, my desk (for programming) and even an Analogue IFR Flight Training simulator (ATC710) I got cheap from RC Sims.

> I think you are right. I shall have to explore how to remove one of
> them.

Just scan through your scenery index in FS (World-Scenery Library). The Meshes I have are all listed there, so are all separately enablable and disablable (? <G>). The Lago TerraMesh stuff is named "TerraMeshNN Mesh <area>", the USA RealScene mesh by Eddie Scenery is "RealScene ...", and so on. the ones you MAY have for England are:

VF Photo Mesh, or Virtual Flight ... (Mine is Beta, so it says "VF GM Photo Beta2 Mesh". VF=Visual Flight, GM = GetMapping.

UKie20a or similar -- which is an all UK mesh from Visual Flight, a year or so ago.

I don't know of any others for the UK.

> Hard to explain, but I suppose it's the combination of a 2D scenery with
> a 3D mesh.

That's how all textures scenery works.

> The base green is lighter than adjacent VFRPS green.

But here the VFRPS scenery includes all manner of greens, yellows, browns and so on, so everything looks fine. I wouldn't really expect the Airport Authorities to deliberately match their grass with the neighbouring farms crops or fallow fields! <G>

> Thanks for the info on the OS software. I shall look into that. The rest
> sounds a bit beyond my skill level though :-(.

The rest? You mean plugging a cable into a COM port? If you have an extra PC or Notebook at your disposal, the COM link is far easier than setting up a Network. The COM ports are the 9-pin sockets on the rear of the PC. A "null modem" cable contains usually 3 or more wires (3 is actually sufficient) and plugs into those sockets at either end. You don't need to make one, they are sold everywhere. They are only called "null modem cables" because they eliminate the modem (actually two modems and a telephone line! <G>). They simply connect Receive at one end to Transmit at the other, and vice versa, so each PC can talk to the other. The third wire is the common, or ground, to provide the circuit.

GPSout.DLL, installed into FS's Modules folder, just like FSUIPC, automatically sends out signals which can be received by GPS-aware programs like Navigator, which then operates as a Moving Map.

What skill level is needed for that? <G>

Best regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Peter L Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.82-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


jonahbird[Crew]

Click to send private message to jonahbird Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

6. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-15-02, 12:35z 

Hi Pete

>>My office, about 16' x 14'<<

Sounds like some masterly space planning to me ;-) 'Er indoors allows anything in my study (11' x 10'6") but FS mustn't stray beyond there. Confession... I play the organ and have similar sized music room (What a waste! I hear you cry and you'd be right if you heard me play!!)

Thanks for the scenery tip. I'll go look.

>> I wouldn't really expect the Airport Authorities to deliberately match their grass with the neighbouring farms crops or fallow fields!<<

LOL! I'll ask Gary - I'm sure I didn't dream it.

Hey! You've made that sound a lot easier. I think you're converting me. I've already downloaded a sample of the Memory-Map. It looks real good.

Best regards
Frank

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


PeteDowson[Crew]

Click to EMail PeteDowson Click to send private message to PeteDowson Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

7. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-15-02, 14:09z 

Hi Frank,

> >> I wouldn't really expect the Airport Authorities to deliberately
> match their grass with the neighbouring farms crops or fallow fields!<<
>
> LOL! I'll ask Gary - I'm sure I didn't dream it.

Sorry, I'm confused now. Dream what? That the real grass was really the same colour as the real surrounding fields? Where does Gary come into it?

I simply said I wouldn't necessarily expect Gary's airport grass colours to be the same as the surrounding scenery grass colours, which vary a lot in any case in the VFRPS. The variation is a lot more realistic in my opinion than the drab-same-looking default textures all in the same shade of green or brown depending on the season.

> Hey! You've made that sound a lot easier. I think you're converting me.
> I've already downloaded a sample of the Memory-Map. It looks real good.

Not cheap though, unfortunately!

Best regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Peter L Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.82-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


James[Sysop]

Click to EMail James Click to send private message to James Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

8. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-17-02, 23:46z 

Hi Pete,

Downloaded the Demo of Memory Map Navigator and a map. Installed and have them linked as co-ords match in both MM Nav and FS. How do you get MM Nav to follow the Aircraft in FS or isn't it possible?!

Regards,

James (CONman) Anderson
*** The plane in front is a Boeing ***

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: James Anderson
-OLR.PL v1.80-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


PeteDowson[Crew]

Click to EMail PeteDowson Click to send private message to PeteDowson Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

9. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-18-02, 10:16z 

Hi James,

> Downloaded the Demo of Memory Map Navigator and a map. Installed and
> have them linked as co-ords match in both MM Nav and FS. How do you get
> MM Nav to follow the Aircraft in FS or isn't it possible?!

Use GPSout in FS.

Memory Map Navigator has a GPS input facility. Just link a COM port on your FS PC with a COM port on your Nav PC with a twisted serial cable ("null modem" cable -- RX to TX, TX to RX, Ground).

I have GPSout parameters set to send NMEA sentences RMC, GGA and GSA, at a speed of 115200, and an interval of 500 (half a second). The GPS Setup in Nav can just be "NMEA" for Manufacturer.

Regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Peter L Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.82-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


James[Sysop]

Click to EMail James Click to send private message to James Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

10. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-18-02, 12:42z 

Hi Pete,

>> Use GPSout in FS. <<

Yep, done that and it's connected and working hence, I get the Co-ords etc in MM Nav matching those in FS.
The only thing that I cannot get working is the map moving (in conjunction with my aircraft movements) and my position marked (by some thing) to indicate where I am on the Map?!

I did take a look in the help file under Getting Started and then Connecting a GPS. Under Troubleshooting and after Clicking on GPS Setup I get OK then Licence not found. It states within this box that to display details you have to register product?!

I would assume that as its a demo you'd get a view of what the registered product will give you PRIOR to registering as it's an expensive programme <G>.


Regards,

James (CONman) Anderson
*** The plane in front is a Boeing ***

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: James Anderson
-OLR.PL v1.80-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


PeteDowson[Crew]

Click to EMail PeteDowson Click to send private message to PeteDowson Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

11. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-18-02, 15:39z 

Hi James,

> The only thing that I cannot get working is the map moving (in
> conjunction with my aircraft movements) and my position marked (by some
> thing) to indicate where I am on the Map?!

Isn't there a "Lock" button in the toolbar? Tooltip reads "lock onto GPS". It not only moves with the aircraft then but but plots the path you've taken.

> I did take a look in the help file under Getting Started and then
> Connecting a GPS. Under Troubleshooting and after Clicking on GPS Setup
> I get OK then Licence not found. It states within this box that to
> display details you have to register product?!

Ah ... possibly that's the problem. Sorry, I've not tried the demo.

> I would assume that as its a demo you'd get a view of what the
> registered product will give you PRIOR to registering as it's an
> expensive programme <G>.

Indeed.

Regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Peter L Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.82-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


James[Sysop]

Click to EMail James Click to send private message to James Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

12. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-18-02, 15:59z 

Hi Pete,

>> Isn't there a "Lock" button in the toolbar? Tooltip reads "lock onto
GPS". It not only moves with the aircraft then but but plots the path
you've taken. <<

Yes, but it's grayed out even after loading the map file again!!

>> Ah ... possibly that's the problem. Sorry, I've not tried the demo. <<

Going along with your comments and my powers of deduction I'm going to assume the prog needs registering before it will show you what it really can do. You'd think in that case they would have it all singing all dancing for a time delayed period only!


Regards,

James (CONman) Anderson
*** The plane in front is a Boeing ***

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: James Anderson
-OLR.PL v1.80-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


PeteDowson[Crew]

Click to EMail PeteDowson Click to send private message to PeteDowson Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

13. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-18-02, 17:14z 

Hi James,

> Going along with your comments and my powers of deduction I'm going to
> assume the prog needs registering before it will show you what it really
> can do. You'd think in that case they would have it all singing all
> dancing for a time delayed period only!

Actually, according to the Help-FAQ & Support Section, you are getting it to do more that it says it does! Here's the section:

Q: I connected a GPS, but the software does not show the position.

A: Have you registered the software? The GPS interface is enabled with the license key that is given to you when you register. You can register online by clicking the Register button on the toolbar.

Too bad. You'll just need to feel the quality of the maps, though of course they aren't actually *by* MM. I have the complete set of twelve O/S 1:50000 CDs, which cost a LOT more than the mere Navigator program! <G>. I've also merged most together (the tiles are otherwise too small) using a (free!) utility from the Memory Map site.

I think you can also get the 1:500000 aviation maps, probably in three parts -- Southern England/Wales, Northern, and Scotland. However, for me the amount of detail in the VFR scenery is only matched by the detail in the 1¼" maps. For aviation detail I have Jeppesen FliteMap.

Regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Peter L Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.82-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


James[Sysop]

Click to EMail James Click to send private message to James Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

14. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-18-02, 21:21z 

Hi Pete,


>> Actually, according to the Help-FAQ & Support Section, you are getting
it to do more that it says it does! Here's the section: <<

Haven't read all the Help or FAQ :-)

>> A: Have you registered the software? The GPS interface is enabled with
the license key that is given to you when you register. You can register
online by clicking the Register button on the toolbar. <<

I have now and yes, I now have the Locator following :-)

>> Too bad. You'll just need to feel the quality of the maps, though of
course they aren't actually *by* MM. I have the complete set of twelve
O/S 1:50000 CDs, which cost a LOT more than the mere Navigator program!
<G>. I've also merged most together (the tiles are otherwise too small)
using a (free!) utility from the Memory Map site. <<

Yep, seen that and it's the next task on my list to grab :-)


>> I think you can also get the 1:500000 aviation maps, probably in three
parts -- Southern England/Wales, Northern, and Scotland. <<

Not seen those on the site while browsing.

>> However, for me the amount of detail in the VFR scenery is only matched
by the detail in the 1¼" maps. <<

I've seen earlier posts on this in this thread. I'm a bit skeptical about purchasing add on scenery for 2002 as the next version of FS the Scenery will be useless.

>> For aviation detail I have Jeppesen FliteMap. <<

I know this to :-) and just as expensive <LOL>.

Regards,

James (CONman) Anderson
*** The plane in front is a Boeing ***

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: James Anderson
-OLR.PL v1.80-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


PeteDowson[Crew]

Click to EMail PeteDowson Click to send private message to PeteDowson Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

15. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-18-02, 22:36z 

Hi James,

> I've seen earlier posts on this in this thread. I'm a bit skeptical
> about purchasing add on scenery for 2002 as the next version of FS the
> Scenery will be useless.

Really? Why's that?

And with such an attitude you'd never get any add-on at all for FS, surely?

> >> For aviation detail I have Jeppesen FliteMap. <<
>
> I know this to :-) and just as expensive <LOL>.

Yes but if you aren't using VFR scenery it is much more appropriate. I don't see any point at all in getting the O/S 1¼" maps for any other scenery, unless you want them in their own right.

I have been building up a complete set of the printed 1¼" maps for years, no where near complete, and of course all out of date -- the MM CDs are MUCH cheaper than a full set of printed ones, and I can print out bits I want, AND they are all up to about 2001.

Regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Peter L Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.82-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


James[Sysop]

Click to EMail James Click to send private message to James Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

16. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-19-02, 12:55z 

Hi Pete,

>> Really? Why's that? <<

See my e-mail <s>

>> And with such an attitude you'd never get any add-on at all for FS,
surely? <<

The only scenery add-ons I have purchased for 2002 have all been Mesh types <s>

>> Yes but if you aren't using VFR scenery it is much more appropriate. I
don't see any point at all in getting the O/S 1¼" maps for any other
scenery, unless you want them in their own right. <<

Well I haven't seen any VFR scenery worth purchasing as yet. Looking into purchasing GPS etc via the office <G>

>> I have been building up a complete set of the printed 1¼" maps for
years, no where near complete, and of course all out of date -- the MM
CDs are MUCH cheaper than a full set of printed ones, and I can print
out bits I want, AND they are all up to about 2001. <<

I have a complete set covering the UK, France, Denmark, East Germany, Belgium, Holland, Austria and Switzerland but all 14+ years out of date <G> obtained while in the forces. Looks like waiting for the MM Maps on CD's as I don't think they are available for downloading from the web site :-(

Regards,

James (CONman) Anderson
*** The plane in front is a Boeing ***

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: James Anderson
-OLR.PL v1.80-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


PeteDowson[Crew]

Click to EMail PeteDowson Click to send private message to PeteDowson Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

17. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-19-02, 13:23z 

Hi James,

> >> Really? Why's that? <<
>
> See my e-mail <s>

Not arrived yet.

> The only scenery add-ons I have purchased for 2002 have all been Mesh
> types <s>

Shame. The Gary Summons UK2000 airports are stunning. The EGCC one makes me feel right at home!

> Well I haven't seen any VFR scenery worth purchasing as yet.

For England the Visual Flight / GetMapping stuff is the best you'll ever see I reckon. I have the GetMapping England Photo Atlas too, and it's the same as that. Much better than satellite stuff used elsewhere. I don't see how it could ever be surpassed for detail. As I keep saying, you can locate everything you can find on the O/S 1¼" maps.

Sounds like you really aren't interested in VFR, or else what are you expecting to see in a VFR scenery?

> I have a complete set covering the UK, France, Denmark, East Germany,
> Belgium, Holland, Austria and Switzerland

That doesn't sound possible. Ordnance Survey 1¼" maps only cover Great Britain, not even Northern Ireland let alone overseas. Maybe you are thinking of other map series? The O/S ones I am talking about amount to 204 sheets for GB only.

I have detailed maps of many countries, and aviation maps for the whole world (TPC/ONCs for areas otherwise impossible to get). But there's nothing anywhere in the world quite like the British Ordnance Survey.

Regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Peter L Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.82-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


James[Sysop]

Click to EMail James Click to send private message to James Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

18. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-19-02, 17:55z 

Hi Pete,

>> Shame. The Gary Summons UK2000 airports are stunning. The EGCC one makes
me feel right at home! <<

Does he have a web site and are they downloadable. The only other scenery I do have is Barry Perfects EA2000/2.

>> Sounds like you really aren't interested in VFR, or else what are you
expecting to see in a VFR scenery? <<

The interest is there as I said I just ain't seen or heard of (till now) ANY scenery worth looking at. So in the mean time I just plod on with what's in FS. If I can get hold of scenery that IS AS GOOD AS then I'd probably buy it :-)

>> That doesn't sound possible. Ordnance Survey 1¼" maps only cover Great
Britain, not even Northern Ireland let alone overseas. Maybe you are
thinking of other map series? The O/S ones I am talking about amount to
204 sheets for GB only. <<

Sorry if you disagree on this :-) BUT they are kicking about the house some place all 2,000+ of them. Who do you think produces the Stationery etc for the MOD, theres even an O/S unit within the armed forces :-). Fortunately for us in my career span, technology advanced after the 2nd world war hence no more map reading for us with sketch's :-) There's also a set we used in NI for Operational Duties, Produced by O/S. Will have to dig them out when I get back from Kenya.

>> I have detailed maps of many countries, and aviation maps for the whole
world (TPC/ONCs for areas otherwise impossible to get). But there's
nothing anywhere in the world quite like the British Ordnance Survey. <<

That's why I love the O/S ones as the details on them are fantastic and accurate to within a few mil <s>

Regards,

James (CONman) Anderson
*** The plane in front is a Boeing ***

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: James Anderson
-OLR.PL v1.80-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


PeteDowson[Crew]

Click to EMail PeteDowson Click to send private message to PeteDowson Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

19. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-19-02, 23:56z 

Hi James,

> Does he have a web site and are they downloadable. The only other
> scenery I do have is Barry Perfects EA2000/2.

I prefer Gary's. The answers are yes and yes, though they are getting rather big -- maybe the Volume 2 just out is CD only. I mostly have the CDs, with downloaded updates. Try http://www.uk2000scenery.com/puplic/

> Sorry if you disagree on this :-) BUT they are kicking about the house
> some place all 2,000+ of them. Who do you think produces the Stationery
> etc for the MOD, theres even an O/S unit within the armed forces

I know all about that, of course. It just is NOT the series I am talking about, which are numbered 1-204 and are all to the same scale and standard and superceded the old 1" maps. I *know* O/S are/were military mappers, where do you think the name come from? That's just totally irrelevant to the maps I was talking about!

I have O/S maps of Barbados, still labelled as such and still published with their copyright permission. Same goes for many ex-colonies I expect. But they are NOT the series I collected nor are they those provided on the MM CDs. The South African ones are pretty good and obviously O/S derived but their name has long since gone from their publications.

Regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Peter L Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.82-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


PeteDowson[Crew]

Click to EMail PeteDowson Click to send private message to PeteDowson Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

20. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-20-02, 09:57z 

Hi James,

Sorry, the "volume 2 just out" in my second paragraph should have been "volume 5".

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Peter L Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.82-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


James[Sysop]

Click to EMail James Click to send private message to James Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

22. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-20-02, 12:37z 

Hi Pete,

>> Sorry, the "volume 2 just out" in my second paragraph should have been
"volume 5" <<

Thank's, just seen that one on the web site.

Regards,

James (CONman) Anderson
*** The plane in front is a Boeing ***

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: James Anderson
-OLR.PL v1.80-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


James[Sysop]

Click to EMail James Click to send private message to James Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

21. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
11-20-02, 12:37z 

Hi Pete,

>> I prefer Gary's. The answers are yes and yes, <<

Thanks mate, will take a brows over there shortly :-)

>> I know all about that, of course. It just is NOT the series I am talking
about, <<

Understood :-) Been trying to remember which box (hidden behind all my wall paneling in the attic) my collections in and it'll take forever to find em :-) It'll probably be quicker phoning my mate in York to get him to check all the Issue Numbers :-)

(Later).....

Ordered the MM CD's but doubt I'll receive them before leaving for Kenya Saturday! Just got of the phone to my mate in York asking him if he could get me some upto date Map's but, apparently the MOD are getting a bit tight fisted <LOL>. Can't get many :-) as the department that make and supply them are in overdrive and running around like headless chickens for one reason or another :-)

Regards,

James (CONman) Anderson
*** The plane in front is a Boeing ***

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: James Anderson
-OLR.PL v1.80-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


DavidH[Guest]

Click to EMail DavidH Click to send private message to DavidH Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

23. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
12-25-02, 10:18z 

I know this thread is now rather old, but I have just rejoined the Forum, and have also only recently installed VFC. I agree that the scenery appears flat, ie just a photo, and that built-up areas look unrealistic - try looking at the 'London Eye' - it's just a flat circle on the R. Thames.

But outside the urban areas it is really quite good. If you follow the configuration advice and fly at about 2500ft in a slow aircraft like the default Cessna it is possible to follow features like roads, rivers, railway lines etc., and you can find your own district and identify local roads and buildings. I used it to locate a friend's country property, and since his business involves frequent flying all over the world I 'gave' him his own personal international airport right on his doorstep, using Derek Leung's freeware 'Flight Simulator Scenery Creator', with some help from www.multimaps.com.

Merry Christmas,

David Hanstater

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


jonahbird[Crew]

Click to send private message to jonahbird Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

24. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
12-26-02, 07:42z 

Hi David

>>'London Eye' - it's just a flat circle on the R. Thames.<<

That is explained by the time the photographs were taken. The "Eye" was still being constructed then.

I agree with your comments about flying away from the urban areas. Have you found Pete's links with "Get Mapping"? With his usual ingenuity he has produced a way of using these maps on a separate screen linked to FS so that it follows your course. You can use it instead of FS Navigator for your VFR flying in UK. The complete set of maps are expensive though.

Good to have your comments again.
Best regards
Frank

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


DavidH[Guest]

Click to EMail DavidH Click to send private message to DavidH Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

25. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
12-26-02, 10:47z 

Hi Frank,

>>That is explained by the time the photographs were taken. The "Eye" was still being constructed then.<<

I hadn't thought of that. However, central London is still very disappointing.

>>Have you found Pete's links with "Get Mapping"?<<

Yes. I visited their website. It is very expensive. We're talking $100s. But the resolution is very much better than VFR, and I'm sure those who want to go for it will find it very satisfying. I tried multimap.com, which allows free access to photographic scenery for most of UK, but the resolution is not significantly better that VFR's. though you can buy higher resolutions.

At present I'm messing about with LAGO's FS Scenery Enhancer. Looks interesting. Ubnique in that it works within FS. You sit in your cockpit and select and add objects right in front of you. I haven't seen any discussion about this new software here yet.

Happy New Year,

David Hanstater

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


jonahbird[Crew]

Click to send private message to jonahbird Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

27. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
12-27-02, 15:59z 

Hi David

>>At present I'm messing about with LAGO's FS Scenery Enhancer<<

You must start a new thread and tell us about it.

Best regards
Frank

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top


BillC[Crew]

Click to EMail BillC Click to send private message to BillC Click to view user profile


Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations:

VPC certificates and ratings

26. "RE: VFC Photographic Scenery"
12-27-02, 06:22z 

Hi David...

>..I have just rejoined the Forum, and have also only recently installed VFC.<

Nice to see you once more.

> I agree that the scenery appears flat, ie just a photo, and that built-up areas look unrealistic ..<

I suspect that many designers are 'waiting in the wings' so to speak, for the release of parts 2,3 & 4, as I am.

I'm trying to get get to grips with Gmax, in preparation for when my area gets released, although it will be a massive undertaking to provide even a fraction of the 3d scenery required. However I believe that now that the door has been opened to an 'accurate' scenery base, we can expect a lot of third party add-ons for this scenery, including the necessary .agn files for (accurate) autogen to use with it quite soon....

> Merry Christmas <

Same to you and yours

Regards
BillC
0.9nm SW EGOW


-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Bill Cusick
-OLR.PL v1.80-

Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top



Lock | Archive | Remove

Forums | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic

 


Terms of Use

There are currently
Copyright © 2000- FlightAdventures. All rights reserved.

Powered by DCForum